As we crawl into the New Year, we don’t just bid adieu to the year past but also to a decade of fashion, a decade that embraced frivolous style statements in all its glory.
One look at the Spring-Summer 2020 collection and you will see the beginning of change. If there are two things that the runways this season are pushing, it is practicality and longevity. The previous foes of fashion are now all that matter. Tiny micro bags are replaced with sensible totes, suede sneakers with platforms, gold is the new glitter, and leather is not just for cold weather anymore. As you flip through the trend report of the year, you will find the biggest hits of the season’s runways right in your closet, as this year many classics have made a comeback with a deeper meaning.
Material: Soft leathers
Leather has made its striking presence all the way from fall to spring-summer. The material was spotted in SS20 runways in shades other than the usual black and tan. Think pops of greens, yellows, orange, reds and in all forms from leather pants, miniskirts, shorts, jackets to boots and bags. Oversized silhouettes from Alexander McQueen and Valentino, feminine cuts in Marni, and cool colours at Coach 1941; it’s time to take out your good ol’ leather a little early this year.
Ditch: Latex
Pick: Leather
Print: It’s a jungle out there
Versace’s iconic tropical dress that went viral with Beyoncé’s stride on the runway, Dior’s wild safari themed collection, Marni’s range built around the beauty of nature, Noir’s plant headgears, Valentino’s jungle prints with monkey motifs: the SS20 runway turned into a canvas of what could be lost, scenery of exotic flowers, wild leaves, and greens set in whites, orange and even pastels. Environment and climate change has become an elephant in the room fashion cannot ignore anymore.
Ditch: See you later, sea prints!
Pick: Wild tropic
Sheer:
Transparent and completely see through, sheer dresses continue to be fashion’s obsession. Sheer clothing has established itself as one of those trends that doesn’t feel quite a trend anymore because it’s so ubiquitous. Gucci went bold and celebrated sexuality with a collection of sheer skirts, tops, and dresses, layered with intimate wear. Dior presented elegant evening wear in sheer, and Chanel and Prada had sheer blouse paired with skirts and pants.
Ditch: Satin
Pick: Sheer
Shorts
While last year was all about midis, the year is back to embracing the shorter hem. Tom Ford’s Bermuda suits, knit shorts at Hermès, Louis Vuitton’s leather paperbag and hot pants styled with stockings in Chanel, SS20 has brought back shorts in all its glory. And right in time for the weather ahead!
Ditch: Midis
Pick: Hot pants
Powerdressing
If one thing the decade of womenswear has established, it is that suits are not borrowed from men. Making a stronger appearance than ever before, vests, shoulder pads and utility pockets, were added to the 70s suits, giving a new stronger light to power dressing and an edge to the decade’s boss lady look. Boxy, tailored, over-sized, cropped, paired with skirts, co-ords, shorts, slouch-trousers, and the like – it’s going to be a good year for suits.
Ditch: Nothing. Blazers in all their forms work!
Pick: Vest
Crochet
Embracing femininity and handicraft, crochet is the prettiest trend of SS20. So if you have treasured your grandmother’s knits, it’s a good time to dig them out. Don’t have one yet? We suggest you invest in one that you can pass down as heirloom. Think ultra-feminine skirts, polished suiting, and elegant eveningwear.
Ditch: Prairie dress
Pick: Crochet dress
For the party season – Go for gold
From Balenciaga’s golden foil fairytale gown complete with a big bow, Marc Jacobs textured golden full maxi, Rocha’s golden slip dress, almost all the designers had a standout moment in golden party wear. Here’s an official runway statement for the year ahead: ‘if you must party, do it in gold!’
Ditch: glitter and sequins
Pick: metallic gold.
White Shirts
Bishop sleeves, frilled, cropped, feathered, transparent, wrap-overs, disco collars and more hardly cover the number of variations this wardrobe staple saw in this season’s runway.
Ditch:
Pick:
Borrowed from SS19
Neon, ruffles, the colour beige, and cycling shorts, continue to have their high-game even as the year ends. They appeared just as frequent in SS20 runways as they did in the bygone year.
Key Accessoriesof SS20: The Return of practicality! Oh thank god!
BIG Bag Energy
We can’t exactly say it’s the end of tiny bag frenzy, as we still spotted variations of it this season too. But the good news is that the greater half was dedicated to big bags and practically sized totes. Bucket bags are this season’s hottest trend, followed by roomy shoppers.
Platforms for feet:
The comfy sneakers craze has a new substitute – the just-as-practical platforms and Mary Janes. Glamorous and dressy platforms came from Valli and Simone Rocha, while the basics were presented in Prada and Teva.
Chains and chokers
Close-to-collar chokers remain high on must-have lists, along with links and layering. The new touch comes from Moschino and Fendi: chains that come attached to tiny handbags, moving functionality to the necklace too.
