While those cultivating their personal style will swear up and down that it’s important to ignore trends, the hack to make personal style stick is actually to indulge in a trend or two. We’re not talking micro-trends that disappear in the next month, but the pieces we’ve spotted on catwalks, presentations, and what designers are already gravitating towards. While trends may ebb and flow, when you run low on inspo, they come in clutch to refresh a wardrobe. Think your favourite pair of jeans with a zebra print heel. Or that one graphic tee that’s seen it all, now layered with lace sleeves. So whether you’re considering fresh ideas or space to experiment, these are the modest fashion trends of the season to hop on.
Animal Printed Abayas
A leopard print abaya has been the standard for the cool girls but these days, all sorts of animal prints have been entering the market and abayas are right there with them. Zebra has become the latest fascination with deer print following close behind. To truly go all out, mix the contrasting animals together and embrace the maximalism.
Capes
Capes and cape silhouettes always come back into rotation once the colder weather hits so it’s really a trend worth investing in. Cape tops offer a delicate layer that feels warm but not stuffy while cape dresses bring a softness to occasionwear that feels refined and regal. And for those looking to reinvent their wardrobe, you can fashion a cape out of scarves lying around and turn them into daytime tops.
Dark Florals
Deep, dramatic, and with just the right hit of romanticism, dark floral patterns come right in time for the season where you want a bit of femininity but with a tinge of moodiness. Inspired by tapestries and spotlighting the contrast between floral blooms and a dark palette, you can find this pattern across abayas and jackets and often in jacquard and brocade.
Dark Palettes
Speaking on darkness, for those looking to go all in on the moodiness should take a peep on the palette of the season. Yves Klein Blue, dark purple, forest green, espresso brown, and of course, burgundy, are all in. Taking inspiration from food—namely figs and coffee—this seasonal palette lets go of the neutrals beige and black.
Fringe
During the Spring-Summer fashion calendar, fringe became a defining highlight for many designers. Bottega Veneta, Chloé, and Simkhai, among others, all utilise fringe as hemlines, waist definers, or as an expression of flounce and movement. For modest dressers, fringe details are being used as belts, as a layer across the shoulders, or at the chest with fringed hijabs.
Peplum Waist
Helping to define the waist while still keeping everything covered, a peplum waist top or jacket helps to break apart the typical modest silhouette. This works especially well for those whose style leans towards streetwear, where baggy or barrel jeans add an extra curve to the mix.
Statement Sleeves
Another trend noticed from this season’s runways was the play on sleeves. How the sleeve itself became a statement on its own, going from embroidered and embellished to sculptural and dramatic. While the completely exaggerated ones are out of practical reach, there is still a lot of room to play with here. From balloon proportions to a ruffle wrist peeking out underneath, when it comes to making a statement with sleeves, there’s plenty to do.
Velvet
A material made for the colder climate, it’s another trend that defrosts when the season approaches. The depth of velvet makes it particularly luxe and, when paired with statement jewellery, becomes an interesting texture to play with.
