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The billowing silhouette of harem and balloon pants is back in focus, as seen on the spring 2026 runways of New York Fashion Week.
The trend gained runway momentum last year when luxury houses, including Alaïa, Chloé and Loewe, revisited the formerly outdated bottoms as statement pieces for spring 2025. Now, Michael Kors, Brandon Maxwell, Adam Lippes and Ashlyn have also embraced the voluminous trousers revival.
Kors led the harem pants resurgence with his show at Manhattan’s Terminal Warehouse on Thursday. “The show and this collection are very much laid-back, but it’s elegant. It’s sensual, not shrink-wrap sexy,” he told WWD backstage. His collection featured liquid draping “seen through fabulous ballooning harem pants,” WWD’s senior market editor Emily Mercer described.
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Maxwell included balloon pants in his 10th anniversary spring runway show, taking a different route than Kors. Instead of bohemian-inspired trousers, Maxwell brought voluminous bottoms made of leather with utilitarian details to the runway.
Inspired by Japanese philosophy, Lippes created a spring collection filled with softer fabrics and fluid lines. One of the highlights was his harem trousers, made of silk jacquard and sheer chiffon.
In August, harem pants were also trending during Copenhagen Fashion Week, with Nicklas Skovgaard and The Garment showcasing their cinched-waist, ankle-tapered trousers on the runway.
Harem or balloon pants seen in recent collections are a sophisticated evolution from their original bohemian incarnations, featuring cleaner lines, refined fabrics and streamlined silhouettes. Their comeback reinforced the move toward comfort-driven volume, with baggy and cargo pants also positioning themselves as strong contenders for spring 2026’s hottest trend.
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