Kendrick Lamar’s Flares Bring Back 90s Staple

Kendrick Lamar’s flared jeans from the Super Bowl halftime show have sparked a debate about fashion trends. The Compton-born rapper wore designer Hedi Slimane’s washed denim pants, which featured a distinctive flare at the knee. While some critics labeled his style as outdated and gender-inappropriate, others saw it as a nod to the recent resurgence of flares in both menswear and womenswear.

Hedi Slimane, former creative director of Celine, designed the iconic jeans, which have been spotted on various celebrities including Brad Pitt and Colman Domingo. The trend has been seen on runways at Paris Fashion Week, with Louis Vuitton’s recent “dandy streetwear” collection featuring flared pants.

Pharrell Williams, Louis Vuitton’s menswear creative director, also wore leather flares to a show in Japan. Other brands like Rick Owens and Marni have incorporated boot-cut pants into their designs. The trend is not limited to fashion week or awards shows; hip-hop stars are embracing the style as well.

Kendrick Lamar’s influence on fashion cannot be denied. His approval of flared jeans may prove a significant moment in shaping the current trend. As one user put it, “Kendrick single-handedly just brought back boot-cut jeans.” The rapper’s seal of approval has helped popularize the style, blurring the line between streetwear and high-fashion.

Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/10/style/kendrick-lamar-super-bowl-flares-jeans-lotw/index.html