A significant lesson from Spring 21 is the significance of comfort. It is woven throughout each collection in a little different fashion. The notion of “taking your outfit from day to night” is the inspiration behind many fashion pieces, including their enormous dimensions, soft fabrics, and combination of dressier and more casual styles. This concept has long been a major selling point in the business, and it is truer now than ever. Perhaps it would be more fitting to say from the “couch to the street” in these COVID-19 times rather than “day to night.”
Large-Scale Silhouettes
The hoodie is by no means fitting, yet it’s the new favored silhouette in most fashion houses. Even when they’ve styled it to be less casual or paired it back with skirts, it still seems like they might be rushing to the grocery store or walking down a runway. Designers who wanted to convey ease without dressing down, such as Reem Acra and Valentino, went with big designs in pricey fabrics instead of going as casual. Fendi adopted a more overt strategy, dressing up a jacket that resembles a down blanket.
Knit Dressing
In the spirit of a more casual wardrobe, of course we will see the emergence of sporty details to help balance that streetwear look perfectly. The drawstring is having a moment, not only for jackets, but also throughout the season as an additional detail on a dress or skirt. Pops of sporty colors like tangerine orange, rich pink, and sky blue are threaded throughout the season. Utility details have been trending for the last couple of seasons, but we see it in a bigger way now. Meaning, go buy this trend! It is already out there in the market and isn’t going away.
“Cozy up in the latest knit dressing trend. Effortlessly chic and comfortable, it’s perfect for any occasion. #KnitDressing”
Soft & Sleek Fabrics
Sleek and drapey fabrics have ruled the runway throughout fashion month. The mix of oversized silhouettes with soft, comfortable fabrics makes it easier to fit in your wardrobe to wear at home or out to a social distanced dinner. The Altuzarra dress cinched at the waist seems like the perfect outfit to do just that. If we aren’t careful with styling, they could look a bit like PJ’s, but who really cares anyways?
soft suiting
Even though the majority of us are working from home, we still have those important zoom meetings or in-person trips to the office. The soft suit is the perfect way around investing in a stuffy suit to only wear it once a month. Soft suiting can be mixed and matched easily with other existing pieces in your wardrobe and styled in different ways as the seasons change.
We are seeing these designers really thinking about how the consumer will shop and what they will need.
This isn’t the time for frivolous spending for many people, so investing in something that will work on a weekly basis is important. I can say, I am excited about how all of these trends can be interpreted and how it will evolve over the next few years.