Y2K fashion was all about the subversive. The ultra-low-slung jeans, the slinky tops, the teeny-tiny sunglasses—anything to give a sartorial fuck-you to older generations. The resurgence of trends of that era has brought with it another blasphemous love-to-hate-it style: the cargo pant. Rihanna has been trying to bring them back for years and they have since earned the Loewe seal of approval.
This time around, designers have elevated that style, reimagining fabrications, silhouettes, and most important, styling, to convince us that it is, well, chic. A silhouette defined by its pocket, cargo pants are boxy in fit and can either fall to the floor in a wide-leg silhouette or taper off to the ankle, depending on the designer's preference. A staple at Tibi, Jacquemus, and Dion Lee, cargo pants have been worn on the streets by everyone from Bella Hadid to Sarah Jessica Parker.The trick, as with everything else, is to steer your other pieces in the opposite direction. Lean into the idea of dressing like Kim Possible with a slinky top or bodysuit that counterbalances the bulk of the pants. A boxy sweater or blouse will pair nicely with a high-rise option that will create a natural waist. To finish things off, we recommend a strappy sandal.
Top photo: Getty
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