FALL / WINTER 2022 TRENDS
NO CHILL ENERGY
No one gave them the right, but here they are doing it. JW Anderson, MSGM, and the much-anticipated Paris debut of Bianca Saunders screamed one thing and one thing only: heavy on the serotonin. Trailblazing our burgeoning wave of dopamine-inspired fits, an inciting energy exploded in Blazing Yellow, Fuchsia Rose, and Brilliant Blue, led by the champion it-color of the season, Kelly Green. Surrealism got really real. We’re talking abstracts, color blocks, trippy prints, creature graphics, and whacked-out motifs. The weirder, the brighter, and the more it makes you stop and look, the better. Elephants? sure. Heart-shaped nipple cut-outs? Literally, why not. It’s 2022; we’re unhinged.
INDIE SLEAZE
The 90s grunge revival has reignited the runway with an unironic irony the 00’s emo babies know best. All-black baggy fits, leather accents, and the slouchy blazer silhouette are dropping to the beat of Vampire Weekend’s biggest hits. Megan Fox and MGK are sharing blood, Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker gave life to the blurry candid, and Rick Owens, in Rick Owens-like fashion, is fearlessly leading our grunge newcomers Federico Cina and, notably, Hermés, towards the relentless, neon wayfarer nostalgia that is indiesleaze. Fire up your Tumblr pages, unbox that American Apparel, and get your digital camera ready. The mid-aught hipsters are back, and frankly, they don’t care what you think.
SARTORIAL FIT CHECK
The modern man again gets more modern with an ever-evolving sartorial silhouette, embracing the zeitgeist of chilled out tailoring and relaxed fits. On one end of the suited-up male spectrum, power fitting and a focus on waistlines formed structured looks and a rowdy attitude, amplified by the key color Mazarine Blue. Sans the need for a statement, the kicked back sartorial male took notes from fluidity with drop shouldered, roomy silhouettes in the popularized Egret. Look to Prada’s shoulders and Fendi’s longline shirt to get the hint.
TMZ HAS ENTERED THE CHAT
It’s no double-denim Britney and Justin at the 2001 MTV Music Awards, but it’ll have to do. Y2K is back. Like Flo Rida, our denim is cut low, and if that’s not enough, then we’re once again buying into logomania because it’s worth it and we’d like to work it. Key colors Aurora and Sharp Green hailed the significance of neon, while fur and embossed fabrics reminded us just how good our stone wash, loose-fit denim was. The chain belt in your closet just might see the light of day again. For inspiration, look to Courrèges and the final collection of the late Virgil Abloh for the most iconic 00’s hip-hop references.
GORPED UP JAWNZ
Water-repellant enthusiasts are given the go to continue their field day into FW22 with the elongation of their romance with nature—not actually nature, but the aesthetic. Luxe fabrics, technical accessories (i.e., the birth of the DSquared2 hiker), and pockets galore adorn the modern male adventurer on his quest to Soho House. Key colour Exuberance in high-shine puffers gives a new kick of life to the well-loved straps, gilets, and anoraks we’re now accepting as our malecore norm. A-COLD-WALL delivers excellence to our explorer subculture, but look to Kenzo for Nigo’s debut streetwear take, making gorp playful again.
SHOCK JOCKS
To whom we appreciate. Reigning in as a key silhouette of the season and the forerunner of the jock aesthetic is the varsity jacket, inspiring smart tailoring and the importance of the sweater vest for A+ content. The cardigan, football jersey, and chunky roll neck emerge this season alongside a new pairing emphasis with the gender-bending Mary Jane and square-toed boot. Key earthy brown colors Shitake and Coriander blend with Capulet Olive and Rosin in smart check patterns across blazers and co-ord sets. Check out R13 and Moschino for academic slogans, but Dior Homme Pre-fall for a classic, chunky knit.
AWOL’IN OUT
Classicism is now rooted in the history-defying tailoring of the militaristic silhouette. This season, the bomber is the chosen shape of reconstruction, emerging as a core pairing across collections and in street style. Smart cargos are seen in classic tans Shifting Sand and Almond Buff, paired nodingly with the military boot. Look to the overcoats at Hermès and Balmain for a regal military adaptation, but stick to Cavalli for classic utility.