A popular pair of Zara trousers has gone viral, but for all the wrong reasons. The flowy, wide-leg style has been nicknamed the 'Death Jean' by shoppers across Europe and the UK due to the number of injuries it appears to have caused wearers.
Even though more than 2,000 TikTok videos claim these pants have caused some form of injury, they are still available for purchase in Zara's EU stores and online.
Shoppers online claim the trousers are so wide and loose that they can easily get caught underfoot, causing wearers to trip. The trips can cause anything from a simple scrape on the knee to a fractured kneecap, depending on how hard the wearer is caught by the pant leg. According to these reports, the nickname 'Deadly Trousers' is well-earned.
TikTok user Holly Gilmer showed a photo of her busted knee, followed by one of her in a wheelchair and crutches, revealing she had fractured her kneecap in the fall. This report is only one of many Zara pant-related injuries that have flooded TikTok recently, with many viewers asking, 'What is going on with these pants?'
Fashion Trends That Came With Painful Price
However, this wide-leg style of pants is not exclusive to the Zara design. Many brands have been displaying wide-leg pants for years now, and people have gravitated to the looser style much more than tight-fitting jeans. When the 'skinny jean' fell out of style, the wide-leg or 'baggy' jean replaced it, making the tighter-fitting style seem outdated.
Even though these wide-leg pants do pose a tripping hazard, that does not stop buyers from wearing the style. After all, the link between fashion and discomfort is nothing new. Countless wardrobe staples, both past and present, have earned a reputation for causing pain, injury or other unexpected hazards.
Some fashion pieces that have famously caused pain for users include high heels, corsets, and ultra-tight jeans. The fashion industry has long overlooked comfort, and although shoppers now place greater value on wearable clothing, many still put up with uncomfortable pieces because they believe 'that's just how it is.'
1. High Heels
One of the most popular painful accessories is the high heel. Famous for causing blisters, bleeding, and sore feet for the wearer, high heels still remain a staple in every woman's wardrobe, making them almost a necessary accessory.
While many heels can be surprisingly comfortable, luxury brands such as Christian Louboutin are often associated with prioritising style and design over practicality. The designer has openly said that beauty comes first, and the shoes have developed a reputation for being difficult to wear for long periods. As a result, buyers generally expect style to take precedence over comfort.
2. Ultra-Skinny Jeans
Another trend that sparked some negative conversation was the ultra-skinny jean. Between 2008 and 2012, wearing the tightest jeans possible was all the rage, to the point where there were many hospital emergency room cases of people needing to be cut out of their pants due to loss of blood circulation.
In response to this trend, baggy jeans became a major trend in 2020, and skinny jeans were considered 'out' and 'uncool'. Since then, jeans have been getting baggier, resulting in our current trend of super-wide pant legs, aka the 'Death Jean.'
3. Corset
Finally, one of the most well-known examples of painful and restrictive clothing is the corset.
Created in the 16th century as an undergarment, the corset is most popular for its track record of injuries. Over the years, the materials used for the item have changed, but the corset's structure remains the same, with the intended purpose of reshaping and supporting a woman's figure.
The corset never truly went out of style. If bras are considered a variation of them, they have remained part of fashion, though they evolved from underwear into outerwear.
In the late 2010s, the corset became a large trend again, this time as a 'going-out top'. While they still featured wire structures and shaping elements, they were a significant improvement from traditional corsets. Although modern versions could still cause discomfort, with reports of wires poking or irritating the wearer, older corsets were known to cause more serious issues, including bleeding and, in some cases, fractured ribs.
Fashion's Endless Battle Between Style and Comfort
It's all about the trend. When it comes to fashion trends, people are much more willing to sacrifice their comfort to match the current style. Fashion trends are more than just the clothes on your back. Since the beginning of society, they have been a way to express yourself, display your class or social standing, and connect with others.
While the current trend is the ultra-wide-leg pants, and high heels never really went out of style, there is a chance that future trends will lead to fewer injuries if the public can steer fashion toward greater comfort. Yet for now, take caution when wearing wide-leg trousers or other hazardous clothing.
