London Fashion Week is coming to a close, and we can’t be more in love with the trends we saw strutting down the runway. With NYFW being a difficult act to follow, London designers stepped up to bring some amazing looks – from ombre gowns and billowing sleeves to chic jackets and bold colors, this week had something for everyone.
1. Wide Leg Pants
The last few seasons have seen a lot of 70s inspired garments, and the SS17 collections were no different. This time wide leg pants seemed to be a favorite, both cropped and extra long! If you’re looking to make your own, a brocade or suiting would be great for some ankle-length trousers, while a draping crepe could do wonders as a long, flowing pair of pants.
Emilio de la Morena | Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear
Victoria Beckham | Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear
Roksanda | Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear
2. Enormous Sleeves
Some designers have been throwing things back far past the 70’s. Victorian silhouettes have been popping up pretty often on recent runways, particularly when it comes to sleeves. The best thing about the puff sleeve trend is that they’re coming in all shapes and sizes – bishop, bell, leg of mutton, poet, princess, all of them have been seen throughout the SS17 shows. Plus, they can be made out of so many different fabric types, so there’s nothing stopping you from trying some out! Want huge volume? Try an organza or brocade. Looking for flow? Crepes, crepe de chines, and chiffons will do great! Or try out a basic cotton shirting for a flawlessly crisp design.
Antonio Berardi | Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear
Emilio de la Morena | Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear
Osman | Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear
3. Mesh Overlays
Netting layers were not something we thought we needed before this week, but after seeing how they can add interesting shapes and volume to a garment, we’re totally hooked. Mesh was seen as sleeves, crop tops, shift dresses, and even as jackets!
Marques’ Almeida | Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear
Osman | Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear
J. JS Lee | Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear
4. Off the Shoulder
We saw this trend all over the place this past spring, but this season it’s evolving! Last year it manifested itself in blouses and crop tops, but recently it’s been all over gowns. satins, crepes, chiffons – think anything drapey for these designs. Or, if you’d like to mix this trends with the puff sleeve look, you can try something with more structure – maybe a neoprene!
Osman | Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear
Erdem | Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear
Temperley London | Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear
David Koma | Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear
5.Exaggerated Proportions
Huge sweaters and slouchy boyfriend jeans have always been go-to comfort clothes, but this year designers are giving those steady faves a high fashion twist. Structural neoprene coats, extra long sleeves, t-shirts that can double as dresses – this SS17 runway season has seen them all. Certainly it’s not a trend for everyone, but if they’re style correctly over-sized garments can look terrific.
MM6 Maison Margiela | Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear
Joseph | Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear
6. Moto Jackets
I. Love. Jackets. Particularly moto jackets. This is a trend that can incorporate so many others – make them oversized and made with knit, make them metallic, or make them bright blue! There are so many different ways to create, wear and style these awesome pieces; and I especially love the zip off feature on the jackets by Belstaff. Keep them long or crop them depending on your day-to-day style. Gotta make myself one!
Belstaff | Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear
Belstaff | Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear
Temperley London | Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear
Marques’ Almeida | Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear
7. Ruffles
Ruffles seem to be a favorite every season at this point, but designers are still finding ways to make them new and unique. Erdem sewed them into panel seams to create dynamic lines across their garments and the result is utterly beautiful. I can easily see the technique being adapted into streetwear skirts or even crop tops!
Erdem | Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear
Erdem | Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear
Daks | Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear
8. Ombre
Ombre is another trend that has been going strong for quite a white, and honestly I can’t complain! We’ve all seen the beautiful gradient gowns done by Marchesa, but LFW dealt with ombre a little differently. Simple shirt dresses popped on Temperley London’s stage with airy, pastel color schemes, while Antonio Berardi changed the game with an ombre suit! This look has to be one of my favorites from the week – each piece would look equally fabulous on its own as well as all together.
Antonio Berardi | Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear
Temperley London | Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear
Temperley London | Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear
9. Gathered Waists
It’s no secret that a tight waist with a flared skirt looks flattering on most body types. Designers seemed to keep this in mind as smocked dresses, empire waists and paper bag jogger pants popped up throughout London Fashion Week! Recreate the looks with chiffon, batiste, or maybe even a thick knit if you’re going the casual pant route.
Belstaff | Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear
Temperley London | Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear
Belstaff | Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear
10. Bold Color
Last, but not least, color! The 80’s are alive and they’re bringing with them an onslaught of vibrant hues. A big trend for next spring seems to be entire outfits in a single matching color, which certainly makes accessorizing easy!
