Pedal Pushers Are Back In Fashion – And Emily Ratajkowski Is Fully On Board

One of my favourite items of clothing growing up was a pair of pedal pushers, a type of trouser that clings to the thigh, stops at the knee and managed to become quite popular – despite its unpromising vital stats – in the early '00s. The polarising bottoms are often confused capri pants, so let’s clear this up. Capri’s fall below the knee and usually complete with neat little split, pedal pushers sit a bit higher. Good for riding a bike because of the bare calves, but impractical in almost every other sense, they were rather like a summer crush - exciting but, ultimately, a disappointment that wasn't remotely worth 100+ messages on MSN (or the time you spent away from Snake).

Hence my hesitation about the fact that pedal pushers appear to be carving out a calf-first path into the wardrobes of today's Insta-stars. Emily Ratajkowskihas been wearing a pair that my pre-pubescent self, coming of age in the early '00s, would have cut out of a magazine and pasted in a scrapbook next to pictures of the Olsens. She loves them so muchm in fact, she wore them twice. Once, with a studded button top for a dinner date. Another time styled with an otherwise casual outfit featuring a logo slogan top reading ‘I’m a speed skater'. The Too Much actress paired the ensembles with the same kitten heels, same sunglasses and yet managed to make both outfits look completely different.

Pedal pushers have a long history with the stars. They were a favourite of the most stylish woman on TV, Carrie Bradshaw, as well as the coolest person on the planet (then and now), Rihanna. Are they, in fact, a good idea?

How you wear them (if you decide to do so. No hard feelings if you'd rather not) totally depends on your style preferences, of course. But if you're into baby tees and oversized blazers, I do think it could be worth taking a pair for a spin (the slim-fit proportions of the trousers will be balanced out by the shoulders of the jacket, you see). Carrie's approach for summer - a breezy cheesecloth blouse with a bandana - will also strike a the right balance.

If, however, all of this is taking you on a trip down a memory lane you'd rather not revisit, fair enough. The next time you're riding your bike, just tuck the hem of your jeans into your sock and off you go.

Natalie Hammond is Grazia’s senior fashion news editor. She loves winter, hates summer and can often be found writing about the weather (and what on earth to wear).