'Squid Game' is Reviving the Tracksuit

Squid Game is now influencing fashion trends this winter season by reviving tracksuit style. The green tracksuit, the uniform for players in the hit show became a social media sensation and a popular costume this Halloween season.

By the beginning of October, the number of searches for the phrase, “Squid Game costume” sharply increased as noted by Google Trends. The popularity of this show’s style is clear this season as other notable pieces from this series have increased in popularity. For example, plain white Vans shoes saw a positive increase in sales thanks to the effect of Squid Game. Meanwhile, many people donned the show’s “geometric” mask to create social media content inspired by the series.

Long before Squid Game appeared on Netflix, Balenciaga, Gucci, and many other big brands hinted at reimagining the tracksuit for a contemporary audience. In fact, tracksuit style is not something recently invented in Squid Game, but rather the revival of a popular Y2K style staple. With the return of style and fashion trends of the 2000s, tracksuits are becoming popular again. In the late '90s and early 2000s, Juicy Couture's soft velvet tracksuits were the cornerstone of comfortable, easy-to-wear fashionable fits.

Y2K stars, such as Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, and Jennifer Lopez, frequently were photographed wearing tracksuits which they accessorized with tiny sunglasses, designer handbags, silk scarves, heels, lip gloss, and bright eyeshadows. Usually embellished with rhinestones, Juicy Couture tracksuits were worn by women everywhere from the supermarket to the red carpet. Even just a few years ago, wearing a tracksuit was deemed unfashionable by many.

The coronavirus pandemic has reshaped the lives and lifestyles of everyone by encouraging us to work from home (or work a hybrid schedule) which has led to the reemergence of comfortable outfits and fabrics you can enjoy wearing to your next Zoom meeting. Tracksuits are practical enough to seamlessly transition from online calls to in-person visits.

This year many designers like Palm Angels and Lacoste debuted tracksuit designs in their ready-to-wear collections, reintroducing this Y2K style to the public in fresh ways. Thanks to Gen Z, Y2K trends including tracksuits are once again becoming style favorites the same way that Millennials helped to usher in early '90s nostalgia.

Take advantage of this opportunity and reimagine tracksuits in new ways to keep this design trendy while also invoking aesthetics from Squid Game. This show and in general, Y2K styles, are continuing to inspire fashion trends that are too prominent to ignore. Here are some familiar stars sporting tracksuits that will help inspire your next outfit.