Victoria Beckham | Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear
Mulberry | Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear
Natasha Zinko | Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear
Topshop Unique | Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear
So which trends are your favorite from London Fashion Week? Are you going to be making anything similar to these looks? Tell us below!
13 comments
Love the ruffles and beautiful colors
I liked the bold colors and the ombré but most of these trends seem to be targeting the tall thin woman. A short woman who is well endowed will not look her best in wide legged pants with ruffles and exaggerated sleeves.
Thank you for sharing. I enjoy being inspired by these great looks.
Many of the “fashions” are no more than costumes which makes the wearer look totally ridiculous or insane. Even the shock of color can be too much on the “average” body. I consider myself fashionable at 68…toned, 5’6″, size 10. NO…I will never be model thin like I was 30 years ago – and I have to edit, edit, edit to find striking, well-made clothes in beautiful fabrics. To that end I’ve started sewing again -and re-learning couture techniques. And for off the rack, there’s nothing like a good tailor. I love Mood fabrics and their young sewers for inspiration and design BUT as a mature women, only select designs and fine fabrics will work for me! I’ve even given up my subscription to Vogue …caught my husband LHAO at a Vogue magazine. PS…the models did look like clowns!
Personally, I love how out there fashion shows can be. Yes, they aren’t showcasing clothing that is super wearable in most people’s everyday lives, but that’s the point. The show is the design, the concept, the art; designers are re-imagining clothing, without the constraints of things like ‘is this office-appropriate?’ The on-the-rack clothing tends to be much more suited to streetwear, just with little hints from their high concept line. Honestly, I would find it boring as all hell if fashion week were constrained to showcasing clothing designed for an average woman’s everyday life; designed to not raise eyebrows or provoke comments, but to blend in. The idea is to find inspiration, not to replicate the look, and there’s quite a lot to be inspired by here.
ARE YOU READY FOR MY COMMENT? I THINK MOST OF THESE DESIGNS ARE UNDESIRABLES. WHO DRESSES LIKE THAT? NO WOMEN IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD WEAR MOST OF THESE FASHIONS. MAYBE FOR YOUNG HIPPIES OR DRUGGIES. BUT NO I DONT LIKE MOST OF THEM. GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD…COLORS ALRIGHT BUT STYLES OR COMBINATIONS OF STYLES NOT LOOKING GOOD.
Love the ruffles being inserted into the seams element. Heightens the vintage look. Thank you for sharing.
I agree with joalle. I know why the models look so miserable they have to wear such hideous clothes. It would be so nice to see well designed clothes that regular women could wear. I am a very senior person who has had a lifelong passion for stylish clothes, I too make my own clothes
I did like the colors and some of the fabrics
I really like the ombré fabric also.
We all know designers do not design for “real” women – only stick figures. Nor do they want their designs on anyone over 30. And forget it if you are a plus size (anything over size 10). The only designer I’ve heard of that will make something for the average woman is Christian Siriano. I make my own clothing using commercial patterns that I modify and embellish. I do like some of the colors and the ombre. Don’t know that I’d make my pants quite that wide. Mood provided some great fabric choices in this article.
I like the wide leg pant even on a mature woman. I have made a few pair in a wool crepe (which flows) and a cream silk pant. I wear with a cashmere sweater or silk shirt and pumps/heels or sandals (I never wear a heel over 2.5 inches and 3 inches for very special occasions is my absolute maximum!) There is nothing worse than a mature woman tottering around in hooker heels! The wide leg pant should flow, move when you move and kind of drift with your body! Most styles can be adapted but that’s the key word – adapted – to your body shape and size. The wide leg pant also looks good with a fine blazer. Remember it’s better to have a few good pieces ( and I don’t mean pricey) than to have a closet full of ill fitting, clothes made of cheap fabric that you aren’t comfortable wearing.
Wonderful article, thank you! Love how you post fabrics that use for the different types of creations. I am a mature sewist too, but love all the inspiration. No, I wouldn’t wear anything off this or most runways, but the overall silhouettes and creative use of fabrics are intriguing and inspiring. Things I could absolutely add to my garment sewing : the beautiful floor-length full trousers, the moto jackets, some ruffles in seams, more fullness in blouse sleeves, some mesh overlays on dresses, ombre pieces (hard to fine these fabrics though,) and monochromatic outfits in a single colorway. Great stuff, keep them coming!