With the rise of blurred silhouettes, many in fashion are opting for oversized looks, something that has always been around in the industry but became more prominent with the rise of icons such as Billie Eilish. 

But what is it about oversized fashion that draws the eye? And why is a trend that has always been around only gaining serious traction in the industry right now? 

While one can guess, it is clear that the past year’s endeavors and struggles play a part in it. Because a large portion of the population working from home, many opted for comfortability over anything. This led to a huge boost in silhouettes that favored the less tailored look, whether it be through sweat pants or hoodies. 

“The lockdown has, among other things, taught us to prioritize comfort over everything else, making us choose comfortable, easy silhouettes over body-hugging clothes even when returning to the workplace,” cited Shubhanjana Das in an article titled ‘Why oversized clothes are everywhere.’

Those opting for a more oversized look seem determined to bring their fashion back to the workplace with them, which means a continued integration of oversized clothing into different settings and not just home comfort.

In an article from Vogue, Madeline Swanson corroborated this. 

“Now that I know what it’s like to exist in nothing but large and forgiving silhouettes for months on end, to be comfortable in all seated positions as well as brisk walks, I don’t see myself returning to the routine of wearing clothes that I’m dying to change out of the minute I arrive home from work,” Swanson wrote.

However, it is important to note that while oversized silhouettes are being favored more and more in fashion, it may not entirely be about comfort specifically.

“Elegant, well-tailored and structured clothes are the trend,” Das said. 

An article on MR PORTER described this in more detail, relating it to clothing that feels more luxurious the more material there is. While this article covers menswear specifically, it is worth mentioning that the article was detailing the up-and-coming trend of oversized clothes and how it will soon take over the industry; The article was published in 2018. 

The only thing that this 2018 article and the 2021 trend differentiate on is the integration of oversized fashion into different settings like the workplace. And yet, 2021 has seen the easiest and most unlikely way to transition to that: A forced quarantine. 

What is most interesting about the oversized silhouettes and their popularity in the fashion landscape is that one must wonder if this would have been possible to integrate so easily without the extenuating circumstances. 

In an uncomfortable time where comfort is welcomed, oversized fashion is a refreshing change of pace that is only furthered by the fashion industry continuing to push the trend towards a more mainstream aesthetic that can be embraced by anybody. 

“They [the clothes] don’t so much as exaggerate the physique as they obliterate it,” wrote MR PORTER. “It’s not a celebration of the Ken Doll… It’s a repudiation of it.”