The whispers of slimmer fitting silhouettes have been swirling on the runways: Indie sleaze-leaning skinny jeans at McQueen and Balenciaga, to the more Parisian chic straight leg and cropped trousers of Chanel, while Boss and Marni herald closer fit capris as a perfect springtime piece. Now, the cigarette pants of the ’80s are stepping to the fore.
Named after the distinctive shape of their leg, the cigarette pants are characterized by their slim silhouette and straight cut from knee to ankle, reminiscent of the shape of a cigar. Their length, which usually grazes the ankle area, evokes the stylings of chic women from decades gone by and a sartorial sense of nostalgia, the close fit and flash of an ankle, together, a moment of sensuality. Beyond some of the most iconic women of all time shimmying into some cigarette pants (from Princess Diana to Sarah Jessica Parker and, today, Bella Hadid), they represent the perfect hybrid between skinny and straight cut, an alternative for those who were previously wronged by the skinny jean supremacy of the mid ’00s. (Us included).
Considering the jeans we’ll see from spring lurching into summer, you can’t help but notice the retro aesthetic resurgence rearing its head once again. There’s still the emphasis on Y2K-inspired, low-rise silhouettes a la the bootcut jeans making more of an appearance in Bella Hadid’s current denim rotation, as well as the denim capri and more cropped styles. The cigarette jeans revival totally makes sense, as a soft launch into the trendy slimmer fits. With cigarette jeans, the hips are hugged but the legs still have an element of relax.
Unsure of how to style cigarette pants? Want to venture into cigarette jeans? Shimmy on up.
How to wear the ’80s cigarette pants this season
The spring 2025 fashion trends continue to make reference to the past, salvaging pieces from an era where they were at their peak in popularity. Firstly, we can take some sartorial inspiration for how the cigarette jeans of the ’80s were first styled, and what enchanted the most stylish set of celebrities to don them:
Ripped cigarette jeans with folded hems and a crisp white t-shirt
Photo: Getty Images
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