Is it really reasonable to... wear ultra-wide trousers? JEAN-MICHEL TIXIER FOR M LE MAGAZINE DU MONDE
W
hile the much-dreaded return of the skinny fit has been heralded for months, with countless incantatory headlines in the fashion press, it is reassuring to see that its comeback has yet to materialize. On the contrary, a simple glance at our surroundings clearly shows that we remain in a period when trouser legs continue to widen.
It is no longer uncommon to come across young women and men in public spaces dressed in such voluminous styles that one could cut an entire matching jacket from the excess fabric without sacrificing any of the fullness. From a purely aesthetic standpoint, the phenomenon can feel somewhat irritating. Swallowing shoes and upsetting the balance of proportions, these excessively wide trousers serve as a reminder that in matters of dress, excess can easily turn into irrelevance.
Nevertheless, this verdict deserves to be put in perspective by considering the cultural context. Over time, trousers – and, more specifically, their cut – have become an unmistakable marker of youth movements and rebellion. In practical terms, no other item of clothing better defines the hippies than bell-bottoms. Similarly, so-called "ankle-skimming" trousers will forever be associated with mods and minets [French youth subcultures from the 1960s], while narrow jeans will remain eternally linked to punks and other rebellious rockers.
