fashion trends spring summer 2022

The spring/summer 2022 fashion trends you’ll see everywhere

For the last year and a half, traditional fashion weeks didn’t exist. With mainly digital shows, designers (and guests!) couldn’t be happier with this first post-pandemic fashion month. Therefore, it’s time to take a look at the fashion trends of spring/summer 2022 – a season full of abundance.
Cover photo: courtesy of Acne Studios

Fashion trends spring/summer 2022

Early September 2021: after almost a year and a half of being glued to our laptop screens, New York Fashion Week finally happens in real life again. Walking the streets of The Big Apple, the vibrance and vividness of the city are clearly visible. Elated crowds gather around show locations and street-style stars pull out all the stops to be photographed again. Soon after New York has kicked off fashion month, the fashion circus continues in London, Milan, and – at last – Paris.

The street style trends betray what is going on inside; bursts of color, over-the-top silhouettes, drama, and glamour dominate both the guests’ attires, as well as the runways, making it clearer than ever that people are ready for their re-entrance to the real world. And in case you’re still in doubt about what to wear and how to pull off some of the most outrageous looks, take a look at the biggest fashion trends for spring/summer 2022 below.

Craftsmanship

Seen at: Tod’s, Prada, Acne Studios, Coperni, Harrid Reed, Simone Rocha, Molly Goddard, Bora Aksu, Tom Ford, Altuzarra, Hermès

In mid-2021, LVMH (the parent company of Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Fendi, among others) announced that they will be recruiting new – read: young – talent en masse. Well, that doesn’t seem like news in itself, were it not for the fact that they want to attract Generation Z to learn different crafts. Because the fast fashion of recent decades has given handicrafts a dusty image. With a renewed focus on quality and craftsmanship, this must change – and that change lies with the new generation. Then the trend: we saw craftsmanship and craftsmanship in the perfection of the smallest, but most frantic details. This ranged from beautiful finishes with gold brooches at Tod’s to the obvious haute couture inspiration in Prada’s ready-to-wear collection. And the nice thing is: craftsmanship does not perish. We may call it a ‘trend’, but in fact, it is anything but.

Also read: The biggest spring/summer 2022 Milan Fashion Week trends, spotted by our editors

Big shoulders

Hailey Bieber knows the art of dressing when it comes to a bold shoulder. And we have to admit, dressing up never has been so easy when it comes to what a big shoulder does for every outfit. It quickly elevates every look: from a tough biker jacket to a straight-cut blazer.

Seen at: Prada, Acne Studios, Versace, Fendi, Coperni, Botter, Preen by Thornton Bregazzi, Tom Ford, Hermès

See-through

Seen at: Acne Studios, Coperni, Emporio Armani, Sportmax, Dior, Alberta Ferretti, Rejina Pyo, 16Arlington, Elleme

Whereas in the era of Phoebe Philo for Céline (then still with an AIgu accent) minimalist, high-necked fashion reigned supreme, the tide seems to have turned. Seen on the catwalk at Acne Studios, Tod’s, Fendi, Bora Aksu, and Emporio Armani, among others: see-through fabrics, and not just in the ‘safe’ places. According to the great designers of the moment, it is completely permissible to wear a transparent skirt or top – and no, there is no need for Spanx or other ‘concealing’ garments. Perhaps not completely safe for work, but a feast for the eyes. Moreover, the trend is easy to make every day thanks to an underskirt or classic shirt in contrasting colors.

Old-fashioned glam

Seen at: Botter, Coperni, Prada, Hermès, Tod’s, Harris Reed, Erdem, Preen by Thornton Bregazzi, Moschino, Gabriela Hearst, Christian Siriano

Chanel, Miu Miu, Valentino, Saint Laurent, and Blumarine already predicted it: the nineties and zeroes are back. And how! At Chanel, models stormed the catwalk as if we were back in time – for a moment we were in a pre-corona bubble. Waving, smiling broadly, and playing with their (iconic) outfits, they provided the ultimate feel-good show of the year. Miu Miu also supplied a collection that was even more acclaimed than that of big sister Prada, thanks to the minuscule skirts and sweaters. This season, Valentino and Saint Laurent opt ​​for the glamorous variant within this trend, by means of daring cut-outs, shiny fabrics, and garments with a festive touch. While writing this article, Gen Z has already declared the 2010s the decade from which we will draw our trends from now on. And that may sound too recent to experience a revival, but nothing could be further from the truth. Something old, and something new, in this latter case. And that is precisely the best thing about fashion: trends come and go, but what is good always stays in fashion.

