2024 hasn’t even arrived yet, but its biggest fashion trends (which will be hitting the Spring/Summer 2024 runways at New York, Milan, Paris and London Fashion Weeks) are already here. While fashion week always comes with a bit of seasonal cacophony due to the industry’s forward-looking production cycles, we love a glimpse into the future of fashion.
The SS24 collections will debut in the fall, so keen-eyed trend spotters can start preparing early to outfit themselves in the most coveted styles for the coming year, including 12 trends that will define fashion’s focus for 2024.
Micro Fringe
From left: Gucci, Burberry, Akris.
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We were happy to see that designers like Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Gucci, Mugler, and Tom Ford haven’t abandoned fringe for spring and summer. Fringe predictions for 2024 predict super-thin micro-fringe (the width of thread or floss, not yarn) that will accentuate hemlines and draw the eye to key elements on outerwear, dresses, and separates.
The 2024 fringe is arguably more sophisticated than the fringes seen in previous seasons, creating a provocative dichotomy. This fringe is more subtle because of its larger size. Yet its modesty means it can be incorporated in greater volume on a wider range of pieces, such as Giorgio Armani’s sleeveless collared blouse or Bottega Veneta’s midi skirt, pictured above. Summary: Larger and more sophisticated, the 2024 micro fringe is more rebellious than its thicker predecessors.
Business Sensual
From left: Sportmax, Issey Miyake, Givenchy.
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The most prevalent trend seen on the Spring/Summer 2024 runways may also be the fashion trend of 2024 that has undergone the most dramatic evolution: the sheer dress. Throughout fashion month, lightweight sheer fabrics have left the realm of fantasy gowns and entered the business casual conversation.
Sportmax, Givenchy, Philosophy by Lorenzo Serafini and Issey Miyake showed office-friendly, if slightly less sheer, blouses, midi skirts and button-downs on the runways, while Chanel, Carolina Herrera and Michael Kors took a slightly different approach, with matching sets, pinafores and maxi dresses at ultra-conservative hem lengths.
Major Mod Micro Mini
From left: Carolina Herrera, Gucci, Richard Quinn.
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Who needs a bodycon mini dress when you have one drenched in jewels? That’s the question posed by 2024’s other big fashion trend: the rhinestone- and sequin-encrusted micro-mini. This happy marriage of boxy, modern silhouettes and shimmering finishes ranges from peachy-nude and pearlescent sequin and shift-dress constructions seen at Carolina Herrera and Richard Quinn to Gucci’s relaxed, apron-like Tangerine Dream dress, embellished with a gothic checkerboard of rhinestones. Meanwhile, designers like Christian Cowan, Michael Kors, and Versace have channeled ’70s style touchstones, like bell sleeves and abstract floral motifs, into this gilded, groovy trend.
Destructive preparation
From left: Bally, Miu Miu, Loewe.
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Classic preppy layered styles like cardigans, button-downs, polos, and pullovers got a refresh thanks to fluffy, floaty tulle and layered miniskirts at Bally, Miu Miu, Loewe, Susan Phan, and Moschino. Our favorite trends take what we love about existing aesthetics and inject something new into the style, which gets extra points for flipping the trend on its head. Subversive preppy attire is exactly that, blending hard and soft, angular and airy, masculine and feminine vibes to create a fun, daring remix.
If micro-minis aren’t your thing, you could try the rebellious preppy styles seen at Dries Van Noten and No. 21, both of which opted for knee-length sequin-embellished skirts to complement the models’ preppy sweaters.
Punk Rococo
From left: Erdem, Simone Rocha and Richard Quinn.
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At Erdem, Kim Hae Kim, Moschino and Sixd, ultra-feminine bows and ruffles combined with bold, edgy accessories lit the fires of a coquette aesthetic for 2023, while Simone Rocha, Palomo Spain, Adiam and Dior went down a downright goth-inspired look with wedding-dress-worthy layers of lace and tulle teamed with black jewellery, boots and, in some cases, lipstick.
A call to armor
From left: Coperni, Alexander McQueen, Rabanne.
