Who could have known just how show-stopping, controversial and inspiring fashion would be in 2022? Post-pandemic, many of us were starving for incredible runways, trends and celebrity looks and it’s safe to say that this year did not disappoint. As we embark on a new chapter, let’s take a look back at some of 2022’s most unforgettable fashion moments.
RiRi never fails to impress. The business mogul never skips a beat when it comes to style and showed the world there’s no one way to dress even when one is expecting. Besides celebrating her new bundle of joy, Rihanna also completely upended preconceived societal notions of what pregnant women can wear. Iconic.
Big brands are no stranger to collabs anymore, but one sportswear giant takes the cake this year. The Adidas x Gucci collection showed that you can, indeed, seamlessly marry street style and high fashion. In the sneaker department, Adidas also worked with Prada, Stella McCartney and Beyoncé’s Ivy Park label to release limited-edition offerings.
From celebrities to content creators, everyone became obsessed with hot pink ensembles from head to toe this year, inspiring the birth of Barbiecore on social media. But Margot Robbie’s highly-anticipated live-action movie Barbie isn’t the only reason for this trend. The Valentino Fall 2022 collection, centred around a new shade dubbed “Pink PP,” took the world by storm this year, solidifying this vibrant colour’s place in pop culture history.
Lively’s dramatic colour-changing Versace gown, which drew inspiration from the Statue of Liberty, was named the most influential celebrity moment of 2022 by digital agency Media Vision. The agency analysed more than 200 fashion moments, and metrics measuring the amount of commotion they caused on social media, to calculate this result.
On the flip side, the Internet split into two polarised camps after Kim walked the Met Gala red carpet in Marilyn Monroe’s “Happy Birthday, Mr President” performance dress. While some saw this as just another iconic moment in Met Gala history, others found it disrespectful to Monroe and her legacy, with Kim’s decision to wear it being potentially damaging to this legendary fashion artefact.
This trippy trend led the surrealist fashion charge this past season, with the likes of Schiaparelli, Loewe and Balmain tapping on it for their fall/winter collections. Trompe L’oeil is a French term which translates to “trick the eye,” and designers from Y/Project also hopped on the trend by working with Jean Paul Gaultier, referencing the latter’s critically-acclaimed vintage 90s print and quickly becoming a street style obsession.
K-pop idols stunned fans and other celebrities alike when attending fashion shows across the United States and Europe this year. BTS’s Kim Taehyung and Blackpink’s Lisa caused a frenzy at the Celine Men’s Spring 2023 show in Paris, while Blackpink’s Jennie served looks at shows for Chanel and Jacquemus, and NCT’s Jeno made his runway debut in a backless suit at the Peter Do show during New York Fashion Week.
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Fashion darling Linda Evangelista made a triumphant return to the runway to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Fendi Baguette bag. The OG supermodel was forced to take a break after a botched procedure 15 years ago, but proved that she still has that it factor, strutting out in a Tiffany blue gown and a silver baguette on her arm.
A real style chameleon and risk-taker, you really never know what Chalamet will wear to a red carpet. From a casual bomber jacket and shorts to an avant-garde, shiny red jumpsuit which bared his arms and back, the star saw no shortage of buzzy fashion moments this year - not to mention going topless under a glittery blazer at the Oscars, which drove fans absolutely crazy.
It’s not every day that a founder of a multi-billion dollar clothing company decides to give it away. Yvon Chouinard, his wife and children did just that by transferring ownership of Patagonia to a non-profit organisation in order to preserve the outdoor apparel brand and use the profits to combat climate change. Take that, capitalism.
Fashion shows tend to include a slew of sensorial experiences to make a show worth remembering, but Coperni levelled up when Bella Hadid closed their Spring/Summer 2023 show. Attendees were confused when the supermodel walked out in nothing but her undergarments, but they were in for a treat when scientists began spraying liquid fibres straight onto her body, eventually transforming into a white, off-shoulder masterpiece. A pure Cinderella moment.
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After a successful seven-year run as creative director at the Italian house, Alessandro Michele took his final bow. The designer changed fashion as we knew it with his contemporary and campy approach, which brought fake replicas of heads to the runway in 2018 and inspired glamorous old Hollywood pieces custom-made for his loyal A-list following, including Jared Leto, Harry Styles, Lady Gaga and more.
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