5 Trends That Are Comfortable AND Look Stylish

By: Meg Lindley

One of the largest take-aways from Spring 21 is the emphasis on comfort. It is threaded through every collection in slightly different ways. Whether it is the oversized proportions, soft fabrics, or the mix of less casual styles with dressier pieces, it all stems from that idea of “taking your outfit from day to night.” This has always been a huge selling point in the industry but now more than ever it holds true. Maybe instead of “day to night” it is more appropriate, in these Covid-19 times, to say from the “couch to the street”.

oversized silhouettes

The hoodie is the new favorite silhouette across most fashion houses and isn’t by any means fitted. They have paired it back to skirts or styled it in ways that makes it seem less casual, but still it looks like they could be walking down a runway or running to the grocery store. Designers like Reem Acra and Valentino, didn’t go quite as casual but opted for oversized silhouettes in expensive fabrics to take on the feeling of comfort without having to dress down. Fendi went for a more obvious approach with what looks like a down blanket as a jacket.

KNIT DRESSING

Knit dressing is a tough category. I know for me, it’s hard to wear head-to-toe. I always feel too under dressed. Private Policy and Cynthia Rowley paired the looks with heels and added details that made it feel more worthy of streetwear styles. Miu Miu took an athletic approach, while Christian Dior embraced the “woke up like this” look.

Christian Dior // Photo by Alessandro Lucioni

SPORTY DETAILS

In the spirit of a more casual wardrobe, of course we will see the emergence of sporty details to help balance that streetwear look perfectly. The drawstring is having a moment, not only for jackets, but also throughout the season as an additional detail on a dress or skirt. Pops of sporty colors like tangerine orange, rich pink, and sky blue are threaded throughout the season. Utility details have been trending for the last couple of seasons, but we see it in a bigger way now. Meaning, go buy this trend! It is already out there in the market and isn’t going away.

soft & sleek fabrics

Sleek and drapey fabrics have ruled the runway throughout fashion month. The mix of oversized silhouettes with soft, comfortable fabrics makes it easier to fit in your wardrobe to wear at home or out to a social distanced dinner. The Altuzarra dress cinched at the waist seems like the perfect outfit to do just that. If we aren’t careful with styling, they could look a bit like PJ’s, but who really cares anyways?

SOFT SUITING

Even though the majority of us are working from home, we still have those important zoom meetings or in-person trips to the office. The soft suit is the perfect way around investing in a stuffy suit to only wear it once a month. Soft suiting can be mixed and matched easily with other existing pieces in your wardrobe and styled in different ways as the seasons change.

We are seeing these designers really thinking about how the consumer will shop and what they will need. This isn’t the time for frivolous spending for many people, so investing in something that will work on a weekly basis is important. I can say, I am excited about how all of these trends can be interpreted and how it will evolve over the next few years.