New York Fashion Week can often feel like a blur, with one runway show blending into the next, both for those in attendance and anyone tuning in from home…the latter of which was pretty much everyone this past February due to COVID-19. One trick busy editors (including yours truly) have found to keep track of the trends and collections they find most inspiring? Gathering them all on Pinterest, where they’re easy to see in one place, so we can return for outfit inspo over and over again. The same is true for the three fashion influencers—Katie Sturino, Coco Bassey and Caroline Vazzana—who told PureWow about the trends from February’s shows they’ve been pinning, in the hopes to start buying and wearing ASAP. Here, nine hot pieces for fall/winter 2021 that we can all sport right this very second, including tips on how to seamlessly translate them from the runway to real life.
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All the NYFW Trends Worth Buying Right Now, According to 3 Influencers
Katie Sturino
Katie Sturino is the founder of beauty brand MegaBabe (of Thigh Rescue anti-chafe stick fame) and the blog The 12ish Style, which features gorgeous plus-size clothing and styling tips for a wide range of body types. We’re also huge fans of her #SupersizeTheLook series on Instagram, in which she copies the outfits of some of our favorite celebs (like Chrissy Teigen, Kate Middleton and Kendall Jenner) to prove the style doesn’t come in just one size.
“There are a lot of trends from this season that I’m really excited about,” Sturino tells us. “Fringe, clogs and oversize sweaters are all in my wheelhouse. But the trend that really gets me going is seeing brands be more inclusive each and every season.”
Here are her top NYFW trends to shop and wear right now:
Clogs
“Definitely the clogs! I’m already a Crocs die-hard and I think there are so many cool ways to style them, from dresses, to jeans and loungewear.”
While the weather is still chilly, try pairing yours with raw-hem jeans and a cozy patterned knit. Then, once spring truly arrives, take inspiration from Antik Batik and wear them with a floaty midi or nap dress, or you could go the Hèrmes route and try mixing this mom-chic footwear with tailored separates.
Shop similar styles: Everlane ($98); Dansko ($145); J.Crew ($178); The Odells ($248); Loeffler Randall ($350)
Monochromatic Neutrals
Sturino continues: “I also love the monochromatic cream-on-cream trend which you can do now with off-white jeans and a chunky knit cream sweater.”
Worried you’ll spill coffee (or red wine) all over your off-white ensemble? Beige, tan and latte hues are also great for transitioning from winter to spring and are less likely to show wear and tear (or your undergarments, for that matter). Worried about matching two similar soft shades? Consider adding a third piece in a slightly darker tone, like two winter white styles and one tan one. This will prevent you from looking washed out and also helps connect two pieces that aren’t a perfect color match.
Shop similar styles: Nike sweatshirt ($60); Most of All top ($68); Eloquii vest ($80); LETT joggers ($98); Topshpo jacket ($110); Lovers + Friends cardigan ($160); Aya Muse top ($168); Billie the Label pants ($168); Reformation cardigan, top and skirt set ($178) Billie the Label blazer ($228)
Florals
“Mixed prints are also fun! I like to take a small floral and mix it with a big floral, because florals for Spring….groundbreaking!” Sturino jokes.
Miranda Preistly may find them blasé, but spring florals are a timeless classic we all look forward to sporting year after year after year. For the updated version on the trend, it’s all about mixing and matching dainty daisies with delicate blooms in more muted hues (as opposed to sticking to just one pattern, like vibrant tropical palms).
Shop similar styles: Halogen top ($39); ASOS dress ($43); Caslon top ($49); Miss Selfridge dress ($72); Saturday/Sunday joggers ($78); Floret Studios dress ($98); English Factory top ($100); Haute Hippie pants ($278; $139); Show Me Your Mumu ($158); Baum Und Pferdgarten shorts ($159)
Which Collection Was Her Absolute Favorite?
“I always love Tanya Taylor and Veronica Beard who both offer amazing, stylish clothes in a range of sizes and styles. Tanya Taylor’s printed dresses and Veronica Beard’s blazers and coats are always add-to-cart for me. This season was no exception.”
Coco Bassey
Born in Nigeria and raised across more than five different countries (her parents are diplomats, so moving was a regular part of her adolescence), Bassey knows the millennial experience can’t simply be defined by succulents, self-care and its namesake shade of pink. So, in 2013, she launched her blog, Millennielle, with the hope of sharing her worldly knowledge, with a major focus on her love of fashion and dressing for the occasion.
Here are her top NYFW trends to shop and wear right now:
Tailored Knitwear
Bassey explains: “I loved seeing how knitwear took on new forms! Kind of like an elevated take of last year’s quarantine style — our sweatpants, sweaters and knits are about to get tailored and fancy!”
Just because indoor dining, office spaces and other aspects of “regular” life are beginning to reopen doesn’t mean you need to stow your beloved WFH knit sets away—just yet. Look for cozy sets in fun new takes, à la Victor Glemaud’s asymmetrical turtleneck and cropped shorts, or pair your go-to cashmere pants with a chic button down, in the vein of Adeam.