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We were hoping that Jean Paul Gaultier, Balenciaga, and Georges Chakrat’s knights in shining armor wouldn’t be exclusive to Couture Fashion Week, and it looks like 2024 won’t disappoint. Thanks to designers like Rabanne, Coperni, Alexander McQueen, Ralph Lauren, and Isabel Marant, breastplates, chain mail, and structured metallics brought medieval battlefields to the runways and into the 2024 fashion rotation.
Slingbacks
From left: Valentino, Gucci, Saint Laurent.
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The most notable retro trend for 2024 was the appearance of sleek secretary shoes and vampire-inspired slingback heels, not seen since the ’90s, on the catwalks of Saint Laurent, Phillip Lim and Gucci. At Valentino, a more subdued approach was applied to more understated flats, with kitten heel variations also creating a buzz.
While we welcomed the return of the classic slingback pump silhouette, we were equally intrigued by the designers who reworked the slingback element into different looks: Chanel used slingback ankle straps on bejeweled ballet flats, Versace added blink-and-you’ll-miss-it slingback detailing to a lucite block heel, and Zimmermann mixed mules, clogs, and slingbacks for a sweet, casual take on the trend.
Rural Scenery
From left: Givenchy, Michael Kors, Erdem.
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Art historians rejoice! The lush paradise of pastoral oil paintings appeared all over the SS24 runways in the most sophisticated spring florals in years. At Zimmermann, Giambattista Valli and Erdem, layers of intricately embroidered lace and tulle offered us the romance of a pastoral work of art. It was a shepherdess lying in a field of wildflowers, and we wanted it.
At Carolina Herrera and Elie Saab, pastoral prints, floral-embellished dresses, and billowing skirts recalled the detailed landscapes adorning bone china tea sets. There’s no denying the hyperrealism, glitter-encrusted retro florals of seasons past, but we’re enamoured by the way this fresh approach imbues classic spring trends with a touch of former sophistication.
Emotional Support Bag
From left: Loewe, Valentino, Miu Miu.
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Want to cuddle? Roomy, oversized bags do what microbags can’t: They hold all your work essentials, including your laptop, while also offering a place to snuggle. Slinging it over the shoulder or under your arm, the bag trends of 2024 are nothing like the mini handbags of past seasons. Choose from a variety of styles that embrace this trend, from Bottega’s gunmetal woven market basket to Valentino’s more classically constructed mega tote.
Ice, ice, baby
From left: Wiederhoeft, Versace, Tom Ford.
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It’s cold, or at least it’s going to get colder in 2024 when icy metallics replace the standard spring pastels. We’re not disparaging the soft color palettes that mark the change of seasons, but who wants to wear Easter or cupcake colors when the weather warms up? The top color trends for 2024 are fresh color palettes that combine the pale and airy hues of pastels with the icy edge of winter.
Standing out as an icy hue for 2024 were the various colours shown on the runways at LaQuan Smith, Versace, Bottega Veneta, Wiederhoft and Tom Ford, with glacial blue standing out, but also silver-green, liquid rose and frosty lilac at Giambattista Valli, Christian Cowan and Issey Miyake.
Sock It To Them
From left: MSGM, Dries Van Noten, Victoria Beckham.
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If the spring/summer 2024 runways are any indication, fashion is firmly in favor of socks in the heels-and-sandals-pair debate. At Victoria Beckham, Givenchy, Phillip Lim, and Anteprima, models teamed see-through, nearly knee-high socks with sleek pumps, open-toed sandals, and understated ballet flats. Etro and Moschino went a step further, with Etro going all-out on statement socks paired with sandals and strappy summer flats, and Moschino taking a “more is more” approach to the trend, layering ruffled ankle socks over lacy tights.
Golden Knot
From left: Alexander McQueen, Saint Laurent, Schiaparelli.
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At Saint Laurent and Schiaparelli, swooping spheres with double loops and knots gave more substance to the oversized teardrop-shaped earring trend that dominated 2023. Alexander McQueen and Coperni took a mismatched approach to the trend, teaming large double hoop cuffs with dangling statement earrings—another big jewelry moment for 2024.
