Fall 2022 has arrived, and the accompanying fashion is a study in contrasts. On one note, we saw frivolous pieces in the form of delicate pastels, sheer sequin dresses, and pretty, shiny things take over the runways—pushing forward the dopamine-dressing trend that dominated spring and summer. Balancing that out, the pendulum swung in the other direction toward grit, grunge, and angst with moody head-to-toe layers of black, hefty wader boots, and punk-inspired looks finished with a swipe of black lipstick.
Perhaps the thing that brought the F/W 22 collections together most, though, was designers’ focus on wearability. They reintroduced basics as simple as white tank tops, reimagined bomber jackets, and showed sleek maxi column skirts that conjured the best of ’90s minimalism. These are clothes intended to be worn and lived in every day, making them especially primed for shopping carts and wardrobes for the season ahead. Here, we present our fall 2022 shopping guide and where to buy the seven biggest trends of the season.
Prada’s F/W 22 collection opened and closed with a white tank top finished with the brand’s signature triangle logo, and for Matthieu Blazy’s debut collection at Bottega Veneta, the creative director similarly opened the show with a simple white tank top cut from leather. Under normal circumstances, staples hardly qualify as trend-worthy, but designers made a strong case for going back to the basics with pieces focused on construction, quality, and modern tweaks. Whether nipped-in hourglass blazers, relaxed jeans, or maxi slip dresses tied with sweaters at the waist, there’s an updated set of basics to instantly bring your everyday wardrobe forward.
The first half of 2022 was dominated by micro minis, but the second half will see a strong shift into floor-sweeping maxi lengths. Hemlines fell to the ground, creating eye-catching long columns from head to toe, including Saint Laurent’s tailored duster coats and satin slips and Victor Glemaud’s dresses. Perhaps the key buy of the season, though, are the maxi skirts that tap into the cool ’90s take on minimalism that is gaining momentum for the season ahead. Ludovic de Saint Sernin, Christopher Esber, and Tod’s got the styling just right, pairing maxi skirts with matching tops for sleek, tonal looks.
There is a lot of talk on the internet about the return of indie sleaze and the early 2010s Tumblr aesthetic—an era marked by alt pop, amateur film photography, smudged mascara, and grungy ’90s fashion worn by the likes of Kate Moss and Alexa Chung that defined the party scene circa 2012. The trend has been percolating for some time, but all signs point to fall 2022 as the moment when angst will reenter fashion in a major way. Khaite felt grittier and edgier than its earlier collections, with Kurt Cobain’s “Where Did You Sleep Last Night?” playing alongside slashed fringe dresses and long draped skirts. Blumarine pivoted away from last season’s Y2K pastels to sheer mesh tops, choker necklaces, and heavy eyeliner, while Christopher Kane, Versace, and Givenchy also leaned into a darker, punk aesthetic. With the recent announcement that the Arctic Monkeys will be dropping their new album in October, all signs point to the new wave of indie sleaze—and the soundtrack that will accompany it this fall.
A counterpoint to the grit and grime? Hyper-pretty things. From the dominance of pastels and pale pink (notably unusual for fall) to the sheer breadth of lingerie-inspired pieces on the runways, the F/W 22 collections have no shortage of light and frothy designs. Whether rosette-embellished floral dresses at Coperni, sheer pastel slips with exposed lingerie at Fendi, Miu Miu’s take on crystal netting, or pastel dresses with matching gloves at Emilia Wickstead, there are so many ways designers are embracing pretty fashion—undeniably one of the biggest trends for fall.
For spring 2022, we reported on the revival of the bomber jacket with its return to the runways and street style set alike after a yearslong hiatus. Fast-forward to fall 2022, and flight jackets are about to become even more important—and more directional—in your closet. Standard designs have been reimagined with puffy leather at Loewe, floral appliqué embellishments at Prada, and intricate sequins at Elie Saab, making it a piece worthy of any occasion, from coffee runs to black-tie events.
Barely there, “naked” dresses are a trend A-listers have increasingly embraced on the red carpet with completely sheer looks that leave little to the imagination. For fall, however, this “skin is in” attitude goes well beyond what celebrities are wearing to award shows with runway looks proving totally transparent clothing has arrived in a larger way—an extension of dopamine dressing and the daring revenge looks we’ve seen. No matter what your comfort level is with sheer, though, there is a way to add it to your wardrobe—from completely transparent dresses at Ludovic de Saint Sernin to see-through sequin skirts layered over knits at Eckhaus Latta to gauzy tees styled underneath bra tops at Supriya Lele.
The shoes of the season? Statement-making over-the-knee boots, which we’re dubbing waders since they put a decidedly fashion spin on traditional wide wader shoes. The slouchy boots offer a fresh take on OTK boots with more dramatic proportions than we’ve seen in many years. So how exactly should these be styled? Take some cues from the runways and go pantless, pairing them with oversize blazers as seen at ACNE Studios and Isabel Marant. Or pick something unexpected, like the pink tweed jacket and denim shorts from Chanel.
