‘They’ll be back in fashion soon enough!’: ‘Four lads in jeans’ make chilling prediction four years on from THAT hilarious photo that made them an internet sensation
Meme sensation Four Lads In Jeans has predicted that skinny jeans will soon be back in fashion, four years after they posed for a photo that made them internet stars.
Jamie Philips, Connor Humpage, Kevin Rooney and Alex Lacey unknowingly became famous after posting a photo of themselves at a ‘boozy brunch with the lads’ in Birmingham, wearing skinny jeans and tight tops.
Four years later, the friends posted another photo showing off their updated look, this time with baggy jeans and cargo pants.
But despite the transformation, the foursome believe skinny jeans may be back in fashion sooner than expected.
Kevin Rooney said: ‘The point is that those skinny jeans will come back, they will be back in fashion.
The ‘four boys in jeans’ in central Birmingham wore tight cropped trousers and shirts for that famous photo in 2019
The friendship group swapped tight jeans and chinos for sharper pieces, like cargo pants for the 2024 shoot
Kevin Rooney, Alex Lacey, Jamie Philips and Connor Humpage (left to right)
‘There were people who asked why we even wore skinny jeans, but at the end of the day it’s fashion.
“We’ve even had people tell us recently that they’d rather wear us in skinny jeans.”
Jamie Philips added: ‘Oh yeah, we’ll be out in shorts soon for the summer, don’t worry and then something else – you never know.’
The four friends explained that although they gained fame for wearing skinny jeans, they were initially quite confused by all the attention.
Connor Humpage: ‘We literally went to some guy’s drunken brunch and asked a random stranger to take a picture of us, and then all of a sudden it went viral.
“And what people don’t know is that the photo existed before it became a meme, so it was a shock to all of us.”
“And we didn’t understand it, we just wore what everyone else was wearing at the time.”
“People said we were behind and wondered why we wore skinny jeans for so long, but they’re only seeing a snapshot.
“We actually stopped wearing skinny jeans as soon as the photo came out because fashions had changed.”
Three of the ‘four boys in jeans’ crouched down in front of their new statue for a few promotional photos
For their latest snap, the internet sensations were invited shopping at Birmingham’s Bullring shopping center for a social media collaboration.
Connor said, “We just went to the arena, did some shopping and had a laugh.
“We basically just bought all the things we already have, like I bought two more pairs of jeans that are the same as the ones I actually have – they’re all our own styles.
‘I think when people see the meme they think we switched overnight, but these pictures are four years apart and we are real people with our own lives.
“Just like in the old days, we just wear what everyone else is wearing now and our styles come out.”
Kevin added, “Yeah, I think I’m out of skinny jeans besides the ones in that photo.”
The fame has certainly provided opportunities for the foursome.
They were featured on BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge and featured in advertising campaigns for noise-canceling headphones from McDonald’s and Sony.
They have also been photographed with football legend and commentator Chris Kamara and bodybuilder Martyn Ford and even appeared at the 2022 Brit Awards in a sketch alongside comedian and evening host Jack Whitehall.
In August 2022, the boys were honored with a statue at the spot where the famous photo was taken.
It was created by artist William Douglas, also known as Tat Vision, who unveiled it outside All Bar One in Grand Central, Birmingham.
The sculptor said they made it from female mannequins in tight clothing, with added paper mache and PVA glue, covered with bronze paint.
Before the big reveal, the artist wrote on his Instagram page: “Come down and see my four boys in bronze jeans [on] Saturday outside All Bar One Grand Central.
Many X/Twitter users were stunned by the transformation
‘A tribute to these boys, inspired by those ancient Greek statues.
“These four men are ready for an adventure like the first part of Homer’s Odyssey, before the adventure.”
Although they enjoyed the fame this time and got in on the joke, all four admitted that the unexpected fame four years ago took its toll.
Alex Lacey, a plumber and heating engineer, said his work number was out and he constantly had to contend with a barrage of jokes and trolls.
Things got worse when his mother’s Instagram account was discovered and trolls started commenting on photos.
He said: ‘They trolled my mother, they got her Instagram and commented and trolled her and made up things about me.
‘I’m getting married in a few weeks and my partner, it’s been hard for her and it hasn’t been great.
“At the end of the day, we all still have our day jobs, you know, I’m a plumber.”
Connor, a tattoo artist, admitted it’s more complicated.
After the first photo, he discovered that his business was getting a boost with the help of social media.
He said: ‘I’ve had people come up to me and say, ‘I didn’t know you did tattoos.’
“They would come to my social media pages and say ‘came for the meme, stayed for the tattoos’ and it was fun, but it also felt like I was still being linked to that one photo.”
“But yeah, I think people think we’re just the meme and they don’t treat you like people.
“After the new one came, you and I went to the gym. I just had my earphones in because I didn’t want to talk to anyone, even after they were dead I just used them to block people out because I didn’t want people. to keep coming to me.”
“It was tough, you were walking around and hearing people giggling and pointing behind your back.”
Kevin Rooney: ‘Yes, no one would ever say anything to our faces, just behind our backs. Basically just internet trolls.