Also read: Farfetch launches pre-order service with some of the most sought-after brands of the moment

Corsets

Seen at: Sportmax, Prada, Erdem, LaQuan Smith

Both Bridgerton and The Crown have reigned to the fashion industry last year. Designers must have been inspired by both cult series since the return on the corset is undeniable. At Prada, we saw severe influences of haute couture – both in shapes as well as in finishing of the garments. Sportmax and Acne Studios exaggerated it a little more, by letting corsets dominate their collections. Fashion search engine Lyst already stated the enormous influence of Netflix on the fashion industry. Not only did the abovementioned series make certain trends go sky-high, And Just Like that made the search for Manolos peak during the launch of this Sex and the City reboot. ‘Carrie Bradshaw made her highly-anticipated return to our screens and, just like that, tulle skirts and Manolos have once again risen to the top of fashion lovers’ wishlists,’ writes their content lead in an update. Therefore, keep an eye on Netflix’s and HBO’s most popular series to be on top of next season’s trends.

Bold colors

Seen at: Botter, Richard Quinn, Versace, Koché, Fendi, Prada, Acne Studios, Cecilie Bahnsen, Max Mara, Sportmax, Tod’s, Jimmy Choo, Rejina Pyo, Roksanda, Eudon Choi, Brandon Maxwell, Moschino, Proenza Schouler, Christian Siriano

In line with the trend above, Emily in Paris has undoubtedly had an influence on the runway’s color scheme. The bolder, the better, is what many designers thought. From Tweety-yellow to aqua blue and bloody orange: without color, you’re nowhere this season. ‘Colors, like features, follow the changes of the emotions,’ Pablo Picasso once said. And that’s good news, knows psychologist Karen Haller. In her book ‘How to Use the Psychology of Colour to Transform Your Life’, she explains the ubiquitous effect of color on emotions. ‘We instinctively feel and behave differently around colors because of how we take the color in through our eyes and through to the part of our brain where our emotions reside,’ Haller explained to Who What Wear. ‘Colour is a great way to lift our spirits and boost our moods in an instant. Our confidence can be boosted when we wear colors that we love and feel good in.’

The new suit

The best investment ever? That must be the (men’s) suit. In recent years this ensemble has appeared on the catwalk in all shapes and sizes, but perhaps even more often outside. The perfect model-off-duty look has since been adopted by a larger crowd and has taken on various guises as a result. At some fashion houses, the shoulders are wider than ever, at others, the cut is more subtle. Lanvin, for example, opts for the latter, but with dramatic, floor-sweeping pants. Victoria Beckham goes for a wider fit, just like fashion houses Acne Studios and Stella McCartney. We also find the same closer to home at Dutch upcycle suit brand The Uniform Label, which provides proof that you don’t always have to buy ‘new’. By tailoring an old (men’s) suit at a good tailor, you not only have a unique piece but also a suit to cherish for the rest of your life. Our advice: take a look in your father, grandfather, brother, or husband’s closet for inspiration or a hidden gem.

Seen at: Acne Studios, Dior, Hugo Boss, Sportmax, Max Mara, Prada, Dior, Saint Laurent, Jil Sander, Koché, Hermès, Victoria Beckham, Mithridate, Peter Do

Also read: Hermès SS22 – an overview of the most spectacular looks

Oversized biker jacks

Seen at: Acne Studios, Prada, Balmain, Dior, Hermès

In the past weeks, many celebrities were spotted in Matrix jackets – including Kate Moss, Hailey Bieber, and Kim Kardashian. The rise of Matrix-inspired clothing perfectly matches our Zeitgeist; during the pandemic, many got increasingly drawn to the online world, and the rising popularity of NFT’s is beyond imagination. Matrix vibes suddenly feel not so strange. ‘Choice is an illusion created between those with power and those without,’ Merovingian said in The Matrix Reloaded (2003). So, whether you like it or not, this trend will be big.

Also read: These are the biggest Milan Fashion Week trends for spring/summer 2022