Spring 2022 – How I'm Wearing The Latest SS22 Fashion Trends Right Now

by Lily Tracy December 4, 2021

Seems like I'm not the only one who gets impatient when the new season trends hit the runways. So many people want to start incorporating the brand new fashion trends into their current season wardrobes to either be one step ahead of the game, or just because the trends are way too tempting to wait a whole season for. Or maybe, for the style savvy fashionistas out there, some of the new trends might just be things they're already wearing! Now there's a thought!

Spring 2022 Trends

I think I definitely fall in the former two camps, but also have a huge smile on my face when I see new trends emerging on the runways that are already hanging in my closet, or better still, form part of my outfit on that very same day. It's happened at least once this season; and I think you'll understand which trends I'm referring to as you read on!

Spring 2022 Fashion Shows

In this blog post, I'm going to talk about some of my absolute favorite trends from the explosive Spring/Summer 2022 runways of New York Fashion Week, London Fashion Week, Milan Fashion Week, and Paris Fashion Week by showcasing some of the fun and exciting (hopefully you'll all agree!) ways I am wearing them for this current fall season. Because life is too short to wait – am I right?

Spring 2022 Color Trends

All White

I think new-season colors are always a good place to start! You know I love my light and pastel colors, so you won't be surprised to hear that I was delighted to see white was a huge trend for the new season. Even more so because white can also be such a huge trend for the colder months – they call it winter white for a reason! From sharp white suits at Erdem and Michael Kors to far more feminine, romantic and even bridal vibes at Givenchy, Saint Laurent and Alexander McQueen, (and there was a to-die-for white maxi dress over at Fendi!) there was a real mix of pieces, which means that there are a lot of directions to go in to be on-trend.

It didn’t take me long to put a wintry all-white outfit together! I've paired my wide leg jeans with a cable knit sweater, Gucci Princetown loafers (since the weather is still relatively mild!) and my YSL Niki bag, and finished off with some oversized sunglasses.

Spring 2022 Fashion Trends

Crochet

There was so much crochet on the SS22 catwalks (with the outings at Etro and Emilio Pucci being two of my faves) and I'm not mad about it! I like playing with different colors and textures, and the crochet trend will make putting outfits together a lot more fun next season. There's no need to wait 'til next season though, as I want to start incorporating crochet detailing into my outfits right away!

It's all about the layering for me – as you probably already know if you read my last post about transitioning from summer to fall – so I placed a cute crochet tank over a stripe tunic, and added some patchwork jeans to add even more texture and dimension to the look, and my Hermès sneakers. PS, adding different textures to a predominantly monochrome look is a great way to add some dimension without having to add a secondary color or even having to break up the color with a belt or other accessory.

Cut-Out Detailing

Spring/Summer 2022 is all about showing more skin after being wrapped up for the whole winter season, and the cut-out trend is one of the first trends that allows us the chance to do this. They were EVERYWHERE from Michael Kors to Stella McCartney to Christian Siriano, and designers showcased both subtle and tasteful to very bold and daring angles. And I loved them all – although I think I'll leave the more skin-exposing ones to the models for now! The A-listers have already jumped on board this trend, as no red carpet is complete without a vast selection of slashed dresses at the moment.

Cut Out Trend SS22

I'm not opposed to showing some skin from time to time, and I will jump at the chance if I can find a piece that lets me do it in the current season. This cut out floral maxi dress was made to be worn in the colder months – why else would it have long sleeves? – and I really am obsessed with it. Even if it didn’t have the en-vogue cut-outs on the side, I would still try and find a way to incorporate it into my winter wardrobe. It's just too bold and attention-grabbing to just sit in the closet! I've teamed the cut out dress with my Dior heels and a Dolce and Gabbana bag.

Cropped Cardigans

I won’t lie – I was pleasantly surprised to see so many cardigans on the spring 2022 runways. Thank you to everyone from Prabal Gurung to Michael Kors for making this happen! You know I love an oversized cardigan (as well as oversized sweaters and generally anything super-comfy and cozy) but cropped, thin, barely-there cardis also have a special place in my heart too. Especially as it means I can wear more summery pieces in colder months by teaming them with a summer-appropriate cardigan.

