The resurgence of baggy clothes and dad shoes reflects a nostalgic nod to ‘90s fashion trends. Baggy clothes, characterized by loose and oversized silhouettes, have made a comeback, challenging the dominance of slim-fit styles in recent years. This shift in fashion preferences often signifies a cyclical nature in trends, where styles from the past are reinterpreted and embraced by a new generation.
Similarly, the revival of Dad shoes, known for their chunky and orthopedic aesthetic, showcases a desire for comfort and a departure from the sleek, minimalist sneakers that dominated the market. This trend may be attributed to the fashion industry’s continuous exploration of unconventional styles and the influence of streetwear culture, where authenticity and self-expression play crucial roles
Celebrities and influencers like A$AP Rocky, Kanye West, and Travis Scott to name a few have played a significant role in popularizing these trends, as they often serve as fashion trailblazers, setting the tone for what becomes socially acceptable and desirable. The fusion of nostalgia, comfort, and dad shoes to the forefront of contemporary style.
Social media platforms like tiktok and instagram amplify these trends, providing a global stage for fashion enthusiasts to showcase their unique interpretations and variations of upcoming styles including the loose and baggy clothing paired with chunky dad shoes. The accessibility of fashion inspiration online contributes to the widespread adoption of these styles, transcending geographical boundaries and cultural differences.
Brands and designers have also embraced this movement in the past few years, new up and coming brands show up every day with new showcases of big heavy hoodies, baggy jeans with unique cuts all throughout, boxy t-shirts. GVGALLERY a Local Seattle brand has popularized the style of boxy silhouettes with loose pants that almost invite you to pair a bold chunky pair of shoes. The fashion industry’s responsiveness to the word of the consumer has further solidified these trends.
One of many reasons that the youth has picked up baggy clothes, is because a trend within the youth is to follow trends themselves, fashion trends are often revisiting different decades and picking apart the trends within. Baggy clothing pays its respects to the ‘90s and early 2000’s streetwear and hip-hop culture. The aesthetic appeals to younger generations seeking their own sense of style.
The music industry also plays an important role in emphasizing the style of baggy clothing, historically baggy clothing was huge among many artists and music groups, the Teriyaki Boyz, Lil Jon, Pharell Williams, and newer artists like Lil Yachty and his group Concrete Family. Today’s youth being impressionable has adapted the loose silhouettes they see their idols wear. Keeping them in a cultural circle.
Additionally as the norms of fashion shift towards body positivity and inclusivity it has brought up the popularity of baggy clothes and the comfort of dad shoes, oversized garments offering a more forgiving and inclusive style, allowing people of different shapes and sizes to feel confident and comfortable in their outfits, and to match the comfortability of the baggy clothing is a pair of New Balances or Asics with their fashionable and comfortable roster of shoes to select from.
Furthermore the consumer has also influenced these big major brands to focus on the chunky silhouette of the dad shoe, some notable brands to be like Balenciaga pushing their models like the “Runner: which could be said to resemble a pair of Asic Gel-Kayano 14, and Nike to push out more colorways of their past model the Nike Dunk SB. Louis Vuitton also hopping on the trend with the release of the Louis Vuitton “LV Skate Sneaker”
With the popularity of baggy clothes among the youth blowing up so has thrifting, going to a rack to see if you can find anything that looks nice even if it is 10 more sizes up than your normal waist size, or a shirt or hoodie up two sizes. Looking for Levi Silver tabs, Anchor Blue Baggy, South Poles, Coogi’s, Cahartt Double Knees, Dickies Carpenters, and Roca Wear Jeans to name a few. The hours of digging through the racks to find a pair of jeans you’ll end up wearing religiously is something everyone needs to experience at least once.
Some social media creators i would like to pay respects to for being able to put on the youth to such an amazing style are Cyril Roy Palmer “C Roy” profound skater sponsored by adidas who’s been rocking the baggy aesthetic since 2016, as it worked well when skating through long beach, California. Being able to dress up and dress down the iconic silhouette incorporating workwear, skatewear, dresswear, and athleisure Bringing in a wide selection of shoes, Nike Dunk SB, Adidas Sambas, Doc Marten Loafers, Bapestas, Air Jordan 1 & 4’s to name a few.
Another Creator I would like to highlight is Davin Brunson, two time runway model for Givenchy, Matthew Willaims of 1017 Alyx, and AKNVAS. Owner of the brand “creationz_by_dav”. One of tik toks biggest fashion creators. Dav is someone who will put anything he can find together, layering different styles over each other. Who would originally get his popularity over the summer of 2023 by working on one of the biggest shoes of the summer, customizing his Adidas Sambas with patches of flannel throughout the shoe, he would continue to make and revamp his own clothing. Making unique collared work jackets, The “I ♥️’D YOU LIKE KANYE LOVES KANYE” shirt. And his iconic saying “It’s another day, another reason why you should get fly.”
The popularity of baggy clothes and shoes can point towards the comfort, nostalgia, and individual expression of the past eras of fashion. The relaxed fit of baggy clothes resonates with the desire of being comfortable and fly in fashion, while dad shoes tap into a nostalgic part of our brains, that redefines what it means to be stylish. Both these aesthetics break away from traditional fashion norms, allowing for a unique and personal approach to self expression. As the new cycles of waves and fashion hit the next generation of youth to come. I can proudly say that I and many others will always be able to look back at this time and not regret a thing.