IT’S the top most of us wore when going out clubbing – and the theme was apparently business casual.
Often spotted with sky-high stilettos, a pair of the notorious skinny jeans and a vibrant statement necklace, the viral peplum top had us all in a chokehold around 2010s.
And fast-forward to 2025, it looks like the once-favourite wardrobe staple is making a comeback, with fashion icons, such as Molly-Mae Hague, also jumping on the bandwagon.
While its origins can be traced back to the ancient Greeks, the peplum wasn’t considered a high-fashion proposition until the 1940s.
The peplum’s most prominent fashion era was the 1980s, where it was widely worn with the skinniest of jeans.
Following this, the peplum soared in popularity again, in 2012, and was popping all over the runway during Fashion Week.
Peplum is a frill, ruffle pleat or voluminous detail added to the waist of an item, which puffs or flares out.
Whether you’re ready or not, the business casual staple is now back, with numerous high street retailers, including H&M, offering their own take on the once-loved garment.
One fashion fans, Emma Fogarty, from Dublin, Ireland, spotted the top in a New Look store and took to TikTok to share the news – which have since left the internet users totally divided.
Showcasing the item, which came in both black and white for £21, Emma revealed that she couldn’t believe her eyes.
”You’re telling me that I have lived long enough to see the revival of the peplum top. Nahhhhh,” the mortified shopper wrote in the caption on the now-viral video.
Big divide
Hundreds of style lovers flooded to comments – and whilst some were happy to see the top making a comeback, others would not be racing to snap it up any time soon.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”‘Love my new teddy shacket’ says fashion fan as she shows off new €40 gorgeous jacket from Dunnes Stores” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6366686188112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]One declared: ”this top belongs with the skinny jean.”
Another chimed in: ”no, no. not again. not the peplum.”
[authenticated-scripts src=”%3Cscript%20class%3D%22palin-poll%22%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesun.co.uk%2Fpollingwidgets%2Fv3%2Fwidget.js%3Fquestion_id%3D101663%26game%3Dpolling%22%3E%3C%2Fscript%3E” type=”embedded” width=”100″ /]”No one needs this again!” a third was horrified.
But there were also plenty of those who were delighted to see they could wear their ”favourite” top again and be trendy.
One fashionista said: ”I’m not even mad at it tbh I loved a peplum top back in the day and now want to hide my belly.”
Another added: ”I have patiently waited for this revival! New look were on top of their affordable peplum game.”
”Knew there was a reason I kept all my statement necklaces,” someone else chuckled.
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