Designers have given us an array of collections during what has seemed like a long and strange fashion month. New York kicked off with worries about relevancy. In Milan the coronavirus caused some brands to cancel shows. Paris didn’t have any of those cancellations, but it did have plenty of hand sanitizer and facemasks that were handed out at some shows.
The collections that came out of all this strangeness seemed to mimic the state of the world. Some designers were more subdued than normal – at Valentino, Pierpaolo Piccioli sent a stark amount of black down the runway – others attempted to send love into the world they perceive to be increasingly unsettling.
Despite the individuality seen between collections, a smattering of trends were apparent. Some are continuations of the previous season and some just arrived. You can be sure that you’ll see all of them on Instagram in the next few months.
Oversized Suiting
From gravity defying shoulders on the Balenciaga runway in Paris to the slouchy suits from the Toga collection in London, the beloved two-piece set is here for Fall 2020. Oversized suits are taking over for the more feminine versions that came with Spring, but Tory Burch and Prabal Gurung showed a softer tailoring that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere soon.
Long Fringe
Fringe has many uses and references, but it’s fitting that Fall 2020 should include the trend. Roaring 20’s anyone? The fringe that appeared in multiple collections this season was a longer, floor skimming style, that bounced and swished when models walked. It seemed almost timeless on bags, coats, and dresses at Bottega Veneta where it came in a chunky knit or a thinner layer of tassels. The fringe at Jonathan Simkhai appeared to use Native American influences and Prada went from thick pleated fringe skirts to finely layered fringe dresses.
Opera Gloves
Elegant elbow length gloves stood out during the Valentino Spring 2020 Couture show and they were back in many of the Fall 2020 shows. Rodarte magnified their elegance by adding dangling gems. Anna Sui sent her models out wearing opulent purple velvet gloves and Bella Hadid wore pure white glove for Marc Jacobs that almost reached her shoulders. Pair under a mid-sleeve coat or with a sleeveless dress opera style gloves to feel extra glamorous.
Capes
The capes on the runway might not have been Edna Mode approved but they were abundant. Carolina Herrera, Michael Kors, and Max Mara all sent capes down the runway. They ranged from graceful floor length styles to cold weather appropriate designs. Consider adding a cape to your rotation for that in between weather coming up.
Leather (faux and real)
Colored leather, brown leather, black leather, you name it, it was in designers’ collections. Coats were the most popular way to send leather down the runway, but it also appeared in dresses, pants, and tops. At Stella McCartney the leather was vegan proving it’s possible to be on trend and ethical.