Pants are something of an anxiety-inducing fashion world obsession. Are they skinny? Baggy? Barrel legged or flared? Nowadays, who knows?! Despite the surfeit of cuts currently available on the market, one of the rarer and more controversial pant shapes—the balloon pant (also known as “harem” or “genie”)—just had a splashy runway co-sign during the men’s spring 2027 shows. That’s where Celine designer Michael Rider showed various iterations of voluminous pants that bloom and pool at the ankle, pairing them with slim sweaters, tailored suit jackets, blazers, and cardigans.
All of which made two previously balloon-agnostic Vogue editors think Is now the time to embrace the balloon pant? And that’s exactly what they did. Here, a conversation between them as they went where few men have gone before—into the real of the swaggy, swishy, s’wonderful world of the balloon pant.
Christian Allaire: OK, first let’s talk about the show that inspired this test-drive—the Celine spring 2027 menswear show. What did you think of the balloon pants when you first saw them?
Max Berlinger: I really try not to be the type of guy who sees something on the runway and is like, “Wow, I need that,” but the roomy harem pants were just so stop-you-in-your-tracks distinct and something I can’t recall seeing before, at least for men. They moved beautifully on the runway, and I liked how they were worn with a slim sweater—the contrast of baggy and tight looked surprisingly convincing, and got my wheels turning. I definitely walked away from the show, despite my better judgment, thinking I would definitely like to, at very least, try a pair.
CA: For me, there was so much to take in, but the pants were d an instant focal point. Michael Rider’s whole vibe at the brand is about ease and effortlessness, and the swishy balloon silhouettes feel just that way. They have structure to them yet are super easy to wear, and I feel like that’s kind of the definition of luxury these days—a hero piece that’s a no-brainer.
MB: Agreed. As my seat mate in the office, you already know I’m someone who prefers a baggier pant silhouette—I’m currently partial to a cargo pant—and I certainly want to be comfortable, so this felt like a genuinely new way to incorporate those two ideas into my wardrobe.
CA: Let’s talk about the pants we decided to test-drive for ourselves. Max, which two styles did you call in for us? How did you find them?
MB: Well, funnily, I just searched “balloon pants” online, and the first result was the Gap pair (thanks, Google!). They actually seemed perfect, so I just shot an email to our friends at the brand. I also asked our trusty Shopping team for some additional ideas, and they were the ones who suggested checking out Suzie Kondi, and those ones seemed promising too. I wanted something light (preferably cotton or linen), and that had a good amount of swing and motion when they walked.
So, Christian, how’d you get on in yours?
CA: The first pair I wore out in the world were the brown Gap trousers. I decided to wear them on a flight from New York to Paris to see if A) they pass the comfort test of a long-haul flight and B) they fit the bill of an effortless, easy-chair airport look. I paired them with a black tee and brown knit tied around my shoulders, and I—if I say so myself—felt very chic. Like a Parisian returning home to their fabulous apartment in the Marais or something. And they were comfy—so comfy that I actually fell asleep on the red eye in them, which I never do. What was your Gap review?
