With all things 2022 on the brain, who's ready to dive into the next batch of fashion moments that are about to define the coming year? Instead of taking a broader view, I'm actually eyeing a number of specific looks that graced the spring/summer 2022 runways and predicting that we'll see them everywhere.
You see, each season we look to the runways to determine the overarching trends but if you really think about it, we can trace the defining elements of cool style at the moment back to a handful of specific looks, whether it was an article of clothing, a novel styling trick, color combination, or an overall mood that was evoked.
If you want to know what the fashion set will be adopting, recreating, and iterating on in no time, I suggest you start with these looks. Consider this your crash course in spring 2022 fashion. These are the exact runway moments that blew up group chats and social media feeds when we first saw them during fashion month last fall and now that we're looking ahead at the year in front of us, I can state with conviction that these looks will set the tone.
So, which trends should you prioritize and which items should you shop for? From the Miu Miu look that's bringing back the micro miniskirt to the rising "gorpcore" aesthetic Sandy Liang is pioneering and the cool layering trick worth adopting from ACNE Studios, continue on the discover the eight popular spring 2022 runway moments to know about before they blow up IRL.
Scissors at the ready! The micro miniskirt is marking its grand return on the spring 2022 runways, showing up most notably at Miu Miu where hacked-off pleated miniskirts were paired with preppy staples like loafers and cable knit but with a decidedly risqué spin. If the sultry-preppy vibes are triggering Abercrombie & Fitch flashbacks, you're not alone. If you went to high school in the early aughts, then the teenier-than-thou silhouettes might bring back some strong emotions. Don't say we never warned you.
The key pieces: Micro miniskirts, cable-knit sweaters, and socks with loafers
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Laid-back luxe will be one of the defining characteristics of how fashion people get dressed this year. The state of the world is as unexpected as ever, which is why the quality over quantity mindset is resonating especially well right now. Look for easygoing essentials such as relaxed silhouettes, luxe knits, and cozy textures as exemplified by Altuzarra's spring runway.
The key pieces: Luxe staples
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If you've ever wondered about the extent of the power that Prada holds in fashion right now, all you need to see is this. In the span of a single runway collection, it's managed to transform the moto jacket from a humble, dated closet staple to a hot-ticket item. Most notably, moto jackets were styled with simple miniskirts, cardigans, and low heels—all items most of us already have sitting in our closets. The genius is in the simplicity here and yet it still feels exciting and fresh. The bottom line? It's time to revisit our moto jackets.
The key pieces: Leather moto jackets, miniskirts, and low heels
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Bevza's customers flock to the brand for its elevated minimalism and the spring 2022 collection definitely delivered on that reputation. One look, in particular, stands out in my mind as one that will come to have the most influence on the fashion world this year. It's strikingly simple, involving a tube top and relaxed, low-slung pants. Given that the ways you can achieve this and the exact pieces you could use are virtually endless, I think it's a silhouette we'll see repeated as soon as warmer weather hits.
The key pieces: Tube tops and relaxed pants
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Who's ready to party? According to the world of Versace, we'll be embracing shorter hemlines and bare midriffs more than ever in 2022. Prepare to embrace an early aughts-inspired feel in your going-out attire clad in disco-ready metal mesh. Remember Paris Hilton's chainmail dress she wore to her 21st birthday in 2002? All I'm saying is that it will be hitting a lot of fashion people's mood boards this year and I plan on dressing accordingly.
The key pieces: Metal mesh dresses, skirts, and crop tops
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Optical illusion graphics are a big part of the retro-futurist movement that emerged in the '60s. Seeing as the aesthetics of the movement are having a moment again now across interior design and fashion, I think we'll see that overall aesthetic manifest most prominently with these shape-shifting prints. Psychadelic prints took hold in 2021, but Paco Rabanne is giving them a fresh update with these trippy designs that can only be described as hypnotizing.
The key pieces: Optical illusion prints
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Get ready for a new fashion aesthetic to take hold in 2022. We saw the trend of wearing technical hiking gear, dubbed gorpcore, in a number of collections but most notably at Sandy Liang where fun-loving fleece was paired with nylon track pants and many of the looks were finished off with outdoors-friendly footwear.
The key pieces: Fleece, vests, weather-resistant fabrics, and hiking-inspired shoes
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Good news: Corsets are here to stay. In addition to the lingerie-as-eveningwear look, I think we'll start to see a lot more layering per this ACNE Studios look. These will feature corsets and bra tops worn on top of thin knits instead of underneath them, giving new meaning to the phrase "out from under."
The key pieces: Corsets, bra tops, and thin layering tops
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Up next, see the shoe trends we recommend phasing out for a major 2022 wardrobe glow-up.
