“The Metaverse is countered by breathtaking simplicity”

“It is necessary for a caterpillar to enter a cocoon to become a butterfly. Go through a metamorphosis. Remarkably, viruses are also needed in this cocoon to enable this process,” trend forecaster Christine Boland said in her webinar for SS23, aptly named Meta Morphosis. The fact that the world is going through several major changes, the trend forecaster already has highlighted, but now it’s becoming increasingly clear in which direction the world is going.

“These times require a lot of resilience, creativity and innovation,” Boland says at the beginning of the webinar. It takes good energy, inspiration and feeling strong. Boland hopes to provide that inspiration with her trend analysis for Summer ’23. FashionUnited has put together some insights for you.

Harmony reigns in the SS23 season

Different elements kept recurring in the trends developed by Boland and her team. One of the recurring elements was the suit. “Nowadays we don’t call it the men’s suit. It’s just ‘a suit,'” says the trend forecaster. However, she adds that the suit fits perfectly into the ’embracing ambiguity’ trend. This trend is about contrasts that are still surprisingly harmonious. For example, a suit can , which is usually quite stiff and tight, can be paired with a piece that exudes sensuality, think a lace piece, a corset or something sheer, or the suit itself can be sensual through the use of materials.

Harmony is an important factor in Boland’s trend forecast for SS23 anyway. In the last season, the unexpected contrasts came more to the fore, such as the combination of materials or the mix of colors. In the previous seasons it was all about putting together combinations, now the surprising elements are less noticeable than before. Harmony prevails.

Prabal Gurung SS22, via Catwalkpictures.com
Stella McCartney SS22, via Catwalkpictures.com

Nature’s Nanoverse affects SS23

As always, nature has a major influence. This time, however, it’s more abstract, at the nano level. When you zoom in on the various processes and structures in nature, wonderful worlds emerge. “We will appreciate natural intelligence more and more,” predicts Boland. One can think of patterns and colors that inspire the designers, but the use of natural materials to dye fabrics will also receive more attention. In recent years, several innovations have already been made sees the light of day that make it possible to dye clothes with pigments derived from mold.Nature is also reflected in the trends for SS23 through shapes and volumes.Think, for example, of wavy fabrics with pleats or cloudy volumes with drawstrings, and don’t forget about the watery paints.

Alberta Ferretti SS22, via Catwalkpictures.com
Alberta Ferretti SS22, via Catwalkpictures.com

One striking element that keeps popping up is the high “craft” factor. Many variants of macrame can be found, for example, in a trend that Boland calls “creating cultures”. According to the trend researcher, it is a real mixture of cultures that gives rise to a new design language. In addition to macrame, there is a lot of wickerwork to see, but fringes also find their place.

Christine Boland: “Facing the Metaverse with a 2D look.”

Perhaps the most noticeable trend is the backlash against the Metaverse. It’s no secret that the Metaverse has been popping up everywhere lately. For those who are not familiar with it, it is a virtual space that connects all virtual worlds together using the internet and augmented reality. In recent months, several fashion companies have made the leap into the virtual world. But it is precisely this abundance of 3D and digital that creates a need for something simpler. “Naïve, but not childish,” Boland says. This need is expressed, for example, in a more two-dimensional look. Think, for example, of buckle imprints on shoes or clothing where there is actually no buckle. “It’s a touch of fresh air. It’s a relief from all the complexity that surrounds us.” This trend is very figurative and uses multiple intense colors.

Coach SS22, via Catwalkpictures.com
Coach SS22, via Catwalkpictures.com

As always, Boland gives those present plenty to think about. Luckily, not everything needs to be taken into account. The forecaster reiterates the advice that people should see what appeals to them, what appeals to them, and then stick to it. We’ll have to wait a few more seasons to see what brands, designers and retailers have in store for SS23, but there’s certainly plenty to choose from.

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