On Trend
Back in the day, shopping by season was the way to go. You bought clothes for summer, fall, winter, and spring because that’s when new and exciting garments were released for purchase. These days, we have access to as many as 52 new releases per year per brand, and shopping per season is so LAST season. With the weather growing more and more confusing by the day (65 degrees and then a snowstorm? What is this?), online shopping being the main go-to for many fashion lovers and work from home still being a factor in the garments we purchase, no one was really too sure what we’d be seeing on the runways this year. Men’s shirts, women’s dresses (or men’s dresses and women’s shirts, because gender-neutral clothing is here to stay!), coats, shoes, hats…the words of the day are comfort, wearability, and nostalgia. With all that’s been going on in the world, the level of comfort and practicality that we’ve wanted and needed has risen, and our desire to return to a time when things were a little simpler is very clear. Let’s take a look at the top trending looks this year.
Anything With Volume
While skinny fit crops and long sleeves aren’t going anywhere, the key trend for shirts this season is “anything with volume.” The Dad shirts that we’ve been seeing on the fabulous people are back, back, back again this season and more oversized than ever. If that all feels like too much fabric for you, wear the shirt open and team it with a tight-fitting bra-shirt of the crop for a more streamlined look. The peplum is also back and more architectural than before, adding some extra drama to any look.
Platforms
While part of the world may be going back to the office, we are certainly not ready to go back to traditional heels just yet. Last season’s platforms and flatforms are here again in a broader and more whimsical range of colors and materials to counteract the general gloom that’s hung over the world over the last few years.
Low Rise
If you thought you’d seen the last of low-rise pants in the naughties, boy were you wrong. Ultra low rise, stomach bearing, hip huggers are back in black and every other color you can imagine. Picture Kiera Knightly in her boot-cut denim and white crop on the red carpet and you’ll get the general idea.
Lounge Wear
In direct contrast to the form-fitting low risers we’re seeing on the runways and supermodels, loungewear is still in; fleece in particular. A regular cut of sweat pants is ok if you’re staying home with your socks pulled up over the ankles, but if you’re stepping out, opt for a pair with wide-cut legs to minimize the sweat look and play up the luxurious lounge option. A rough fleece is a particularly hot ticket item because of its slightly less refined appearance.
Cutouts
The easiest way to show a little skin even if it’s freezing out; cutouts are back. Cutouts add to the nostalgic feeling of any garment. Opt for ones that compliment your body shape and are cut in a 60’s or 70s shape to enhance the nostalgia even further. Skin is in; it never went out, but you should remember that less is more in the cutout department. You are not Christina Aguilera in her Dirrty phase. Christina Aguilera shouldn’t even have been in that phase herself.
Bra Tops
Thankfully, many of the season’s key trends partner well with other trends. For example, bra tops are coming in as a match for loungewear sets, workout wear or just everyday garments and can be mixed and matched to suit whatever you need them to. Shopping smart is the best thing to do, and these little tops are the perfect smart item to integrate into your wardrobe.
Bright and Bold Bags
In the same vein as this season’s exciting platforms, bright, bold, and often tiny handbags are here to spice things up a little. If you’re a monochrome person, adding a pop of color with your purse can really make a look sing. They’re a fun and whimsical addition to wardrobes that have become a little too serious.
Fringe Elements
Fringe is back on the runway, a la Cher in the seventies. Maximalism is taking over a lot of designer collections in response to the “stay at home” fashion we’ve been seeing for the last few years, and we’re here for it. There are top-to-toe fringes for the bolder dressers and fringe borders for those who believe that less is more.
Wrap Up
With so many looks and garments to choose from, there’s absolutely no excuse for not looking completely fabulous at all times, whether in loungewear at the market or head-to-toe fringe at home. You decide!
