What is lampshading? The leggy fashion trend, explained

by Sara M Moniuszko / Friday, 29 September 2017

Fall fashion is here! And Lampshading is the popular style trend among celebrities! Buzz60’s Djenane Beaulieu (@djenanebeaulieu) has the scoop. Buzz60

Have you been scrolling through celebrity street style photos lately and thought, ‘Hey, that shirt and boots combo looks strikingly like a lamp!’

No? Well, let us elaborate…

Lampshading is the pairing of boots with a large or oversized shirt or sweatshirt — and it has been blowing up our Insta-feeds recently. Although the term is less-than-attractive, the idea behind it makes sense — the oversized top is meant to make the silhouette of a lampshade in comparison to the wearer’s legs.

The Skimm was one of the first to report on the trend at the end of 2015, originating from the college-chic style of wearing oversized T-shirts over Nike shorts. PopSugarfollowed in 2016 with a gallery predominately of the Kardashian-Jenner clan in it’s evolved form of over-the-knee boots and shirt dresses. Since then, the trend has surged thanks in part to the popularity of thigh and hip-high boots.

Here’s a closer look:

Kylie Jenner, one of the O.G. lampshaders, wore the look to the PrettyLittleThing Campaign Launch on April 11, 2017.

The color-blocked look featured an oversized white shirt with embellished shoulders and purple spandex thigh-high Balenciaga boots.

thank you 🌙

A post shared by Ariana Grande (@arianagrande) on Jun 26, 2017 at 11:15am PDT

Ariana Grande went even more casual, pairing her sparkly over-the-knee boots with an extra large sweatshirt by The Sweetest Language in a thank you post for her birthday on June 26, 2017.

Rihanna, queen of trends, has also sported the look while out on the town.

A post shared by badgalriri (@badgalriri) on May 4, 2017 at 7:26am PDT

She paired an oversized graphic tee with black lace-up, thigh-high boots by Unravel in an Instagram she posted on May 4, 2017.

Beyoncé proved the look can work great for maternity fashion.

A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce) on Apr 21, 2017 at 10:25pm PDT

She paired a loose, flowing tan dress with matching beige boots to attend Kelly Rowland’s Whoa, Baby! book launch, posting a series of pics to Instagram on April 22, 2017.

Zendaya has also given the trend a try.

Looks @luxurylaw

A post shared by Zendaya (@zendaya) on Oct 20, 2016 at 12:15pm PDT

She topped her black leather boots with a collared shirt dress overlaid with a distressed sweater while attending We Day Toronto on October 19, 2016, posting the pic a day later.

Bella Hadid also rocked the look.

Choppa

A post shared by Bella Hadid (@bellahadid) on Sep 16, 2017 at 12:36pm PDT

She posted an Instagram of her in a large flannel with white heeled boots on September 16, 2017 before hopping on a helicopter, or a “choppa” as she captioned her photo, while traveling for London and Milan fashion week.

Lampshading has also been lighting up the runway.

Vetements was part of the trend early on, adding high boots to their typical oversized designs in their fall/winter 2016 collection.

Fendi filled the runway on Feb. 23, 2017 during Milan Fashion Week with models, like Hadid, in high crimson boots.

The ensemble also included a shirtdress and coat, hitting lampshading criteria.

Even more recently, Hailey Baldwin walked for Tommy Hilfiger on Sept. 19, 2017 during London Fashion Week, presenting a large flannel-styled, collar shirt.