I love this trend so much, I wanted to showcase two different looks. For my first look, I've worn my floral midi slip dress (any excuse to wear this!) and teamed it with a ribbed crop cardigan that complements the colors of the dress perfectly. This cardigan can be worn with practically any summer dress (which I’m very happy about as I have so many cute summer dresses that I really don’t want to put away yet!) but I love how expertly it matches this particular piece. I've finished off the look with some fringe ankle boots, which I think make the look a little more fall-ready, and a Bottega Veneta cassette bag. Don't you love how the different autumnal colors of this look blend so well with each other to create such an interesting trans-seasonal look?

Look 2

And for my second look, which I love just as much, I've gone a lot more casual by wearing an oatmeal color crop knit cardigan, coral colored wide leg corduroys, cuff detail Henley, Chloe loafers, and my Bottega Veneta Jodie bag. Again, this look is very autumnal to me because the colors just remind me of the rich hues of fall leaves on the ground, but the cropped cardi adds a fresh, spring-like touch to the look. I love mixing and matching, which is no shock to anyone who has been on my blog or social media for more than five seconds, and this also extends to mixing and matching traditional seasonal pieces too.

Bras And Bralettes

When I first saw this bras as tops trend appear on virtually every single runway including Coach, Missoni, Fendi, and Dolce & Gabbana, I was a happy observer. However, I very quickly decided that I wanted to brave the trend myself too – even more so after seeing so many A-listers from Jennifer Lopez to Rihanna to all of the Kardashians (who, love them or loathe them, are always on top of the latest fashion trends!) rocking the bralette trend so expertly on the red carpets. There's definitely a way for it to be done tastefully and for it to be age-appropriate (J-Lo is 52 for crying out loud!) and I'm quite proud of the way I have decided to incorporate the trend into my current wardrobe. I may not wear this exact look in a few months when it gets a lot colder, but for now, I'm really loving it!

How To Wear Bralette Tops

I've worn my black bra with a striped beach coat from my forthcoming beach line (I wanted to give you guys the very first look at what I've been working on… I wasn’t sure whether to tease you with it just yet, but I felt it was the perfect accompaniment to this look, so why not?!) as well as my straight leg jeans and Chloe brogues. I think this look is a fun take on smart/casual meets sexy, which we are all in need of from time to time. Plus, going for something like a blazer, coat, or even cardigan gives you the opportunity to cover up at any given moment if you’re suddenly feeling less brave or even a little chilly.

Sheer Fabrics

If you hadn't guessed already, spring/summer 2022 is all about exposing that skin in any way possible. We're certainly making up for a whole year of covering up in shapeless loungewear! The sheer trend can be as romantic or as daring as you want it to be, which is why I'm a huge fan. I like trends that are open to interpretation and experimentation!

How To Wear Sheer Tops Modestly

I've decided to go down the romantic yet playful yet ever so slightly sexy route (yes, moms-of-five like wearing racy pieces too!) by wearing a gorgeous white sheer tunic that I am so obsessed with, with a black brami underneath for that ultimate juxtaposition. I've also added some mom jeans to really mix things up in terms of silhouette, as well as Chanel sneakers, and a Chanel 19 bag. I've decided to wear my hair in a fun up-do for something a little bit different, but also to not take anything away from the intricate detailing of the tunic, and added my Dior hair scarf to add a pop of color.

Netted Knitwear

This might be a little tricky to say after one too many cocktails, but I think this is such a fun and unexpected trend to come out from the SS22 catwalks – Saint Laurent presented a particularly bold and out-there version that certainly turned heads on the runway – and I couldn’t wait to try and add it to some existing looks to wear ASAP.

I've gone for quite a summery aesthetic here, and teamed a netted blush tank top with a velvet blush brami, Hemant and Nandita floral pants, and a Chanel 19 bag. Bigger purses are very on-trend right now, and the Chanel 19 is one of my bigger Chanel bags, so I'll be making a more conscious effort to use it, alongside some of my other bigger bags, over the coming months. I've made the look a little more season appropriate by wearing my Sam Edelman boots, but in the warmer months, I may swap them out for some loafers or even slides.

Strappy Tops, Strappy Everything

Straps are back, but not as you know them! Straps are back in a huge way next season, with strappy tops just being the beginning of a very long list of strappy pieces that I'm desperate to wear. Strappy detailing was found on everything from tops to skirts to accessories on the SS22 runways, and luckily there are quite a few pieces already available for those of us (hi!) who want to get in on the trend early. Guilty as charged!

