I'm Sorry in Advance, But 2025 Is the Year Skinny Pants Make a Grand Comeback

As far as trends go, every season brings with it a bucket of new silhouettes, colors, and overall ideas to tap into, but that's not to say that every single area of our closets always needs a complete overhaul. There are certain areas where the trend cycle moves at a much slower pace. Trouser styles, and pants, in general, tend to move at an especially glacial pace, cycling in and out a decade and some change at a time, which means that when a shift does happen for our go-to trousers, it's newsworthy. Well, you may not like what I'm about to say next, but I can state with confidence that we're entering a new era of skinny pants.

Gen Z may want to cover their ears for this one because while oversize slouchy shapes are the default trouser style, the roots of a skinny-pant comeback have been taking hold and the spring/summer 2025 runways spoke loud and clear: The tides are officially turning. Don't criticize me—I'm only the messenger here! The trend bubbled up primarily at Milan Fashion Week where Prada, Sportmax, Tod's, and Marni all showed trousers and even several legging looks defined by an ultra-slim and closely tailored fit. To be fair, the capri-pant trend and cigarette trousers like the Lafayette 148 Gramercy Pants several of our editors own were probably both foreshadowing of what was to come. Ahead, get the download on the skinny-pants comeback, and don't be surprised to see them hitting the market en masse come March.

On the S/S 2025 runways: Sportmax

If I could point to just one example of 2025's skinny pants to convince you how chic they can be, I'd pull up the Sportmax runway. The collection featured slim-fitting trousers that were perfectly tailored throughout the leg before subtly flaring out right at the top of the shoes. Most people fear skinny trousers because they do nothing but hug your figure and then stop above the ankles, but this shape is much a fresher and more forward way to wear them.

On the S/S 2025 runways: Proenza Schouler

Proenza Schouler opened NYFW, with designers Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez making a bold claim: Layering with leggings is fashionable again. Styled underneath long coats and midi dresses, leggings that zip at the ankles peeked out where we'd otherwise see bare legs, and it gave the looks a cool sporty tone that feels altogether more forward than the dresses-over-pants combos we saw throughout the early 2000s.

On the S/S 2025 runways: Tod's

The Italians have the right idea. Similarly to Sportmax, Tod's models embraced skinny trousers with an interesting ankle situation. The pants pooled around the ankles for a slouchy detail that contrasts their slim shape flawlessly. When styled with single-breasted blazers and strappy sandals, it might just be the blueprint for all cool suiting looks this spring.

On the S/S 2025 runways: Prada

At Prada, Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons kicked off the show with a handful of ribbed-knit leggings paired with (apparently useless) leather belts and brogues. They range in color from charcoal gray to cobalt blue and Barbie pink and make a good case for the return of skinny pants. This is the way we'll be wearing them next spring.

On the S/S 2025 runways: Marni

The Marni brand is rooted in innovative silhouettes and artistic collaborations, so, of course, the skinny pants that featured on designer Francesco Risso's spring 2025 runway were far from plain. Instead, the Mad Hatter–esque collection was replete with nautical hats, capes, and seafoam-green hues that lent the solid black and white leggings a '50s-Audrey Hepburn couture sort of feel. Leggings as pants, indeed!