Hilary Duff revives Y2K peplum pants for petite evening style

Hilary Duff made a strong case for peplum at petite proportions, stepping into the TIME100 celebrations in a fringe-heavy pants set that revived one of Y2K’s most polarizing party shapes. The waist sat sharply defined, the proportions stayed compact, and the fringe added motion without swallowing her frame, which is exactly why the look landed so well on her.

Duff wore the set at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City during the 2026 TIME100 Summit and Gala festivities, where she joined TIME’s list of the 100 Most Influential People of 2026. It was also a rare public night out with husband Matthew Koma, whom she married in December 2019 and with whom she shares three children. Nicole Richie wrote Duff’s TIME100 tribute, calling her the kind of figure millennials have felt was their friend for most of their lives.

The outfit mattered because peplum can be tricky on petites: too much flare, too much length, and the waist gets lost. Duff’s version worked because the shape stayed disciplined. The peplum framed the torso instead of spreading out from it, while the cropped, party-ready trousers kept the line brisk. On a petite body, that kind of balance is the difference between costume and polish.

The formula for wearing peplum and fringe at night is straightforward. Keep the top hitting at the high hip, not mid-thigh, so the eye reads waist first. Choose trousers with a slim or straight leg rather than a wide sweep, and keep the inseam just long enough to skim the top of the shoe, not puddle over it. A sharp heel, especially a pointed pump or a minimal sandal, extends the leg and stops the fringe from competing with the hem.

Duff’s timing gave the look extra weight. At the same TIME100 events, she also spoke about luck... or something, her first album in more than a decade, released in February 2026 and shaped by her own experiences and life in the spotlight. The effect was fitting: a woman returning to pop culture on her own terms, in a silhouette that understands the value of a defined waist. For petites, that is the real lesson of the outfit. Peplum does not have to add bulk. With the right proportions, it can add structure, lift and a little evening drama exactly where it belongs.