I wanted to make my first strappy fashion outfit (oh yes, there are two outfits for this must-have trend!) all about the gorgeous satin mini skirt with strap detailing, because it deserves all of the attention! But instead of choosing a simple crop top to show off the straps, I went for something a little different; and I love how the look turned out! I wanted to make the look a little more mature, so I decided to forgo wearing a crop top (which is still a great option, and one I might still go for as another option in the spirit of recycling my looks and always mixing them up) and instead, tucked my Free People billow sleeve top up into my bra. I felt this was a fun and slightly more mature approach; and the best thing is that the top still has volume and length, and the strappy detailing on the skirt is still very prominent. I finished off the look with some Valentino Rockstud pumps and a Bottega Veneta pouch in a gorgeous shade of dark green (one of the trendiest colors of the current season!) for a pop of color.

Look 2

And speaking of color, my second look is as bright and summery as they come! I'm obsessed with this bright blue strappy set which consists of a gorgeous midi skirt and matching blouse. It's so chic, yet so fun and on-trend; there's nothing not to love about it! I've finished the look off with Chanel pumps and a black flap bag to further cement the sharp and chic aesthetic.

Are Mini Skirts Back In Style?

Mini Skirts

Another trend the fashion month designers couldn’t get enough of for their latest catwalk shows was the mini skirt. I kind of had a feeling, seeing as how flashing the flesh is such a huge trend in itself right now. There were so many cute offerings on the runways thanks to the likes of Prada, Moschino, Dior, Versace, and so many more, and they came in bold block colors as well as intricate designs and patterns. No color or design seemed to be off the table, which means it couldn’t be easier to try the trend right now!

How To Wear A Mini Skirt In Winter

I liked the block color mini skirt trend, so I retrieved this satin mini skirt from the closet, and toughed it up by way of a Dior graphic tee, Blank NYC faux leather jacket, and Stuart Weitzman 5050 boots. Women's mini skirts are actually great to wear in the colder months – just add some tights and a pair of knee-high boots and you’re good to go! How very preppy chic!

Pleated Skirts

Mini skirt outfits weren’t the only skirt trend of the new season, as the runways were overflowing with feminine, romantic, and even super dramatic pleated skirts in both midi and maxi lengths, with even a few minis thrown in for good measure. There are so many ways to wear pleated skirts for all four seasons, so I came up with two very different ensembles to try and demonstrate just how versatile they can be.

Pleated Skirts Trend 2021

For my first look, I kept the color palette very summery and wore a pink pleated midi skirt, and teamed it with some more fall-appropriate pieces such as an oversized watercolor sweater, and Bottega Veneta lug sole boots. But you know I'm going to be swapping out the sweater with a crop top or tank top in the warmer months! I also added my Chloe sunglasses and my Dolce and Gabbana Devotion bag for the finishing touches.

Look 2

My second look couldn’t be more different, as it's a little tougher and grungier, but one I love just as much. I've blended two trends in one here by going for a black faux leather pleated mini skirt (because who has time to only stick to one trend?!) and teamed it with a varsity graphic T, a staple denim jacket, crew socks, and YSL sneakers. I'm getting music festival vibes from this look, and now I suddenly can't wait for the winter to be over so I can wear this exact outfit more often!

Gingham

Gingham isn’t going anywhere thanks to the likes of Carolina Herrera, Prabal Gurung, and Michael Kors to name just three; and I'm really happy about that because I have invested in quite a few gingham pieces now – including my River Island purple and white gingham matching shorts set that I spoke about back in August – and I want to keep wearing them for as long as possible. Luckily, the gingham trend works for all weathers and all seasons, so there is literally no wrong way to wear it!

Gingham Fashion 2021

I've kept it really simple with this gingham look – and the best thing about it is that it's open to instant change just by adding more layers or changing up my footwear and other accessories. What more could you ask for?! I've teamed my gingham tank and matching crop button down with some wide leg jeans to get a more voluminous silhouette, and added my Jimmy Choo sneakers, Gucci belt, Chloe heart shaped sunglasses, and white Faye Chloe bag. Again, just like some of the other outfits in this blog post, I feel this look is a little more season appropriate due to the autumnal colors, so it's a great way of playing with new season trends while keeping things current. Win, win!

