This nostalgic fashion staple may be summer's hottest item

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The bubble hem’s origins can be traced back to 1958. However, when fashion houses including Chanel, Givenchy, Saint Laurent and Dior revealed modern iterations of the design, they took inspiration from the trend’s resurgence in the 1980s and 2000s.

The trend surged in popularity in the early ’80s after mega-stars and style icons like Madonna and Princess Diana wore different takes on the dropped-waist bubble skirt. Then, during the Y2K era, bubble-hem skirts became a decade-defining style thanks to socialites like Paris Hilton.

Today, the trend has once again emerged. That’s thanks to viral pieces such as Loewe’s Leather Bomber Jacket, which has been spotted on celebs like Hailey Beiber, Tracee Ellis Ross, Taylor Russell and Kendall Jenner. Other buzzy brands, including Jacquemus, Alaïa and Dauphinette, have featured bubble hems in their most recent runway shows. On TikTok, a search bubble skirts reveals hundreds of videos by creators showing off their styling of the trend.

“A big reason the bubble skirt is trending is overall nostalgia. It’s one of the reasons I find myself gravitating towards the trend,” Jenee’ Naylor (@jeneenaylor; 340,900 TikTok followers), fashion content creator and host of YouTube’s “Style Unlocked” fashion series, told Glossy. “The bubble skirt is one of those trends that is just now making its way back in style. It truly hasn’t had a moment yet, so I think it’s time. And it’s the perfect piece for summer. It’s fun, it’s easy, and it allows you to show some leg, which everyone is ready for after being bundled up all winter.”

To Naylor’s point, nostalgia has been the driving force behind many recent trends. A quick scroll on any social media platform will reveal Gen Z’s desire for items from the past. As such, brands that can authentically connect with their audience through nostalgic styles and moments are winning over the Gen Z consumer.

“If you’re a millennial like me, you may have memories of wearing bubble skirts during college and seeing all the 2000 ‘it’ girls wear them,” Naylor said. “[The bubble skirt] sparks a certain memory and feeling that you want to tap back into.”

Naylor said her current favorite bubble skirt is from luxury brand Alaïa. However, below, she shares a few affordable alternatives that are just as trendy and attention-grabbing.

Shop Naylor’s picks.

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