Are fashion trends dead? What do women want in 2022 and three Autumn Styling Ideas to get you inspired for the new season

As someone who’s been writing for fashion for almost two decades, and of course genuinely interested in fashion, for … well, as far as I remember myself, I’ve always been aware of fashion trends. However, I’ve always had my own opinion and hence wanted to wear clothes in a genuine, authentic and personal way, without following a specific trend. However, fashion trends are supposed to reflect of what’s going on around us – politics, economics and culture. Trends are about tapping into a zeitgeist; they define a spirit or mood. Today’s designers should be good at reading this. But in the years of the pandemic and after, a new mood has been rising, or rather a change of values and priorities, which set the tone for living with less and becoming more respectful and mindful of the environment and planet. The movement for slow and sustainable lifestyle and fashion has been growing by the minute. There’s been return to traditions and craftsmanship as something timeless that can survive any changes, and can be carried through generations without losing value.

With that shift, the concept of trends, or in other words changing your looks regularly has changed as well. You may have probably noticed that this year the focus is not so much on one or two trends, but rather ideas that last through time, assumptions on how the future will look and of course reinventing past trends and styles. The hot new fashion terms are Vintage, recycled fabrics, up-cycling and story telling. Designers have been going through their archives and reinventing iconic pieces that take us through different eras and stories.  

“The overreaching mood of Autumn/winter 2022 fashion trends can be summed up in one word: Nostalgia”, writes Hannah Almassi in Who What Wear. “Now nostalgia comes in many different forms depending on your age. Whatever you might associate with happier, simpler times…”

In other words you are free to wear whatever you want as long as it brings you good memories, good feelings and a sense of connection and purpose. 

Fashion Trends Nostalgia

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In my Autumn photoshoot, I am exploring Nostalgia as one of the main fashion trends, through the lens of Home Return, which is a common thread woven through all storytelling. A lens that can be applied to almost any movie or work of literature. And why not in Fashion?

Think of movies like Stealing Beauty, Flashbacks of a fool or House of spirits. The Home return brings a sense of re-connecting with yourself, reviving those childhood memories that remind you of your first dreams and fantasies about life, love and happiness. 

For my first look I chose a Physique du Role smooth silk twill dress in petrol colour with a smooth and fluid feel. It’s the time of arrival, switching from the busy city life to the calm coolness of my home. I still wear my hair in a bun, something I find practical for work, but now it’s disheveled and loose. I walk the stairs and it feels like I am a child again, playing hide-and-seek along the alleys, between backdrops of the old, harmoniously designed villa. My feet get cold and I pull on wool socks, from one of the old wardrobes in the house. It’ a chilly but beautiful autumn day. I find another beautiful piece in the wardrobe that speaks timeless fashion. A beautiful Shetland coat with an oversized fit. I put it over my shoulders and it brings me the memory of my mother and me walking together to school. The coat gently envelopes my body in its warm hug. I breathe in the fresh air and I feel at peace. I am home.

The Return Home

What is the Return Home without going through the old family albums. They are the best way to send you down the memory lane.

Browsing through the old photos I find some that take me to my years in Boarding School, where I tried my first cigarette, I received my first love letter with a poem and was serenaded one night under the windows of my boarding house room.

This second look I chose to remind you of the school years! Do you keep good memories of that time? How would you imagine dressing today if you were that girl again at 16? Here is what I imagine:

A stuoia Jacket made from wool and linen, in chic mayfair gray shade, knit cuffs and back pleat and of course high rise, super wide denims and a simple blue shirt with a skinny black tie. How Sassy is that?

Look Three follows another Nostalgia Narrative trending in Fashion and often influenced by the movies. I am talking about Elvis biographical musical drama that came out this year and his song When the Rebel Comes Home.

Those old vinyl records you find in the basement that awaken the spirit of another time, a time of revolution in social norms, including clothing, music, drugs, sexuality, formalities and civil rights. A time of “irresponsible” excess, as some denounce it, flamboyance, the decay of social order, and the fall or relaxation of social taboos. 

“he’s a refugee from the highway
out there fighting for years
whether by God or by glory
he’s been traveling through his fears
and he always feels that his next step
will surely set him free“

Elvis Presley

This Look consists of three sustainable labels, all available at By Adushka online store and showroom.

The quilted vest I am wearing is ANAAK, an ethical label committed to empowering local craftspeople in rural India and Bolivia with contemporary referencing in the rich cultural history of the two regions. Hand-crafted from natural fabrics, using ancient textile processes, ANAAK is thought of for the seeker in all of us. We are because we wander. The open road, the ceaseless mountain peaks, the unbridled sea – this is where we find our truth. This is our bohemian rhapsody.

The jeans skirt and the linen blouse are created by Happy House, with which By Afshak works exclusively in Switzerland. Happy Haus is a young conscious and 100% ecological brand with an easy going feel founded by Sandy Chagnaud, who lives in France and her family is an example of the simple minimalistic life. After working in fashion for several years, she decided to let go of the vicious cycle of season collections and the idea of changing your wardrobe led by fashion trends. She wanted to make a difference and lead by example, creating small capsule pieces that remain in your wardrobe without an expiration date.