The Fall Winter 2022 season of shows has proven how internet-breaking collaborations continue to bring fashion to the forefront of popular culture, with Gucci x Adidas and MM6 Maison Margiela x Salomon flooding everyone’s social media feeds.

The key to any brand’s success is remaining relevant to the target consumer and resonating with them through culture and consumer needs. This has become more vital in today’s heavily saturated world of media and in a time when consumer demands are amidst a shift as a result of the global pandemic. It could be why we’ve been seeing a surge in collaborations within the fashion industry.

It unlocked the ability to deliver a collection that is typically out of a brand’s typical design, in a refreshing and different style. Below are some of the most iconic runway collaborations in this season’s Fall Winter 2022.

Valentino x Pantone Colour Institute

For Valentino’s Fall Winter 2022 collection, Pierpaolo Piccioli focuses on creating an 81-look collection nearly entirely in a single, shocking shade of hot pick, unveiled against a backdrop of the same hue. A shade, developed in collaboration with Pantone, so catchy and energetic that it deserves its own name, “Valentino Pink PP”. He wanted to draw attention to the diverse silhouettes and details of a wardrobe that would transcend everyday needs and occasions. With this partnership, Pantone confirms that it is increasingly focused on establishing its hegemony over colour schemes, developing exclusive colours for companies and celebrities as a brand identity. Thus, Valentino moved from its signature red to pink.

• READ MORE: Spring Summer 23 Men’s Fashion Week: Trending Accessories

Gucci x Adidas

 

 

 

 

 

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Bringing together the emblems of the Italian luxury house and iconic sportswear brand is the much anticipated Gucci x Adidas collection. The collection is a result of Alessandro Michele’s fascination with the old-school athleisure brand and the blend between the two powerhouses is shown clearly on the runway. With classic, athleisure silhouettes commonly associated with Adidas, as well as unconventional colour play and patterns quintessential to Gucci.

• READ MORE: Gucci x Adidas to Hit Stores on 7 June

MM6 Maison Margiela x Salomon

 

 

 

 

 

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With an elevated utilitarian aesthetic, the collection takes form in boxy suiting with strong shoulders, seamless wool pea-coats with exaggerated peak lapels and sculptural outerwear. The moody silhouettes of the collection were enhanced by colourful sneakers in collaboration with Salomon, lug-sole running shoes and MM6s heel ankle boot. By blending tailored, contemporary, sportswear and avant-garde styles, the collection epitomises transitional design.

Dior x D-AIR LAB

Dior’s creative director, Maria Grazia Chiuri embraces the future of fashion through the collaboration with Italian-based brand, Dynamic Autonomy and Intelligent Robotics Lab (D-AIR Lab). The company is known for developing personal safety clothing that helps the wearer feel confident and protected in potential danger. For the runway, the garments struck a different level of confidence meant to give those who wear the pieces self-assurance. D-AIR Lab padding and materials are fused into corsetry and layered over artisanal dresses, which in a way is Dior’s pièce de résistance in sparking confidence in women.

Stella McCartney x Frank Stella

Introduced as STELLA BY STELLA, the Fall Winter 2022 collection celebrated the iconic American artist Frank Stella — one of the most important painters and sculptors of his generation. Presented at the historic Centre Pompidou, modern staples became wearable art. “His more linear early work lends itself so well to tailoring, and I love how he spans minimalism and maximalism, which has such a parallel with our brand,” said Stella McCartney. The playful garments are made with a colour palette and graphic prints that are an ode to Frank Stella’s abstract artwork, with stripes and geometrical scenes paying a tribute to his earlier minimalist artworks.

• READ MORE: 4 Top Trending Winter Fashions for Men

Loewe x Anthea Hamilton

 

 

 

 

 

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Like seasons gone by, Loewe Fall Winter 2022 promises to be a wonder-spectacle of dizzying proportions, wonderful details and the unexpected. The latest presentation from the Spanish-born fashion house comes directly from Paris Fashion Week, where artist Anthea Hamilton stages a series of sculptural pieces to accompany the runway. Just like Hamilton’s huge melting pumpkin sculptures that dotted the show space, the collection is a creative play on the usage of materials. That which should be soft and malleable, like leather, wool and organza, are moulded, felted and starched. On the other hand, materials that should be solid become plush, giving rise to unexpected silhouettes

2022 has been a year of non-stop collaborations. Following the hype of 2021’s collaboration frenzy — starting with Balenciaga and Gucci’s “Hacker Project”, and Fendi x Versace’s “Fendace” — the slew of inter-brand projects seemed to be relentless, never-ending and highly engaging. Allowing for new silhouettes, innovative designs and artistic interpretations, it seems as if collaborations are here to stay.

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For more than a century, couture has been emblematic of the triumph of craftsmanship and fashion. It represents the fusion of fashion — the modern entity that combines novelty and synergy with personal and social needs — and craftsmanship — the arts of dressmaking, tailoring, and crafts constituent to apparel and accessories. 

