Heels, not sweatpants: data suggests comfy season is over, and that we’re ready to dress up again

Global fashion search platform Lyst reports searches for high heels and dresses were up 163 per cent and 222 per cent in the most recent quarter

For the first time since the end of 2019, heels ranked as some of the hottest women’s products – sweatpants are off the list for the first time since early 2020

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Data from global fashion search platform Lyst suggests the sweatpants era is over, as more people search for high heels and dresses.

Published: 8:15pm, 30 Apr 2021Updated: 8:58pm, 30 Apr 2021

Sweatpants are out and high heels are in, according to new data from global fashion search platform Lyst.

In its latest report covering the hottest trends and brands in the fashion industry, based on the searches of over 150 million shoppers, Lyst called the peak sweatpants phase officially over.

“Several quarters ago, the prevailing mood was of hunkering down and adapting to a predominantly home-based lifestyle. Now there are signs that shoppers are eager to get out again, express themselves and diversify away from sweats,” the company said this week.

According to its data, searches for high heels and dresses were up 163 per cent and 222 per cent respectively in the most recent quarter. And, for the first time since the end of 2019, a pair of heels made it into its ranking of the hottest women’s products. Meanwhile, sweatpants fell off the list for the first time since early 2020.

Searches for high heels, like this pair from designer Amina Muaddi, were up 163 per cent.

Lyst called the peak sweatpants phase officially over. Photo: Hot Thunderstorm Studio

“This quarter, we saw shoppers start to act on pent-up demand for going-out wear,” a spokeswoman for Lyst said.