Leg warmers and fluffy boots: when the 80s meet Y2K

Back in August we announced the imminent return of ballet slippers, for many a childhood nightmare, for others a romantic affectation to wear with any outfit. Thanks to TikTok, the ballet dancer look, straight out of the rehearsal room, has been back in fashion for a few months now, conquering the feeds with leotards, wrap sweaters, turtlenecks, shrugs, flared leggings, tight coats and tights. So it was only a matter of time before it was also the turn of the one garment that could cause a short circuit between the 80s and Y2K: leg warmers. Flashdance and Madonna's Hung, but also Mischa Barton and Pamela Anderson: Generation Z has rediscovered the leg warmer's legacy with more than 120 million views on the Chinese platform, perhaps in a slightly more grunge and DIY form than the vitamin colours that were in vogue during the aerobics boom era. Between DIY tutorials for leg warmers and a grungy vibe, the trend's revival seems to be dominated by neutral colours and different textures and does not skimp on catwalks and celebrities.

MiuMiu's FW22 collection was all about the preppy aesthetic, showcasing beige and grey cuffs paired with short skirts and pastel ballet slippers. Fendi Resort 2023, on the other hand, was all about practicality: satin jumpsuits featured mini pockets to hold cards and cash, while Vaquera's February version was maximalist and in shades of red. Billie Eilish showed up on the VMAs red carpet in an all-black look with cuffs and matching loafers, Bella Hadid combined them with a Chanel dress and blue heels, and Dua Lipa paid homage to "country style" when she wore knee-length cuffs made of faux fur, which she captioned "farm-girl". But it was Kendall Jenner who pioneered the trend when she combined a fur jacket, cut-off denim shorts and thigh-high leather cuffs in Paris in 2016. But there are also those who have gone far beyond knitted cuffs, experimenting with the eccentric fashion of fluffy boots, the crazy cousin of cuffs, the child of the 2000s, by Geordie Shore and a weekend in a chalet in Cartina D'Ampezzo.

Kylie Jenner wearing leg warmers

Billie wearing leg warmers

Chanel FW10

Moncler 2016

MiuMiu FW21

Bottega Veneta FW22

Msgm FW 22

Ottolinger FW22

Rick Owens FW22

Kendall Jenner wearing leg warmers

Dion Lee FW22

Rihanna wearing Saint Laurent furry boots

Rihanna wearing Manolo Blahnik furry boots

Bella Hadid wearing leg warmers

Chanel Fw10

They are called fluffy, furry or yeti boots, they do not have an exact name, but we are sure of one thing: fashion designers love them. The ski look was chosen by MiuMiu for its autumn/winter 2021 fashion show, models wore knitted balaclavas, voluminous skirts and colourful tights, paired with big, furry, black and brown boots that wrapped around the leg and knee and reminded us of Big Foot or Chewbacca. Last season, it was also the turn of Matthieu Blazy at Bottega Veneta, who presented a Mary Jane version in fuchsia tones, while Rick Owens and Ottolinger favoured the cut-out. Chanel presented its shaggy boots time and time again and in a variety of ways, but the FW10 looks are certainly the most iconic: knitted shorts and long logo necklaces paired with fluffy boots that reached up to the thighs. Chloé, Maison Margiela, Dolce & Gabbana have all embraced the 'snowman' aesthetic in the past, as did Jersey Shore's Snooki in 2010, Victoria Beckham, who wore white cargo trousers with fur-trimmed white boots in the early 2000s, and Rihanna, who wore a pair of fur-trimmed Saint Laurent boots in 2017. Now it's Generation Z's turn. The most eccentric generation is ready to wear thick fur boots to school, the supermarket and the bus stop.