A black sweater, flashing white sleeves, black tights and pointed slingbacks – but something is missing when you look at the picture of model Kendall Jenner: pants, a skirt, some piece of fabric.
When you think of people without pants, you might think of crazy New Yorkers who drive to work on “No Pants Day” in sports socks and dress shoes. But in this case, a new fashion trend is timidly conquering the streets of the metropolis.
At the Fashion Week, from Miu Miu to Ferragamo, you could also see models without pants and apparently without inhibitions. Since then, more and more influencers on TikTok and Co. have been showing how they think the “no pants look” could be combined for everyday use. But what about the more or less veiled exhibitionism?
Under the hashtag
But the current trend has a nuance that separates it from the offensive. The secret lies in opaque tights, over which a body, shapewear or even men’s underpants are worn. As seen with Kylie Jenner:
She was wearing an undershirt and men’s panties by Loewe. The underpants for 380 euros are reminiscent of the traditional “Tighty Whities”. Underneath – of course – black tights and pumps in Minnie Mouse style. She wore a long, oversized coat over it, which simultaneously conceals and playfully reveals the underwear look.
Importantly, when styling this trend, the “pants” are shorter than the hot pants worn by singer Jessica Simpson in the 2005 video for her cover of “These Boots Are Made For Walkin'”. But longer than the tight bikini panties with which she then lathered the car.
The no-pants look is reminiscent of past fashion eras, such as the 1950s. Back then, women wore short, tight shorts, the cut and high waist of which was a modification of the typical bikini bottom of the time. At first you only saw these outfits on the beach and on pin-up girls, later also on the street.
Likewise, the current fad is reminiscent of aerobics classes with Jane Fonda, who often wore a one-piece suit over her leggings in the ’80s. Fittingly, legwarmers are currently celebrating their fashion comeback with the ballet core trend.
As early as 2021, Miu Miu caused surprised reactions with extra short mini skirts, which with their folds are reminiscent of the tennis skirts of the 1960s – and initiated the new trend. In doing so, the “breath of nothing” movement contradicts the so-called skirt hem theory (from 1926), according to which women’s skirts tend to get longer during economically difficult times – such as during the recession of the 1970s. Today, however, skirts and trousers are becoming increasingly scarce as inflation continues.
And what’s with the pantyhose? With a view to the persistently cool temperatures, it is a means to an end, warming the legs without hiding them. And makes them appear narrower and longer in the black version. But it is already clear: as soon as the temperatures rise, the pantyhose will also stay away. Bella Hadid, Kylie Jenner and Julia Fox have already tried the pantyhose-free version.
