The allure of the approaching season in fashion is the “in-between” styles that prepare us for the shifts of climates to come, resulting in transitional Cruise, Resort, and Pre-Fall collections. These collections that occur in between the Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter collections welcome more functional clothing that are easily adaptable, resulting in looks with extended sustainability and durability. Cruise, Resort and Pre-Fall collections are also made with traveling in mind, welcoming adjustable outfits for a variety of destinations, accommodating to different climates, landscapes, cultures, and so much more. As we enter into Pre-Fall styles, we will see elements of the remaining summer fused with cozier autumnal details. Observing Pre-Fall collections, trending for this upcoming season include everlasting classic looks, comfortable and functional essentials, business-ready blazers and trousers, and the many romantic elements of voluminous 80’s silhouettes.
The Timeless & Classics
For Pre-Fall, it was evident that one cannot go wrong with the timeless fashion items we always gravitate to. From classic neutral color palettes to your favorite blue jeans - timeless looks are one of the go-to styles for Pre-Fall. Camels, Grays, Creamy Whites and Midnight Blacks - many neutrals were seen in multiple collections in a variety of textures, hemlines, shades, fabrics, and so much more.
Marni had warmer beiges and classic khakis as well quintessential shades of black and navy. Emilia Wickstead also opted for classic colors like off-white and dark chocolate brown, interpreted in soft and feminine silhouettes - an exquisite elegance that is exciting to see. On the other hand, Alexander McQueen had perfectly interchangeable black-and-white looks. Countless other collections included timeless neutral colors such as Valentino, Balenciaga, Sacai, Stella McCartney, Burberry, Balmain, Tory Burch, Proenza Schouler, Chanel and Alberta Ferreti among many. Also many closet essentials were seen that we can use year-round (and beyond) such as the enduring and trusted trench coat (Valentino, Rokh, Sacai, and more) or the never-failing jeans in a classic true blue wash (Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga MSGM, Balmain and more).
Comfort (and Functionality) is Key
As summer looks transition into cozier autumnal outfits and we get closer to cooler breezes and our favorite holidays, the nostalgia begins to flutter inside of us. With an increasing craving for warm knits, comfy layers and hugging ponchos during transitioning seasons, Pre-Fall is here to give us the best of both worlds. Pre-Fall has arrived with a bang with the most love-at-first-sight and comfy essentials as well as incredibly functional layers that will become our adventure companions in our travels and journey into a new equinox.
Some cozy and functional pieces includes Marni’s oversized and multi-use plaid cape-coat hybrid and striped mock turtleneck sweaters, Rokh’s never-failing trench coats, Sacai’s roomy puffer jackets and snug layering, Proenza Schouler’s minimalistic and voluminous tunic-dress, and Stella McCartney’s practical 80s-90s-esque windbreakers and extra leg-room pants that are blissfully wide, making it perfect for comfortable travelling. We also saw cheery oversized knit sweaters from MSGM, head-turning abounding wide pants from JW Anderson, hoodie combos, palazzo pants and free-spirited styles from Alberta Ferreti and cool n’ elegant coats and utilitarian styles from Burberry.
Pre-Fall certainly did not forget about the wanderlusters by offering incredible collections impeccably suitable for our travels like Balmain’s head-to-toe...er sorry..head-to-bag matching print sets (and the roomy matching tote bags and gorgeous square suitcases can certainly fit everything you could possibly need FYI) and Tory Burch’s loose Zen blouse-pant set that is fit for a well-deserved weekend getaway. With the collections we saw for Pre-Fall, they all certainly had one thing in common - they were made for not only the Summer-Fall transition, but also for our transition into a post-pandemic world, as well. Many of the designers thought of coating us to feel safe and sound as we confront this new world. They also created these designs to help us embrace all of the exciting and new adventures we have been so eager to do while we were at home that very soon we will be able to!
I Mean Business!
With new goals in mind and more ambitious than ever to work on our dreams (and not let anything stop us), many blazers and business suits have been seen for Pre-Fall. Blazers in all shapes and sizes were seen tremendously, making it the perfect outerwear to use year-round with just the right warmth while looking smart and ready to take on anything. How can we not love blazers for Pre-Fall? As we are breaking out of our cocoon and flying into a whole new invigorating world that we have gained a newfound admiration towards, many designers have each created their own unique takes on the blazer that will surely ignite something in us. Whether it’s the beautifully asymmetrical Blazer from Proenza Schouler, slim fitting classic and cropped styles from Alexander McQueen, layered, cropped and contemporary types from Rokh, bright and joyful suits from MSGM, British-inspired 3-piece suit with a matching baker boy hat from Alberta Ferreti, gloriously 80’s style blazers with sky-high shoulder pads from Balmain, effortlessly cool and modern suit styles from Sacai, elegant and feminine blazers from Tory Burch, to the classic suit style from Sportmax.
This one is for the New Romantics…
Perhaps with the continued influence of the 80’s strongly evident in many collections, Pre-Fall was specifically very inspired by the New Romantic era of the 80’s. Think of David Bowie, Boy George, Cyndi Lauper and Madonna with the softer glam pop-rock silhouettes, Romanticism Era’s (1820s) soft detailing like ruffles and plumes, and lovely prom-inspired (and Met Gala inspired) styles were all seen throughout for this season. The New Romantics era from the 80s was greatly inspired by the Romanticism of the 1800’s resulting in many puff sleeves, lower necklines, more voluminous hemlines, and extravagant collars and sleeves combined with defined waists and cinching belts - all seen throughout Pre-Fall, as well. Aside from the classic neutrals seen for Pre-Fall, thanks to the heavy 80s inspiration, colors such as the primary reds, greens and blues (seen in Louis Vuitton among many) that can be used year-round and cotton candy pastels like sky blue (Alexander McQueen) and baby pinks (Balmain) are trending for this season.
Pastel pinks, greens and blues, balloon hems, hypnotizing floral prints, ruffles, princess puff sleeves, peplums, and pretty bows were some of the many details trending for this upcoming season. Alexander McQueen incorporated a lot of these such as their electric blue midi-length voluminous balloon skirt and their multiple-puff sleeve designs. Other designers inspired by the New Romantics include Balenciaga’s bright fuchsia puff sleeve dress, Louis Vuitton’s ruffled skirt, MSGM’s bubblegum pop color scheme and ruffles and tulle, Burberry’s fruit-colored pants and rock-n-roll leather jackets, Sportmax’s black tie party attire styled with opera gloves and draping details, JW Anderson super puff sleeves, Tory Burch’s working girl 2-piece sets and Shakespearean-inspired draped lavallière bow blouses, Alberta Ferreti’s layered ruffles and lace detailing, and Chanel’s flowing tulle capes and soft doily collars.
Balmain also wonderfully applied these details into their collection in a perfect 80’s Romantic extravaganza featuring sky-high padded shoulders, lace, satin gloves, tweed, voluminous ballerina tulle skirts, flowing mesh sleeves, powder pinks and baby blues, tennis visors, lavallière bows, sweater vests, sparkly lurex, feathers, faux fur and so so so much more! With the dramatic, extra-sensory and oh-so-glamorous New Romantics trend, we are more than ready for more nights out and gala attending and with these morning to evening collections we have all we need to be fashionable, 24/7! Our closets will be totally prepared for the soon post-pandemic lifestyle we are excited to embrace thanks to these incredible Pre-Fall collections.
