2021 was a crazy year for fashion. After lockdowns in most countries began to end in the spring of last year, we saw people making up for the fact that they had been stuck in the house in sweatpants for a year. People went all out with colors, patterns and accessories. I personally feel as though fashion was taken to a different level last year. I enjoyed seeing people wear wacky outfits that made them feel confident. They were done dressing for others and began dressing for themselves after having some time to reflect in quarantine. And 2022 will hopefully see even crazier fashion, and I just can not wait to get my hands on some of these pieces.
I have to first talk about my favorite trend prediction for this year, opera gloves. This will be a little bit harder to style for everyday life; but for special occasions, adding a pair of opera gloves to a LBD is the perfect way to take your outfit to the next level. Unfortunately I will not be rocking opera gloves to school, but I will be adding them to any and all formal outfits. Currently, everyone is the fashion world has the “Cupid Dress” from Wolf & Badger on their wishlists. I’ve seen this trend in the form of plain black or solid colored gloves, gloves that have a princess sleeve attached at the top, gloves covered in pearls or sparkles, and just mesh or patterned gloves. The opera gloves are typically paired with a dress, but that doesn’t mean you scant just throw them on with jeans and a t-shirt if that’s what you like. I think this trend, in any form, will look amazing.
Wolf & Badger’s Cupid Dress 
Next up, we have catsuits. This is another trend that could be mostly for special occasions, but I am also seeing many people wearing some everyday catsuits out and about. This trend has been popularized by Kim Kardashion, who has been wearing catsuits frequently in the past few months. And as we all know, whatever she wears instantly becomes popular. She wore a catsuit to the Met Gala and to host Saturday Night Live. She also wears more casual catsuits in her everyday life. However, she tends to wear catsuits from Balenciaga, which isn’t as attainable for regular people. What I like about catsuits is how many different types there are for all occasions. Just running to the grocery store? Throw on an athlesiure catsuit. Looking to make a statement? Throw on a brightly colored catsuit with some funky accessories. There are so many ways to make this trend work for you.
In 2021 we saw a lot of Y2K revival, and it’s here to stay. This years must have Y2K accessory is going to be none other than the Moon Boot. Moon boots not only play on the Y2K aesthetic of last year, but they also incorporate everyone’s current obsession with platform shoes. These boots come in different colors and shapes, but they will always be big and poofy. Some predict that puff is going to be the new fur. If that’s true, moons boots will need to be a staple in everybody’s closet. This is another accessory that can be dressed up or dressed down. Add a midi skirt, a nice top and maybe a leather jacket and you could go out to dinner. Add jeans and a t-shirt that color-coordinates with the boot and your just heading out for a walk. I myself have never worn Moon Boots so I cant speak on how warm they’ll keep you. But, judging just purely based on how they look, these are a winter boot. They are already starting to gain a little popularity this winter, but grab them before they explode in the fall.
I’ve said this about basically all the other trends in this article, but this next prediction is one of my favorites and I can not wait to participate. I’m talking about sequins! Sequin pants, sequin dresses, sequin tops, sequin blazers, sequin bags, sequin tights, even sequin headbands. Anything sparkly and fun. This trend typically surges every year around New Years Eve with every girl looking for the perfect party dress to take them into the New Year. But this year it’s here to stay. At the forefront of the sparkly train is Prada. They released a stunning version of the Cleo bag that is absolutely covered in crystals. They also came out with a bucket hat to match. Now if I had $4,000 to spare on a bag, I would snatch it up in a heart beat. However, I have never seen $4,000 all at once in my lifetime, so I am left dreaming about her. More affordable brands like H&M have hopped on this trend with a sequined/glittery crop top that I have seen circulating around. There are so many ways to do this trend and there are no ways to do it wrong. If you have the chance to wear a sequined piece, do it.
In my fashion trends of 2021 recap I talked about baguette bags. Well no more! People are fed up with having no space for anything in what is supposed to be their most practical item. Say hello to massively oversized bags! Once again Prada is at the forefront of this trend. Their most recent collection to be featured on the runway had many big bags to accessories the outfits. This was their Fall/Winter 2022 Menswear collection that made a debut on January 16th during Milan’s Men Fashion Week. This trend is also going to be paired with the popular use of puffer materials, that we will also see this year, to create some truly unique pieces.
Prada FW22 Menswear 
Prada FW22 Menswear 
Prada FW22 Menswear 
Next up we have elevated basics. These are a “trend” that I am hoping become permanent. Elevated basics are your typical foundational pieces, with something small to make them intriguing. This typically is some sort of cutout. I love this trend because it is a great way to take an otherwise boring outfit to the next level while still being timeless. If you are going to invest in any trend this season, I would definitely suggest this one. This is not some crazy pattern or mesh dress that will peak in two months and then go out of style before the piece even reaches you in the mail. Because the foundation of this “trend” is basics, this is something I see sticking around for a very long time. This is also a very accessible trend. There are companies out there selling elevated basics for way too much, but just the other day I went to the thrift store and found a bunch of pieces for 2 bucks. However, this could be a worthwhile investment. This is not a trend that you want to buy cheaply. These will hopefully become a staple in your wardrobe, so investing in high quality pieces will help them last longer.
And finally, the last prediction is this year’s it colors. My favorite color that has been on the rise recently is cobalt blue, some companies are calling it “electric blue”. This is a great way to amplify an outfit. The color is classic, with a funky twist. It’s not a color that will be polarizing, but it will definitely get heads to spin. The next color that is still gaining popularity from last spring is pink. Mostly bubblegum pink, but a soft pink for early spring is also going to be big. Not just in tops and dresses, but I am currently loving pink pants! A nice silk pair of bubblegum pink pants can be the base of an amazing outfit. And the last color to start building into your wardrobe is orange. This is also carrying over from its slight peak in the summer of 2021. Orange is a fun color to wear because it adds a great pop of color. I personally love an orange heel to add something interesting to an outfit. Or maybe an orange blazer to add some class.
Cobalt Blue 
Cobalt Blue 
Cobalt Blue 
Bubblegum Pink 
Bubblegum Pink 
Orange 
Orange 
Orange 
Orange
As always, trends are not something that should dictate your entire wardrobe. While it is fun to incorporate some of the seasons newest trends into your outfits, it is important to find you personal style. Trends come and go, so don’t waste your money on something that won’t be in style by the end of the year.