The Womenswear edit
AW22 Trend Guide
Big shapes, preppy vibes and timeless nostalgia define the must-have trends from this season’s hottest runways and luxury brands.
Trend Styles
BACK TO BLACK
Darkness reigns this season as designers from Saint Laurent to Givenchy have turned the lights up on all-black looks. Gothic-inspired eveningwear is mysterious and sexy, with lacy full-length evening gowns and maxi dresses and body-con mini-dresses by Michael Kors and Versace all adding a bite of vampiric seduction to your wardrobe. Strappy heels by Guess and a smattering of silver jewellery are the perfect final flourishes. The darkness works by day, too: oversized leather jackets by Tommy Hilfiger layered with black roll-necks or sweater dresses make for a textural look when worn with combat trousers or leggings, and finished off with patent leather shoes. The best thing about going back-to-black? It’s such a timeless look so think of your black garments as investment pieces you’ll wear forever.
PUFFER SWISH
Some trends require effort, whereas others are a single knock-out garment that can transform your wardrobe. This season’s puffer jacket is most definitely in the latter category as brands such as Karl Lagerfeld, Calvin Klein and Marc O'Polo pumped up their silhouettes with larger-than-life puffer jackets. From oversized cropped jackets to long-line coats by Hallhuber and Woolrich, puffers keep the cold out and the compliments coming in. Dodge patterns and let block colours do the talking by keeping the rest of your look tonal and by playing with different textures such as wool and leather. Chunky puffers require chunky boots to balance out the volume so reach for black or tonal styles by UGG or sign off the look with chunky sneakers instead.
DENIM DREAMS
The Canadian tuxedo, aka head-to-toe denim was once a fashion faux pas but now it’s one of the strongest looks of the season. A casual trucker jacket and jeans is tough to beat, especially when you throw in some distressed details to give it a grungy edge. Great denim is hard to kill, so think about finding vintage pieces to mix with more contemporary styles. A denim shirt by Joop! or Scotch&Soda looks super cool styled with a denim midi skirt by the likes of Only and a pair of denim heels. If you just want to dip your toe into the trend, then a midi-dress with chunky shoes and a neutral tone bag will still bring out the best in blue.
CHECK MATE
The way that brands such as Versace, Ted Baker and Polo Ralph Lauren are using checks this season has got us very excited for the heritage pattern. From grungy tartans to sophisticated tweeds, there’s nothing plain about plaid. When it comes to shopping sustainably, timeless check tailoring is one of the best investments you can make. For day, keep the palette toned down and classic with blazers by Scotch&Soda and Hallhuber, and pair them with a loose-fitting check shirt or a vintage dress that you can style with white sneakers and a cute bag by Furla. By night, let the wilder check tones loose. A bold houndstooth mini-dress paired with bright coloured heels is sure to be a show-stopper.
EMBRACE THE WILD
That sound? Oh, that’s the roar of the jungle as designers far and wide embrace the call of the wild with bold leopard and tiger prints. On the dressy side, purr in leopard print one-shoulder dresses by Ted Baker, feline maxi-skirts by Desigual, and form-fitting mini-dresses by rich & royal complemented with strappy heels and silver jewellery. Make a big statement with head-to-toe matching prints (cat suit anyone?!) or use colour accents to break up the look. On the casual front, we’re loving statement white tiger print trousers which you can team with a cute crop top and leather jacket. Otherwise look out for animal-print maxi shirt-dresses by the likes of Ted Baker, and you’ll be the cat that got the cream.
If there’s a garment to make a statement with this season, make it a faux fur coat. Voluminous, sexy, and tactile, faux fur coats were all over the runways at Michael Kors, Saint Laurent and Bottega Veneta to name a few. So what’s the furry vibe? Think big silhouettes: we’re transfixed by the oversized long-line coats by the likes of Vero Moda. Look for styles with exaggerated shawl collars or belted options that feel like you’re being hugged by a bear. Keep the tones seasonal with brown, grey and black, or use bolder blues, lilac and gold for more of instant impact. The beauty of these beasts is you can layer them on top of anything and look instantly glamorous.