During my sophomore year of college, I declared a major in Apparel Merchandising. The retail business world fascinated me, but I knew NOTHING about it. I was exposed to brands I had never heard of before. I was surrounded by students from all over the US (particularly Chicago and New York) who knew way more about style than I did. We studied publications and events such as Women’s Wear Daily and New York Fashion Week. I learned that Fashion Week predicts and drives trends that will hit stores TWO seasons down the road. These resources (and many others) should drive every decision as a prospective designer or buyer. Fashion is a fast-moving industry, but I didn’t realize just how farsighted it really was. NYFW wrapped up a little over a week ago, and I have been indulging in runway show after runway show. Here are 5 trends from NYFW to look for in 2020:
1. Statement Sleeves
I am a huge fan of sleeves, so this is probably one thing I’m most looking forward to. There is something timeless and feminine about a bubble sleeve, and it is perfect for spring weather.
2. Metallic
This is such a fun trend that we will also see this fall/winter season. It tends to pair well with a special occasion, and I’m already dreaming up the perfect holiday dress. I’m looking forward to seeing how metallic shows up in pants, tank tops, and blouses next spring.
3. White Suit/Over-Sized Blazers
The white suit took over the runway this year, as well as over-sized blazers and I LOVE it. There are so many ways to make a blazer and suit feminine, and I’m sure we’ll see this play out in rompers as well. White is one of my favorites to wear, and I can’t wait to experiment with this look in the spring.
4. Color Blocking
At first I wasn’t a fan of color-blocked clothing, but it didn’t take long to grow on me. It’s all in the color combination, and as someone who loves color, I’m excited to try it out!
5. 80’s Style
If you thought the 80’s were back before, they are REALLY back now (thank you Stranger Things). As you can see in the trends above, the 80’s are infiltrating all of the top trends this year. Neon, shoulder pads, puffy sleeves, and even big hair- I found 80’s inspiration across almost all designers. Tory Burch’s show was inspired by Princess Di and that’s all I need to know to hop on board this trend.
Some say that fashion week is over-the-top, not inspiring for every day wear, and not profitable for brands. However, I look forward to seeing how brands choose to showcase haute couture for the world to see. The vision and creativity that goes into making clothing goes back centuries, and is an art that I really appreciate. I would much rather walk through a museum of clothing than some other form of art (Alice + Olivia, anyone?!) I hope you enjoyed this list of upcoming trends, and can find ways to incorporate some of your favorites into everyday style.
Thanks for reading the 5 trends from NYFW to look for in 2020. If you enjoyed this post, check out my 2019 summer style roundup. What is your favorite upcoming trend? Let me know in the comments!