This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s summer editorial intern Emma Zumbo. Find her on Instagram at @emmarzumbo. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
If you live on a similar corner of the internet as me, you might have gone through this past week with a very specific 6 syllable tune stuck in your head: “Boots and a slick back bun”. This little chant which popped up on my TikTok has invaded my headspace, but I’m not mad about it, since it’s also helped me think of outfits that fit the chant format that I have then worn out.
If you have no idea what I’m talking about, read below for a breakdown of the trend and for a list of fashion pairings to inspire your summer wardrobe.
What Is The “Boots And A Slick Back Bun” Trend?
The trend started on June 29th, when TikTok user @maisieisobel_ posted a video of her and her friends on a night out. In the video, Maisie and her friends film each other’s outfits and point out two items from each outfit in a collective chant that sounds something like a stadium cheer. The best way to understand the trend is to simply watch the video. The original pairings in the video are “boots and a slick back bun”, “cowboy boots and a blowie”, and “sambas and a little red bag”. The video went viral overnight, garnering nearly 5 million views, and thousands upon thousands of comments calling the chant “the song of the summer”. Other users began to post their own takes on the trend, using the same format chant with different outfits.
So far, the trend seems to be relatively contained – there’s only 68 videos posted using Maisie’s original sound, and #bootsandaslickbackbun, #cowboybootsandablowie, and #sambasandalittleredbag each only have a few videos to their name as well, but, with brands such as ASOS and Anthropologie starting to post their own takes, I predict we’ll be seeing a lot more of these videos emerging.
I think the trend is both fun and a great way to show off fashion staples that can make an outfit really pop. Whether you had the pleasure of seeing the original video, or whether you’re just now learning about the boots and a slick back bun trend, check out the list below for some ideas of outfit pairings that you can both chant out and feel fashionable in this season.
Jorts And A Shoulder Bag
Get the largest denim shorts and the tiniest little purse you can find and pair them together for a look that gives both Adam Sandler and Bella Hadid at once. In all seriousness, baggy jorts that hit at or below the knee seem to be the number one fashion item of the season – you can’t walk in lower Manhattan at the moment without seeing some variation of this trend. And I get it! Besides being absurdly comfortable and breathable, the bagginess of the jorts makes you feel instantly cool. Adding a little purse elevates the outfit and allows you to take it from day to night. Plus, this pairing works really well with the chant.
Onitsukas And A White Tank Top
Move aside, Sambas, there’s a new It shoe in town, and it’s the Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66s. Just kidding, we still love Sambas and will be wearing them on repeat, but if you want to switch up your sneaker game this summer, the Onitsukas seem to be the number one choice of the fashion crowd. They’re sleek, playful, and come in a ton of different colorways, with yellow being perhaps the most popular choice – to really make the shoe pop, wear it with a white tank for a simple and sporty summer look.
Note: Unfortunaltely, Onitsuka Tiger shut down its US operations in November 2023, so these shoes can currently only be found on resale or in fashion marketplaces.
Linen And A Tinted Lens
Linen is the fabric most closely associated with summer, and that’s for very good reason. It’s both fashionable and functional, making you look elegant while also protecting you from the heat and humidity. What’s another item that’s a necessity in summer but can also make or break your outfit? Sunglasses. The right pair of shades can be your best accessory for the sunny season. I love the idea of pairing a monochromatic linen set with a more eye catching pair of sunglasses than you would usually wear – this is the perfect pairing for pretending you’ve just docked your yacht on the French Riviera.
Mesh Flats And A Micro Short
Perhaps the most controversial pairing on this list, but one that I’ve definitely been seeing a lot of this season. You might have seen the conversation around these shoes already, whether it was around Jennifer Lawrence’s choice to wear them or this Vogue editor’s decision to add them to her summer edit. Pair these barely there shoes with a barely there pant for a look that’s certain to have people talking. Yes, somehow the full spectrum of pantness seems to be in style at the same time, from oversized to micro sized, and I’m here for it!
Capris And A Campari Spritz
Love it or hate it, this pant is 100% back. Dragged out of the annals of the early 2000s (and the 60s and 80s before that), capris are having an absolute resurgence right now. Honestly, I was in the anti-capri camp until I tried on a pair and realized how fun they can be to wear. I’m seeing the silhouette in all sorts of variations – baggy, tight fitting, athletic, dressy, neutral, or brightly colored. Whatever your style, it seems that there’s a capri for you. It’s a reimagined staple and it needed to be paired with another twist on a classic – enter the Campari Spritz. The Aperol Spritz is known as the summer drink par excellence (at least, for the Euro Summer obsessed crowd), but this season is all about trying something new. Campari is another Italian liqueur that’s slightly more bitter and complex than Aperol (and red rather than orange) – it’s sometimes said that you can tell someone’s age by the color of their spritz (said by me, that is). We’re always going to love Aperol, and pants that decisively hit either below or above the ankle, but it’s fun to be open to new takes on old faves – just be careful chanting this pairing too often because it’s extremely catchy and will get stuck in your head!
What’s your take on the boots and a slick back bun trend? Let us know in the comments below!
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