Fashion Month may be over, but the trends showcased during it still remain top of mind. Like the return to IRL shows, the spring 2022 collections that debuted in New York, London, Milan, and Paris last month were a breath of fresh air after a handful of seasons that centered around comfort-driven designs.
This time around, we saw maximalism (in terms of both the amount of skin showing and layers present) and perfect pieces for our future plans (from tropical vacations to in-person schooling) prevailing on the runway. That being said, we’re patiently waiting for spring and its corresponding collections to arrive.
After studying all of the spring/summer 2022 runway shows, we’ve landed on major trends that are set to be the most popular of the season, period. While these are guaranteed to be huge next year, it’s never too soon to start test driving what’s next in fashion, so if you’re an early adopter, there are already plenty of shopping finds to add to your cart. Keep scrolling for the 10 biggest trends to know about in spring 2022.
While ski-inspired fashion dominated the F/W 21 shows, designers brought back a similar holiday mindset to the S/S 22 runways. Instead of collections brimming with après-ski attire, this time around, there was a heavy rotation of swimwear and beachwear primed for a getaway. Chanel featured bikinis inspired by its iconic ’90s designs, while brands including Paco Rabanne and Johanna Ortiz infused vibrant vacation-ready prints into their dresses and matching sets.
The spring 2022 runways are proof that the reign of calm, neutral colors will come to an end. One of the most popular hues? Saffron—a bright, bold, and rich shade of red that is guaranteed to add some much-needed spice into our forthcoming wardrobes. But it won’t just arrive in the form of a handbag or statement shoes—we’re expecting saffron looks from head-to-toe, as displayed at Proenza Schouler, LaQuan Smith, and Kwaidan Editions.
The back-to-school vibe may not look quite like you remember (that is if designers have anything to do with it). Cable-knit sweaters were styled sans pant at Lacoste, rugby polos were reimagined in new proportions at Botter, and school-uniform fashion got a moody, gothic twist at Raf Simons. It was really Miu Miu, though, that solidified the major preppy rebrand. We saw knits cut to midriff-baring sizes and pleated skirts slashed to mini micro lengths so small you might miss them.
Reminiscent of the early aughts when Disney stars were known to wear sequinned skirts over low-rise flared jeans and fur-collared cardigans over lace camis, this season’s layering game was nothing short of chaotic. And yet we couldn’t help but fall fast for the overindulgence of it all. At Louis Vuitton, models draped themselves in lace blouses, leather pants, satin capes, and long scarves, all the while accessorizing with sculptural sunglasses. Tory Burch featured equally extreme styling (think skirts and dresses piled on top of ribbed leggings) as did Maryam Nassir Zadeh, where models were sent down the runway in off-the-shoulder knit tops worn on top of sparkly polos.
This season, designers seemed to agree that looking to the past was the only way to ready themselves for the future. In other words, nostalgia was everywhere, with Chanel putting on a runway show that, despite taking place in 2021, could have easily been held in the mid-1990s, displaying belly chains, miniskirt suits, and crimped and teased hair.
Meanwhile, at Olivier Rousteing’s 10th anniversary Balmain show, the designer tapped supermodels from the turn of the millennium, sending them out in midriff-baring tops and low-rise bottoms. Dipping into the early aughts, Blumarine and Coperni presented butterfly motifs and sparkly panties, inflicting a very strong sense of sartorial déjà vu.
– WhoWhatWear
