Photo: Observer
Polish your tracksuits and charge blinged BlackBerry – McBling is trending again with its 2022 version.
If you have been looking for “Y2K” on Depop or jumping from one thrift store to another for Von Dutch trucker hats, tracksuits with “Juicy” written on the back, or baby tees with the blinged, cursive “Baby Phat” label, you’re trying to find a fit under the McBling aesthetic.
McBling style was all on the shimmering side – thus, its name – or was all about the bling. Trend-setters were donning shining fits and jewelry as tech became the most recent and shiniest accessory.
Any colorful thing – primarily pink – and shimmering was preferable during the first wave of the McBling trend. As a result, the mini skirt is shorter, and velour and streetwear are often seen on the red carpet.
Many notable fits created from the McBling time were graphic tees with fun and straightforward phrases, bling-y tracksuits and jeans, and accessories designed with sequins.
The trend gained popularity between 2003 and 2008. Celebrities such as Missy Elliot, LL Cool J, and Eve are among the notable figures who carried aspects of the aesthetic, including tracksuits, bedazzled accessories, matching sets, and multi-colored streetwear.
Huge personalities such as Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie also contributed to the trend’s popularity, donning graphic tees and tracksuits for the everyday errand and on-screen in their series The Simple Life.
Read also: Princess Diana’s Black Gowns
Brands Capitalize on McBling
During the McBling era, brands such as Juicy Couture, Von Dutch, Baby Phat, Playboy, PINK, and Victoria’s Secret gained traction.
After the aesthetic became a trend again, those brands capitalized on the It factor of the 2000s, embracing the modern version of confidence brought by the 2000s boss, brave enough to receive attention while coddling in a healthy dose of self-obsession.
Phrases such as “phat” and “juicy” were printed on jeans and sweatpants, highlighting the backside. Paris Hilton technically owned the McBling graphic tee trend, donning shirts with phrases like “Queen of the Universe!” “Don’t be jealous,” and “I heart shoes bags & boys.”
Luxury pieces, including the Louis Vuitton Multicolor handbag, donned on the runway at the label’s 2003 Spring/Summer show, and the Balenciaga Motorcycle Bag also gained popularity.
Read also: Barbiecore Trends This Summer: Pink is Great
