In the world of fashion, the only constant is its ever-changing nature. From one fashion month to the next, enthusiasts witness the new visions and creations of designers, that mould with their collections the face of fashion each season. Having just ended this past September fashion month, we can officially bid adieu to the 2023 styles and silhouettes and eagerly look forward to the warm months of the spring-summer season, that welcome all new trends.
This Spring-Summer 2024 fashion month kick-started with an immediate nod to the past, as we were reminded of what many consider the golden age of fashion: the Supermodel era. Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, and Linda Evangelista all dawned on the cover of Vogue’s September issue, as a way of promoting their new docuseries “The Super Models”, but almost also as a way to announce the 90s nostalgic main trends of the 2024 season. Indeed most of the silhouettes shown on the runways of the September fashion month are reminiscent of a late 80s-early 90s era…but with a modern twist of course. Let’s delve into the main THREADs in fashion for the upcoming season.
2024 SPRING-SUMMER SEASON: UNVEILING THE FOUR DOMINANT MACRO-TRENDS
IN VOGUE: THE CONTEMPORARY CHARISMA OF BLACK AND WHITE NEUTRALS
With each season of the past few years, fashion seems to become slowly more monochromatic, reaching its peak in the SS24 season. While some fashion houses, most notably Schiaparelli have been proposing black and white collections for years now, it seems that with this past fashion month, even the most colorful houses such as Moschino decided to stick to the monochromatic look. Modern aesthetics promoted by the houses thus start to lean towards a sleek and simple look, paired down in terms of colours and leaving more focus on the accessories and styling.
LIQUID LUXURY: HOW TRANSPARENT FLUID MATERIALS ARE REDEFINING MODERN STYLE
Another one of the biggest trends of this SS24 fashion month is that of very transparent fluid
pieces, from tops to skirts to overall dresses. Brands emphasised their vision of freedom of the body through these pieces that at the same time revealed the model’s figure while also flowing effortlessly through space with each movement on the runway. These sheer pieces were proposed in many different stylings, showing their versatility from a work-wear type silhouette at Saint Laurent to a dramatic show-like (and once again very reminiscent of the 90s look) at Mugler.
FROM MINI TO MAXI: EMBRACING ELONGATED SILHOUETTES
A surprise to all after the past few seasons of mini skirts and micro shorts came when we saw the length of hemlines this season: elongated silhouettes are in! With the natural exceptions of Miu Miu shorts and Virginie Viard’s Chanel hot
pants obsession, most any show saw long hemlines, in the form of three-quarter length skirts, long dresses, and even low hemlines on coats. And although we mentioned Miu Miu’s short shorts, it is worth noting that even Miuccia proposed elongated silhouettes with dropped hemlines… with that one exception of course.
FASHION’S ONGOING LOVE AFFAIR WITH FLORAL PATTERNS
What started out as a small detail reminiscent of the early 2000s in past collections has now become a full-blown trend. From denim-made to crochet to even real flowers layered under the sheer materials of the season, we can truly say that spring is in full bloom this fashion month.
AND A SPOTLIGHT ON THE FIVE INTRIGUING MICRO-TRENDS FOR 2024…
ELEVATING STYLE WITH THE ALLURE OF MESH
Remember last season’s Alaia ballet flats that took the world by storm? Yes, the mesh ones! Well, it seems that this trend not only conquered summer 2023 footwear but also the upcoming clothing pieces for 2024. The runways of the September fashion month seem to have been filled with mesh. The fishnet detail was present everywhere, from dresses to bags.
STYLE AT YOUR FINGERTIPS: MASTERING THE ART OF GLOVES
Gloves are poised to become another of the 2024 fashion trends. This season, they’re not just for warmth, they’re a statement accessory. From aviator-like models at Saint Laurent to sleek pops of colour at Fendi, gloves are making their mark this upcoming season.
BOUDOIR CHIC: A LINGERIE REVOLUTION
Sensual and daring, lingerie-inspired clothing is heating up the fashion scene this upcoming season. From silky slip dresses to corsets on the runway, this trend brings an alluring edge to everyday wear. Expect to see a fusion of comfort and
elegance as inner-wear becomes outerwear.
GILDED TREASURES: THE POWER OF BOLD ACCESSORIES IN FASHION
While a staple at Schiaparelli, it seems that the other fashion houses have taken the hint: large accessories are in! It’s only fitting to give the eye something to look at through this monochrome sea of non-colors. Bracelets, belts…all the large adornments you can think of are as stylish as can be in 2024.
CARRY IT IN ALL STYLES: THE RISE OF BIG BAGS
We’ve learned by now that 2024 is a “Go big or go home” year in all except color palettes. Enter on the stage the big bag…style and functionality all in one, it seems that clutches or small shoulder bags are a thing of the past. So, pack your dreams, your essentials, and your aspirations into the it-bags of the season.
By Mara-Alexa Bodice