Kmart shoppers stunned as ‘nostalgic’ 80s item returns: ‘No… Absolutely not’

Just when millennials thought they had finally escaped some of fashion’s most questionable trends, one particularly divisive wardrobe staple from the ’80s and ’90s has officially returned.

Yes, stirrup leggings are back.

The skin-tight pants complete with the elastic strap designed to sit under your foot, are now popping up in stores nationwide, whether shoppers are emotionally prepared for it or not.

The nostalgic trend has sparked a heated online debate after Kmart quietly released its own $20 version of the controversial style, prompting thousands of Australians to collectively relive memories once wearing them.

Photographer and content creator Jade Sneddon was among the many left stunned after spotting the leggings during a recent Kmart visit.

‘Oh lord they’re back. Wild that I’m now old enough to see things come, go and come back again in fashion,’ she joked in a now-viral video with more than five million views.

‘I honestly did not foresee the return of these bad boys again. Anyone else smell the stench of dirty ballet flats when you look at these?’

The clip quickly unleashed a wave of horrified reactions from Gen X and millennial shoppers who vividly remember the trend the first time around.

‘No. Absolutely not. I rebuke this in the name of Black Baby Jesus,’ one person joked.

‘As a Gen X I am sitting this one out! No thank you,’ another added.

‘Does no one learn from history?’ a third wrote.

‘Nope. Been there done that not going back for more,’ someone else commented.

Others recalled the less glamorous realities of actually wearing stirrup leggings during their peak fashion era.

‘I was too tall last time and I’m still too tall. The crotch was always at my knees,’ one woman laughed.

‘Omg I rocked these in the 80s with a pair of heels,’ another added.

Not everyone, however, was horrified by the comeback.

 

Some fashion fans insisted the trend simply suffered from bad styling the first time around.

‘You’re not supposed to wear them with ballet flats, that’s tacky. You wear them with boots,’ one viewer argued.

Kmart’s version of the divisive piece features a high-rise fit, seam-front detailing and an elasticated stirrup foot strap designed to keep the leggings perfectly in place.

Made from a stretchy fabric blend, the leggings are being marketed as an easy everyday wardrobe staple ideal for layering with oversized tops, blazers and tunics.

And while many Australians are still traumatised by the memories of stirrup leggings past, fashion insiders say the once-mocked style is officially having a luxury revival.

Fashion publication Who What Wear recently declared stirrup leggings the ‘far more expensive-looking version’ of regular leggings dominating fashion in 2026.

The outlet pointed to designer runway shows including Tibi Spring/Summer 2026, where models styled the controversial pants with structured jackets and strappy heels in an effort to make the retro item feel sleek and elevated rather than daggy.

According to the publication, fashion editors are increasingly gravitating towards the style because the stirrup detail creates a cleaner silhouette around the ankle and pairs more seamlessly with boots and heels than standard leggings.

The trend revival comes as fashion continues its obsession with recycling nostalgic styles from decades past, with everything from jelly sandals and capri pants to low-rise jeans and ballet flats all making a comeback in recent years.