With a minuscule client base (approximately 4,000 worldwide) and an exclusive allocation of industry tickets for runway presentations, the practice can seem entirely fanciful and out of reach. In truth, the art of couture is a tightly controlled, invite-only application, governed by Paris’ Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode (FHCM) with widespread influence on the fashion industry at large. But despite being the most extravagant, glamorous and expensive form of fashion, haute couture has seen a rapid decline in interest in the last seventy years. 

 

 

 

 

 

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In 2021 alone, interest in “Couture” has steadily declined by 13 per cent (according to Google Search data). In fact, only four of the top ten search queries related to “Haute Couture” are for actual collections: Chanel, Dior, Fendi, and Valentino. The idea of “glamour” itself has undoubtedly evolved with modernity.

Whereas glamour and luxury previously meant gowns, hand-made and embroidered with thousands of pearls, luxury today can be seen in the form of t-shirts, sneakers, and comically tiny handbags. So, rather than needing hundreds of thousands of dollars for a custom piece, consumers can buy into the luxury dream with a US$400 t-shirt. So how does haute couture fit into today’s modern, technology-filled, inclusive-prioritised fashion landscape? 

The Not-So-Humble Beginnings of Haute Couture 

While the phrase is thrown around liberally, the term haute couture has been building on its roots since the late 17th century. As France became synonymous with richly produced and innovative luxury silk textiles, the relationship between aristocratic and upper-class women and their personal dressmakers began to grow; and so too did the haute couture system. 

Founded in 1868, the FHCM preserves the exacting standards of French fashion culture by presiding over Paris Women’s and Men’s Fashion Weeks, as well as endorsing and nurturing designers who exhibit a quality of craftsmanship that meets the level required to show on the official Haute Couture schedule. 

Today, members are selected by the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute couture. To qualify as an official Haute Couture house, members must design made-to-order clothes for private clients, with more than one fitting, using an atelier that employs at least fifteen full-time staff. They must also have twenty full-time technical workers in one of their workshops. 

• READ MORE: Best Looks From Spring 2022 Haute Couture

Couture’s elitist appeal is born from its exclusivity. It is a singular moment, made of peculiar rituals. The clothes are jewel-like creations reserved for an exclusive coterie of women, whose names are religiously kept secret by the maisons. Its purchasing process is shrouded in private showings with only a select circle allowed to enjoy a seat and marvel at the exquisite creations. In a world that is increasingly digital and manufactured — and thus infinitely replicable — couture is as traditional as it can possibly get. 

However, in today’s fast-paced, fast-fashion oriented world — where such a small percentage of the population has the wealth to buy Haute Couture — its slow decline was imminent. Combine that with the rise of independent designers and the rising appreciation for more independent and exclusive designers, haute couture is prone to becoming the next big fashion faux pas.

The Modernisation of Haute Couture  

There is nothing democratic about couture and proudly so. It’s barely touched by the fever of visibility which has made fashion the religion of our time. Couture is based on values that are totally out of time and in a world that goes fast, it is extremely slow. While the rest of the world embraces a visual language that is fluid and endlessly morphing, couture celebrates traditional codes, rituals and clearly defined gender divisions. In this sense, couture will never be truly modern.

Yet, in recent seasons, we’ve seen designers embrace modernisation and explore the definition of couture. “Markets, trends, and clients are constantly evolving, along with their spending habits,” says Tamara Ralph, designer of couture label, Ralph & Russo. “Over the years, we’ve witnessed emerging markets taking an interest in couture, and younger generations also taking notice. There has been a real resurgence in an appreciation for true craftsmanship, spanning all backgrounds and ages.” She adds. A representative from couture label Maisonn Rabih Kayrouz told Vogue France in 2018 that their millennial clientele has grown to make up a quarter of the company’s business. 

 

 

 

 

 

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In 2022, no longer is the craft restrained to stunning hand-stitched gowns covered in handmade sequins. Though prices are still cost-prohibitive for many, today’s haute couture designers are catering to a younger plugged-in generation by embracing more youthful designs, and understanding the the impact that intricate couture work can carry on Instagram. For example, Schiaparelli’s pendant-covered designs from Spring 2020 have gone viral. By the same measure, the mesmerising, nature-inspired styles of Iris Van Herpen have attracted a new era of stars. Her unique aesthetic dominated the 2022 Met Gala by custom designing pieces for Björk, Teyana Taylor, and Winnie Harlow.

And as designers look to court a younger generation of consumers, they’re no longer laser-focused on gowns, and instead have expanded into less formal looks, focusing on artistic intention and ways to mix heritage and creativity. As seen in the recent Fall 2022 Haute Couture shows, the fusion of Demna’s harsh yet poetic sensibility and the sculptural and severe codes set by Cristobal Balenciaga offers us a glimpse of what modern couture means while at Schiaparelli, designer Daniel Roseberry fused heritage and creativity through his own insouciant fixation for breasts and nipples with plenty of iconic references from Christian Lacroix and Jean Paul Gaultier. 

• READ MORE: Jean Paul Gaultier Steps Back from Couture

 

 

 

 

 

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• READ MORE: TikTok Trend Cycles: Should Luxury Houses Follow Suit?

