The world of fashion loves a good trend.
Once upon a time, trends existed in much broader strokes and long-lasting style cycles but contemporary fashion experts have noted that social media has condensed the cycle and sped up the pace to the point where microtrends are everywhere.
As part of an ongoing series of style explainers that tackled the long-standing cottagecore, art-hoe, and soft-girl aesthetics we have also broken down the specifics of some of this year's biggest trends.
How many of these did you try? How many will stick around in 2023?
These are our favourite fashion trends of 2022.
Y2K
As far as fashion eras go, the fever dream that was the early 2000s style seemed relatively short-lived. The tiny pleated skirts and low-rise pants paired with high-rise thongs didn't even make it a full decade. Don't believe me? Try comparing the fashion in Mean Girls (2004) to Easy A (2010). But in 2022 Y2K came back in a big way this year and to my surprise, it looks like it's here to stay (at least for a while).
The colours, textures, and shapes of Y2K fall into the category of dopamine dressing which is another buzzword we heard this year but the specific body type required to 'pull off' Y2K style also threatens to unravel the work that has been done by body-positive and size-inclusive pioneers in fashion if we don't engage with it critically. This is a conversation that is likely to continue into 2023.
Whimsigothic
The 2022 renaissance of the 90s whimsigoth aesthetic began in early spring and summer with TikTokers and articles offering tips on how to dress whimsigothic (part whimsical and floaty, part gothic and vampy) in the summer. The aesthetic is bewitching in every way. The billowy sleeves, sweeping skirts, and layers add drama while ethereal details like moons, stars, suns, and zodiacs give it otherworldly charm. Tights, lace, and corsets add a touch of sexiness and feminity paired with chunky boots and wild hair. A lot of the look is imbued by an undercurrent of owning personal power and sexuality in whatever way appeals to the individual. This theme is also true of contemporary portrayals of witchcraft which is why the two go hand-in-hand.
The gothic in whimsigothic is more of an amalgamation of goth and boho than it is a true representation of the horror sub-genre or architectural style. The themes aren't rooted in death or fear instead they focus on the earth, nature, and the supernatural in a more comforting sense. It's a type of pseudo-spirituality that offers equal parts nostalgia and hope.
Coastal Grandmother
Who could forget the chokehold Coastal Grandmother had on the internet this year?
When Lex Nicoleta made her initial TikTok outlining the "Coastal Grandmother" aesthetic, she had no way of knowing she was unlocking a craze that had been resting within the hearts of Millennials and Gen Zs, just below the surface. Since her video was first published, the coastal grandma vibe has amassed over a billion views on TikTok and global Google searches have increased 334% in the past week with people seeking out interior design inspiration. Most recently, director Nancy Meyers, who Nicoleta called the queen of the Coastal Grandmother along with Diane Keaton, posted about the trend on Instagram.
Collegiate
Despite an unseasonably warm October in Vancouver, the fashion police declared that Fall 2022 marked the return of preppy collegiate chic but with a fantastic punk twist. Pleated skirts, vests, and tartan were seen on more than one runway previewing fall 2022 looks but they also came with buckles, leather details, chunky jewellery and shoes. The whole vibe reminded me of the 2007 film St. Trinian's (which isn't a bad thing). The combination of opposing influences also offers an opportunity for people to choose which side they gravitate to more. Are they going to play up the preppy or the punk?
Barbiecore
Barbiecore is a term that made the internet rounds this summer in large part due to the upcoming movie starring Margo Robbie and Ryan Gosling, directed by Greta Gerwig. The behind-the-scenes photos trickle from the set to our devices and set our cultural imaginations ablaze with the bright, joyful, unabashed fashion choices. Little is known about the plot of the film so it's only natural that everyone would hold on to the fashion for dear life. Retro spandex roller skating ensemble? Yes, please. Hot pink lace-up pants with star-detailed bell bottoms? Sign me up! Many of the outfits we're seeing actually match up to the 90s dolls with a few tweaks for 2022, which is really the crux of Barbiecore.
Scarves
To this day, the silk scarf is associated with Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn and, for a long time, it symbolized the wealthy or elite which made it inaccessible to many and it fell out of circulation except within a niche group.
In 2022 the silk scarf came back in a big way. The advent of rayon and polyester has made producing scarves, that look expensive but aren't, easy and accessible. But people aren't wearing them the way you think. Sure, tying it around your neck Fred Jones or 1950s air stewardess style will always be acceptable, but people are also fashioning the squares of fabric into tops that hang in a flowy strapless triangle of fabric off the body, with a sexy open back - save for the knot that secures it in place.
