Bubble hems surged in popularity last year; from the runways to your nearest mall brand outpost, skirts puffed up like soufflés, and dresses resembled dollops of whipped cream. Fast forward to now, and fashion’s fixation on the bubble skirt trend remains robust. With the abundance of puffballs featured in the Spring 2025 shows, on the street style scene, and readily available online, we’re gearing up for round two of the bubble hem craze.
The Spring 2025 collections clearly showcase a trend towards voluminous silhouettes. For instance, Aläia features sculptural, oversized maxi skirts, while Chloé offers multi-ruffle gowns reminiscent of those worn by characters in John Hughes films heading to prom. From my own explorations (e.g., casual afternoon walks in New York City’s SoHo), I've noticed that balloon skirts from J.Crew, Aritzia, and Reformation are particularly popular among Manhattan locals. Additionally, my hours spent looking at Fashion Month street style indicate that women in Paris and Milan are loving Prada’s satin puffball skirts and Khaite’s airy dresses made from frothy organza.
