Trends to expect from the autumn/winter fashion weeks 2022

The first event to truly kick off and set the tone for the season is the Copenhagen Fashion Week, taking place at the start of February. This autumn/winter, we’ll be expecting to see more cosy and comfortable styles, including teddy fabric and knitted sweater dresses, as well as big coats, puffer jackets and bulky boots.

As far as colour palettes go, there seems to be a real mix of calming, classic tones such as forest greens and stone greys, as well as more vibrant and energetic colours. Fruity shades, ranging from reds and yellows to pink and orange, in a variety of patterns can be seen on the catwalk, including romantic ombres.

As far as street style goes, we’re expecting more puffer coats, oversized scarves, layers and many warm accessories.

On the runway, we’ll be seeing more royalty-inspired pieces with intricate detailing, sequins and bows, both large and small. As for fits and silhouettes, expect to see bodycon styles with cutouts, sleek slip skirts and dresses and low-rise bottoms. It might be two years of working from home, but tailored looks will also be making a surprise comeback, from suit jackets to dress trousers. There is so much to be excited about this year in the world of fashion.

Digital experiences 

It is safe to say that the fashion week landscape has changed in the past two years, since the start of the ongoing pandemic there has been a drastic shift towards the online. Though this year’s events are set to be a return to form, digital seems to have become an undeniable force of the fashion industry. Decentraland, an up-and-coming user-owned virtual world, will be hosting its first metaverse Fashion Week (MVFW) in March. This virtual event will feature everything from fashion shows and live music to parties and even the opportunity to buy runway looks. Hugo – the Hugo Boss rebranding targeted at Gen Z – will take part in this four-day event and will be selling physical products through the metaverse.

The metaverse has already played a part in New York’s fashion week, where Jonathan Simkhai showcased his autumn/winter 2022 collection in the online multimedia platform Second Life one day before presenting the physical collection. During the event, Second Life users were able to buy Simkhai’s pieces for their avatars and six of them were auctioned off as NFTs.

NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, are also expected to play a part in this year’s fashion weeks. Streetwear brand AKINGS hosted a pop-up NFT event to launch their NFT Trading Card Collection. According to their website, “Some pieces in this collection are backed by a real item garment that is delivered to your home upon redeeming it. Extremely rare items are made to order to your measurements.” The collection, inspired by gaming, functions on a “loot box” system, so the exact features of the NFT will be a surprise. Additionally, London-based fashion brand ROKSANDA is partnering with London Fashion Week sponsor Clearpay to create an NFT finale look for their London Fashion Week show. The NFT will have augmented reality functionality that allows the buyer to try on the NFT virtually.

Sally Wijers
Photo: Chris Yates (header)