Kylie Jenner Really, Really Loves Her Balmain Booties
In the last year we’ve seen Kendall Jenner evolve from a newbie model, into a bona fide street style icon. In that same time, the industry conversation around her has shifted from condescending (“she’s just there because of her family”), to genuinely admiring — even the huffiest fashion folks have to admit, Kendall knows how to put together a killer outfit.
In that same time, we’ve seen the ascendance of Kylie Jenner to a major social media phenomenon, and paparazzi fixation. Yet the fashion world seems to be withholding its approval — not for her the runway appearances or Vogue spreads. Maybe it’s because Kylie’s style is less sleek and minimaliste than Kendall’s, and more influenced by streetwear and hip-hop culture (some would say to an appropriative degree, which is a separate conversation). Maybe it’s because her style is in-your-face sexy, which is admittedly weird coming from a woman who only just turned 18. Maybe it’s because all those crop tops and slim-cut pants — of which both she and Kendall are massive fans — read differently on her shorter, curvy body.
Why we think “fashion” when we see Kendall, and “hot” (or, worse, loaded terms like “slutty” or “ratchet”) when we see Kylie involves race, class, and body type signifiers too complicated to go into here. But one thing’s for sure: Kylie’s not getting her due as a style inspiration. The gossip mags are paying attention, but the fashion world should start, too, because her look involves a canny interplay of consistency and experimentation that looks, to this writer anyway, very much like an icon in the making. You seeing this, Vogue?
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