Pant-demic: Death to Skinny Jeans
During the pandemic, many of us have gotten comfortable staying in our pajamas or sweatpants. “Day time PJs” was a commonly used phrase throughout quarantine. This weekend my friends and I were talking about how skinny jeans are like sausage casings. Why would we force our legs into those things? We want to be comfortable and appear aesthetically inclined simultaneously.
Outfits are no longer forced to be entirely comfortable and scruffy or appearance-oriented and trapping.
In San Francisco, the trend of brightly colored, baggy pants has taken over. No color is off the table. SF’s Marina and Pacific Heights neighborhoods are packed with young women modeling the relief men and lesbians have enjoyed historically. My two mums concur with this notion. Before purchasing my own pair, I had no idea why women were suddenly dressing like gregarious skateboarders but recently I came across an LA-based clothing brand called Big Bud Press. My relationship with skinny jeans has been forever altered. The elastic waist, cotton fabric and large pockets demonstrate a uniquely utilitarian design, while the length and cut of these pants make the wearer appear tall and slim.
Denim is a clothing choice of pre-pandemic times because of its lack of flexibility and limiting style. The trend of wearing breathable cotton pants is a product of the pandemic. Most of us worked from home during this time. On zoom calls, we were only required to look nice from the waist up. Some people attempt to return to the clothing items of 2019 but others have accepted the new normal being pants that provide solace and style.
My figure has never lent itself to the shape of skinny jeans. They were uncomfortable from the beginning. Despite this fact, I conformed to the cut. My great-grandmother used to say “you have to suffer to be beautiful.” This may have been true for a significant amount of time but the saying has seemingly expired. No woman should have to change their body type for a specific item of clothing. Big Bud Press pants don’t tell you what your body should look like. These garments fit and flatter women of all shapes and sizes. The Kit (named after Kit Keenan the founder) is another brand following the trend of anti-bespoke attire. Their pants appear similar to pajama bottoms but can be worn out on a date to a chic restaurant or concert. Similar to Big Bud Press these flowy trousers don’t belong to the supposedly ideal, slender body type.
Clothing is not meant to restrict yourself to participating in specific activities. Outfits should be versatile allowing you to get coffee in the morning and go to a party in the evening. Skinny jeans and other apparel are dying out as a result of their specificity. Natural selection also applies to material items. Tight jeans have a self-life and have served their purpose. The transition to a looser-fitting wardrobe changes the narrative around clothing, providing a middle path for fashion. Outfits are no longer forced to be entirely comfortable and scruffy or appearance-oriented and trapping.