Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Style: Did He Just Bring Back Boot-Cut Jeans?

This year’s Super Bowl halftime show wasn’t exactly a fashion spectacle. Headliner Kendrick Lamar kept it understated, sporting a backward cap and a motorbike-style varsity jacket—which he never took off. But while there were no dramatic costume changes, one item stole the internet’s attention: his jeans.

Lamar’s denim wasn’t quite the exaggerated bell-bottoms of the ’70s or the early 2000s, but his washed denim flared at the knee and trailed beneath his heels as he performed on stage at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. His silhouette stood in stark contrast to record producer Mustard, who made a brief cameo in oversized jeans straight out of the West Coast hip-hop playbook.

As expected, social media had mixed reactions. Some mocked Lamar’s flared jeans, calling them “women’s jeans” and even comparing them to outfits worn by Jennifer Aniston and country singer Lainey Wilson. Others joked that their moms were searching for a similar pair, while some millennials appreciated the nostalgic nod to their teenage years.

However, those dismissing Lamar’s style as outdated might be missing the bigger picture. Boot-cut jeans are making a major comeback—not just in women’s fashion but in menswear too. Lamar’s jeans were designed by none other than Hedi Slimane, the former creative director of Celine, known for shaping modern menswear before his departure from the French fashion house in October.

While oversized styles have ruled Gen Z fashion and high-end runways for years, boot-cut silhouettes are resurfacing in a big way. At the most recent Paris Men’s Fashion Week, Louis Vuitton debuted flared pants in a collection dubbed “dandy streetwear,” and even included monogrammed denim boot-cuts in its earlier Spring-Summer 2025 collection. Louis Vuitton’s menswear creative director, Pharrell Williams, also championed the look—rocking leather flares on stage and later wearing a denim version at Japanese label Sacai’s show.

Other major fashion houses like Rick Owens and Marni have embraced boot-cut styles, while stars like Brad Pitt and Colman Domingo have worn tailored flares to red carpet events.

Of course, hip-hop doesn’t always follow the same fashion rules as the runway. But as streetwear and high fashion continue to merge, Lamar’s Super Bowl appearance could mark a turning point for the trend.

After all, cultural tastemakers—and major events like the Super Bowl halftime show—don’t just reflect trends; they define them. As one X user put it: “Kendrick single-handedly just brought back boot-cut jeans.”