Shop similar styles: Dolan Left Coast set ($148); Le Ore top ($148) and pants ($148); The Line K pants ($179); Jonathan Simkhai tank top ($195) and skirt ($295); Victor Glemaud top ($375); TSE Cashmere top ($495)
Sweater Vests
“One of the biggest trends is probably one you’ve already started seeing everywhere: sweater vests,” says Bassey of the TikTok beloved style. “While I love the classic look of layering them over a button-up shirt, I really like the casual ease of wearing them on their own like a tank top, coupled with a skirt or jeans.”
Looser sweater vests look great styled over sundresses to transition them from winter to spring, while slimmer silhouettes, like Tanya Taylor’s and Staud’s pictured above, work well tucked into trousers or skirts (with or without the blouse underneath).
Shop similar styles: H&M ($30); In The Style Plus x Saffron Barker ($41); Alex Mill ($95); Free People ($98); Maeve ($158; $100); Wilfred ($138)
‘90s Revival
“The grunge-inspired trend is one that I’ve never been that sure about, but I find that there are ways to incorporate elements of this look — like plaids and chunky shoes — without going overboard and still keeping the overall look wearable for every day!”
Bassey, we like the way you think. If you’re also wary of looking like Courtney Love or Drew Barrymore circa 1994, take Bassey’s advice and pick just one, maybe two, ‘90s era trends to incorporate into your look and keep the rest super modern. By that, we mean layering plaid shirts over leather skinnies instead of baggy boyfriend jeans, and pairing Dr. Martens combat boots with minimalist minidresses to shake things up.
Shop similar styles: BP. shirt ($50; $30); Lovers + Friends shacket ($114); ALO jacket ($198; $119); Eva Franco pants ($138); Sam Edelman loafers ($140); Dr. Martens boots ($180); Dhruv Kapoor jacket ($248); Stuart Weitzman boots ($695; $487); Sea jacket ($495)
Which Collection Was Her Absolute Favorite?
“I always love Zimmermann’s silhouettes and prints. I’m more than ready to add any of those floaty dresses to my closet, for what will hopefully be a fun summer (fingers crossed!)”
Caroline Vazzana
After years of working as a fashion editor for publications like Marie Claire, InStyle and Teen Vogue, Vazzana struck out on her own as a stylist for editorial shoots and celebrity appearances. She even wrote a book, , Making It in Manhattan, to help guide those who are looking to break into the fashion industry (FYI, that’s also the name of her blog). And while some may claim that too many runway trends are unwearable for the average gal, Vazzana is unafraid to test the waters with wild fashion. “I always say ‘never say never’ when it comes to fashion. I'm always open to trying something out at least once!”
Here are her top NYFW trends to shop and wear right now:
Mixed Prints
“I'm really excited that we saw a lot of mixed prints on the runways. It's something I've been doing for a while but I'm so excited to have seen it on the virtual runways by brands like Anna Sui and Ulla Johnson.”
Florals and stripes and polka dots, oh my! This trend is both bold and cheerful, a perfect combination for an optimistic spring ahead. For those unsure of where to begin, start by pairing like with like (either similar colors, patterns or sizes), and be sure to add in at least one solid-hued piece to break up an otherwise busy ensemble.
Shop similar styles: Object top ($56); Kut from the Kloth blouse ($68); Resa skirt ($168); Greylin jumpsuit ($178); Aldomartins sweater ($198); Lovers + Friends pants ($218); Antik Batik dress ($219); Autumn Adeigbo pants ($352); LoveShackFancy dress ($425)
Strong Suiting
“I actually did a Pinterest Story Pin about this! Right now, I'm really excited to start wearing 80s suiting à la Jason Wu,” says Vazzana
Leave your boring black and gray suits for another day and instead, try bright plaids, bold embellishments or exaggerated shoulders. A button down or pussy-bow blouse will always look great with tailored separates, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try a thin turtleneck or graphic tee as well.
Shop similar styles: Monki blazer ($70) and pants ($30); Ann Taylor blazer ($179) and pants ($119); Rag & Bone blazer ($595; $190) and pants ($325; $105); Rebecca Taylor blazer ($495; $198) and pants ($350; $130); J.Crew blazer ($288) and pants ($158)
Bold Glamour
“I always love the glamour of Christian Siriano and I was very excited to attend his show this year,” Vazzana says. “I just can't wait for an opportunity to wear a gown again. Plus, I loved the elbow-length gloves!”
This is one trend that’s a little harder to translate into everyday wear, but it is a reminder to really embrace the dress-up moments that lie ahead, like weddings, parties and cocktail hours. It’s always better to be overdressed than under (especially for somewhat formal occasions), so don’t be afraid to pull out all the stops with a tulle midi, oversize ruffles or even a pair of satin elbow-length gloves to make it a truly special event. And if it’s just your first dinner out at a restaurant in months, well, we say you go for it in whatever gown you’d like!
Shop similar styles: Babeyond gloves ($10); Utrimming gloves ($14); Lulus dress ($77); ASOS dress ($71); Vince Camuto dress ($188); Tahari dress ($188); Alfred Sung ($242); Bronx and Bianco dress ($420)
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