I Can't Believe I'm Saying This, But Skinny Trousers Are Already Coming Back

It's only been a year since TikTok declared that side parts, laughing emojis, and, most significantly, skinny jeans were over. And yet, the rumblings around fashion this week tell a very different story. With Prada, Tory Burch, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Sportmax all featuring fitted bottoms in their S/S 23 collections, it appears that rather than "out," skinny pants and trousers are in contrast, gearing up to become spring's biggest and most controversial trend. So much for the 20-year trend cycle. 

Here's what happened: Thanks to social media and fast fashion turning up the speed on everything style-related, the patterns we used to trust for trend prediction are now defunct—useless. No longer do trends have 10 or 20 years at their prime. Maybe, depending on how a few TikToks go, they have one or two at best. So, after having invested heavily in baggier, slouchy pants for a few years now, we were bound to see the opposite shape rise up to take their place. It's also worth noting that skinny pants and jeans have been absent from the runways and street style circulation for years now, long before Gen Z condemned them in 2021. So really, with the cycle for trends sped up so significantly, we should have foreseen the body-hugging bottoms' return to fashion's good graces.

Of course, with Miuccia Prada, Raf Simons, and Maximilian Davis (whose debut Ferragamo collection debuted last week) in charge of designing the once-hated silhouette's rebrand, the resulting skinny pants were always going to be good. So maybe don't judge the style before you see them on the runways. I'm guessing you'll feel just as surprisingly excited as I was. Scroll down to find out. 

At Prada, Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons kicked off the show with a handful of tailored, skinny-leg jumpsuits paired with knee-length trench coats and heeled Mary-Janes. Ranging in color from classic gray and white to baby blue, these jumpsuits make a good case for the return of skinny pants and show off just the right way to wear them next spring (and now if you're ready for it). 

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For his debut as Ferragamo's creative director, Manchester-born designer Maximilian Davis made a controversial statement: Legging-like pants are fashionable again. Worn in monochrome sets that included tank tops, heeled sandals, and oversize accessories, the body-con bottoms looked surprisingly elevated and chic compared to the styles we grew used to seeing in the late 2010s.

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Founded by Max Mara creator Achille Maramotti in 1969, Sportmax has long focused its attention on sportswear-inspired silhouettes and tailoring, so, of course, the brand would find a way to make skinny, tailored pants that resemble split-hem leggings look upscale and chic. Showcased on the runway in the form of drapey, yet hyper-fitted sets in pastel and rich-brown shades, the slim-fitting pants will no doubt be a big hit next spring. 

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Despite a buzzy lineup that included Fendi, Proenza Schouler, and Marni, the talk of NYFW was Tory Burch's S/S 23 show, which featured capri-length, fitted pants paired with stretchy miniskirts and long coats. Similar to pedal pushers, the multicolored trousers were especially alluring and surprisingly easy to introduce into our wardrobes ASAP.

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Next: How to Wear Leggings in 2022