Long-Live Sweatpants Nation: 2021 Fashion Trends

To all professors who are irked by students dressed in pajamas during their lectures, close

To all professors who are irked by students dressed in pajamas during their lectures, close your ears. In terms of the fashion-realm, all us lazily-clothed college students are up to par, after all. After 2020’s oversized, loungewear fashion trended due to COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, it seems that 2021 will be no different.

The fashion industry suffered in 2020, the New York Times calling it “the industry’s worst year in history.” Yet, if a clothing item could win MVP, it would be sweatpants, whose sales increased by 80{409126f2c1f09c9e510a010c163a4bce2c3ccfc4019bdf864d6cb2d5d8752f38} by April while clothing sales fell 79{409126f2c1f09c9e510a010c163a4bce2c3ccfc4019bdf864d6cb2d5d8752f38}.

It turns out that capitalism’s loss is social construct’s gain.

The shift away from form-fitting, midriff-flossing, make-you-feel-like-a-sausage-casing clothing has empowered women in America who are not Instagram or GymShark models.

As a female athlete, my body has never looked slim even in my best shape. Tight clothing could accentuate my curves but never left me looking like the women fashion-gurus on Instagram or Tiktok. So, this shift to athleisure comfort-clothing is a relief.

Even top-name designers are catching on to the new norm in their Spring 2021 collection launches. Much to the dismay of fashion-experts hoping 2021 comes with a desire for heightened fashion after a year of stir-crazy frustration, names like Michael Kors, Versace and Valentino — to name a few — are fueled by relaxed glamour.

In essence, the new trends are by-products of the consumer’s demand to be comfortable while looking attractive enough on Zoom calls.

Skinny jeans and bodycon-styles are tossed away alongside the body-shaming norms they inherently enable. Make way for wide-leg trousers, hidden cutouts in loose-fitting attire, and lots of flowy material.

Effortless fashion includes spicing up leisurewear with monochromatic color-blocking, layering, and pairing normal bralettes with oversized blazers.

Beauty is no longer pain.

According to Vogue, even high-end fashion industries are up-cycling their unused material to create new lines.

This is great news for balling-on-a-budget college students, like myself, who worship their trips to Plato’s Closet and Goodwill. It is official, thrifting is eco-friendly and COVID-fashion approved.

In other words, sorry moms and professors, it’s not a phase. Long-live sweatpants nation.