Cargo Denim Is The Latest Anti-Skinny Jeans Trend

It’s been over a year since TikTok declared skinny jeans to be over, and denim trends continue to deliver on that promise. For proof, see the season’s street style featuring every It girl out there wearing cargo pants like it’s 2003. 

Take, for example, celebrities like Hailey Bieber, Bella Hadid, and Kylie Jenner, who have endorsed the trend, while designers like Versace, Blumarine, and Hermès have included them in their spring and fall 2023 lineups.

Cargo pants have been on the rise for a few seasons now, though, with everyone from Rihanna and Dua Lipa to Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner wearing the no-purse-needed trouser style from the ‘90s and early 2000s. While some have taken a more utilitarian approach to the look — Bella Hadid wore army green low-rise cargo pants with chunky boots — others are making a case for wearing the style on more formal occasions— like Zendaya who matched a white pair of cargo pants with a metallic chain top on the red carpet. The throwback trend is resonating so much with consumers that Lyst included UK-based brand Jaded London's cargo pants as one of 2022's biggest products.

On the runways, designers showed club-ready versions of cargo pants, as well as styles more suited for errands. Y2K-ready brand Blumarine showed a set of denim cargo pants with flared hems for spring 2023. Meanwhile, Versace opted for cargo pants in satin textiles, paired with going-out tops.

The good news about the comeback is that the modern-day versions of the look are pretty versatile when it comes to styling. As corsets and other Regency-inspired accessories, like opera gloves, continue their reign, they provide an ideal pairing for cargo jeans for a night out. Meanwhile, butterfly tops and platform sandals are better suited for the spring days ahead.

If you still need some convincing, take a look at some of the options below.