London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2025

10 Trends From the Fall 2021 Season That Predict Fashion’s Future

10 Trends From the Fall 2021 Season That Predict Fashion’s Future

From collage patterns to wrap blankets to pop star style, these are the trends that defined the fall 2021 season.

The fall 2021 season marks a year of no-contact, virtual fashion weeks. What have we learned from 12 months of watching runway shows from behind our laptop screens? (You know, aside from the fact that this digital thing in no way compares to the theater of fashion, that our Wi-Fi connections will never be strong enough, and that blue-light glasses are a must?)

As I’ve been trying to make sense of the wildly different fall 2021 collections, one idea reverberates: No matter the expression, we crave clothing that feels close to us. At Prada, models clutched their sequin wraps; at Dries Van Noten, dancers clutched garments to their chests; at Marine Serre, friends and family clutched each other in intimate films and lookbook imagery. The icy chicness and the bold statements of intent that helped define 2010s fashion have been replaced by warmth, togetherness, and function.

Of course, function looks different to different people. Some will call the outdoorsy patchwork puffers from Chloé and the charming and warming Miu Miu pastel coveralls useful. Others will find purpose in knit bodysuits like those at Givenchy and Courrèges or the many blankets and wraps from brands like JW Anderson, Stella Jean, and Jil Sander. Shoppers who deem dressing up an essential task will find plenty of grittily glamorous frocks from Simone Rocha, Prada, Paco Rabanne, and Rick Owens, and cocooning couture shapes from Louis Vuitton, Patou, and Roksanda. For those who want to move through post-pandemic life with an unfussy ease, there are roomy new jeans at Christian Dior and Balenciaga and pleated skirt suits at Molly Goddard, Max Mara, and Calvin Luo. Even monograms have toned it down, with new logo prints at Chanel, Versace, and Balmain. A rising generation of Millennial power-spenders has simultaneously dictated the return of escapist aughts nostalgia; forget the roaring twenties, when we return to parties we will do it with the vigor-and itty, bitty, flitty little dresses-of Paris, Lindsay, and Nicole.

That’s a lot to digest, and as a season, fall 2021 doesn’t wrap up as succinctly as previous ones. Maybe that’s a good thing. As fashion adjusts to mirror our times, it must embrace smaller, more individually powerful notions of style. That explains why, like everything else right now, so many of the collections are in total disagreement with one another: Show some skin or cover it up! Be comfortable or be crazy!

One year ago, we were trying to predict what the 2020s would look like. After this season, our bets are on a period of rebellious personal style and a rebirth of subcultures. That will give us something to talk about from behind our screens—or even better, together again in person soon.

Collage Therapy




Chloé


Designers like Gabriela Hearst, Marine Serre, and Stuart Vevers at Coach are patching together unused fabric scraps to produce coats, dresses, and up-cycled tees. These collaged garments are not only sustainably minded, but nod to a new, idiosyncratic aesthetic that is less about head-to-toe dressing and more about personal expression through style. It’s fashion with a little heart-and harmony.

Life is a Cabaret-Dress For It




Prada


A brooding glamour is mounting across Europe, suggesting a re-emergence look that is fabulous, but with a not insignificant bite. Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons placed their bets on sequins and stoles while Dries Van Noten is bringing back taffeta volumes and a little campy glitz. Tinsel at Rokh and surreal proportions at Marni round out the trend, promising a vampish scene come fall.

One Piece Wonders




Rick Owens


What can’t a catsuit do? In the hands of Tom Ford and LaQuan Smith, it is the sexiest-and sheerest-garment around. Yuhan Wang, Ottolinger, and Maisie Wilen built one-pieces that are artfully patterned and strange, while Erdem’s ballet-style cover up seems perfect for a WFH week of lounging. No matter your taste, there is a fall 2021 onesie to match your lifestyle.

Pleats, Please




Molly Goddard


The power suits of recent seasons have morphed into quirky but prim pleated skirt sets. Options from 3.1 Phillip Lim, Plan C, and Schiaparelli are breezily stylish and well suited to office life, should it ever return, while Chopova Lowena, Collina Strada, and Arthur Arbesser offer bolder takes on the look.

Signs of the Times




Versace


Attention-getting logomania is falling out of favor, but branding is still a big game. Donatella Versace imagined a new kind of logo-an allover key print-for her fall 2021 collection, Givenchy’s sheer separates were stitched with interlocked Gs, and Kim Jones’s revived an archival FF logo on slips and stockings at Fendi.

Pop Princesses




Conner Ives


Millennial nostalgia has reached a fever pitch, bringing back the halcyon days of It Girl-aughts style. Blumarine, Conner Ives, Alyx, and Roberto Cavalli are serving up Sunset Strip sweetness in the form of pastel minidresses, crystal tiaras, and other itsy bits that could turn anyone into Britney, X-Tina, Mariah-or their 2020s counterparts Dua Lipa and Rina Sawayama. “XS” is very in.

Wrap Party




Stella Jean


Who says a blanket isn’t a garment? Jonathan Anderson’s artful throws definitely do double duty. Ponchos and capes had a resurgence at Gabriela Hearst, Alberta Ferretti, and Missoni. Stella Jean, for her part, collaborated with the Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations to employ the craftspeople who made her scenic wraps.

Ski Bunnies




Miu Miu


Nature has been a reprieve for many during the pandemic. By the time next winter hits, we’ll be expressing the urge to get outside on the slopes. Both Miu Miu and Thom Browne staged their shows on mountaintops, with puffers and accessories to match, while Givenchy, Christian Dior, and Chanel offered shearlings and Fair Isle knits that would do well après ski. Just add powder.

