It’s been five years since the Seoul label Pushbutton (founded by former K-pop star Seung Gung Park) sent one-legged jeans down the runway. At the time, the fashion world was perplexed – who wants to leave one leg wind-swept and cold while the other is safely encased in denim? But it seems the curious trend has slowly and stealthily gained steam. This past fashion month, one-legged pants were spotted on the runway at Coperni, Bottega Veneta and Louis Vuitton. This comes after Puppets and Puppets and Eckhaus Latta both presented one-legged looks at their SS23 shows, and TikTok creators like Sara Camposarcone DIYed the style. With something clearly afoot in the one-legged fashion department, we’re left with one burning question – why?
Trend forecaster Agus Panzoni says fashion’s one-legged trend is simply a natural progression from the asymmetry trend. “Back in 2021, I discussed the rise of ‘sculptural styling’ – a no-stitch DIY practice that encouraged people to reimagine their wardrobes through cutting, layering, and wrapping, using their bodies as canvases for clothing customisation,” she says. “Consumers began experimenting with silhouettes, moving beyond traditional symmetries and predefined categories, and asymmetry has grown in prominence since then.” Asymmetry seems to have been dialled up a notch this season, particularly in the Rick Owens SS25 show, which made the case for mismatched boots. And this, according to Panzoni, all coincides with a time when fashion is heavily leaning toward personalisation. “Trends like bag charms, customised Sambas, and the rise of ‘clothing jewellery’ reflect a growing desire for consumers to individualise their wardrobes,” she says.
Wearability naturally comes into question when it comes to one-legged pants. But many may be willing to part with one pant leg if it aids in their ultimate journey towards customisation. “One-legged pants retain the exploratory essence of sculptural styling while also offering a more prescriptive framework that encourages experimentation on the leg that remains exposed,” says Panzoni. “There’s an interesting dichotomy here: on the one hand, it prescribes the one-legged look; on the other, it provides a canvas for additional customisation.” Still, Jalil Johnson, personal stylist and author of the Consider Yourself Cultured newsletter, envisions that one-legged fashion will only be wearable when going out. “I see this as an interesting take on evening wear specifically,” he says. “I feel like you have to wear these pants with a high heel or heeled boot, and they will look great with a blazer.”
Johnson has a separate theory for why one-legged pants and mismatched shoes may take over: chaos. “Right now, we’re at an interesting point where it doesn’t feel like there’s a true novelty in silhouette,” he says. “There does feel like there’s a plateau in the design landscape, and one-legged pants are interesting because they’re jarring.” According to Johnson, wearing one-legged pants is a way to dress for an uncertain future. But for forward-thinking brands like the Ukrainian-based fashion studio Ksenia Schnaider, the future of pants has always been asymmetrical. The brand released half-slim, half-flared jeans in 2019, born from a desire to break fashion’s rules of symmetry. “I asked myself, ‘Why does everything need to be perfectly balanced?’ says Ksenia Schnaider, co-founder of the brand. “That’s when the idea struck: why not combine two different cuts?”
If you’re looking for the meaning of why one-legged pants even exist, it’s worth taking a leaf out of Schneider’s book and asking yourself, why not? While no one could have prepared the designer for the wave of interest that followed the asymmetrical jean release (Jimmy Fallon joked about them on his show, and even Celine Dion wore a pair), the multiple memes led to actual sales. There’s a strong chance that the same thing will happen with one-legged pants. We can joke about it being Angel Reese’s impact and indulge in leg puns all we want, but the reality is that one-legged pants are a clear continuation of our attempt to break free from fashion’s rule book. “I believe this exploration of shape will extend beyond asymmetry,” says Panzoni. “One-legged pants are a hybrid between pants and shorts, and I expect to see hybrid styles continue to grow both on and off the runway.” Next up: half floor-length pants, half underwear.
