After 15 Years, Skinny Pants Are Back

“Big sunglasses, loose jacket, tight jeans down to the ankle…”

The fashion of Jeon Young-rok, an idol-star back in the 1980s, does not seem out of style even now due to repeating fashion trends. There is not much difference in Jeon’s fashion and that of trends these days.

Big sunglasses covering over half of the face have been popular since last year, and wearing loose clothes on the top are the fashion code of young people these days. In particular, the comeback of the super slim fit jean, highly popular from 1988 to 1991, for the first time in 15 years, is the most recent retro fashion.

Also called “Jackson pants” because it was a favorite item of pop star Michael Jackson, these jeans were “revived” after British model Kate Moss started to wear them last year.

Jeong Ji-eun, a buyer at Lotte Department Store, said, “Just about every store is selling these tight pants, whether it specializes in jeans or women’s formal dress. They are being purchased as soon as they are brought up for sale.”

Of course, the name of these jeans has changed to skinny jeans, and the style has somewhat changed.

The previous jeans matched well with white sneakers, but those made these days go well with high-heels and flat shoes. Another feature is that they are made longer due to taller heights.

Pant legs were made wider as a reaction against skinny jeans after the 1990s, but have started to narrow, creating a flashy comeback for skinny jeans this year.

Jeong said, “Fashion trends change so fast these days, and who knows, maybe wide pants may become popular again in two to three years.”

kimhs@donga.com