Picture this: the year is 2001. Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake have just graced the red carpet of the American Music Awards in matching double-denim ensembles. Fashion history is made.
On the radio, Usher's "U Got It Bad" is dominating the charts. American Idol has just made its television debut, with thousands dialing in each week to cast votes for their favorite contestants. It's a simpler, purer time — low rise jeans and all.
If you’ve been feeling nostalgic for the early aughts, or if the pandemic has made you think once or twice about (gasp) dusting off your old Juicy Couture tracksuit in all its velour glory, then we’ve got good news for you: Y2K fashion is back, baby.
Evidence of its resurgence is everywhere — from Bella Hadid’s butterfly clips and trucker hats to Olivia Rodrigo’s Grammy choker. In what feels like a true time warp, Jennifer Lopez and and Ben Affleck have even made our early-2000s dreams come true by rekindling their romance.
As is the case with most of today’s cool trends, Gen Z is the culprit. And the latest early-millennium garment to get the TikTok treatment is (drum roll please): the skort.
Summer's Hottest "It" Item
Aside from being the TikTok generation's new favorite throwback, the Sport Skort is also the star of our latest Activewear collection. It's hard to believe this once-dorky, primary school staple is now the epitome of cool, but we're here for it (so long as we never have to give up high-waisted jeans).
Despite the skort's long hiatus from the fashion scene, we'd be lying if we said we weren't secretly thrilled to see it make a comeback on our social feeds and this season's high fashion runways.
When it came to putting our own spin on the skirt-short-hybrid, like any good summer staple, we knew it needed to be cute, comfy, and frictionless. Oh, and that it would need pockets — lots of pockets.
The results? A lightweight and stretchy athleisure essential that marries functionality and fashion — whether we're crushing it at the court or crushing on our date at happy hour.
The Skort Archives
You may be wondering: how is it, exactly, that we arrived at this cultural moment? You're not alone.
Last year, TikToker @talllivingtiny made headlines for seemingly “discovering” the skort. The social app immediately launched into a tailspin and everyone over the age of 25 snickered at the 90s relic.
Little did we know, the skort's expansive history actually predates the early aughts. In a surprisingly feminist twist, the skort first entered the scene in the 1850s when bloomers were worn under skirts to allow women to move more freely than the unwieldy hems that were all the rage at the time.
Referred to as “trouser skirts,” the pant-skirt-crossbreed was quite rebellious for its time. In fact, it was so ingenious that it had a hand in revolutionizing women’s sports in America. By the mid-century, women had taken to wearing shorts underneath their skirts to more easily engage in outdoor activities and sports.
Flash forward to today and the skort's fashionable functionality is experiencing a major revival. In keeping with the 20-year trend cycle, Y2K style is undergoing a fresh and hyper-referential rebrand.
Just as it first reached its peak post-recession in 2008 when laid-back fashion was in favor, the pandemic has also spurred a penchant for loungewear and easy-to-wear basics.
Versatility, too, has become key — something the skort has in spades. The adaptable piece works like a charm on and off the court, whether you’re working up a sweat, running errands, or dressing it up with low heels and a denim jacket.
With summer looming, looks like it’s time to resurrect our tamagotchis, adorn our hands with Ring Pops, and embrace the halcyon days of 2005 with the season’s latest “it” item. Besides, thigh chafing is so 2021.