It’s rare for a fabric to be synonymous with an entire era, but the early 2000s can be summed up with velour. The plush knit that made its way onto tracksuits and robes was ubiquitous during the decade, and no one loved the look more than Kim Kardashian West and Paris Hilton. The close friends were early adopters of the ubiquitous Juicy Couture pieces and frequently photographed breezing through Los Angeles’s hotspots in them. Their past fervor makes them a natural choice to revive the trend, and for Kardashian West’s latest SKIMS release, they do precisely that.
The brand’s new collection, launching October 21, features several of the classic velour silhouettes—hoodies, wide-leg pants, and joggers—but it also moves into new territory thanks to bandeau tops, crew neck tanks, and modern elements like the very 2020 neutral color palette and up to 4X sizing. For Kardashian West, that blend of old school and new is what keeps the clothes exciting, and she was eager to incorporate the material into SKIMS’s lineup. “After working on [this] for over a year, I am so excited to share with everyone,” she shared with Vogue via email. “Velour is one of my favorite collection launches to date! It’s the perfect blend of 2000s nostalgia and present-day loungewear.”
The time spent in development led to a carefully crafted collection, which arrives when many are attempting to find casual clothes that won’t look sloppy. “I’m living in sweatsuits right now,” says Hilton, who gives the SKIMS line her seal of approval. “The Velour collection is perfect for looking hot while being comfy.” Kardashian West admits she never stopped wearing the pieces she helped popularize in the early 00s. “The iconic velour tracksuits have been a staple in my closet for close to 20 years!” she says, noting that her newly launched versions are, “versatile, comfortable, ultra-luxe, and fun.”
With all the old pictures floating around the internet of Kardashian West and Hilton in their vintage velour, it seemed logical to recreate that vibe for the ads. As such, the pair reunited for some paparazzi-style photos and brought out their Louis Vuitton Monogram Miroir Alma bags with them (The style created during Marc Jacobs’s tenure at the house was beloved by both women and adds to the early aughts sensibility). The imagery of Kardashian West and Hilton strolling through a parking garage, cell phones out, could have easily been taken in 2006. Scroll through Instagram, and you’re likely to see hundreds of similar pictures. For Hilton, revisiting all these motifs was great fun. “We had the best time hanging out and shooting in LA.,” she says. “The collection is very nostalgic with an early 2000s vibe—which we both know very well.”
The SKIMS collection and its accompanying campaign would feel apropos at any point in the last two decades, and the fact that Hilton and Kardashian West have been able to defy the odds with their fashion choices, career success, and cultural caché for so long is impressive. The world is clearly still hungry for more Kim, Paris, and velour. “I love that we both continue to support each other in everything we do,” says Hilton. “I am so proud of Kim! Such a beautiful, brilliant boss, babe!”
