Picture this: it’s 2009, you’ve got your digital camera ready to take some snaps at your friend’s house party to upload to Facebook tomorrow and you’re glammed up in leather leggings and your new go-to peplum top… No one wants to relive that era of fashion, right?
Wrong!
At yet another Wicked premiere, Ariana Grande proved that the peplum is ready for a modern comeback.
Another day, another Wicked premiere, and another bubblegum pink, method-dressing moment from Ariana Grande. This time, the spotlight was on New York City, where Grande brought back a divisive Millennial trend: the peplum.
Her latest Wicked-inspired look was a bright pink satin gown featuring a sleeveless, corseted bodice with a sweetheart neckline and gathered bust, paired with an elegant maxi skirt. The most polarising element? A voluminous bubble peplum detail at the hips. The peplum, a once-beloved trend of the 2010s, had its moment before falling out of favour, but it has been making subtle comebacks on recent red carpets. Emma Stone channelled a similar vibe at the 2024 Oscars, and Kate Hudson sported her own satin peplum gown just last month.
But, what can we learn from these a-listers and how can we style peplum for 2024 and beyond? We spoke with Megan Watkins, Head Stylist at online fashion destination SilkFred, who has shared her top tips.
On the rise of the trend, Megan reveals: “Grande’s dramatic peplum wasn’t a complete surprise to those with a finger on the pulse of the latest trends, with celebs including Gabrielle Union and Lupita Nyong’o also showing off peplum-inspired red carpet looks earlier this year at the Oscars. The trend has been simmering in the background for some time as you might remember from last year’s viral TikTok video by Jade Brandt (@itsmejadeb) which sent Gen-Z into a frenzy and signalled a revival of the ‘business casual in the club’ trend.”
“Millennials’ fondness for combining office-worthy pieces like blazers and blouses for a night out was once considered a fashion faux pas – but it seems as if the tables are turning. It seems as if a revamped version of ‘business casual in the club’ is poised to shake up the fashion scene with peplum silhouettes leading the charge.”
On how to style the trend, Megan Watkins, Head Stylist at Silkfred, shares her thoughts with us: “The key to styling this nostalgic trend lies in mastering the proportions. To keep it modern and flattering, balance the structured waistline with wide-leg trousers or jeans—this creates a sleek, elongated silhouette and avoids the odd proportioning that we regret from the Noughties, when all we knew was skinny jeans or – dare I say it – jeggings.”
“For a more elevated take, a peplum jacket is a brilliant investment, as we saw Kendall Jenner rock in head-to-toe red. Takes on the trend, like those seen in Seán McGirr’s debut collection for Alexander McQueen this season or softer, tailored styles from archival Givenchy add instant structural interest to your outfit. Whether you’re opting for casual or couture, peplum’s ability to define the waist makes it a surprisingly versatile statement piece that we can definitely get into this party season.”
