What You’ll Be Wearing For FW22, According To Net-A-Porter
The online luxury retailer spotlights the key trends to look out for this season.
Good news for your wardrobe! After two years of being in a state of uncertainty, thanks in part to the global pandemic, designers are coming out in full force once again and letting their imaginations run wild with inspiring looks that pack a stylish power punch. Think luxe layers, rich textures, sheer fabrics, and beautiful prints.
The general mood of the season, according to Libby Page, senior market editor of Net-A-Porter, is “one of love, unity and togetherness”. We check in with the global luxury e-commerce platform to find out the key trends you can look forward to this season.
Fall/winter 2022 ended up to be a more romantic season than what many had initially thought as designers did their best to try and spread the love in shades of pink and red. At Surpriya Lele, the Indian-British designer paired red with unexpected colours like blue and brown, while Jonathan Anderson took a more literal approach to ‘spreading the love’ at Loewe with his Kiss dress that featured a pair of lips designed as a bustier top. But we’re all smitten with Valentino’s offering, which took a more literal take on the mood of love with their sea of pink.
“No one delivered “The Look of Love” quite like Pierpaolo Piccioli whose use of pink, or “PP Pink” as he coined it with Pantone, was very deliberate,” says Net-A-Porter’s Page. “Instead of the iconic Valentino red, he opted for pink and challenged any ideas that the colour can only be girly and feminine.”
This season is all about female empowerment and owning your look no matter your size, age or style. ‘The Great Reveal’ is a mood we can all enjoy with simple yet clever styling - Think Rihanna at the Oscar 2022 afterparty hosted by rapper Jay-Z. Heavily pregnant as she was then, the singer redefined pregnancy style, and stole the show, in Valentino’s sheer black organza turtleneck gown.
On the runways, designers provided us with a plethora of slip dresses, be that romantic, sexy, cool or feminine and offering endless takes on wearing lingerie as ready-to-wear today.
Page shares: “This was a masterclass in styling as men’s coats were layered over slip dresses at Stella McCartney, sexed-up suits at Saint Laurent, and a lingerie slip dress that was paired with a simple sweater around the waist at Bottega Veneta.”
Get ready to make a statement with your style as designers have cranked up the wattage for their latest creations. Shimmery, shiny pieces that are perfect for social media magpies and the creatures of the night in all of us are taking centre stage this season with looks replete in sequins and luxe embellishments.
Khaite presented a corseted crystal dress befitting a princess, while 16 ARLINGTON sent out heavenly white sequins in fluid forms and shapes as a beautiful tribute to late designer, Federica ‘Kikka’ Cavenati, who died last November at the age of 28.
Lea Cranfield, chief buying and merchandising officer at Net-A-Porter, Mr Porter and The Outnet comments: “‘Trophy Dressing’ is the evolution of the optimistic moods that we’ve seen over the past few seasons. We have already seen an increased demand for luxurious fabrications and embellishments.”
One cannot deny that wardrobe staples are the building blocks to creating a standout look. This season, though, designers have taken the classic everyday basics, such as tank tops, suits, and mini skirts, and given them a refreshing twist. For his debut at Bottega Veneta, Matthieu Blazy presented a classic grey sweater paired with a lilac fringed skirt, reinventing what wardrobe must-haves could look like for the modern customer. Elsewhere, bomber jackets are making a comeback at Isabel Marant and the Frankie Shop.
As we adjust back into office life, designers certainly gave us a reason to buy new suits. There were suits with cinched-in waists and layered with a fitted hoodie at Proenza Schouler, and double mini-skirt sets at Jil Sander.
“The options were endless and the styling really took everyday pieces to the next level,” shares Page.
If the bold and the bright are not for you, do not fret. This season also saw the return of fashion’s most favourite colour: Black. We can't forget Valentino's pink opening that was contrasted with an interruption of 33 black looks, proving that black is indeed back.
Key highlights include impeccably cut suits and tailored coats from Bottega Veneta, bustier tops and corsetry from Proenza Schouler and Khaite as well as elevated essentials in the form of knitwear from The Row.
Page comments: “For designers, this trend allows them to flex their creativity and no details went unnoticed.”