Spring 2022 Fashion Week Runway Report

The shift from February to March is miraculous. Even if the weather does not change (looking ahead at a 20something degree weekend here in Chicago), the mindset does. From here on out, “buy now wear now” is for Spring.

And with that said, I bring to you… our Spring 2022 Runway Trend Recap Report!!!! Spring 2022 had significant overriding themes. Clothing is getting sparser by the second- shorter lengths, cutouts, and sheer fabrics offering seductive teases. The 1970s is swinging by for a visit, both in disco and hippie fashions. And there was a strong love for extraordinarily pretty, with romantic and feminine details and lovely stand out colors. The trend messages were consistent across designers, pronounced, and overlapping within garments (sheer mini skirt in a psychedelic print? Sure, throw some feathers on there while you’re at it).

Enjoy the recapped top trends, along with wearability commentary! Happy Spring and good luck to your credit card ladies.

Spring 2022 Color & Print Trends

Punch Colors

No need to wait for summer for electric punchy colors! Beautifully happy bright hues lit up fashion week. Designers pumped up the volume by accessorizing and accenting fashions with contrasting pop colors- no need to commit to one vivid shade at a time!

Wearability verdict: So all in on this trend. The striking colors are all the fun we need in our lives right now. Mix multiple punchy colors into one outfit for a fashion forward look, or tone down a statement item with easy neutral basics. Practical bonus- makes you easier to spot if have wandering children like I do.

Fashion week Spring 2022 trend recap fashion trends from the runway fashion for moms stylish mom cool mom style easy mom outfit stylish clothing trends runway fashion how to wear runway looks in real life busy mom life style fashion fashion with kids — Clockwise: Eudon Choi, Jason Wu, Molly Goddard, Oscar de la Renta, Greta Constantine, Elie Saab, Ulla Johnson, Versace, Naeem Khan, The Attico,

Wedding White

For every extreme there must be an opposite at the other end of the spectrum. If the color message was loud and present, the offset neutral of choice was the absence of color - white. Anything but boring, the lovely white fashions were romanticized with nuptial-esque details like lace, textured floral appliques, and tulle.

Wearability Verdict: If there’s a color that’s definitely not kid friendly (or let’s be real- me friendly) it’s white. I’m going to do it anyway though because I can’t get enough of the pretty. I will however be mindful of price points since I know wearing white is just a ticking time bomb, and opt for machine washable. After all, what is bleach for?

Psychedelic Prints

A little trippy and a lot of bit fun, the print take for Spring was far out. Hallucinogenic colorful designs appeared in dizzying droves, each print as unique as the next. Patterns were brightly colored and eccentric, reminiscent of the 70s era.

Wearability verdict: Irregular all over multi-color prints are as busy life friendly as it comes. You could spill a jar of baby food and a bottle of red wine on yourself and play it off like it’s part of the print (although honestly at that point you should probably just change). I will go easy on this trend however - while such an unforgettable print is fantastic, it’s also unforgettable- limiting the versatility and repeat wear potential.

Abstract Black and White

Black and white was anything but monotonous on the runway. A friend to the abundance of colorful psychedelic prints, the contrasting neutrals were used in experimental designs, bold stripes and spots, and abstract prints.

Wearability potential: I live my life in color but I dress in black and white. The combination is timeless and dresses up and down well, a benefit when you are running around all day with no time to upgrade an outfit. The loud prints, dots, and stripes felt like a more wearable interpretation of the colorful psychadelic trend and I am here for it.

Florals

Am I required to reference The Devil Wears Prada when talking about this groundbreaking trend for Spring? I’m going to skip it. Yes yes okay florals- but specifically florals from a time past. The direction designers took with florals for Spring prevailed in two themes: Retro 70’s and Victorian Vintage. Hippie vibes were pervasive throughout Fashion Week, with groovy florals being no exception- and of course we weren’t escaping this fashion season without a little touch of Bridgerton!

