It has been a weird 18 months for everyone, fashion included. Though we’ve become accustomed to the pandemic, and all the ways it’s impacted our day-to-day lives, it is worth discussing how this impact has been felt in the bi-annual fashion months and the collections that have come out of that. The autumn/winter collections, which debuted back in February were some of the first back to in-person presentations and shows. Though many brands still staged their collections virtually, even those in-person shows showed how COVID has changed things.
Though the trends are less about pure comfort for comfort’s sake, such as what we saw last season, you could feel the designers’ wish to escape coming through in many trends. There’s been a real obsession with aprés ski this season, coming from a desire to go back on the holidays we know and love. Also, we’re seeing a rise in sequins, cut-outs and bold colours as party-wear, not to mention an entire trend has evolved around the concept of over-the-top dressing. We’re all fed up with sweats, Zoom meetings and ahtleisure. It’s about the joy of dressing up again.
What’s also incredibly fascinating to see is how designers are looking back to past decades for inspiration and nostalgia. The late nineties and early noughties are huge right now, inspired by Gen Z, where low-rise jeans, tie-dye and nineties jewellery is all the rage. We’re also seeing an appreciation for seventies disco in the use of sequins, and though I’ve not highlighted it here, 1920’s glamour and 80’s excess was also all over the runways.
Our usual obsessions with knitwear and faux fur for the autumn/winter season is also still there; which means there’s enough of a selection for all types and preferences.
Come read on for a curated list of the top 10 fashion trends for autumn/winter and find something exactly for you.