After what feels like a never-ending winter (in the Northern Hemisphere) you'd be forgiven for eagerly anticipating spring, but - before we all dive head-first into our favourite sandals - AW22 Fashion Week has just wrapped, giving us the first official glimpse into what our autumn/winter 2022 wardrobes will look like. Nothing like being prepared, eh?
Yep, while most of us have been tentatively retiring our thickest winter puffer jackets for our slightly lighter quilted ones, or switching up our super heavy winter boots for lighter loafers (before regretting that decision immediately while puddle-dodging during the recent torrential downpours) New York, London, Milan and Paris have had their sights set firmly on next winter.
For those of you with your finger on the pulse in the sartorial world this sneak peek into your future #lewks won't have come as a surprise, but for others it no doubt seems a tad premature.
Of course, while the clothes hitting the runway were predicting our AW22 wardrobes, those being worn front row by the likes of Anya Taylor-Joy, Victoria Beckham and Rihanna were entirely current, should you be looking for some more immediate inspo.
Or you could also hark back to last September's runways to focus your attention on your spring aesthetic (which is just over a week away!).
But back (forward?) to AW22… what can we expect to be dominating the fashion landscape post-summer?
Fans of fuchsia will be pleased, because full-on Elle-Woods-approved takes on the look - we're talking head-to-toe, quite literally - will be everywhere, with the shade even dominating headwear.
Talking of which, hoods are going to be big news. And no, we don't mean those big cosy hoodies that you lived in over lockdown, but rather those tight-fit iterations which are worn in lieu of a hat, and offer up a super streamlined silhouette.
For those of you looking for subtler style tweaks next season, babydoll dresses, sliced cut-outs and fringing are all great ways to tap into fashion week's hottest autumn/winter trends.
Keen to get ahead? Scroll down for your first look at the 15 trends that will be dominating wardrobes the minute autumn hits.
1. Y2K FLESH-FLASHING
No doubt influenced by Euphoria's 90s and Y2K sartorial references, the fashion world has falling head-over-heels for nostalgic fashion. The Gen Z style set, in particular, cannot get enough, and there were several looks shown on the AW22 runways that were seemingly made for TikTok. You might need the next six months to gear up for this one, because it's all about flesh-flashing crop tops, skimpy minis, low-rises and sheer elements that are deliberately more playful than sexy.
Spotted at: Supriya Lele, Conner Ives & Poster Girl - as well as 16Arlington & Nensi Dojaka
2. ELLE WOODS FUCHSIA
Not one for those devotees to a ‘tonally neutral’ look, for AW22 we'll all be needing a good pair of sunglasses as neon pink takes over our wardrobes. In fact, it's so hot right now (well, come autumn) that Valentino's entire collection was devoted to the hue. Officially Elle Woods-approved, these are head-to-toe looks - quite literally - and require little more than a bit of courage to pull off.
Spotted at: (L-R) Valentino, Huishan Zhang & Richard Quinn - as well as Poster Girl, Bora Aksu, Preen by Thornton Bregazzi & Molly Goddard
3. SLICK NEW HOODS
Hoods - and not the ones attached to your favourite loungewear - have been creeping into some of the world's chicest wardrobes over recent months, but as of autumn we're all going to be wearing them. Ideal on those days where a morning hair wash just doesn't fit into your alarm-snoozing agenda, these are generally slim-fit, knitted numbers and look particularly great with a full monochrome look.
Spotted at: (L-R) Halpern, Proenza Schouler & Poster Girl - as well as Victor Glemaud & Erdem
4. FLARED LEGGINGS
Both flares and leggings have been back on the fashion radar for several seasons now, but come AW22 the two worlds collide to create a super chic, streamlined look. Elevating the humble legging to become more of a statement piece, these look great worn with a heeled sandal of an evening but can also be worn with a flat sandal or even a chunky trainer for a more casual daytime look.
Spotted at: 16Arlington, Poster Girl & Nensi Dojaka
5. XXL FRINGING
Fringing comes and goes on the trend-front, but next season it's back in a big way. A very big way. Think mini skirts with enough fringing to qualify them as a maxi and sweaters with enough fringe-width to ensure continued social distancing. Just avoid pairing them together… We said XXL, not OTT.
Spotted at: Erdem, Stella McCartney & Conner Ives - as well as Toga, Halpern, Roksanda & Huishan Zhang
6. MICRO MINIS
That's right, spring/summer's micro minis are going absolutely nowhere come autumn, and while you may need tights - or even a legging situation à la Richard Quinn - to render them viable once winter hits there's little in the skirt arena that will overtake them on the trend-front.
