These Will Be The Biggest Looks

Twenty nineteen (2019) was a big year for fashion.

From the Met Gala’s “Camp” theme to Billy Porter’s gender-bending styles to the death of designer Karl Lagerfeld, this year had no shortage of notable moments. 

So what’s in store for the new year?

Based on global data analyzed by fashion search platform Lyst, style forecasters and fashion designers, here are some trends you can expect to see in 2020. 

With the upcoming U.S. federal election, Lyst predicts a lot of attention focused on political fashion statements from brands, retailers and politicians alike. 

Indeed, spring/summer 2020 runway collections showed takes on the tailored suit — a look that has become associated with female powerhouses like Hillary Clinton and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

But you don’t need to be running for office to sport the look. Blazers and suit jackets look great with jeans for a casual look, or paired with blouses and skirts for more formal events. 

Sustainable fashion

As important conversations around climate change unfold, more people are making greener choices when it comes to their wardrobes. Fast fashion is notoriously harmful to the environment: every second, the equivalent of one trash truck worth of textiles is sent to a landfill or burned, the United Nations reports.

To help offset the carbon footprint of fashion, consumers are increasingly looking to buy from brands and designers that produce sustainably — and locally. According to Lyst, which analyzed the search queries and purchasing habits of over 100 million shoppers worldwide, searches for sustainability-related keywords increased 75 per cent year over year. People were also interested in specific items, including organic cotton and sustainable denim. 

Making more environmentally friendly fashion choices is a trend — if not a lifestyle change — that will continue into 2020. 

This year was all about mini purses (hello Lizzo!) and pint-sized handbags, but Lyst predicts 2020 will see the return of larger bags. If you have oversized purses hanging in the back of your closet, it’s time to dust them off. Bringing back styles from the early 2000s, women are likely to sport soft, extra-large leather bags over smaller ones.  

Some brands to watch out for? Lyst says keep your eyes on new large bags by The Row. 

Designers showcasing their spring/summer 2020 collections in Italy, Paris and London featured lots of metallics looks. Marc Jacobs sent a sparkly gold dress down the runway while Christian Siriano used metallic greens, shiny canary yellow and rose gold in dresses and pants.  

Lyst also predicts futuristic looks will gain popularity next year. Beyond spring/summer collections, the company says holographic fabrics and space-inspired outerwear will continue into the fall. 

Japanese street style

The 2020 Summer Olympics are being held in Tokyo, and hundreds of thousands of guests are expected to attend. This means fashion trends will be largely influenced by Japanese brands like Sacai, Undercover, and Neighborhood, Lyst predicts. 

The platform also suspects trends will be inspired by Harajuku street style. In fact, Lyst has already seen an eight per cent increase in searches for Japanese brands this year.

This year, the leopard-print midi skirt became an It-girl staple, and was even coined the skirt of the summer. (Someone even created an Instagram account dedicated to the garment.)

But leopard print is not going away anytime soon. In 2020, get ready to see more animal prints as well as garments made of bright neon. Theory’s ready-to-wear spring collection featured both neon yellow as well as zebra print.

Since animal print continues to be a wardrobe must-have, invest in a few good pieces you can mix and match with other staples. It’s a sustainable — and fashionable — choice. 

Miriam Baker is proud to bring you this blog post. We design clothes for women with fuller busts in the heart of downtown Toronto. If you would like to learn more about the brand and the designer behind it, read Meet the Designer for more insight, or sign up to our newsletter for new drops, offers and events. Please contact us at info@miriam-baker.com with any stories of your own that are pertinent to our mission or connect with us on Facebook and Instagram. We would love to hear from you!