THE 6 KEY WOMENSWEAR TRENDS TO KNOW

This season, we saw the evolution of hobbies as statement accessories. We actually first noticed this at Copenhagen Fashion Week back in August, with ballet shoes and trainers slung over shoulders at Baum und Pferdgarten. Continuing the theme in Paris, Vivienne Westwood models walked with pool inflatables and video cameras, while at Lacoste, tennis racket cases were transformed from something necessary and mundane to something fashionable and FROW-worthy.

This influx of hobbymaxxing is partly due to the trends that came before. For example, with the era of the literary it-girl came the realisation that what you do in your spare time is a flex, and as a result, it should be showcased as one. No longer reserved for your 5-9, these niche obsessions and impressive skills are instead transformed into fashion statements, worn loud and worn proud. For SS27, we’ve evolved from novelty key-chains and Labubus to fully-fledged camcorders, sports equipment and dance gear; this season’s taught us that self-expression can always be bigger and better.

SS27 also debuted a new approach to layering, evidenced by sheer organza and tulle worn over seemingly regular clothing. At Valentino, this manifested through delicate layers atop shirts and blazers, with subtle branding, and at Dries Van Noten, these layers were stitched onto punchy prints and florals, as if to give them a newfound subtlety. 

At Prada, the translucent fabric was layered over and stitched onto existing skirts with coloured bows and embellishments, also offering a slightly more muted way of wearing the original design. As a result, we expect sheer slips and layers to become a major part of our SS27 wardrobes, and an easy way to transform something loud and glitzy into something chic and classy.

Unusual footwear combinations continued to evolve this season, showcased through stacked platform flip-flops at MM6 Maison Margiela in Milan, which was actually a preview of an upcoming collaboration with Havaianas. At Lacoste, the brand’s creative director Pelagia Kolotouros went back to the brand’s tennis heritage in a big way. This season’s footwear transformed the humble tennis ball into the actual sole of a sneaker, accompanied by sporty, tennis ball-inspired court shoes and caged sneaker heels that mirrored the mesh on the court. 

At KNWLS in London, the classic ballet flat was reimagined into boot form, packaged in supple pink satin and rounded out by the signature ballerina bow. Elsewhere, we saw hybrid styling mark another way to wear the trend, evidenced by kitten-heeled Mary Janes and buckled sequin socks at Marni.

Optical illusions and trompe l’oeil prints have always been favoured by the fashion crowd, but this season, we saw a slightly different art form beginning to emerge. Starting at Miuccia and Raf Simons’ Prada, we noticed an arty, painted-on effect take over co-ordinating blazers and skirt sets. Making its way through Milan, the familiar technique also made an appearance at Glenn Martens’ Diesel, albeit in a more metallic (Martens-style) way. 

It then reappeared in Paris on the runway at Miu Miu, though in a slightly more subtle formation. Crafting co-ords from coated fabrics, the trend added another level of cohesiveness to an existing set and offered a unique way to update existing pieces. 

The rise in playful co-ords also seems to be an evolution of the previous corpcore trend, reminding us that workwear and smart clothing doesn’t have to be boring or void of colour, which leads us on to our next and final trend.

Each season seems to have a colour of choice and in past years, we’ve seen hues like Butter Yellow, Aquamarine and Bright Red dominate the runways. This season, however, seemed to favour all sorts of colours, and all at once. Seemingly kicked off by Versace’s SS26 showcase, in which Dario Vitale presented a rainbow of clashing hues, SS27 embraced clashing colours with open arms, featuring on more designer runways than usual. 

At Valentino and Moschino, designers favoured jewel tones like purple, ruby and emerald, whereas at shows like Marni and Fendi, it was subtle shades of baby blue and pink that reigned supreme. Valentino’s colour-clash was also emphasized by its clashing styling, pairing silhouettes, fabrics and styles of clothing that aren’t typically worn together.

Essentially, this final trend acts as a reminder that fashion is supposed to be fun and never taken too seriously. SS27 encouraged us to experiment with things outside of our comfort zone and express ourselves like never before.