Summer 2022 Trend Forecast, It's Looking Big and Bright

POV: It's summer. The sun is shining, and birds are chirping. You feel abnormally well-rested because you got 10 hours of sleep last night. You are about to go out with the friends who always have the most fabulous outfits. They definitely have a personal style, but they utilize trends while always making it their own. You need to put your best foot forward, but you have no idea what trends of the future are or how to apply them to what you like to wear. Well lucky for you, I am here with two things everyone will be wearing this summer (clearly backed by science not just my own, personal opinion).

Voluminous silhouettes

Last winter, we saw voluminous silhouettes with puffer jackets and shoulder-padded trench coats. Now, we prepare for this summer where puffed sleeves and ruffled dresses will take us by storm. From a cute white cottage core picnic dress to a loosely fitting party dress, body con is making room for volume in your closets. I did not like most of the looks at the Oscars even though there were a lot of voluminous silhouettes worn. For example, I did not love Jada Pinkett’s melted plastic looking dress (please don’t hurt me Will, I will keep her name out of my mouth from now on) or H.E.R.’s yellow jumper with beyond flared sleeves because it looks like it was taken straight off the set of Marlborough’s production of Mamma Mia. Don’t get me wrong, Marlborough’s Mama Mia costumes were great, courtesy of our very own Kharen Zeunert who sewed Donna and Her Dynamos final outfits herself, but even with the little resources she had, Kharen still managed to top H.E.R. 's outfit. Though, I do love this change compared to the baby tee craze of last summer. A good baby tee is great, but I personally do not have fun styling them.

How do I participate?: I think “voluminous silhouette” is a broad enough idea for you to make it your own. If you are into a more gothic aesthetic, the flared sleeves may be the move for you. If you are more of a pilates princess gal, I think you will enjoy the puffed sleeves. For a business chic touch to your summery outfit, try a shoulder padded blazer (trust). Regardless of your aesthetic, I believe voluminous clothes will be around for a while since they are versatile. I suggest investing in the trend.

Sparkle

To my surprise, nearly every spring/ summer 2022 fashion show I watched contained numerous pieces made of some sort of sparkly material or detailing. Miu Miu included gorgeous pieces with flowers embroidered with sequins. The sequin flowers reminded me of my grandma’s bed quilts though sequin embroidery in general could be really cool. Whether it be flowers made with sequins or a shimmery fun material, it will be all over the stores and it is already all over the red carpet.

Think of this as the revival of the bedazzle craze of the 2000s. Expect rhinestone detailing all over shirts and jeans this summer. Unfortunately, I have trouble imagining people wearing it past August, but I hope fashion surprises me in the future.

How do I participate?: Lucky for us, flashy details can be easily found in our thrift stores and flea markets. Since I think this may be a fad that will not last past summer, I suggest avoiding fast fashion since you may not wear it much in the future. We do not need more cheaply made clothing in goodwill. Second-hand is the way to go for this one.

I love trend forecasting because it prepares me for the looks to come. It is so exciting watching people slowly find interest in certain trends and use them in ways I could never imagine. But no matter the trend, try to be sure that YOU like it. As trend cycles spread and landfills pollute we need to be more and more conciliatory with our purchases. Okay, I am getting off my soap box, until next time.

Milan 💗