With the warmth and cheer of the holidays behind us, the next several months look to be cold and dreary as we settle into winter. The simple act of getting dressed can feel like an ongoing battle between looking good versus staying warm. While you may just want to give in and bundle up, or better yet, go back to bed, there are some functional and kind of fabulous trends on the horizon as we head into 2022. Here’s a lineup of some stylish and practical trends to try out over the next few months.
It should come as no surprise that knitwear is synonymous with winter; they don’t call it “sweater weather” for nothing. However, sweaters are so 2021. This year, every type of garment comes in knit-form. From matching knit sets to dresses to skirts to belted jackets, if it can be rendered in a woven material, then, by all means, lean into that comfort factor. Of course, you may not be in the market for a pair of sweater pants, but if you still want to get on the knitted bandwagon, a pullover in a bright color or novelty print will capture the aesthetic of this trend without going over the top. If you are up for head-to-toe knits, then keep an eye out for clean lines and cool color combinations.
Speaking of color, the easiest way to adapt a trend to your style is through color. Bold colors and color combos can add life to any winter wardrobe. Consider contrasting your usual blues and greys with citrus hues of yellow, lime, and orange this season. A blue sweater with jeans can feel fresh when paired with a yellow scarf and an orange bag. Or top off your grey overcoat with a grapefruity pink knitted hat for a pop of color on an overcast day.
Whether you play around with color combinations this winter, you may also want to experiment with texture combinations. One can’t live on knitwear alone. Consider breaking up your merinos and cable knits with a sheer layer. Like a semi-sheer turtleneck under a vest, cardigan, blazer, or sleeveless dress, a sheer top is a modern take on a base layer for winter dressing. Too much? Sheer hosiery is a more subtle take on this trend. A pair of black sheer tights vs. pantyhose or opaque tights nicely contrasts with a sweater dress or a slim knit skirt, especially if there’s a slit for the sheer to peekaboo through.
Of course, you can’t go wrong with animal prints. For 2022, it’s all about zebra and tiger prints so that you can give your leopard-printed pieces a break this year. Coats, bags, dresses, and blouses all come in standard animal stripes and abstract patterns, and colorful versions. If that seems overwhelming, try to mimic a zebra pattern with a vertical print in black and white. For an even more toned-down take on the animal kingdom, simply combine the colors of a tiger’s print — black, white, and an orangey-brown/beige for a more chic, less wild look.
Another bold trend this year is fringe. This season, fringed pieces are anything but ordinary and expected. I’m not talking about the fringe on a leather coat. But more so, tassels along an asymmetrical hem or strips of fabric along the shoulder seams. Look for pieces with tassels and twists that show up in various ways or a single line of fringe with unexpected placement.
If all of this talk of color, texture, animal prints, and fringe puts your head in a spin, don’t worry, this year will also see the rise of redefined preppy style. The modern version of preppy wear focuses on quirky combinations of classic pieces. Polo shirts with suiting separates, plaids mixed with polka dots, oversized sweaters with trench coats over pleated skirts. This trend combines the sporty with the school uniform, like tennis-inspired dresses worn with penny loafers. I wouldn’t recommend this style so much for winter, but definitely consider it for spring.
Chances are you most likely won’t be revamping your overall aesthetic this season. You can still incorporate trending pieces in your everyday style. Things like oversized scarves, shearling-lined handbags, Ugg-style boots, and puffer vests are also on-trend for Winter 2022 and can be easily mixed in with your cold-weather wear.
