Everywhere we look, the ’80s are having a renaissance. From bold maximalist earrings and chunky bangles to nipped-waist blazers and structured tweed jackets, it’s hard to outrun the decade’s excess aesthetic right now. And while some items have been more readily accepted by the masses, others are still considered shocking news in 2023.
Once such pot-stirring style is bubble hems, and I’m sorry to say it, but they too are about to make a major comeback. We saw the first inklings of their return in the 2023 collections with several bubble-hem skirts and dresses from Khaite and Prada, but for spring 2024, designers went full-force on the voluminous silhouettes, so consider this your official warning: No matter your personal feelings on them, you’re going to be seeing a lot more of the balloon-like shapes at the turn of the year.
I don’t blame you if you associate the floofy shapes with an awkward middle-school dance or the wardrobe in 13 Going on 30, but I can assure you that the styles coming down the pipeline are much more sophisticated than they are retro. At Schiaparelli and Altuzarra, two-piece skirt sets were given the puffed-up treatment for maximum drama, but at Bally and Bottega Veneta, bubble hems came in the form of softer draping on dresses and skirts. Personally, I love the look of a bubble hem on a minidress with tights and heels for a holiday ensemble, but regardless, I’m sharing all the runway and influencer imagery of the trend so you can see for yourself.