Fashion Trends Started By The Kardashians

If there was only one trend we could forever thank the Kardashians for making popular, it's tight, body-conforming clothing. From dresses and bodysuits to tight jeans and pencil skirts, the Kardashian sisters are notorious for wearing clothes that accentuate their bodies. And as fashion blogger Amanda Maxwell told The List, "With their famous curves, it's no wonder that they want to show them off!"

When Kim Kardashian first shot to fame in 2007, the women's fashion scene included things like denim skirts with leggings and those tiny little vests over t-shirts (yeah, remember those?). But, as documented by Us Weekly, Kim's never been shy when it comes to showing off her best assets — she consistently gravitates toward clothing that's "form fitting while accentuating her waist," Megan Moran, owner and wardrobe stylist at The Style Foundry, described to The List. These days, every part of the fashion industry is saturated with bodycon clothing. "These dresses have gone from being sold at Wolford only to target racks," said Maxwell. "They have become the most styled accessory in the past year."

Bodysuits (yes, those stylish onesies that make going to the bathroom a nightmare) are one example of this, which Miami fashion stylist Lauren Malacsina told The List the Kardashian sisters started wearing way back in 2014. "Kim K was wearing the solid body suits under suits and paired with ripped boyfriend jeans," Malacsina says. Today, bodysuits are everywhere.

Thanks largely to the Kardashians, coats are just as much a fashion statement as sneakers or purses. Megan Moran, owner and wardrobe stylist at The Style Foundry, said in an interview for The List, "You will notice that most of [Kim's] outfits comprise of a coat or jacket." Fashion blogger Amanda Maxwell told The List that Kim's affinity for long coats began around 2014, when she was pregnant with Saint. "Floor length coats of all kinds quickly followed," said Moran. And it's not just to keep warm — Moran notes that the addition of coats to an outfit help "show off her figure (long lines create a slimming profile) or aide in her "lingerie and jacket falling off the shoulder sex appeal" look.

If there's one trend we should be forever grateful for, it's "athleisure." You know, the trend that makes it okay to wear your comfy gym wear all day (even if you never go to the gym). "The Kardashians really ran with this one!" fashion blogger Amanda Maxwell told The List. To be fair, we might have to name Kanye West (who's a Kardashian by marriage) as the original pioneer of this trend. His Yeezy line made laidback, sporty clothing fashionable. And with models as popular as the Kardashian sisters, the trend quickly caught on.

Kylie Jenner cemented the trend in 2016 when she signed a deal with Puma — and today, people wear "athletic everything, from daywear to night," said Maxwell. According to Forbes, "the apparel sales, as a whole, increased 2% year-on-year in 2015, the rise in activewear sales was a whopping 16%." And don't think athleisure is just for lounging around the house, either. According to Maxwell, "joggers and athletic pants have been everywhere." Maxwell noted, "Athletic pants worn with heels and unbuttoned at the bottom have been down the runway for all genres of fashion." The trend has gotten so big, in fact, that Merriam-Webster added the term "athleisure" to the dictionary in 2016.

Bikinis were the reigning swimwear choice for a long time, but one-pieces have made quite the comeback — and surprise! We first spotted the trend on the Kardashians — specifically Khloé Kardashian and Kendall Jenner — on Instagram way back in 2015. With the low-cut backs and high-cut leg openings, the two proved that one-pieces are just as sexy as teeny bikinis. "I love one-pieces. I think one-pieces can be super-sexy," Khloé said in a 2016 interview with Lorraine. "I don't think you need to show everything for it to be sexy."

"All the Kardashians, and their makeup team, too, have become experts and trendsetters in the contouring world," said Megan Moran, owner and wardrobe stylist at The Style Foundry. While Kim Kardashian is effortlessly beautiful no matter what she does, her absolutely flawless look kicked off a worldwide contouring trend culminating in thousands of video tutorials (including one from Kim herself) and articles showing the public how to achieve her look.

"They've showed how they do it, constantly that they're doing it, and then of course look flawless in all their pictures. A recipe for trend success," said Moran. The contouring frenzy led to makeup companies designing kits specifically for contouring. "Whereas people would be using a bronzer for contour before, the Kardashians used cream pigments to create dimension on their face," makeup artist Shara Strand told The List. "Because of that, makeup companies have definitely promoted different sorts of contour palettes."

For most of us, going out with wet hair is just a way of telling the rest of the world you woke up too late to do a quick run with the blow dryer. For the Kardashians, however, going out with wet hair ignited a "wet hair don't care" trend that took over the red carpet, according to Megan Moran, owner and wardrobe stylist at The Style Foundry. "Kim proved that a sleek bun isn't the only way to quickly get ready for the day and the rest of the family followed suit," Moran said. The trend quickly became popular in Hollywood, and like most of the Kardashian-induced trends, led to step-by-step how-to's and video tutorials all over the internet.

Celebrities have a huge influence on what's popular, and, thanks to social media, it's easier than ever to dress and look like your favorite celebrities. The Kardashians are a driving force in the entertainment industry. From their makeup and clothing brands to their various television shows, it's no wonder they have such an influence on today's trends. "The Kardashians have given us a lot of trends in the past years," fashion blogger Amanda Maxwell told The List — and we're sure there's no stopping now.