Runway trends we’d actually wear in real life

Every fashion month leaves behind two kinds of clothes. Some are built to be photographed, like the flattened and molded silverware worn as body pieces or the full body snakeskin that turned up at Telfar, Mugler and Yaku Stapleton. The others make it past the front row and into an ordinary Tuesday. With New York, London, Milan and Paris now behind us, the interesting question is which of the SS27 ideas deserve space in a real wardrobe. The good news is that designers seemed to be thinking the same way this season, and one Milan report noted that the clothes felt thoroughly appropriate for real life. Here is what we would actually buy.

Sister says

Sister says the most useful news from this season is that trousers lost the spotlight and skirts took over. Milan’s headline was that skirts were reigning supreme, with Prada alone sending out 63 of them, and in New York full midi skirts showed up even at Khaite, a label known for sleek silhouettes. That suits anyone dressing for a warm climate, because a midi in cotton or in liquid satin, which glides and moves with the body, is far easier to carry through a humid evening than denim. Wear it with the plainest white shirt you own, and take a cue from Paris, where the classic shirt got a fashion update through details like pinstripes. Sequins are more forgiving than they look too, since New York styled them with basics, such as a tank worn with Bermuda shorts, which makes them a fair pick for a daytime coffee and not only a wedding. 

Lingerie dressing needs a little more nerve, because Milan let bras peek out through sheer tops and deliberately undone button-downs, but a good lace bralette under an open shirt is a low risk way to try it. The smaller details do a lot of work as well. Milan favoured wide, curved scoop necklines that show just enough skin, and the waist belt is back, which is an easy way to give an old dress a new shape. For shoes, Paris brought back the wedge, which gives the height of a heel without the discomfort, and it will make sense to anyone who has spent a wedding season in heels. Tailoring has also softened, with very few oversized blazers in Milan, so the big one in your cupboard may be worth taking to a tailor. The cutlery jewellery and the snakeskin can stay on the runway, where they belong.

TL;DR

SS27 gave us plenty of drama, but the useful part was surprisingly practical. Skirts, especially midi and full ones, are the new default, and they work best with plain shirts, a bit of satin or a belt at the waist. Wedges, scoop necks and softer tailoring make everyday dressing easier, and lace or sequins can be worn with basics if you want to try something bolder. Pick two or three of these and fold them into what you already own, instead of rebuilding your wardrobe around a season.

Sister Shops

Diesel – Diesel O Rizia Asymmetric Floral Skirt

Jaded London – Studded Sequin Women’s Sleeveless Deep V-Neck Tank Top Silver

Saint Laurent – Saint Laurent Belted Tailored Bermuda Shorts

Versace – Suede Wedge Sandal