The title of this article might put you in a daze. You must be thinking that summer just got here, so why should we be talking about winter? Well, for one it’s never too early to plan. Secondly, some major things went down in the fashion runways that exhibited Autumn and Winter 2017 collections. And, if you want to be a true fashionista then you need to know what’s happening at the high-fashion runways every season.
Sure, high-fashion is expensive and it’s not for everyone’s budget, but it can’t be denied that runway fashion has a far-reaching trickle-down effect. Not only do fast-retailers look towards runways for inspiration but pop culture also borrows heavily from it. The trendiest celebrity styles come from high-fashion.
Anticipating future trends will also make you a pro “out-of-season shopper.” This is a great money-saving life hack that basically involves buying clothes and shoes off-season. In fact, did you know that summer is the best time to buy boots, jeans and cardigans?
Check stores’ clearance racks for items that might not seem appropriate for the season you buy them in, but can come in handy in the coming months. One common misconception is that clearance racks carry “out-of-fashion” styles, but on the contrary, if you already know what the upcoming trend is then you will know exactly what to look for and what to keep.
Isn’t that reason enough to read this article then? Well keep reading to find out about some upcoming winter fashion trends.
Fight the Power
It seems that the political drama surrounding us has spilled over to designers’ drafts. Every major designer is experimenting with an “anti-establishment” look. Hence, expect this winter to be about making a bold statement, but at the same time uniting in solidarity. What does that even mean, you ask?
Think of it this way: your clothes can be a great form of self-expression. That was the case in the 60s when women shortened the length of their skirts to break free from restrictive clothing. Meanwhile in the 70s, men wore “Che” Guevara emblazoned t-shirts as a symbol of revolution. The protest spirit was high in that decade and it seems to be coming back again this year.
The defiant symbol of today comes from the Women’s March a few months ago. This symbol is the “pussy hat” – a pink knit hat with cat-like protruding ears on each end. Wearing this iconic hat-du-jour will not only signal your bold stand against male chauvinists, but it is also meant to bring us women closer together.
This past Women’s Day coaxed many women to speak out against our querulous attitudes towards each other, urging us to adopt friendlier outlooks. What great way to unite than to wear pink hats, look cute and protest for women’s rights together, right?
The Missoni show in Milan at the start of this year saw both models on the runway and celebrities off it wearing this powerful hat.
The anti-establishment look also constitutes more military/guerrilla influenced clothing and accessories such as vintage veteran hats, boots, camouflage prints, etc.
Uniting in Solidarity
Keeping with the “uniting in peace” plea, designers decided to expand this theme a bit further with their patchwork looks. Elle magazine calls it the “United Nations” style. One of the hottest designers right now is Calvin Klein’s Raf Simons whose debut collection this year brought some interesting talking points about patchwork fashion.
Showcasing American pop-culture through the ages in his work, Simons’ collection is set to redefine this winter. In this collection, he took the traditional denim shirt and added some flair with a different breast-pocket flap. There are coats with quilted patterns or statement sleeves made from varying fabrics for a mix-and-match style.