A meme doing the rounds on social media this month proclaims: ‘My greatest fear in life is that low-rise jeans will make a comeback’.
And so it was with a collective shudder that women across Australia read the 2020 fashion forecast, which forebodes the return of the dreaded hipster pants, a style of tight-fit, low-slung trousers which sit below the hip bones, exposing every inch of the midriff.
Once one of the world’s hottest trends for a brief moment in the early Noughties, low-rise denim has been firmly confined to our nightmares ever since someone realised that no one – save the occasional supermodel – can really pull it off.
The almost universally unflattering style is notoriously difficult to wear, widely feared for its unique ability to highlight love handles, excess stomach fat and the tricky-to-tone expanse of the lower torso.
Then and now: Once one of the world’s hottest trends in the early Noughties, low-rise denim (left, on actress Keira Knightley in 2003) fell out of fashion and favour for its unique ability to highlight love handles and the tricky-to-tone expanse of the lower torso – but, style forecasters say, it’s back with a bang (right, modelled by Bella Hadid in late 2017)
The dreaded hipster pants (seen her on model turned fashion designer Emily Ratajkoswki) sit below the hip bones, exposing every inch of the midriff
Heiresses and socialites were among the first to sport the gravity-defying style in the early Noughties, with Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie regularly photographed in denim barely covering their bikini lines.
Hollywood icons and rebellious child stars quickly followed suit, with up-and-coming actress Eva Longoria rocking the look to many a photocall and songstress Christina Aguilera donning G-string exposing denim during her wild child ‘Xtina’ phase.
Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams – then known as Destiny’s Child – braved the low-rise craze together, arriving in floral bras and different shades of hipster jeans for Janet Jackson’s MTV Icon event in 2001.
Heiresses and actresses were among the first to sport the gravity-defying style in the early Noughties, with Paris Hilton (left, in 2000) and Sarah Michelle Gellar (right, at the Kid’s Choice Awards in 2002) regularly photographed in denim barely covering their bikini lines
Back in their heyday, the women of Destiny’s Child – Kelly Rowland, left, Beyoncé Knowles, centre and Michelle Williams, right – braved the low-rise craze together, arriving in floral bras and three shades of hipster jeans for Janet Jackson’s MTV Icon event in 2001
Hollywood icons and rebellious child stars followed suit, with up-and-coming actress Eva Longoria rocking the look to many a photocall (right, in 2001) and songstress Christina Aguilera donning G-string exposing denim during her wild child ‘Xtina’ phase (left, in one of her more demure ‘pre-Xtina’ looks in 1999)
British actress Keira Knightley made a particularly memorable appearance at the Los Angeles premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean in 2003, flaunting her endless torso in ultra low-slung jeans and a white crop top on the red carpet.
These early Noughties style icons wore the trend with boldly coloured boob tubes and slinky lace-up crop tops to accentuate their midriffs, often accessorising with thin studded belts, clunky black boots and chokers around the neck.
Two decades later, the style is arguably more refined, but no less daunting to wear.
As seen on catwalk megastars Gigi and Bella Hadid, the 2020 take on low-rise jeans is decidedly more relaxed, inviting women to experiment with baggy cardigans on top and looser fits on the bottom.
As seen on catwalk megastars Bella Hadid (left) and Lily Rose Depp (right), the 2020 take on low-rise jeans is decidedly more relaxed, inviting women to experiment with baggy cardigans on top and looser fits on the bottom
Slick Woods (pictured), the model who made headlines by walking the runway for Fenty whilst in labour with her first child, often dresses low-rise denim down with shirts and sneakers in a way that’s understated but effortlessly chic
Even with the benefit of today’s more subdued approach, the likelihood that this tough-to-pull-off trend will make waves beyond the realms of models and influencers remains uncertain (left, a guest tries a particularly daring take at 2019 New York Fashion Week, and right, Bella Hadid sports low-slung beige jeans in 2019)
Model turned fashion designer Emily Ratajkowski often steps out in casual hipster looks, showcasing her famous ‘ab crack’ in low-slung jeans and block coloured crops.
Famous names like Kendall Jenner and Slick Woods, the model who made headlines by walking the runway for Fenty whilst in labour with her first child, dress low-rise denim down with shirts and sneakers in a way that’s understated but chic.
But even with the benefit of today’s more subdued approach to low-rise jeans, the likelihood that this tough-to-pull-off trend will make waves beyond the realms of models and influencers remains uncertain.
Perhaps it’s best left in the Noughties.