Red Alert: From Jil Sander for women, cargos go hot in unexpected red with zipper and pocket details on jacket and pants. (PRNewsFoto)
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Cargo Pants Make a Sexy Comeback
NEW YORK, (PRNewswire) March 23, 2003 - Just when you thought cargo pants were out, they're suddenly back in again, and touted this time around by big designer names such as Hugo Boss, Prada, Helmut Lang and Ralph Lauren.
Perhaps it's the drumbeats of war, or the cyclical nature of fashion, or both, that is influencing the current cargo pant trend. Whatever the reason, these garments are being seen in both the men's and women's markets, updated to be style-conscious yet with their utilitarian roots intact.
For men, the look is more adventure-driven on the whole, be it military or hiking-inspired with side pockets and zippers galore for the ubiquitous cell phone or PDA. Other details might include an open bottom or an elastic ankle. And there are also some drapey looks for men, which have a loose resort feel, and echo what's happening in women's wear.
In the women's market, cargo pants are back better than ever, thanks to interesting new cuts and garnitures. Today's incarnations can have a flared bottom, a tied ankle or be capri length; have a drawstring waist or belt loops.
According to the Cotton Incorporated Lifestyle Monitor(TM), men and women own an average of eight pairs of casual slacks. Chances are, this trend will lead to increased sales in this category, particularly in cargo pants.
Tom Julian, an analyst for Fallon Worldwide, an award-winning advertising agency based in Minneapolis, says, "The trend has come full circle since its influx year (around 1997). Now the cargo silhouette gets a second lease on apparel life with streamlined details and unexpected fabrics."
Says Jeffrey Kalinsky, owner of Jeffrey New York, which caters to a hip, fashion-conscious crowd. "We started to see cargos for resort, got some in and have already sold them out. By the end of the season, it emerged as a trend."
Women's cargo pants have a drapier feel than men's, adds Kalinsky, "so you could almost wear them out for an evening paired with a stiletto."
The retailer is also carrying styles by Jil Sander, Balenciaga and Dior. "The men's pants definitely have a cooler, more rugged edge than the women's, which are sexier. And I didn't buy any for men that weren't cotton," he relates.
"Cargo pants are so basic, so versatile," says Joie Rucker, designer for Joie Jeans. "We see girls in their early teens all the way up to women in their late sixties wearing our pants."
Julie Myklebust, assistant buyer, women's, at Mario's of Seattle says, "Every spring and fall we send our clients a card of must-haves and cargos were on that list. They're very huge for spring. We just started looking at fall and I wouldn't be surprised if the trend is still going on."
Retailers are hoping the newly styled cargo pant will give consumers added incentive to buy this spring, and it looks as though it just might -- the Monitor reports that 52% of men and 59% of women are planning more changes in their apparel wardrobe.
Jil Sander also is offering an assortment of cargo pants for spring. "We used a lot of sporty and military details to create a new, fresh sportswear with extremely new fabrics and many zipper details," says Milan Vukmirovic, creative director and designer. "All of these elements make for elegant and comfortable clothes that are more modern than ever before."
They say what goes around comes around -- and that certainly is true of this fashion basic. But this time, innovative cotton fabrics and interesting details mark a new chapter in the latest cargo story.
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