Wearability Verdict: I’m a girly girl. Obviously I’m 100% in on this one. Not only is this trend full of life and comes in a variation of interpretations so you can pick the floral for you, but both the retro and vintage directions are busy colorful prints that hide mishaps - aka kid friendly. You also know that florals are going to be a trend for literally the rest of your life, so pretty far from an investment risk.

Silhouette Trends

Cutouts

Designers were innovative with cutouts in Spring Fashion Week, added in all sorts of unexpected places and shapes. The takes ranged from playful to risque, but teasing with hints of skin was an across the board favorite for surprising silhouettes.

Wearability Verdict: Yes and yes! Choose your cutouts to your comfort level. They don’t need to be cutouts of your inner thighs, or lose half your shirt. Add a sexy peekaboo to your outfit, or layer a cami over a fashion piece with cutout appliques for an elegant take on the trend.

Blazers

Fall, Resort, now Spring- the Blazer is most definitely having it’s 15 minutes of fame. The fit of choice was an oversized boxy menswear vibe, feminized by fabrication choices, ladylike accessories, and provocative under layers. Bright colors continued to reign in the blazers, but we saw plenty of neutral and softer hues as well. The only way you can go wrong with this trend right now is not adding one to your closet.

Wearability verdict: I LOVE the easiness of a blazer- throw it on over a basic outfit, and instantly you’re rocking sophisticated Parisian chic. Easy style is everything when you’re always on the go. Downside, blazers are not typically machine wash friendly. If you are in a particularly messy phase with your kids, consider trying a jersey blazer that can be machine washed, or a darker color that is easy to spot clean.

Abs-olute Midriff

Crazy cropped or straight up bras, bellies were BARED. Undergarment-esque tops seduced along the runways. The “tops” were frequently paired with more conservative covering garments, such as long pants and skirts, or oversized blazers.

Wearability Verdict: Not sure how this one would go over with my kid at school pick-up, not to mention I’m still working up the courage to try a sliver of midriff, so this one is going to be a no for me. But, if you love the sexiness of this trend and want to turn a few dad’s heads - you do it girl!

Mod Mini Skirts

Yet another nod this season to that mod fashion culture- skirts were fitted and short. The silhouette embraces the female form and shows off those legs! The sexy skirts were frequently seen styled with coordinating tops for a posh lady like look.

Wearability Verdict: I love a good mini, but fitted and short is not the most conducive to an active day. If your day is going to call for bending over, squatting, or getting on the floor to play around with the kids, opt for polished shorts instead, or at least pick some cute undies.

Fabric Trends

Textured Movement

The Runways were action packed, live with movement of fluterring feathers, shimmering fringes, and measurable fabric cords. Designs danced up and down the catwalk, reflecting the world united sentiment that we are ready to MOVE.

Wearability Verdict: Tough one for me. The drama of plush feathers and lingering fringe is everything I want in my wardrobe, but feathers are going to be impossible to keep clean and fringe is just going to read as a toy for my kids. This trend definitely has a home in my closet, but I’ll save it for when I want to stun on adults only nights.

Sheer

Holy seduction! Honestly, researching for this runway report I saw way more breasts than I had bargained for. Designers made it clear that sex appeal is on the menu this season, and nothing highlighted that more than the transparent numbers turning heads on the runway.

Wearability Verdict: I’m here for it! Before you raise your eyebrows, remember that runway fashions are directional and not always to be taken literally. So if you’re not digging the thought of parading your naked body around, try sheer panels and layers to embrace this trend with a touch more modesty.

Crochet

Crochet had a say on the runway. Head to toe knit wear has been a consistently strong trend for the last several fashion seasons, and crochet is the freshened up direction for spring. Weaves ranged between airy and taut, featured in every color and a range of patterns.

Wearability Verdict: Knit dressing is amazingly comfortable without sacrificing style, and crochet perfectly lightens up that trend as we move towards warmer weather. If there are little fingers in your household, delicate weaves could be problematic. If your kids are a little older or it is a structured crochet, go ahead and weave this trend into your wardrobe!

Spring 2022 Fashion Week Trend Recap Report