SS21’s digital edition of fashion month saw many New York Fashion Week designers making the most of the city’s late-summer heat to take their new collections to the streets. As London Fashion Week rolls in, here’s your recap of SS21’s four biggest fashion trends (so far).
1. The trend: the masterpiece mashup
Where we’ve seen it: Chopova Lowena, Collina Strada, Imitation of Christ
What you need to know:
Kitchen hangings, Romanian traditional costumes and lace doilies were just some of the materials championed by London-based duo Emma Chopova and Laura Lowena in their SS21 collection—the pair’s ingeniously sustainable take on folkloric style delivering a masterclass in meaningful fashion. Over in New York, it was Hillary Taymour’s (of Collina Strada) turn to take the art of the mashup to blazing new heights with a collection that invoked the new style sensibilities of a generation focused on driving through political and environmental change. Ditto Imitation of Christ, for who—as Vogue reports—upcycling existing pieces is vital.
2. The trend: the new-era white dress
Where we’ve seen it: Khaite, Alyx, Bevza, Sandy Liang
What you need to know:
While NYFW wasn’t short of bridal style offerings (see Tomo Koizumi and Rodarte), the new-era white dresses spotted at Khaite, Alyx and Bevza were more turn-of-the-millennium than matrimonial. Your SS21 styling tip comes courtesy of Sandy Liang, who showcased the power of sturdy, black, leather knee-highs as the ultimate LWD (little white dress) accompaniment.
3. The trend: supercharged florals
Where we’ve seen it: Rodarte, Tom Ford, Preen by Thornton Bregazzi, Imitation of Christ
What you need to know:
NYFW brought bouquets of mood-lifting prints to the table for SS21—particularly when it comes to florals. Think of the new upholstery blooms as a spirit-raising salve for those of us yet to attempt 2020’s interiors trend for ‘decorating with plants’.
4. The trend: polka dots 2.0
Where we’ve seen it: Batsheva, Halpern, Burberry
What you need to know:
When it comes to the polka dots on SS21’s digital runways, the message is pick your player. While Batsheva’s spots are alluringly winsome, Halpern’s trippy prints are irresistibly hedonistic and Burberry’s altogether more tough with spot-strewn motorcycle pants worthy of a woodland weekend escape from the city.
