A deeply millennial-coded trend is back in fashion, and I have a lot of feelings.

Back in February, an outfit Margot Robbie wore from Australian brand Beare Park went viral.

Snapped at Sydney airport, the actor paired the label's $160 long-sleeve T-shirt in black with the $390 Carmen Shorts, also black, accessorising her look with sunglasses from SIR, Alaia flats and a Chanel handbag.

Speaking of millennial trends, we thought we'd seen the last of this cult noughties shoe. Post continues after video.

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The millennial shoe we never thought we'd wear again | Nothing to Wear

While the outfit was probably intended to be low-key (the poor gal was just catching a plane), the effect it had on the fashion zeitgeist was not, well, low-key.

And given the brand posted the images to announce a well-timed re-stock of both items, me thinks this wasn't a coincidence.

Margot Robbie's viral look. Image: Instagram @bearepark.

The Beare Park pieces sold out instantly.

Influencers around the world made copycat styling videos, posting their takes on the trending combo. And brands everywhere took notes.

TikTok was teeming with copycat looks. Images: Tiktok @josephinemaryleigh; @anacarolinaharo.

Robbie's outfit did precisely two things: it established long-sleeve tees as a must-have item for winter, and it put long shorts back on the agenda.

Not structured Bermuda shorts, nor baggy boxer shorts, but shorts of the boxy, knee-length variety.

About as close as you get to… board shorts.

Influencers everywhere got the memo. Images: Instagram @sam.preston__; @_loissterling.

A few months after Robbie's look was seen and shared around the world, I attended Australian Fashion Week and watched as board shorts took over the runways.

From the minimal styles at Commas to the sporty takes at Nagnata, and even Hawaiian print versions at Hansen & Gretel.

Board shorts on the runway at Hansen & Gretel and Nagnata (centre). Images: Instagram/@commas; @hansenandgretel.

Then I observed in mild horror as Marie Claire magazine reported the following: "How Surfer-Bro board shorts became summer's chicest trend.'

This is how. It starts with Margot Robbie, and it ends with Hawaiian print board shorts back in the shops.

The return of board shorts, as seen on fashion writer Leandrea Medine Cohen and at Deiji Studios. Images: Instagram @leandramcohen; @deijistudios.

My husband, for one, is overjoyed. An avid surfer, he exclusively wears long board shorts, even in the depths of winter.

When working from home, he has been known to wear a business shirt with boardies in case the waves are cooking, and he can rip off the shirt and dash to the beach.

And I really think that specific aesthetic is what inspired this look from Vrg Grl:

Business on top, beach on the bottom. Images: Vrg Grl and Instagram @sviridovskayasasha.

Must we appropriate his culture like this?

The last time these shorts were cool, it was 2003 and All Saints was playing on the radio. Surf shops ruled, and everyone was wearing boardies from Roxy, Rip Curl and Billabong. We teamed them with shrunken Bonds tank tops and graphic tees, and our trusty Havaianas thongs.

All of these trends are having a moment right now — just look at the recent collaboration between Havaianas and French luxury brand Isabel Marant, or the popular $1200 rubber thongs from The Row that became the most coveted fashion purchase of 2025.

I can get on board with thongs. But board shorts? Do we really want to bring this noughties-era aesthetic back?

Then again, the alternative is not much better. Last summer we saw a trend emerge for micro shorts that hug the upper thighs — and they're basically underwear.

So these are our choices: actual knickers or "Surfer-Bro boardies".

Where do I go to register a complaint?

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Feature image: Instagram @leandramcohen, @bearepark.