Sarini Kumarasinghe | Contributor
Featured image: Months later, New York Fashion Week’s trends finally make their way to the streets. | Courtesy of Zara
With fall in full swing, it’s time to embrace what this great season has to offer: Halloween, pumpkins, changing leaves and, best of all, fall fashion. We say goodbye to our shorts and flip flops and greet an array of cozy clothing choices with open arms. Fall 2016 is underway, but the fashion industry knew the trends back in February, during multiple fashion weeks hosted around the world.
Colour
Colour trends have taken a surprising turn this runway season with designers opting for cheery spring pallets, as opposed to the typical vampy plums and neutral creams that are popular around this time of the year. The standout colour combination for fall and winter 2016 is pale pink and sunshine yellow; colours that are usually reserved for warmer weather. Designers like Marissa Webb and Ulla Johnson have decided to break out the Easter colours early, bringing a surprisingly upbeat energy to New York Fashion Week, or NYFW.
To balance it out, this season’s neutral selection is tan. In a throwback to 70s office wear, tan has evolved beyond the occasional trenchcoat and has been seen all over the runway in varying silhouettes and fabrics. NYFW also featured a sea of rusty oranges. These shades of oranges were actually adopted from street fashion, as this burnt orange colour has been popping up everywhere on Instagram, Pinterest and fashion and beauty blogs.
While that doesn’t necessarily mean that designers hadn’t thought to use the colour uniquely, it does show that we do have some influence on big name brands in the fashion industry. Arguably, NYFW’s most eccentric colour trend this season has been the wave of metallics sweeping both the runways and the streets. Metallics are being welcomed in every fabric, cut and style imaginable, so don’t be afraid to buy those sequin-embellished jeans—they’re in.
Fabrics
Velvet gowns, suits and even shoes have taken over this year’s fashion by storm. As runways from the likes of H&M to Giorgio Armani sport the soft fabric, you can be sure to expect an influx of velvet clothing in stores. For outerwear, the fashion industry has evolved past the oversized green military jackets that were popular last year, and while still remaining patriotic, have chosen to popularize a new piece: the shearling bomber jacket.
Bomber jackets themselves have been gaining popularity online on their own, though the shearling lining that’s been seen many times on the runway this season is a different look for the versatile jacket.
Beyond casual dress, however, NYFW also presented us with a new twist on a fan favourite with statement furs. In past years, large fur coats were dramatic enough on their own to make a statement, but this year designers decided to turn up the heat. From Michael Kors’ floral fur jacket to J.Crew’s candy pink fur sweater, statement furs are being embraced as the ultimate showstopper.
Fashion seems to be slowly but surely inching away from minimalism, and this runway season is proof. While we did see quite a few sleek, simple styles, there was definitely a greater use of patterns than we’ve seen in past years.
Florals for spring may not be groundbreaking, but florals for fall will surely turn heads. Besides Michael Kors, many designers sported florals more delicately by printing them on dresses or embroidering them on jackets. Pinstripes were also a notable change in pace for the fashion industry, appearing on suits in lines from Calvin Klein to Tibi. As for outerwear, plaid in all varieties seems to be the go-to pattern for 2016 fall and winter jackets.
The most noticeable fashion development seen on the runways this fall is the nostalgic throwback to the 70s and 80s. Many designers presented pieces with the signature single sleeve and ruffles that were made popular during the disco era. This being said, the 2016 version of the vintage trends is far sleeker and more sophisticated. The free-form fabric ruffles have been recreated with structure by designers such as Jill Stuart and Christian Siriano and have been placed strategically on garments as not to disguise its silhouette. One-shoulder tops were either presented as a direct homage to the 80s, as with Isabel Marant or Moschino, or lengthened for a more wearable take on the cut, as with Herve Leger.
Accessories
Fashion accessories followed a similar suite of nostalgia, reminding us of the 90s grunge. While chokers have prevailed as the standout accessory for 2016, both on and off the runway, there have been differences between the two. As chokers as streetwear have generally been dainty and simple, designers have taken it upon themselves to make chokers the centerpieces of many of their designs.
Chokers on the runway have been large and thick. From Loewe to Balmain, designers are creating statement pieces out of the streetwear trend.
Beyond chokers, designers are also finding various ways to incorporate metal into their garments, whether it be through connecting fabric panels or adding interest to an otherwise simple garment. Shoes are also returning to the forefront of fashion as statements pieces. Many designers such as Balenciaga and Vivienne Westwood put forth thick- and chunky-heeled boots to combat the current streetwear obsession that is black ankle boots. Other brands have settled for classic shoe styles in unexpected materials, such as velvet and metallics.
While runways and fashion designers seem to have little to do with the average consumer, or anyone that can’t afford to make a car payment on a leather jacket, they do have a very strong influence on casual streetwear. Looking at a list of upcoming trends, it can be difficult to imagine how you would be able to pull off such daring, high-fashion looks, but each trend can be scaled down into more wearable outfits.