Spotted at: Miu Miu, 16Arlington & Richard Quinn - as well as David Koma & Ahluwalia
7. SLICED CUT-OUTS
As we're all well aware, cut-outs have been big news for several seasons now. But while they seemed to be only getting bigger up until now, things get a little more subtle once AW22 rolls around. More of a slice than a chunk, cut-outs are becoming thinner and longer, offering more understated peeks at the skin as opposed to the gaping gaps we're so used to seeing.
Spotted at: Givenchy, David Koma & 16Arlington - as well as Nensi Dojaka, Poster Girl, Supriya Lele, Et Ochs, Prabal Gurung, Elena Velez & Eckhaus Latta
8. LIGHT TIGHTS
Tights in winter are often more of a necessity than a considered aesthetic decision, but we'd hazard a guess that almost every pair you own is black. Sure, some might be patterned, but very few of us experiment when it comes to the colour spectrum. Next season, however, things get a whole lot more angelic, with light - often white - tights coming to the forefront. Pair them with hyper-feminine babydolls and mini dresses to really show them off.
Spotted at: Chanel, Rejina Pyo & Paul & Joe - as well as Bora Aksu
9. CLICHÉ CLASH
Fuchsia may be the colour of next season, but when it comes to colour pairings they don't come much cooler than red and pink. The cliché clash we were all advised to avoid before we'd even hit our teenage years, this rebellious statement adds a certain edge to the typically saccharine shade.
Spotted at: Giambattista Valli, Toga & Ahluwalia - as well as Huishan Zhang & Carolina Herrera
10. APRÈS SKI
Puffer coats have taken something of a back seat over recent seasons as its subtler padded sibling, the quilted jacket, took centre stage. For autumn/winter 2022 they're back with a bang, with the phrase ‘duvet coat’ really coming into its own. From full, blanket-inspired puffers to puffer gloves, puffer boots and even puffer scarves, après ski looks set to be a particularly cosy affair next season. You just may need to bring an extra suitcase.
Spotted at: Roksanda, Mark Fast & Poster Girl - as well as House of Sunny
11. GOWNS GO CASUAL
Make no mistake, there's nothing ‘casual’ about these mega gowns per se, but it's the styling of such pieces that see them fall into a more approachable category. From pairing them with bomber jackets, to layering them beneath chunky knits or atop slim-fit roll-necks, it's a great way of making your very fanciest pieces work for more low-key plans.
Spotted at: Preen by Thornton Bregazzi, Altuzarra & Roksanda - as well as Brandon Maxwell, Bora Aksu & Khaite
12. OPERA GLOVES
Gloves were a really key accessory on the AW22 runways, and none more so than the super dramatic, over-the-elbow opera iterations. The perfect way to add a bit of sartorial drama to even the simplest evening gowns, as soon as events start to hit your calendar next party season you'd be wise to snap up a pair or two. Not only are they a very easy accessory to elevate your look, switching them up is also a great way to get more wears out of that classic LBD.
Spotted at: Eudon Choi, Dior & Erdem - as well as Bora Aksu, Simone Rocha, Poster Girl, Conner Ives & Halpern
13. RUNWAY BRIDE
Admittedly speaking to a slightly smaller market, several runways were closed this season with a bridal look. From feathered mini dresses (see, also, white tights once again!) to silk slips and one-shouldered statements, these finale moments championed individualism and served up as real inspo for brides-to-be. After all, there are a lot of us post-pandemic…
Spotted at: Richard Quinn, Conner Ives & Halpern - as well as Huishan Zhang
14. HIGH-OCTANE BUSTIERS
Just in time for party season, super sexy bustiers are back on the fashion map. With everything from sheer panels to tailored leather and corsetry details, if you were looking for a sign that high-octane fashion is back then let this be it. Pair these with cigarette trousers for a timeless date night look, or wide-legs for a more fashion-forward statement.
Spotted at: Gabriela Hearst, Dion Lee & Carolina Herrera
15. BABYDOLL DRESSES
A timeless classic that many of us wear season-after-season, the babydoll is never necessarily out of fashion but for autumn/winter 2022 they're very much in. Go for wide silhouettes, puffed sleeves and super mini hemlines. Paired with white tights (obviously) and chunky boots, it's a super easy every-day piece to throw on that'll look instantly chic.
Spotted at: Cecilie Bahnsen, Preen by Thornton Bregazzi & Bora Aksu - Simone Rocha, Paul & Joe & Molly Goddard
This article was originally published on Glamour UK.
