If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s to be extra discerning — even with clothes.
You can never have too many dresses in your wardrobe, especially when designers are spoiling you with options tailored for all occasions. Dramatic volumes and floor-length hemlines are a perennial must-watch but this season, the long and narrow silhouettes, in addition to all the short, sexy and playful numbers, underscored the fact that there’s nothing quite fuss-free and not to mention, super-chic like a one-piece wonder.
This is a ubiquitous trend to expect each season only because there will always be a place in fashion for the classic blue jean. Whether you subscribe to the approval of wearing jeans (or not!), there were plenty of jeans-centric ensembles — from street to the elegant — enough to convert a resisting fashionista (cue style tip: Add an amazing blazer!). Unusual standouts were spotted at Burberry where creative director, Riccardo Tisci, used denim jacket panels to add a colour pop to the house’s iconic beige trench coats.
There’s no going wrong with black and white. The sculptural creations at Loewe recalled fashion’s fantastical side — it was playful, fun, joyful… It was also couture-esque and it brought back memories and positive notions, which quarantine days and social distancing have robbed of us. Elsewhere, there were many classical reiterations that showed up at Chanel: Virginie Viard presented as many two-tone style coordinates as she could (it is after all the colour codes of the iconic French house), utilising feathers, lace and sheer fabrics to properly convey the ease and lightness of the season, too. Kudos to Miuccia Prada who debut her partnership with Raf Simons at Prada and offered pieces that appeared part streetwear and — dare we say — part school marm? Saint Laurent gave a mix of Tomboy/girl party high-octane glam, while at Hermès, a boxy, black leather vest and matching mini skirt underscored the polish of utilitarian dressing with a sense of newness.
It doesn’t get more shipshape than this. Tailored pieces are everything when it comes to seeking a crowd-pleasing (and wearable) style. Wide-legged trousers were a mainstay, popping up at Hermès, Louis Vuitton and The Row. Fashioned with frontal pleats, they mimicked men’s-inspired slacks with a Katherine Hepburn-meets-Annie Hall charm. The oversized shirt is perhaps the must-buy item of the season. Fendi’s Silvia Venturini channelled a feminine insouciance by — literally — reinterpreting them as maxi column dress shirts, whereas Valentino’s Pierpaolo Piccioli showed them in crochet lace, blurring the gender lines and serving options for both men and women.
The evolution of sportswear continues to inspire designers to infuse streetwear and activewear elements into every day smart-casual separates — think colour-blocking panels, fabric technology, aerodynamic fit… This season, Miuccia Prada’s proposed storyboard for Miu Miu saw more than half her collection champion sports blazers that mimicked track jackets, bombers that reminisced bowling jackets, swimwear-style bottoms double up as modesty pants under sheer dresses… A snug cropped halter was paired with a tracksuit-inspired skirt and looked ready for a cocktail party in perhaps a sports arena, too? In other collections, there were fishnets pieces, a major trend for the season, in fact. Layered as a sheath over garments or simply worn on its own, the mesh appeal was as sporty as it was bold.
Images courtesy of respective brands featured, artwork by Curatedition. All rights reserved.
Related Links:
The 5 New Classics of Spring/Summer ’20
Dior Spring-Summer 2020: An Enchanting Garden of Diversity
The 8 Huge Trends for Spring/Summer 2020
