Low Waist Denims At An All Time High In The World Fashion Scene?

For decades now, fashion trends have lived and died within a span of a few years after gaining huge momentum (like skinny jeans), a way of depicting how consumers of fast fashion will be hooked to a trend due to its likeability by celebrities, models and influencers but will lose interest after the hype simmers down. 

Unpredictability of Fashion

The unpredictability in the fashion industry is real and wholly depends on how attractive and feasible a trend can be in the long run. Wide jeans have been a staple fashion trend which started in mid 90s but have been gaining tremendous trajectory, why? It is because consumers are appalled by its variety of boot leg, baggy, wide, flares, palazzo and so on have given them a lot of choices. Secondly, the very important aspect is comfort, something that attracts consumers on a daily basis and when a trend takes place it is celebrities and influencers who then make 'statement pieces' and 'iconic looks' to get people hooked on them and the brands. This not only gives consumers styling inspiration but also an urge to purchase something similar to be in the ongoing space of fashion and likeability. 

To narrow down even further, one such trend is low waist. Now this trend has seen a wavy growth where it was a hit in the 90s and 2000s but soon high waist jeans and pants took over and now we see a revival of low waist. From red carpet looks to street wear, this look has dominated recently and makes us wonder if fashion trends ever truly die? 

McQueen's Arrival and How it Revolutionised Low Rise Fashion Forever

The informal origin of the low waist has been speculative since many believe it was always a trademark for rock and roll music and bands, some say it was originally crafted out of prison uniforms since they were always saggy and needed a thread or belt to stay uptight while others say it was Britney Spears who wore low cut apparel in the 2000s and made a statement. In the realms of Fashion Industry it was Alexander McQueen who formally introduced low rise jeans in his first fashion show which was an instant hit.

The pants were called 'bumster pants' due to the low cut design from the back. For McQueen the inspiration was not Rock and roll, prison pants or Britney Spears, it was his idea of human body. According to him the back just above the bottom of the spine is the most erotic part of the human body and he wanted to create an illusion of an elongated body by lowering down the pants as much as possible. 

Red Carpet Looks Obsessed with Low Waist!

Since then, low-rise jeans hit the market and consumers have been unstoppable. Another few catalysts were singers and the celebrities during the red carpets in the mid 90s and 2000s showing off their low rise pants and dresses. Some very famous looks were Keira Knightley in the 2003 Pirates of the Caribbean World Premiere, Halle Berry in 2002 Oscars, Rose McGowan in 1998 VMAs with a see through chain dress (although she attempted to wear it in order to regain the agency of her body after a harassment case that had ensued), Jennifer Aniston in Fight Club Premiere 1999 and others. Their association with designer brands fueled consumers to the ongoing trend more than it should have. Yet the designs have evolved over time, initially starting off as skinny low rise jeans, today we see baggy or wide low-rise jeans making it all the more comfortable for consumers. 

This fashion trend not only restricts itself to jeans and pants, we have seen many red carpets looks that have redefined the concept of low waist through their well crafted and sometimes unique low waist dresses and gowns. Starting from the evergreen Cher in the 1998 Oscars where she donned an exquisite two piece black dress which was designed low waist with a twist. Paris Hilton's 2003 MTV Movie Awards skirt and one shoulder top made headlines. In the 1999 Oscars when Celine Dion wore a suit backwards she gave a new meaning to low waist fashion. In 2021 Zendaya wore a Robert Cavalli gown with a low cut backless metal spine design and earlier a version of this gown was worn by Cate Blanchett in 2000 Oscars. 

Ode To Devil Wears Prada

These looks remind us how some trends never die and re-emerge, re-conceptualise themselves in the present day setting giving an ode to their previous versions and looks. Fashion Industry is one of the biggest industries of the world and it dominates all our lives in a predisposed way. It is in the very same context as Miranda Priestly gives her Cerulean Blue Sweater monologue, "it’s sort of comical how you think that you’ve made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when, in fact, you’re wearing a sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room… from a pile of “stuff.” "