The Rundown: Ballooning Pants & Reformation's IPO
It's all happening.
Fresh Receipts — another model denim launch & new deliveries
Forecasting — trends I’m seeing instead of a summer cardigan
Balloon Pants — where the trend came from and the latest data
Reformation IPO — the numbers and why sustainability isn’t on the radar
In My Feed — odds and ends (plus a Madewell recall fyi)
What’s Next — what else I’m watching
In this send: Seeing balloon pants everywhere and what is really going on with this trend — where did it come from? A deeper dive into Reformation’s pending IPO. Plus: Posse, Danielle Mulham, Pleats Please, The Upside, Adidas x Farm Rio, shield sunglasses, sheer cardigans, The Park, polka dot bikini, Aflalo, Chava, Donni, Paul Poiret, Pieter Mulier, The Odyssey, Lupita Nyong’o, REF, Edikted, Micaela Erlanger, and let’s get to it.
Fresh Receipts
Re/done launched the Kaia Edit as part of a collaboration with Kaia Gerber. The Mica Jean, a take on the vintage Levi’s 501, is the hero product of the launch.
Posse is an Australian label that Danielle Mulham launched in 2016 by designing the linen pieces she wanted after a trip to Bali. The brand has slowly and thoughtfully grown and is now carried at Net-a-Porter, Mytheresa, Shopbop, Revolve, Nordstrom, Tuckernuck, and Bergdorf Goodman. The brand broke through after Sofia Richie wore a Posse linen skirt and vest set to her 2023 wedding weekend at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc mixing it in with designer pieces from Chanel.
Fast forward to Pre-Fall 2026 and the new sets have launched on Posse’s website. Instead of the summer linen sets, you’ll find lots of plisse sets. An even softer version of an Issey Miyake Pleats Please. The looks also read very ballet and lingerie inspired for day-time casual.
The Upside — another Australian label — has a new delivery on Mytheresa that made me excited for fitness apparel and athleisure. Thanks to Literary Sport (I just placed an order for a few items — I’ll share more details soon) and The Upside, there are options that are more considered and interesting than plain black leggings and sports bras (though they have those too). A printed fuzzy half-zip (I’d go for this solid black version), track pants for the gym (or travel, or casual WFH), printed leggings here and here, and instead of a sweatshirt try a polo top. I’ve already been wearing this one I own a lot instead of a sweatshirt.
More for the sports set: Another new fun workout set if you are allergic to plain black, go for a pattern! The new Adidas x Farm Rio set. Designer anoraks from Saint Laurent and Miu Miu with a coordinating skirt. Phoebe Philo satin track shorts, and Loewe shield sunglasses.
This Fendi Baguette is a literal piece of art. With the price tag too.
Forecasting
Not a basic cardigan: The summer option for layers was always considered to be the knit cardigan. I’ve noticed this summer the options are more likely to be a few other styles:
Oversized button-up. I’m partial to this one that I had made semi-custom on a trip last summer to Mexico City that I basically planned around visiting Olivia Villanti’s Tiendita for Chava. After reading this Substack by Libby McCurrach you will be convinced to buy this one. Not convinced yet? Another article from Ardas Chandra. For the true heat of summer, a few sheer button downs like Aflalo, Donni (I own and love this one), Reformation, and Brochu Walker.
Oversized long sleeve t-shirt. Mostly in white or channeling Margot Robbie at the airport in black. I also like this gauze-y jersey t-shirt and these cashmere options.
A sheer cardigan. From Chloé, Renngli - vest version too, The Park, and pointelle to make it sheer from Anthropologie.
This Alaïa polka dot bikini had me updating the Polka Dot Trend Forecast. There are a lot of new polka dots I’ve tracked from pants, dresses, and taffeta shorts.
Balloon Pants are Blowing Up
My favorite trends to track are the ones that at once seemed polarizing and then gained a bit more acceptance. Not 100 percent adoption rate, but was given a side-eye one year comes back to be worn by more than just the early adopters. Instead of only being available with designer brands you can find at all price points and the style is usually toned down in some versions too. This season I’m seeing the Balloon Pants hit that trend target, another one has been Capri pants.
Before they pop: The first ones to blow up last summer were Aflalo, and they are back again this summer. Others include the Chloé bohemian runway and floral printed, Altuzarra (and 60% off here), Loewe, accessibly luxury at Róhe (in an exclusive seersucker red at NAP), Australian designer Zimmermann’s polka dots or paisley printed (on sale here) or lingerie inspired, Reformation’s pretty in pink, Posse’s polka dots, Donni’s version instead of sweat pants, Suzie Kondi has had this version for awhile as they are inspired by her Albanian grandmother’s harem pants, Skall Studio’s Scandinavian basically office appropriate, Aritzia, light blue from Alix of Bohemia, Ronny Kobo super sheer lace or sheer but with bum coverage, printed from Dôen, and on the beach easy as a sheer cover-up. There are also plenty of fast fashion examples.
The WHY of Balloon Pants…
