Here are the Biggest Fashion Trends of the Season
As told by data.
For close to two years now, I’ve been using code to analyze data from high-fashion runway collections, allowing me to observe which trends are seen and in which quantities. While fashion is a domain greatly rooted in creativity and subjectivity, could it possible to use numbers—or, data—to make sense of it all?
After aggregating trends’ data from sixteen, Fall / Winter 2021 high-fashion runway collections*—ranging from Alexander McQueen to Chanel to Tom Ford—here’s what is (objectively) in style this season:
Majorly-Monochrome
Of all the looks analyzed this season, around one-quarter (or, 26%) of them showcased monochromatic color palettes. In comparison, solely 17% of looks contained fabric with some sort of pattern.
The monochromatic outfits—or looks compiled with varying hues of the same color—were sometimes disrupted by bright, eye-catching pops of color, seen in 7.7% of looks this season. Alternatively, looks in all-black were twice as popular; seen in 13% of looks this season.
So, hide your patterns; hide your color-blocking. This fall season, monochrome is in.
A Warm Winter
As far as the cold months of fall and winter go, this season’s looks were not-so-heavily dominated by outerwear, or clothing to keep you warm.
Long coats—from trenches, to furs, to patent rain coats—were seen in 19% of looks, followed by blazers, seen in just 11%.
Additionally, despite a +56% spike in Google Search queries for ‘puffer coats’ this past month, the style was used in solely ~3% of this season’s runway outfits. Come on, high-fashion — give the people what they want!
These Boots Were Made for Fall
Boots—ranging from bright, ankle-height booties, to boots whose leather stretches all the way up the thigh—dominated this season’s runways, seen in 40% of looks across collections.
Trailing behind in shoe-trends for Fall / Winter were pointed toes, as the style was used for 13% of this season’s shoes.
So, what about a pair of pointed-toe boots? You’ll be (objectively) in style.
Where did all the Logo Go?
Although logos weren’t completely absent from collections this season (see: Chanel’s iconic ‘CC’ costume jewelry; Fendi’s ‘Karligraphy’ logo tights), they were seen in solely 11% of looks this season.
While ready-to-wear looks certainly serve a different purpose in promoting a brand than, say, mass-accessible, logo-ridden small leather goods, a 90% logo-free season demonstrates how designs are slowly, yet surely, shifting away from the era of logomania. Thank goodness.
Beyond the Data
Ultimately, a data-based analysis of this season’s runway collections highlights how monochromatic palettes, long silhouettes, winter-appropriate-boots, and logo-free clothing dominated designs, and were heavily and consistently pushed out across fashion’s biggest designers.
Thus, while each brand has its own hallmarks, strengths, and intricacies, data shows us that some trends—whether due to their style or functionality—are strong enough to endure across differing aesthetics, themes, and designers.
So, will these trends stick? By the next, Spring / Summer season, will we see more patterns; more pops of color? Will there still be an abundance of boots? Only time, and data, will tell.
*Analyzed collections include: Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Balmain, Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Chanel, Dior, Fendi, Hermès, Jacquemus, Louis Vuitton, Off-White, Prada, Saint Laurent, Tom Ford, and Versace.
I’m a NYC- / Paris-based software engineer, researching all the ways in which fashion and technology intersect. Read more of my stuff here, or check out my bi-annual trends report, ‘The Little Book of Big Fashion Data”.