Beyond the design shifts spurred by consumer demand, designers are modernising this niche fashion category by crossing into other areas of cultural interest like technology and art. We start seeing haute couture more as an art form and a way for designers to share their viewpoints and core beliefs. Dior’s Maria Grazia Chiuri addressed the current moment by taking inspiration from the work of Olesia Trofymenko, a Ukrainian artist whose favourite motif, the Tree Of Life, is a folkloric symbol of humanist hope inn cultures all over the world. Another example is Dior’s Spring 2020 couture collection, where creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri collaborated with the legendary feminist artist Judy Chicago. The show included an immersive space featuring banners emblazoned with questions around the show’s concept, “What If Women Ruled The World?” 

Couture’s offering of distinction in design and technique remains a compelling force, one even more potent when much other quality has atrophied. It remains a discipline of ultimate imagination, unaccountable to cost, with the paradox of being the fashion most cognizant of its ideal clients. It is, as it began, a dream of quality in an era of industry and its succession. Haute couture persists in providing us with a paragon of the most beautiful clothing that can be envisioned and made in any time and it is an industry that will only go onwards and upwards with time.

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Summer is a favourite season for many, especially when it comes to attire. Fashion blogs often flood the internet with the latest trends, summer must-haves, new outfits, and styles that are no longer in style. While you should look trendy, you shouldn’t rely on these blogs for unverified summer fashion tips. Below are some dressing tips for summer that won’t go out of style soon.

Jewellery in Earth Tones

Most people like complementing their outfits with various types of jewellery. While other seasons allow for diverse selection, you should stick to simple jewellery in earth tones during the summer instead of large statement pieces in jewel or dark tones. This includes bracelets, diamond stud earrings, and necklaces in gold, blue, pink, green, brown, or turquoise tones. These neutral colours match with more, if not all, of your summer selections.

Opt for Natural Makeup

There’s nothing worse than wearing excessive makeup on hot summer days. If you’ve noticed, most fashion icons prefer light or natural makeup during this season. Put away your dark shadows, heavy black eyeliner, dark lipstick, and heavy foundation. Instead, wear tinted moisturizers, natural eyeshadows, and pink, rose, or nude stains. You should only apply tinted moisturisers if you are attending an event. Include a liquid highlighter in your makeup routine to brighten your summer glow.

Loose Silhouettes Are Better Than Form-fitting

You should choose light fabrics that easily float with the summer wind. During summer, you should dress to feel comfortable and cool. Choosing loose silhouettes can still evoke a chic and feminine feel without skin-tight clothes that cause excessive sweating. You should choose clothing made from light cotton, lace or crochet, silk, or chiffon. On-trend options include skirts, air puffy sleeves, and tiered dresses. Generally, the hot summer temperatures go hand in hand with flowy clothing.

Balance Your Outfits

Mini-skirts and short-sleeved tops are a common spectacle as temperatures rise during the summer. However, a fashion tip that transcends through different age groups is balancing the summer outfit. Decide whether you should go sleeveless with long skirts or covered tops with a mini skirt. Adhering to this tip ensures that your outfits remain classy. One such perfectly balanced trend is pairing a crop top with a maxi skirt. This combination satisfies the balancing rule and keeps your outfit effortless.

Prefer Light Colors

You should prefer light colours over dark palettes for your summer outfits. Summer and spring are the best seasons to bring out your ultra-feminine pinks, pastels, and light blues. Timeless summer selects, such as the white linen trousers and button-down, are an excellent option as they can be worn day and night without changing accessories. Besides the aesthetic reasons, light colours reflect the summer heat instead of absorbing it.

Colour Pop

With Print Colour popping with prints is another elegant way of softening your summer outfits. Colour popping has been an outstanding trend for several years, making your outfits more defined and thought after. If you’ve been thinking of this trend, you can don various floral prints in pastel or bright tones. Wearing prints also provides plenty of matching options. For instance, blue or neutral floral prints can be paired with jeans for the weekend or a tonal pencil skirt for an official look.

Accessorise With a Hat

Hats are not only an excellent summer fashion statement, but also protect your skin from the dangerous sun rays. Wide-brim hats are an excellent addition to your summer wardrobe that rarely drop out of style.

Chinos Are Perfect for All Seasons

Women’s chino shorts are available in various colours, fabrics, and lengths. However, they shouldn’t be reserved for resort weekends or boat trips only. You can opt for them as an alternative to denim shorts because of their comfort. They can handle the summer heat well and remain a staple fashion piece that can be worn any other time of the year.

Shades Are Useful

Sunglasses are essential during the summer for many reasons. Besides being a fashion trend, they protect your eyes from the harsh sun rays during the day while also giving you a bold sense of style. When selecting a pair, make sure you choose one that suits your facial structure.

While the sticky summer heat isn’t the favourite weather for most people, it provides endless opportunities for exploring fashion options unsuitable for most months of the year. With a handful of ideas, you can leverage various selects and clothing options to style yourself in ways that look classy and comfortable during summer.

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