Controversial News: Bubble Hems Are Back

Trust me. No one was as aghast as I was when I saw that bubble hems had hit the runway. I was looking through images of Prabal Gurung's S/S 22 show when I spotted them, and all the disastrous outfits I wore back when I was, like, 12 years old came rushing back into my brain. Fast-forward some months, and there they were again—this time at Jason Wu's F/W 22 show, and then at Khaite, Prada, Proenza Schouler, Ulla Johnson, JW Anderson, Valentino, Molly Goddard, and Dauphinette for S/S 23. The more I realized I could not avoid this divisive trend returning from my childhood, the more I warmed up to the idea of wearing a bubble hem again.
The last time I wore the silhouette was probably middle school, but the current iterations are much more sophisticated than, say, the Limited Too and Delia's designs of yore. Sure, there's still an inherently youthful energy to them with all that flounce, but some styles are less exaggerated than others. Plus, it turns an otherwise simple skirt, dress, or even T-shirt into something a little more interesting with the fabric delicately pooled at the bottom. Below, I rounded up some inspiration straight from the runways and some bubble-hem pieces that you can shop right now if you've been converted like I have.
Bubble-Hem Skirts
With a netted top and marshmallow-like flatforms, the mix of textures in this bubble-hem outfit at Proenza's S/S 23 show is gorgeous.
Everything about Khaite just screams elegance, so it's no surprise that designer Catherine Holstein gave bubble hems her own sophisticated spin when showcasing the label's S/S 23 collection.
Bubble-Hem Dresses
Dauphinette unveiled a very exaggerated version of the trend for its S/S 23 presentation, but it's definitely a design you can't look away from.
When you mix '90s minimalism with the trend—like Prada did here for its S/S 23 show—it makes it much more elevated.
Bubble-Hem Tops
This crisp-white-shirt situation at Valentino's S/S 23 show is everything.
Next: The Most Dominant Color of the Season Is Also the Most Wearable

Lauren Adhav is a freelance fashion editor based in Los Angeles. Originally from Orlando, Florida, she got her start as the beauty and fashion editorial assistant at Cosmopolitan and worked her way up to fashion editor. She contributed to both the website and print issues, pitching new ideas, forecasting trends, covering red carpet events, and informing the overall coverage and brand voice.
After five years in NYC, she moved to Los Angeles. As a freelance fashion editor, she contributes to Cosmo, The Cut, and nowBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing . She also spends an unhealthy amount of time online shopping for the perfect piece, and now that she's in L.A., she's rediscovering her soft spot for malls.
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