And Now, the Micro-Trends You Need to Know in 2022
Sometimes, you've got to dig a little deeper. That certainly rings true on the subject of sourcing trends. We've already touched on the foremost fashion themes circulating as the new season inches closer, but now, we're getting into the trends on the verge of a major breakthrough.
A lot of you may already be familiar with what we call a micro-trend here at Who What Wear—a trend still early in its infancy that is so prevailing among tastemakers and designers that it's only a matter of time before it really takes off. The six micro-trends we're highlighting below have made some waves that really made us stop and take notice, from striking sheer separates to Gaultier-esque screen prints. Early adopters, take note—you'll want to watch this space.
Anatomical Forms
What's old is new, and that definitely applies to '90s style. Along with Vivienne Westwood, Jean Paul Gaultier is a cult designer Gen Z has recently rediscovered and has been fixated on, manifesting in a resurgence of anatomical screen prints. This trend hasn't hit the stage where it's readily available just yet, but a few indie brands like GirlsGirlsGirlsbyGracie and Forbidden Kn0wledge have cemented their place as go-to sources for body-form pieces. Y/Project's A/W 22 menswear collection featured a slew of these types of prints, so yeah, it's only a matter of time before they pop up at Zara.
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Track Jackets
This micro-trend took a little bit more effort to notice because, quite honestly, tracksuits and the sporty aesthetic are continual favorites among the fashion set. It's one of those trends that's seemingly hidden in plain sight. Lately, we've seen fashion people embrace track jackets by styling them with loose cargo pants and high heels. The result feels more intentional and elevated than PE class. We think it's a really fun take on a widely worn item that's simple enough to interpret for yourself.
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Corset Coordination
We've flagged the comeback of corsets before, but this year, it's all about wearing them in full-scale coordination in a matching set. Miaou has been at the forefront of this micro-trend with a plethora of corset sets in exciting prints and colors, but other brands have slowly been doing the same. One of our favorites is House of CB's sultry matching corset and silk maxi skirt—it's been a go-to night-out look for many and likely will be seen all of 2022.
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Shop the matching Preston Skirt ($155).
Shop the matching Mint Star Corset ($265).
Shop the matching Scarlet Mesh Corset ($115).
Wedge Boots
While you were sleeping, wedge boots were making their return to the scene. The reigning silhouette seems to be point-toe wedge boots, which feel decidedly sleeker and cooler than the versions of years past. We haven't bought a pair yet, but you better believe they're on our wish list.
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Micro Minis
Arguably the most talked-about trend on this list, micro minis catapulted onto the scene at the end of last year thanks to Miu Miu's showstopping S/S 22 show. In record time, affordable versions have popped up on the market, but we have a feeling this is only the beginning.
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Transparent Pieces
By now, you should know it's not a micro-trend roundup without the inclusion of something risque. Last year, it was keyhole cutouts, and this year is shaping up to be the season of sheer, nude-illusion pieces. This trend definitely lands on the more daring side, but with some good undergarments, it can be a striking element to contrast your staples.
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Next up: I Check Shopbop's New Arrivals Every Week—These 45 Staples Are Wildly Satisfying
Indya Brown is a fashion editor, stylist, and writer living in Los Angeles. While going to school at Columbia University in New York City, she got her feet wet in the fashion industry interning at Elle magazine, Harper's Bazaar, and New York magazine's The Cut. After graduating in 2016, she joined The Cut as a fashion assistant, eventually working her way up to fashion editor. There, she worked on a multitude of projects, including styling inbook feature stories for New York magazine's print issue, writing and pitching market stories for The Cut, and serving as fashion lead for The Cut's branded content. While New York has been her home for over 10 years, she moved to Los Angeles in the midst of the pandemic in 2020 for a new chapter. Now she is a fashion market editor for Who What Wear, focusing on emerging designers, rising trends on and off the internet, interior design, and BIPOC creatives and brands. Aside from her duties as a fashion market editor, Brown is also a freelance stylist and writer, working on national print and video commercial campaigns for Sephora, The Independent, and Cadillac. Her bylines also include Harper's Bazaar, Vox, and The New York Times. But once the computer goes down and the emails turn off, she's likely eating her way through Koreatown, hunting down vintage furniture, scoping out new outrageous nail designs to try, or taking a hot cycling class.
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