SS20 Womenswear Trends

The fashion merry-go-round has stopped at the 80s a few times before – and we’re back again. But this time the references are more Working Girl than Wolf of Wall Street. This is power dressing, but of the most beautiful kind. Oversized blazers, strong shoulders and an elevated waist provided 80s proportions befitting of Molly Ringwald at Versace and Balenciaga. Over at Max Mara and Tod’s fabrics were unabashedly matchy matchy in shades of grey, camel and beige. Neck ties were masculine at Gucci and silken at Lanvin, lending an androgynous touch. The trench coat was a cornerstone of this trend, most notably at Victoria Beckham, where it was layered over suiting and hung nonchalantly over the shoulders. This is an excellent trend to tap into to revitalise your workwear wardrobe, but you’ll want to wear these pieces way beyond the office.

The print of the season? We couldn’t take our eyes off spots and stripes, whether they were Minnie Mouse-worthy monochrome at Balmain and Celine, extravagant and oversized at Gucci and Dries Van Noten or head-to-toe verticals at Alexander McQueen. This trend is all about playing with form and scale: unexpected proportions and fresh-feeling combinations of colour and print. At Balenciaga, Demna Gvasalia did head-to-toe polka dots on a blue satin maxi dress, complete with coordinating tights. For a more subtle take on the trend, try pairing a striped trouser with neutral shirting, a la Stella McCartney, or a polka-dot blouse with black tailored trousers, as seen at Nina Ricci. But for maximum impact, a dotty dress or co-ord is a whole lot of fun just waiting to happen. (Zoe Kravitz worked it perfectly at the Golden Globes in spotty Saint Laurent).