To answer that, let’s go back a bit. Every generation has its signature denim. Boomers had bell-bottoms. Gen X had acid wash. Gen Z has ultra-baggy wide legs. Millennials? We had ripped denim. If you remember, the style hit its peak in the 2010s, when nearly every pair of jeans came pre-distressed. Holey skinnies from brands like Rag & Bone, J Brand, FRAME and AG became wardrobe staples. Knees were blown out. Thighs were shredded. Celebrities like Kate Moss and the Olsen twins rarely stepped out without a perfectly destroyed pair. And, most importantly, they were worn with moto jackets, chambray shirts, peplum tops and, yes, infinity scarves. Like many trends tied closely to one generation, ripped jeans eventually became an easy punchline. The internet declared them cheugy. To Gen Z, the perfectly placed knee rip became a dead giveaway that you were born some time in the early ‘80s.. And just like that, holes in your jeans looked less fashion-forward and more like evidence that you hadn’t updated your closet since…the Obama administration.
So Why Exactly Are Ripped Jeans Coming Back?
Fashion loves a comeback almost as much as it loves declaring something over. So I was hardly surprised to see this newest iteration of the trend on the runways this year. The difference is that today’s distressed denim isn’t quite so over-the-top. Instead of shredded skinny jeans, designers are distressing relaxed straight-leg silhouettes, loose boyfriend fits and baggy jeans. The rips are less manufactured and more lived-in, if you will.
Is This Peak Millennial?
Maybe. But fashion always turns yesterday’s cringe into tomorrow’s must-have. Let’s not forget we once declared ballet flats dead and then brought them back. Same with jelly shoes. And, even capri pants. At some point, cringe stops being an insult and starts looking like the first stage of a comeback. Perhaps ripped jeans were never the problem. Perhaps we just got tired of defending them. Now that the runway has spoken, millennials can finally stop pretending they donated that favorite pair that made you remember to shave your knees. They’re probably still folded in the back of the closet, waiting for their victory lap.
