Fall/Winter '21/'22 will be a season filled with fashionable opposites. MMBSY has created a report to guide you through the exciting new - and reinterpreted - trends.

EMBRACE / ESCAPE. Two seemingly opposing, but in current times very much interconnected macro trends. Embrace. Hold on to everything you hold dear. To everything that is important. Love, cherish, self-reflect. But escape. Escape to a better place, better times, to a possibility of a better future.

This duality is a reflection of how our society copes with the reality of today. A reflection that has a large echo in fashion this Fall/Winter season. Trends that could not have sprouted from two more opposing mindsets, while at the same time being so intertwined. In addition to ‘embrace’ and ‘escape’ as macro trends, we propose six daughter trends, showcasing everything fashion stands for this season

Trend 1 - Cozy comfort : Forget diamonds. Body-swamping coats, cashmere turbans, comfy sweater dresses and knitted handbags are a girl’s best friend. Head-to-toe knitwear is not only ideal for days at home, but its cozy-factor has a soothing effect. But don’t dwell on sweatpants. Opt for slouchy, wide-legged jeans and trousers instead. Tactile textiles like wool, cashmere and faux fur provide for a real luxurious look.

Trend 2 - Conscious consumerism : The fashion industry is taking a slower, more conscious approach. Consumers expect more from brands: natural products, non-invasive and sustainable methods, a healthier and ethical supply chain and a limited waste production. Who is not finding ways to modernize production, will be left behind. Upcycling, working with unused fabric scraps and zero-waste denim have become household terms. They also provide for a new, idiosyncratic aesthetic that is less about following trends and more about personal expression through style.

Trend 3 - Unbridled optimism : Looking for something to put a smile on your face? You are not alone. Color, print and positivity reign supreme throughout FW21/22’s collections as brands are looking to the future. We’re all in desperate need of some color therapy. Because we believe in a better tomorrow. Because we will re-emerge from these dark times as closer together and happier. This feeling is translated in bright hues, joyful prints, quirky cuts and a whole lot of millennial nostalgia.

Trend 4 - Earthly freedom : ‘Outside’ has been a comforting ever-present during the pandemic. We’ve spent more time outdoors than ever and we have all felt the soothing calmness of nature’s free spirit. Fall/Winter promises an influence on our wardrobe to link the outside with inside. Outdoorsy fabrics like quilted patchworks and items like puffer jackets, alpine sweaters and shearling coats all find their way into our everyday apparel. Bonus points: you can dress up like this for (home) work, but you can also actually take hike in these looks.

Trend 5 - Everyday luxuries : We all need a little luxury, even facing an economic crisis. But we will gravitate more towards smaller goods, like beautiful lingerie, jewelry or a fancy lipstick. Spending on these small indulgences actually increases during periods of recession. This symbolizes our hunger for something new, to wake up in a better world. Brands are already looking forward to end-of-year parties with much-needed freedom, glitz and glam. Sequins, bright colors, semi-precious stones, faux furs and metallics should put us all in a dreamy, can-do, is-possible state.

Trend 6 – Fluidity : Most brands are far away from genderless fashion, but gender-fluid style is a future trend to keep an eye on. We are moving away from the idea that clothing and accessories itself are inherently gendered, but rather accepting that societal norms have determined that certain items are for certain people. Gen Z is deciding that these norms are no longer relevant, and older generations are slowly, but surely agreeing. So let’s part from the idea that wearing a suit as a woman is ‘power dressing’. Let’s understand that a suit is a garment that can be worn by all genders, who should all be treated as equal. So wear that long, dangly earring, sir. It suits you.