Fashion is currently looking forward to autumn, with the world's leading designers all showing their next collections for AW21. Paris Fashion Week has just started, with the likes of Chloé setting the tone for the end of this year. But right now, we're still looking forward to spring (and the end of lockdown). And with some good weather starting to just about poke through the grey clouds, we need something to wear.
Here's where the catwalks come in. For spring.summer 2021, the clothes were reflective of how much this year’s events have changed the way we think about getting dressed. They also reminded us of fashion's optimistic potential. And after a winter of living in joggers, we all need a reason to feel good about dressing up again.
There were extra-wide slouchy trousers that buyers are branding the upgrade to your track pants, meaning you can keep comfort while also feeling a bit more put-together. There were alsoclogs, spotted everywhere from Louis Vuitton to Hermes – the perfect shoe to slip on for the coffee run, paired perfectly with cashmere socks.
At Fendi, sheer dresses dominated the catwalk. To wear one now but also stay warm, try layering a fine-gauge polo neck underneath a see-through dress or blouse. But come summer, take your cue from the catwalk and simply wear with a simple shift.
Max Mara's three-piece suit is enough to get excited at the idea of embracing tailoring again. This Zara version is an easy way to buy into the trend now and proves how versatile this outfit it – you could either wear all together for your own take on power dressing or wear the waistcoat with puffed-sleeved blouses, the blazer with crisp tees and the trousers with cashmere jumpers.
Over at Versace, you can always count on va-va-voom, and this was especially true of the shoes, which were fluorescent platform sandals.
There's really no need to wait until all-out sunshine to shop the SS21 trends. Get ahead with our edit of the best seven pieces you can buy – and wear – right now.
SHOP: The Spring 2021 Trends To Wear Now
1 of 22Valentino's Bringing Back Bootcut Jeans
Remember boot-cut jeans? That slightly-flared style that fell out of flavour after skinnies happened? Well Valentino has brought them back in a big way. As part of a collaboration with Levi's, Pierpaolo Piccioli is backing the denim brand's classic 517. Dig yours out now and wear with louchely-oversized blazers.
2 of 22Wrangler, Bootcut jeans, £80
3 of 22Fendi's Sheer Dresses
At Fendi, sheer dresses dominated the catwalk. Play peekaboo, but stay warm, by layering a fine-gauge polo neck underneath a see-through dress or blouse.
4 of 22& Other Stories, Sheer Ruffled Shirt, £65
5 of 22Baum und Pferdgarten, Sheer Dress, £189
6 of 22Uniqlo, Ribbed Turtleneck, £24.90
7 of 22Louis Vuitton's Sweater Vests
The knitted vest is already having a fashion moment, thanks to the likes of Harry Styles & co. We're pleased to see they'll still be big news come summer (believe it or not) with variations spotted at The Row & Louis Vuitton. Layer them up now with fine gauge roll necks and pair with T-shirts when the weather warms up.
8 of 22Urban Outfitters, Knitted Vest, £34
9 of 22Maje, Knitted Vest, £199 at Selfridges
10 of 22Hermès' Clogs
Heeled at Louis Vuitton, minimal at Hermès and frog green at Molly Goddard, the clog is shaping up to be summer's key shoe shape.
11 of 22Swedish Hasbeens, Husband Clogs, £150
12 of 22Prada's Full Skirts
For his debut as co-creative director at Prada, Raf Simons mused on uniforms. The clasped coats were a hit, but the full skirts made our hearts skip a beat. Wear with ribbed polo jumpers and knife-point pumps à la Miuccia.
13 of 22Prada, High Rise Nylon Skirt, £880 at Net-a-Porter
14 of 22M&S, Leather Midi Skirt, £199
15 of 22Max Mara's Three-Piece Suit
Max Mara had the most fabulous three-piece suits (the third piece being a top instead of the usual waistcoat). We haven't worn it for months, but there's still something to be said for making tailoring your big spring investment.
16 of 22Zara, Double Breasted Blazer, £59.99
17 of 22Zara, Buttoned Waistcoat, £27.99
18 of 22Zara, Wide Leg Trousers, £27.99
19 of 22Versace's Shoes
Versace (as always) delivered va-va-voom, especially when it came to the shoes, with fluorescent platform sandals styled with summer dresses.
20 of 22Versace, Suede Platform Sandals, £890
21 of 22Miu Miu, Platform Sandals, £645 at Matchesfashion
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