Listen closely. Closer. Can you hear that? Those soft swish-swish sounds mark the return of something big (literally): the billowy ‘Hammer’ pants once famously worn by rapper MC Hammer in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s are making a fashionable comeback to runways and closets everywhere.

A model walks down the runway at the

Now referred to as Harem pants, the voluminous trousers with a low crotch and fitted calf come in all prints and fabrics, as well as multiple lengths, ranging from a shorter knicker-length to the full ankle-length style trademarked by Hammer himself.

Harem pants first made reappearances on fashion runways in Spring 2008 shows. Major names such as Giorgio Armani, Michael Kors, Betsey Johnson and Miss Sixty sent their own versions of the trend down the runway. The pants were initially met with raised eyebrows, but quickly took off across Europe as women began adding the airy, comfortable pants to their wardrobes. Here in the United States, the pants have now begun to pop up in stores everywhere, from K-mart to Urban Outfitters to Neiman Marcus.

ABC’s Good Morning America went to MC Hammer himself to get his take on the return of the baggy pants: “’You can make a fashion statement,’ Hammer said. ‘You can move in ‘em. You can dance in ‘em. … It accentuates the movement, and it gives you freedom of movement. It’s a slight delay. You move, and then the pants move, so it brings a nice little flair.’”

For the ‘non-dancers’ who still wish to don the new style, Hammer had this to say: “From your heart, you wear them, how you feel today,’ Hammer said. ‘If it’s a sunshiny day and you have a certain pair that goes with the sunshine, and you want to put some bright colors with them, then you do that.’”

As odd as the trend may seem at first, the comfort and ease of Harem pants are beginning to draw a wider fan base of all ages and lifestyles. Whether they’re worn to make a fashion statement or because they’re the closest things to sweats you can get away with, it’s looking like Harem pants are here to stay on the east coast. So maybe MC Hammer wasn’t quite right when he sang “can’t touch this!” Perhaps we can; this trend is a lot more wearable and accessible than some may think.

Melinda Andersen is an audience insight & research intern at NPR.

Links:

MC Hammer’s Don’t Touch This music video

Do it yourself Harem pants video

Flash mob/Gold Hammer pants video

Current Harem styles on TheFind.com