Spring/Summer 2020 | Guide to Fashion Trends for Spring 2020
These days, fashion is not all about trends. We’re moving rapidly into a world of more conscious buying and sustainable choices which doesn’t particularly work within the world of fast-paced trends each season. However, with the unstoppable power of fashion month and new collections from the designers around the globe, trends are still very much a part of this industry. And they still pay a huge role for buyers and online retailers everywhere.
So – should we start taking seasonal trends with a pinch of salt?
Although shopping consciously is widely seen as an attempt to build a more transcending, trendless and timeless wardrobe of staple and classic pieces, we can still inject the trends we love each season. Maybe we can just do this in a new way.
1. Use the fashion pieces we already own.
With the inspiration of fashion month trends from Paris, London, Milan and New York, we can start to pick out pieces from our wardrobes and restyle them in a whole new way. While you might pick up some new pieces for the season, I bet every woman has plenty of things in her wardrobe that could be restyled and repurposed from a trend long since passed.
How often do you go through your wardrobe and reinvent something you once loved?
2. Adopting the 80/20 purchasing rule.
The 80/20 rule refers to buying 80% classic, timeless staples and 20% trend pieces. This allows you to keep up with contemporary looks without spending mindlessly on items that you won’t get a sustainable amount of wear from.
Thinking about shopping in this way also makes you analyse everything you put in your basket for just a minute longer. Do I really need this? Do I have something that serves the same purpose that I could style up instead?
Regardless of having an awareness of sustainability, if you’re a fashion brand owner, an online retailer or a digital agency founder that deals with fashion clients, you’ll need to be in the know when it comes to the latest trends.
So, with that in mind – here are the ones I think will be key for spring/summer 2020.
Plus – these are the trends I see as the most transitional and timeless.
Powder Shades
33.9k Likes, 143 Comments - Burberry (@burberry) on Instagram: "#InezAndVinoodh photograph #MonaTougaard for the new #BurberrySpringSummer20 campaign - Evolution ...."
If this isn’t the chicest trend of all, I don’t know what is. Head to toe cream tailoring is the new city vibe. We saw it from the likes of Victoria Beckham, Burberry and Roksanda alongside slices of powdery pastel hues too.
Do it right with lightweight summer fabrics, like linen and opt for wide-leg trousers with an exaggerated front crease line through the centre to keep the look sharp at all times.
Polka Dots
6,705 Likes, 71 Comments - Max Mara (@maxmara) on Instagram: "Fine print. @iamugbad makes a statement entrance on the #MaxMaraSS20 runway in a black and white..."
The trend that can never be described as seasonal is back again. How can it be a trend then? Because each season, we do it just a little differently. This season, we saw separates put together in unexpected ways with feminine accents full of volume. We saw large and micro polka dots put together into the same look and we saw bright colour and warm browns as well as classic black and white.
Polka dots were spotted at Erdem, Max Mara, Carolina Herrera and Balmain to name just a few.
Deconstructed Trenches
2,893 Likes, 14 Comments - JW ANDERSON (@jw_anderson) on Instagram: "One of our favourite silhouettes carried over into the #SS20 paired with delicate jeweled..."
Trench coats? For Spring? Ground-breaking. But wait. We usually see lots of trenches on the runway for spring and summer, but for 2020, if you look a little closer, these guys come quite differently to your typical Burberry trench coat.
We saw cropped lengths, sleeveless finishes, exaggerated and oversized lapels, asymmetric cuts, vinyl fabrics, patches of multiple fabrics and colours and statement sleeves. And we might have still missed a few of the stand out details. Styled with a ‘70s vibe and super-cute shoulder bags, spring 2020 trenches are deconstructed and all about offering something unique in classic neutral hues.
Head to toe white
17.5k Likes, 63 Comments - Valentino (@maisonvalentino) on Instagram: "A monochromatic metaphor takes hold for #ValentinoSS20, a quest into the nature of purity and..."
Investigating nature and purity, Valentino wasn’t the only designer to present plenty of pure white for Spring/Summer 2020. For someone who always loves to show off colour, Pierpaolo Picciolo took it down a notch with white looks but made sure they still stood out.
Pure white was also seen on the runway at Loewe, Helmut lang and several more big shows. Just think layers, luxe fabrics and coordinating accessories and you’re on the right track.
Sophisticated Safari
8,796 Likes, 58 Comments - Stella McCartney (@stellamccartney) on Instagram: "Springing back to life after the holidays with a stroll through the forest in our #StellaSpring20..."
Safari isn’t a new look. We’ve been seeing it for spring for several seasons in a row and it’s always a popular choice. It’s all about bulky pockets, oversized fits and neutral tones. But this season, the look was a little more grown-up and sophisticated when done head to toe.
