On the runways of Spring 2024 in New York, London, Milan, and Paris, designers breathed new life into classic elements through unexpected pairings, dramatic proportions, and fresh, casual styling. This season was notably wearable, featuring playful mini hems, relaxed short suiting, and a strong undercurrent of ’90s nostalgia. The overall color palette exuded sophisticated coziness, confirming that quiet luxury is a lasting trend. For those seeking pops of color and glamour, there’s an abundance of fabulously glamorous evening wear. Here are the top takeaways from the captivating displays:
1. 1960s Mini Hems Mini hems took a ’60s silhouette cue this season, reminiscent of the classic 1967 film “Valley of the Dolls.” Notable mentions include Marni’s boxy shapes, Miu Miu’s luxe gold hues, Michael Kors’ barely-there lengths, and Missoni’s long-sleeved sheer versions.
2. ’90s Nostalgia The chic revival of the ’90s continued to captivate, with Marni, Bally, and Ferragamo showcasing the era’s aesthetic through high ribbed turtlenecks, low-slung maxi skirts, and layered, color-blocked dresses.
3. Business Casual This season’s suiting trend leaned towards shorter lengths, with Bermuda shorts taking the spotlight at Loewe, Chanel, Dries Van Noten, Gucci, and Prada, adding a modern twist to business casual attire.
4. Butter Belle Soft, delicate, and smooth butter-hued dresses dominated the runways at Loewe, Bally, Proenza Schouler, Louis Vuitton, Del Core, and Jil Sander, providing a mellow dose of sunshine.
5. Denim Dandy Denim received unexpected treatment, with Junya Watanabe’s tiered stitching, full denim sets from Chanel and Valentino, and Schiaparelli’s departure into denim cargos.
6. Film Noir Prada and Maison Margiela stood out with their dark, 1950s-inspired rhinestone-encrusted dresses, creating a polished yet undone allure. Dior also embraced the film noir trend with a mostly black collection.
7. Knit Knit Hooray Cardigans and fair isle knits took center stage, showcasing intricate designs at Bottega Veneta, matching fair isle sets at Molly Goddard, and playful cardigans at JW Anderson.
8. Layer Cake Brands like Balenciaga, Meryll Rogge, Louis Vuitton, and Miu Miu played with layers, creating unexpected yet intentional juxtapositions that felt laid-back yet stylish.
9. On the Fringe Fringe made a bold return, with intentional designs at Prada, subtle fringe at Alexander McQueen and Gucci, and a full fringe ensemble at Burberry.
10. Playing with Proportions Loewe and Rick Owens showcased extremely high-waisted bottoms, Burberry updated its classic trench coats with a low-slung waist, and designers played with supersized accents like Peter Pan collars at Comme des Garçons and oversized buttons at Vivienne Westwood.
11. Sporty Chic Sportswear received an elevated twist, with Louis Vuitton and Gucci pairing classic sportswear looks with more festive or tailored pieces, incorporating skirts, blazers, and satin pants.
12. The Bigger the Better Dramatic evening wear stole the show, with Bottega Veneta’s enlarged pom-poms, Marni’s double circle dress and skirt combo, and Willy Chavarria’s oversized bow cape.
13. The Greatest Show on Earth Inspired by Barnum and Bailey, the trend embraced circus-inspired elements, with performers like magicians, puppets, tightrope walkers, and lion tamers showcased in chic interpretations.
14. Traveling Wardrobe Louis Vuitton took inspiration from a woman packing and checking into a hotel, featuring mixed silk shirting and pajama-inspired pants. Balenciaga incorporated hotel-inspired bathrobes, and The Row added terry cloth towels for a unique touch.
15. Tumble Dry The “tumble dry” feel was prevalent, with brands like JW Anderson, Duran Lantink, PH5, and Y/Project creating looks that appeared intentionally worn-in and crumpled.
16. Tumble Dry The “tumble dry” feel was prevalent, with brands like JW Anderson, Duran Lantink, PH5, and Y/Project creating looks that appeared intentionally worn-in and crumpled.
