The Season Of Possibility: ELLE UK's Autumn/Winter 2022 Trend Report
Dresses are short! Or long. Gothic black is back! And so is minimalist white. Today, looks don’t rotate in and out, but rather evolve — one idea rapidly building on the next, giving you more and more to choose from. Here are the standout runway talking points set to define AW22:
The look: Tweed 3.0
‘Devoting the entire collection to tweed is a tribute,’ says Virginie Viard, who went so far as to cover the Chanel show venue in different shades of the fabric. That was where the reverence stopped, though: the Queen in the Highlands this was not (even though fishing waders made a surprise appearance on the runway). This season’s take on the trend is sweet but not saccharine, sophisticated yet still playful, with an upbeat and entirely youthful spirit. Tweed shorts suit to the office, anyone?
Pleated plaid kilts, Peter-Pan collars, half-undone neck ties, white tights and gym-kit tops: AW22 produced plenty of looks designed for bunking off behind the bike sheds. A Sixties insouciance informed the Miu Miu show – these are styles for girls who are too cool for school.
The detail: Tied up
Kenzo and Gucci
The printed silk scarf gets a glow up this season. Clash colours and contrast, because anything goes – as long as you master the Sloane Ranger knot. Alternatively, toughen it up with a leather tie.
The silhouette: Gender neutral
Prada, Saint Laurent By Anthony Vaccarello and Erdem
The lines are blurred when it comes to gendered dressing. What works now is a flexible take on both masculine and feminine fashion, using timeless tailoring as a starting point for subverting style norms, as seen at Erdem: ‘I was thinking about the avant-garde expressionism of Weimar Berlin. Imagining characters like the dancer Anita Berber, and how she would wear a suit. I loved the idea of showing the same tailored silhouettes on both men and women – they are fluid and interchangeable.'
The piece: On the fringe
The length: Short and sweet
aw22 fashion trends
Molly Goddard, Simone Rocha and Jil Sander
IMAXTREE
A youthquake of mini dresses appeared on the AW22 catwalks, where Sixties rebellion collided with Noughties exuberance in a pastel-hued parade that was anything but sickly. Miu Miu hit the hemline highs again, but sweet little looks were everywhere from Loewe to Simone Rocha. ‘My most recent collection was originally influenced by the [Irish myth] Children of Lir. The children are transformed when they are still young, and I wanted the youthfulness and naïveté to be translated into the silhouette. So some of the hemlines became very teenage, very micro,’ says Rocha.
The accessory: Thigh high club
aw22 fashion trends
Bottega Veneta and Giambattista Valli
IMAXTREE
‘The taller, the better’ is the motto of this season’s footwear. These are boots for styling with mini skirts and dresses – look out for metallic and jewel tones.
The shape: Maxi coats
aw22 fashion trends
Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello, Versace and Miu Miu
IMAXTREE
We don’t usually like style diktats, but AW22 has made one thing clear: if in doubt, throw a long and lean coat over it.
The statement: Catsuits vs bodysuits
Dolce & Gabbana, Alaïa and Christian Dior
How short, tight, cut out and sheer can you go? This is a trend for those who dare to bare.
The mood: I see through you
Erdem and Prada
Risqué necklines, slinky slips dotted with delicate sequins, and sumptuous lace garments dominated catwalks this season. Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons’ take involved crystal-studded mesh numbers, while Erdem’s Thirties-inspired collection included numerous dresses in translucent lace.
The texture: Pull the wool over
Isabel Marant and Etro
It’s time to turn down the heating and turn to sweater dressing. From coats to cardigans, two pieces and twin sets, anything goes so long as it’s knitted.
The vibe: Pretty in punk
Gucci, Miu Miu and Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini
Rebellion is always a good idea. Punk energy flowed through AW22: lingerie dressing got tough with crystal embellishments, vinyl boots gave an edge to babydoll silhouettes and feminine subversion was everywhere. If you only take on one element, make it Miu Miu’s velvet-and-diamanté choker.