Liquid Metal

Forget sequins, as standing out and shining (literally) this new season is all about liquid metal! I tend to prefer metallic pieces to sequin ones these days (maybe because it’s a tad more mature and casual?) and it seems like everyone from Fendi to Tom Ford to Versace felt the same way. Adding something metallic to your outfit is such a simple way to elevate your look – and it's perfect for this time of year as party season is just around the corner! I predict we'll be seeing lots of gold and silver metallic party dresses over the holidays – although other colors are also proving popular too, from what I've seen so far – but I didn’t wait to wait 'til then.

Metallic Trend

I wanted to get in on the liquid metal trend even before the holidays, which is why I couldn’t wait to put this look together. I reached for my bronze slip dress and teamed it with a burgundy lace layering top (always a great trick to make a more summery or even more dressed-up piece work for colder and more casual times) a multi color duster, Chloe Franne boots, and my Chanel flap bag. A metallic dress is perfect for the party season, but a good way to make it more wearable for other months is to layer with more casual or more wintry pieces, and also to change up your footwear. This look can be transformed into a glamorous Christmas party look by removing the lace top and adding some heels, or even heeled boots, instead.

Fun Leggings And Tights

I didn’t think we were going to see anything comfortable or stretchy this season after a whole year of loungewear, but I'm so glad to admit that I was wrong! I was so happy to not only see that leggings were very prominent on the catwalks, but also that they got an exciting make-over too. The fun didn’t just stop at leggings, as tights were back with a vengeance too. Women’s leggings and tights came in all sorts of different colors, prints, patterns, and even fabrics, which will make accessorizing so interesting over the next year. This works really well for anyone wanting to try out the spring/summer trends right now, as it makes it easier to make a summery piece like a summer mini skirt even more trend-driven, by pairing it with some on-trend printed tights. I love wearing more than one trend at the same time!

How To Wear Printed Leggings

When you think of tights, you usually imagine them being paired with dresses or skirts, which can usually be quite feminine. I wanted to go down a different route for this look, and wanted to find a way to wear tights in a grungier way. I'm wearing some gray ripped jeans, and if you look really closely, you'll see my patterned tights underneath, peeking through the rips. I've added a chenille sweater to keep the look casual and winter appropriate, and finished off with some black Doc Martens.

It's All About The Shoulders

Shoulders are THE body part of the new season! Statement shoulders are back in a big way – but the good news is that you can go as subtle or as bold as you dare! If you don’t want to go back in time to the 70s when shoulder pads were absolutely everywhere, then there are other ways to lightly experiment with the trend too. This can be done by wearing things with shoulder detailing instead of super-bold shoulder pads, or by choosing sweaters or blazers with slight ruching in the shoulders. A little goes a long way! Or you don't have to exaggerate the shoulders at all, as simply showing them is another huge trend! I couldn’t believe how many one-shouldered pieces dominated the new season catwalks; it's the SS22 update to the cold shoulder trend that has been everywhere over the past few years and I really love the versatility.

I'm definitely going to be experimenting with some one-shouldered dresses in the spring when I want to bare a little more skin, but for the time being, I wanted to rock a strong shoulder! I thought this bright yellow shoulder pad blazer was the perfect nod to the trend, and I teamed it with a cream ribbed tank, straight leg side detail jeans, and white Loeffler Randall sneakers. I think this look is the epitome of smart/casual!

Spring 2022 Fashion Color Trends

Highlighter Colors

As an unapologetic lover of neutral and pastel hues, you might be shocked to learn that I was really excited to see so many top-to-toe highlighter colors on the runways. However, I really loved seeing so many bright colors, and wanted to incorporate them in my current wardrobe sooner rather than later. I may not be going for full highlighter yellow looks as seen on the David Koma, Prada and Erdem runways just yet, but I definitely want to start rocking some brighter pieces during the darker and colder months. It's the perfect juxtaposition, right?

For my first look, I'm going smart/casual and high/low (my favorite combination!) by wearing a beaded bright yellow tunic with an oversized cord blazer, Spanx faux leather leggings, Chanel ankle boots, and a See by Chloe crossbody.

Look 2

And for my second, which is even brighter if you can believe it, I've gone for a bright green blazer, which I've teamed with a highlighter yellow blouse (I love how these two colors work together!) mom jeans, Dior espadrilles, and my Bottega Veneta Jodie bag.

Thank you for reading my blog post about my favorite Spring/Summer 2022 fashion trends, and how I've worked them into my current season wardrobe. Which trends/looks did you love the most?

Love, Lily x x