We Uncover The Most Exciting New Fashion Trends To Watch In The New Year

It is always quite fascinating to watch each new year roll around, bringing an exciting array of fashion trends with it. 2022 in fashion is reflective of the escapist feeling in all of us, providing a sense of optimism for the year ahead. Here is your insider’s guide to key trends to wear in the new year.

The Statement White Dress

Marking new beginnings and an air of freshness, white is the go-to colour for revivals. Designers embraced this pristine hue for statement white dresses in the new season collections, creating key looks that can easily go from spring to summer. Offering the ultimate look in prairie girl chic is Desiree Iyama’s billowy white dress with lace accents while Abiola Olusola looked to the late ’80s beach looks for inspiration. For evening, Greta Constantine found a super slick way to make bright whites work for a cocktail hour look by letting voluminous sleeves do the talking.

Cut It Out

The runways were ablaze with skin and sensuality as fashion tastemakers dared to bare with cut-outs. A recurring trend in fashion, this peekaboo pattern is for the fashion lover that enjoys taking risks. From dresses to jumpsuits, slasher chic is set to be even more popular in the new year. Kai Collective deftly used knits to create chic round cut-outs reminiscent of streamlined fashions from the 1970s. Like Olivier Rousteing for Balmain, you can also look to the Helmut Lang era of 1990s fashion and opt for a more modern cut-out dress. Update your nighttime LBD with LaQuan Smith’s sizzling take on the wardrobe staple.

The Kaftan Revival

An enduring staple for lovers of fuss-free fashion, the classic silhouette is set to garner even more popularity in the wake of hybrid work fashion and post-pandemic ease of living. This year, women of all ages can easily incorporate this look into their wardrobes, with its origins being unique to our culture. Make like Sisiano and opt for an opulent silk print kaftan with fringe details. Rukky Ladoja’s Dye Lab offers a refreshing take on this silhouette by experimenting with vintage Senegalese styles in sustainably-made indigo dye prints. Also paying homage to western African styles is Ejiro Amos Tafiri’s design, that serves just the right dose of Lagosian glamour, perfect for any upscale event.

Bandeaus & Skirts

As the temperatures rise, no thanks to global warming, less just might be more (with a heavy dose of SPF of course). The Spring/Summer 2022 runways gave us a neat tip to staying cool: a barely-there bandeau and an easy skirt. Lisa Folawiyo’s Col 1 2022 gives the gypsy skirt lots of character through texture, Abiola Olusola’s tie-dye set is the perfect pick for beach day turned seaside dinner while Chanel revels in Parisian chic with a black tweed confection.

Heavy Metallic

Shimmer and shine all the way through 2022 with the liquid metallica trend as planning your party looks just got easier. Go maximalist and embrace excess with Turfah gorgeous ruffles made in a glossy sheen the brand is known to do so well. Tom Ford makes a case for easy glam with metallic separates that can readily double as super stylish daytime city looks or club-ready fits for a night of bar-hopping. Rodarte’s body-skimming sheath is a winning pick for a wedding guest attire in 2022, with just the right amount of glitz for a West African function while Valentino’s asymmetrical green metallic tiered gown is perfect for brides looking for a wedding party dress with a lot of edge.

David Nwachukwu
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