Is Gen-Z saying no to the concept that style should mean discomfort? The answer is a definite yes. Fashion-wise, the most popular shoes these days are not pencil heels but Mary Janes, loafers, sneakers, block heels, and ballet flats. It is a transition of fashion from 'look good, hurt later' to 'look good, feel good'.
Skinny jeans should perhaps be considered out of the spotlight now. The street style and social media are full of loose-fit pants, flared trousers, and wide-leg styles. The question of whether comfort can be chic has been answered by Gen Z, styling and freedom of movement are not mutually exclusive.
Bollywood celebs like Ananya Panday, Khushi Kapoor, Suhana Khan, Shanaya Kapoor, and Janhvi Kapoor demonstrate that flats, sweatshirts, flared jeans, and sneakers can be both stylish and wearable. Whether it is typical urban outfits or red carpet looks, comfy fashion is present everywhere.
The popularity of oversized sweatshirts, baseball caps, and sweatpants is a testimony to the fact that athleisure is not just a trend but a lifestyle choice. The generation of the Internet is mixing the practical with the fashionable without any hesitation, which makes casual wear look effortlessly cool.
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When new trends come up, Gen Z takes them on but modifies them for comfort. The example of loafers is quite illustrative: the ‘Quiet Luxury’ movement has been instrumental in the rise of the trend, presenting the idea that fashion that is useful and easy to wear is at the core of most choices.
Whether it is shoes or pants, athleisure or loafers, comfort-core is the concept that governs Gen Z’s fashion philosophy. Style and comfort are not two different things; they can even be combined, and Gen Z is setting an example.
Do you still hold the opinion that fashion has to be painful to be visually appealing, or do you believe style and comfort go perfectly together? The generation of the Internet is on the side of the latter, and the trend seems to be lasting for quite a while.