From the likes of Dolce & Gabbana, Max Mara, Stella McCartney, Jonathan Simkhai and Hermes, we saw shirts, shackets and trousers, layered into complete looks. They were styled with belt bags and balanced with either gladiator flats or strappy sandals to keep the look feminine, light and perfect for spring.
Cut-Outs Everywhere
646 Likes, 3 Comments - Emilia Wickstead (@emiliawickstead) on Instagram: "Emilia Wickstead Spring/Summer 2020 ✨The Bryden dress in textured cloque 🖤 Hat by the wonderful..."
Watch out, the ‘90s cut-out is back. With the re-emergence of so many ‘90s trends of late, we shouldn’t really be surprised by the flash of cut-out pieces in the Spring/Summer 2020 collections. From Emilia Wickstead, Alexander McQueen, Saint Laurent, Versace and Balmain, we saw plenty of evening gowns and formalwear with a sexy ‘90s-inspired twist.
From unique plunging cut-out necklines and exposing waist shapes to asymmetric back cut-outs, the look was overtly black and sleek.
Tangerine
26.9k Likes, 73 Comments - Valentino (@maisonvalentino) on Instagram: "Vivid and expressionistic, charged with a narrative urgency. Fluorescence takes hold for..."
Were you wondering what the evolution of last summer’s green fluro was going to be? Well, the answer is tangerine. And it’s bringing back expressive and powerful colour in a whole new way.
From Valentino, Stella McCartney, Prada and Emilia Wickstead, we saw tangerine orange in its prime styled with last summer’s mini bags and accessorised with both exact match or super-clashing accents.
Black and White is Back
4,659 Likes, 44 Comments - Proenza Schouler (@proenzaschouler) on Instagram: "@linazhanglina by @blackpierreange Proenza Schouler Spring Summer 2020 #proenzaschouler"
Fuss-free but striking and statement, the black and white trend is power dressing at its finest - without the colour. We saw simple tailoring with monochrome accents but we also saw black leather styled with white lace at Alexander McQueen and detailed and interesting fabrics playing with monochrome palettes at Loewe. Alongside bold prints at Burberry.
Short Suits
9,585 Likes, 43 Comments - Chloé (@chloe) on Instagram: "Another look at @NRamsayLevi's sense of feminine personalities and masculine silhouettes from the..."
With blazers storming the fashion charts as the hottest ticket to a power look whether you’re casual or smart, suiting is no surprise trend this year. In fact, it’s the natural evolution of last year’s must-have piece.
For spring tailoring, think long and chic with an androgynist twist. We saw this look at Chloe, Christian Dior, Sportmax, Salvatore Ferragamo and Micheal Kors and shorts were knee-length or just above and styled with mules or strappy sandals to lighten the look.
Tropical Prints
1,482 Likes, 4 Comments - Marni (@marni) on Instagram: "Like in a tropical carnival, massive regenerated flowers stick out towards the sky. #MARNISS20 ACT..."
Brighten up for spring and summer with tropical prints, as seen on the runways of Marni, Dries Van Noten and Jacquemus. Styled with gold chunky jewellery, the look was given a grown-up twist with black and even leather accompanying the bold and colourful print.
Take a piece of summer early but do it with a high-end edge and style it with leather trousers or a leather midi skirt.
Boots in Spring
1,051 Likes, 8 Comments - Christopher Kane (@christopherkane) on Instagram: "CHRISTOPHER KANE SS20 LOOK 22 #ChristopherKane #SS20 #Ecosexual"
Showing a true transition towards timeless style and away from fashion and seasonality, we saw plenty of boots in the spring and summer collections. From Christopher Kane, Saint Laurent, Loewe and Molly Goddard, to name just a few, we saw everything from black and white to pops of colour and print.
Proof that you can wear pieces from all seasons if you style it right? I think so. Think slouchy and opt for lengths just under the knee.
For spring/summer 2020, there are clearly a fair few fashion trends that stood out on the runway and that I know we’ll see filter down into stores starting very soon. However, I do believe there was a shift when it comes to the types of trends we are now starting to see. With a few exceptions (Gucci’s pillow-shaped handbags, exaggerated cheekbone aesthetics at Balenciaga and wing-shaped shoulders at Moschino), there were so many trending looks that were just so… wearable.
Trends weren’t over the top or created to shock. Which makes them much less likely to simply slip out of style. To me, this really does show proof of more conscious ideas in both design and consumerism demand, making finding transitional wardrobe choices easier than ever. Designers are really listening to the consumer and creating wearable collections that might not scream extrovert creativity but mean the industry is becoming more intelligent.
In a world that constantly evolves and adapts, is the luxury fashion industry finally taking note?
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