The Fall 2020 Trends Dominating The Runways At Fashion Week

There's just something about getting dressed for a special occasion that just makes you feel – well, special. Designers amplified that sentiment this season to ask the question: why wait for an elusive occasion to look and feel your very best? Not only did designers show a seemingly unprecedented amount of eveningwear in their ready-to-wear collections, but the real bravery seemed to be in the colours and silhouettes chosen. Bold neons, mile-long trains, and the most voluminous of skirts were presented as the new fashion norm. While we don't expect to see a full, floor-length skirt on a morning commute any time soon, we do think we'll see a new form of maximalism and inventive styling that will allow for the normalisation of formalwear for the everyday.

Keeping in step with the theme of dressing down a more "dressed up" look, formal gloves made appearances on dozens of runways, from Marc Jacobs to The Row. Though various formal gloves were seen accompanying all kinds of looks, opera-length gloves were especially prevalent. Perhaps it is a bit of escapism to brighten up a mundane day, or perhaps it is just an overlooked accessory that has a lot more potential than we give it credit for. Either way, these gloves add a touch of drama that pairs well with a strapped or sleeveless dress, suit jacket, or short-sleeved blouse.

Fringe has been making its way into a range of collections as of late, and one thing is for sure in Fall 2020: fringe is for way more than just denim and cowboy boots. In fact, fringe seemed to be everywhere at Milan Fashion Week, accessorising a range of aesthetics. Engulfing everything from pants to dresses and bags, the trend has taught us one major takeaway: any occasion is appropriate for a dose of fringe.

Perhaps one of our favourite trends of this month is seeing the rise of the statement collar take place in many forms. From embroidered Peter Pan collars and ruffled abstract styles to sharp, exaggerated versions that command your attention, collars add a bit of extra detail to any outfit. And with so many different styling options to choose from, this is a Fall 2020 trend that can easily transfer to fit any individual's style. 

While stereotypes say that city slickers love to dress in an all-black uniform, the abundance of joyful fuschia is a Fall 2020 trend that could push women all around the world to step out of the safe land of neutral and beige shades that have been popular in the past. A bold choice for autumn weather, this colour adds new energy to seasonal staple pieces such as outerwear or suiting.

A puff-sleeve or shoulder has been on our trend radar for the past few seasons now. Though in spring shows the puff shoulder felt soft and ladylike, this past month, designers were a bit more specific for Fall 2020 by focusing on a strong shoulder, paired with a more straight sleeve for a more editorial finish. Executions ranged from feminine interpretations with ruched gathering at JW Anderson to powerful silhouettes with a sharp geometric twist at Christopher John Rogers. Any way that it is styled, however, definitely makes a statement.

Could it actually be possible to not love a matching set? We didn't think so either. The ease of having an outfit all put together for you, while having the versatility to wear the separates styled on their own, is a big reason we are happy to see more designers work them into cold-weather collections. The updates? Exciting new prints, slightly relaxed silhouettes, and taking the trend further with optional matching jackets.

Colour blocking isn't exactly a new trend to the fashion world, yet it has been pretty much off the radar after it's early 2010s surge. (One can remember the massive excitement around Gucci's Spring 2011 show with its vivid jewel tones) And after almost 10 years, it is appearing back on runways for an unexpected season. While bright colours usually tend to show up on spring trend reports, for Fall 2020, designers were proud to show bright colours in seasonal fabrics such as leather, velvet, and sequins, offering consumers one solution to keep the winter blues away.

Bows! They aren't just for kindergarten anymore. The rise of childhood-inspired and retro dressing has only grown over the past year. Throughout last summer, some of the most prevalent trends were tie-dye, beaded friendship bracelets, hair accessories, pastel hair, and daisy motifs, so it goes as no surprise that this trend isn't dying, but is going a step further with bows popping up all over garments. Designers placed bows on top of hats, repeated them as patterns on dresses, used them as neckties, and much more. If you're still a bit wary, some modernising of the Fall 2020 trend, such as textured bows in muted palettes and sharper, bow-tie like shapes as seen at Christopher Kane, offers a bit more versatility and perhaps makes integrating bows into your outfit a bit more approachable.

Most of us are no stranger to wearing plaid; some brands such as Burberry have built a whole brand identity around the pattern. Having seen it take on many forms, it's always impressive to see which new iterations designers can think up to reinvent the timeless favourite. Over the years we have seen plaids come in many popular categories such as grunge plaids, uniform-dressing plaids, and now the Fall 2020 trend, in which plaids are styled in courageous, eclectic colours, with designers trying out head-to-toe plaid dressing and unconventional mixed patchwork patterns.