There are a few nostalgic fashion items that still feel on the cusp of a comeback—that, if you saw someone on the street wearing them, you’d assume it was ironic. On paper, the loud shell suits popularized by ’80s sportswear, with their colorful nylon and baggy fit, definitely fit that bill. Even in the age of tiny sunglasses and fanny packs, these feel a tad too dated to make a grand reentrance. But then, you have Gucci sending its own riff on the style down its Spring 2018 runway; hallmark athletic brands like Champion, Reebok, and Nike are revisiting the silhouette in heritage colorways and patterns. Thrift stores and Etsy are no longer your only options for getting that look.
E-commerce site Lyst reported a spike in searches around a range of terms—including shell jacket, shell tracksuit, shell suit top, combat trousers, and parachute pants—beginning in May and reaching a high point after Paris Fashion Week Men’s in late June. Most of these entries are coming from New York and London, according to Lyst, with searches up 87 percent year over year. The platform suggests recent collections from Gucci, Prada, and Virgil Abloh’s Louis Vuitton may have played a role in this surge. Plus, Bella Hadid has been spotted in a shell suit or two, Kylie Jenner wore a neon version to Fashion Week… This comeback story is getting harder and harder to ignore.
If you’re one of those shoppers that’s been eyeing shell suits on the sly—or one who rocks the ’80s aesthetic loud and proud—we’ve rounded up 17 sets to try now.
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