2015 Biggest Fashion Trends Predictions

We Predict 2015's Biggest Fashion Trends

1. BEGIN

   
   

   ILLUSTRATED BY JOSH MCKENNA.

   648

   SHARES

    18 COMMENTS

   SEE ALL SLIDES

   • 
   • DEC 17, 2014 7:00 AM
   • CONNIE WANG

   With Fashion Week showing off clothes six months before they actually land in stores, predicting the future is less about performing feats of divination than just paying attention. Still, some patterns arise during the shows that don't quite make it into everyday style. For every culotte, ugly shoe, and peplum that became widely worn, there was a floral pantsuit, cropped high-water pant, and furry clog — editorial trends that were rarer on the streets than they had been on the catwalks months before.
   
   Looking ahead to 2015, we’ve narrowed down the 10 items we're expecting to have a banner year. Some of these are educated, 99%-sure guesses, and some are plainly wishful thinking. (Self-fulfilling prophecies do happen!) Ahead, our professional predictions for what everyone’s going to be wearing, talking about, and shopping for in the next 12 months.
2. 
   
3.  1. A new pants shape is coming.
   Skinny jeans have dominated for the past decade, with only the occasional boyfriend, wide-leg, and super-flared style blipping onto the scene. However, the tides are turning for 2015, with more relaxed silhouettes becoming the new normal. Flattering in just the right cut, rise, and crop, these aren’t your stonewashed mom jeans from the ‘90s. These are the magic pairs that'll help you fake a bigger butt, skinnier waist, and longer legs, if you so choose. Find a pair that's slim through the waist, hips, and butt, but slightly loose around your knees and calves.
4. 
   
5. 2. Dr. Martens are going to be the new Stan Smiths.
   If 2014 was the year of the clean white sneaker, 2015 rings in the chunky, black oxford. Dr. Martens boots have been a mainstay in fashion for a long, long time, but we’re soon going to see a resurgence in the popularity of the exact low-profile lace-up styles you saved your babysitting money for in 1997. Either in a worn-in brown, glossy patent black, or metallic and pastel hues, this look is going to bump the brand back up the totem pole of everyday shoes.
6. 
   
7. 3. Uniqlo is taking over.
   While American Apparel might have dominated the basics-in-every-color market for the past decade, there’s a new giant in town with better made, cheaper, and more ethically produced garments. Uniqlo currently has a couple dozen outposts in the United States, with plans to open even more from coast to coast. With a healthy e-commerce site, novel collaborations, and an emphasis on design andthe best in technical textiles, the brand is primed to become your default whenever you need [insert any basic clothing item here].
8. 
   
9. 4. Sacai is the next luxury buzzword.
   In 2014, Céline basically became an adjective. Describing that loose, long, minimalist style of clothing with an anonymous (and expensive) vibe, Céline became the surprising household name associated with the new wave of luxury. In 2015, another player will take that crown. Japanese label Sacai is already a reference point for those within the industry, and its iconic Dr. Frankenstein approach to clothing has been replicated and diffused by everyone from mass retailers to other designers in the high-end space. Don’t be surprised to find your young cousin around next Christmas remarking that your asymmetrical tiered skirts, lace-and-striped combos, and sweater-front-oxford-back tunics are “so Sacai.”
10. 
    
11. 5. Korean models will be the next major social media stars.
    From Cara to Karlie, 2014 was the year of the blonde model. They not only scored every campaign, runway show, and collaboration opportunity, but dominated our social feeds, as well. For next year, watch out for Korean It Girls, like Soo Joo Park and Irene Kim, whose quirky personalities, adventurous senses of style, and enviable beauty game is going to make their pics and posts major inspiration fodder.
12. 
    
13. 6. The Apple Watch will change everything.
    Despite the steady flow of new products claiming to “disrupt” the landscape, fitness trackers are the only truly wearable bits of tech that have changed our daily lives much at all. From the hype-and-fail cycle, we've learned that wearables need to be discreet, they actually have to perform a unique function, and they’ve got to be fun to use and easy to update. The Apple Watch is primed to tick all those boxes. It's going to be infinitely customizable, giving designers as big an opportunity to experiment as its eventual consumers will get. Just think about how seriously you take picking out your phone case right now — and that's just a case.
14. 
    
15. 7. Padlock necklaces are coming back.
    The Tiffany’s heart-lock necklace might have been on every girl’s wish list a decade ago, but this time around, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Moschino, Coach, and more have made the padlock the charm of choice to hang around your neck. With a big golden chain and a hefty lock, this style is going to be as ubiquitous as pearls were this year.
16. 
    
17. 8. The overskirt is happening.
    With dresses and skirts over pants becoming more common among the fashion set, we're predicting that people will take the logical next step and bring overskirts back into play. Ranging from aprons (endlessly thriftable!) to short peplums and wrapped versions, these cheeky layers are a quick way to update a classic pair of trousers or jeans.
18. 
    
19. 9. Patches will be the new arm party.
    Patches have been showing up on jeans, jackets, and bags, but we’re feeling like Anya Hindmarch’s new sticker collection is the very beginning of a patch craze that’s going to become as widespread as the arm party. From vintage iron-ons to designer versions, these affordable tweaks are sure to become huge collectibles, right after becoming the way to give old clothes some new life.
20. 
    
21. 10. Brown is the new neutral.
    For years, black was the go-to color for boots, bags, and coats, but we’re seeing more and more women opt for brown. From Chelsea boots to overcoats and duffel bags, brown feels much more fresh and modern than its inky counterpart. There’s a big anti-brown contingency out there (even among our own staff!), but we don’t think that they’re going to be strong enough to yum-yuck this trend from happening.

1.