Flash Bulbs




Louis Vuitton


Bulbous, bubble-like shapes started trending early in the lockdowns. For fall 2021, the silhouette veered from soft Romeo Gigli-style cocoons to more pumped-up ovoid forms, with an emphasis on the hips and thighs. Both womanly and protective, these new orbs offer coziness and a little forgiveness from the skinstight silhouettes seen elsewhere.

Low-Slung Jeans for High Stress Times




Balenciaga


Sweatpants are not forever. Slouchy, wide-leg jeans emerged as a key look for fall at Balenciaga, Y/Project, and the up-and-coming London label Jawara Alleyne. Consider these roomy and durable trousers the ideal get-it-done pants for our post-pandemic lives.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
‘Frightening’ First Night in Prison for Sarkozy: Inmates Riot and Shout ‘Little Nicolas’
White House Announces No Imminent Summit Between Trump and Putin
US and Qatar Warn EU of Trade and Energy Risks from Tough Climate Regulation
Apple Challenges EU Digital Markets Act Crackdown in Landmark Court Battle
Nicolas Sarkozy begins five-year prison term at La Santé in Paris
Japan stocks surge to record as Sanae Takaichi becomes Prime Minister
This Is How the 'Heist of the Century' Was Carried Out at the Louvre in Seven Minutes: France Humiliated as Crown with 2,000 Diamonds Vanishes
China Warns UK of ‘Consequences’ After Delay to London Embassy Approval
France’s Wealthy Shift Billions to Luxembourg and Switzerland Amid Tax and Political Turmoil
"Sniper Position": Observation Post Targeting 'Air Force One' Found Before Trump’s Arrival in Florida
Shouting Match at the White House: 'Trump Cursed, Threw Maps, and Told Zelensky – "Putin Will Destroy You"'
Windows’ Own ‘Siri’ Has Arrived: You Can Now Talk to Your Computer
Thailand and Singapore Investigate Cambodian-Based Prince Group as U.S. and U.K. Sanctions Unfold
‘No Kings’ Protests Inflate Numbers — But History Shows Nations Collapse Without Strong Executive Power
Chinese Tech Giants Halt Stablecoin Launches After Beijing’s Regulatory Intervention
Manhattan Jury Holds BNP Paribas Liable for Enabling Sudanese Government Abuses
Trump Orders Immediate Release of Former Congressman George Santos After Commuting Prison Sentence
S&P Downgrades France’s Credit Rating, Citing Soaring Debt and Political Instability
Ofcom Rules BBC’s Gaza Documentary ‘Materially Misleading’ Over Narrator’s Hamas Ties
Diane Keaton’s Cause of Death Revealed as Pneumonia, Family Confirms
Former Lostprophets Frontman Ian Watkins Stabbed to Death in British Prison
"The Tsunami Is Coming, and It’s Massive": The World’s Richest Man Unveils a New AI Vision
Outsider, Heroine, Trailblazer: Diane Keaton Was Always a Little Strange — and Forever One of a Kind
Dramatic Development in the Death of 'Mango' Founder: Billionaire's Son Suspected of Murder
Two Years of Darkness: The Harrowing Testimonies of Israeli Hostages Emerging From Gaza Captivity
EU Moves to Use Frozen Russian Assets to Buy U.S. Weapons for Ukraine
Europe Emerges as the Biggest Casualty in U.S.-China Rare Earth Rivalry
HSBC Confronts Strategic Crossroads as NAB Seeks Only Retail Arm in Australia Exit
U.S. Chamber Sues Trump Over $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
Shenzhen Expo Spotlights China’s Quantum Step in Semiconductor Self-Reliance
China Accelerates to the Forefront in Global Nuclear Fusion Race
Yachts, Private Jets, and a Picasso Painting: Exposed as 'One of the Largest Frauds in History'
Australia’s Wedgetail Spies Aid NATO Response as Russian MiGs Breach Estonian Airspace
McGowan Urges Chalmers to Cut Spending Over Tax Hike to Close $20 Billion Budget Gap
Victoria Orders Review of Transgender Prison Placement Amid Safety Concerns for Female Inmates
U.S. Treasury Mobilises New $20 Billion Debt Facility to Stabilise Argentina
French Business Leaders Decry Budget as Macron’s Pro-Enterprise Promise Undermined
Trump Claims Modi Pledged India Would End Russian Oil Imports Amid U.S. Tariff Pressure
Surging AI Startup Valuations Fuel Bubble Concerns Among Top Investors
Australian Punter Archie Wilson Tears Up During Nebraska Press Conference, Sparking Conversation on Male Vulnerability
Australia Confirms U.S. Access to Upgraded Submarine Shipyard Under AUKUS Deal
“Firepower” Promised for Ukraine as NATO Ministers Meet — But U.S. Tomahawks Remain Undecided
Brands Confront New Dilemma as Extremists Adopt Fashion Labels
The Sydney Sweeney and Jeans Storm: “The Outcome Surpassed Our Wildest Dreams”
Erika Kirk Delivers Moving Tribute at White House as Trump Awards Charlie Presidential Medal of Freedom
British Food Influencer ‘Big John’ Detained in Australia After Visa Dispute
ScamBodia: The Chinese Fraud Empire Shielded by Cambodia’s Ruling Elite
French PM Suspends Macron’s Pension Reform Until After 2027 in Bid to Stabilize Government
Orange, Bouygues and Free Make €17 Billion Bid for Drahi’s Altice France Telecom Assets
Dutch Government Seizes Chipmaker After U.S. Presses for Removal of Chinese CEO
×