When your shadow starts to get noticeably longer on the sidewalk and, at least in Canada, the leaves slowly start to morph back to redder tones, it’s a fact: it’s time to go shopping for all those cool new fall looks!
Even if you’ve missed your semester’s first day entry into the classroom with your glorious “new ‘fit, new me,” you still have the entire month of September to assert your strong fashion sense and create that indelible imprint on everyone’s mind, whatever your personal style.
For fall 2022, there are a multitude of styles to choose from, ranging from the schoolgirl uniform archetypal looks gone rogue (a classic for all fall seasons), to classic minimalist silhouettes (awesome for the office), and all-out femininity featuring corset shapes (think night on the town and all those fun events).
The Pleated Miniskirt
If there’s one thing girls from private schools obligated to wear uniforms have known for decades it’s that, no matter how drab that pleated or plaid skirt is, it can always be sexed up by wearing it thigh-high. Cue in MiuMiu’s poplin micro-mini with the frayed edges for fall-winter 2022, and you’ll understand why this skirt was all over our social feeds and a bunch of magazine covers since it was shown in the spring, including the fifty-something Nicole Kidman rocking it like a goddess.
The extreme proportions of this look (particularly when paired with the accompanying ultra-cropped knit) and the throwback to Y2K’s hipbone-baring waistbands instantly make it extremely palatable right now.
Does it make it to the classroom and the dorm for fall 2022? Of course it does. There are already watered-down versions of the ultra mini pleated MiuMiu skirt at fast fashion outlets like H&M, Zara et compagnie. Not to mention really cheap versions and dupes online, at many price points.
Fall also brings us a plethora of varsity-inspired looks with sports team logos, baseball jackets and cheerleading squad classics. Once the cool days set in, those oversized rugby polos, letterman cardigans, and cable-knit cricket sweaters are cozy AF for walks on the campus and commuting to the library.
Nineties’ Minimal Shapes
Just after grunge made its splash on the streets and on designer runways in the early 90s, fashion became incredibly restrained and minimal, with a subdued palette. It was the sophisticated era of Calvin Klein.
Well, for fall and winter 2022-2023 that feeling is coming back. Pants are once again wider and elongated, blazers are the top of choice (paired, at times, with a feminine lacy bra or a metal jewelry bra), while smart, super minimal tanks are de rigueur. The palette? Think inky blues, subdued charcoals and dusty olives. Anything that feels relaxed and a bit elegant. We’re way past pandemic-dressing now, as garish prints and comfort as key looks have thankfully been relegated to a fashion history anomaly.
If you’re looking to bank on the new minimal look, get yourself a pair of fine wool boot-cut trousers, a thin-knit ribbed tank and a well-tailored blazer. They are available at every price point, and you can even find treasures in well-stocked vintage boutiques like Montreal’s Espace Vy (https://www.instagram.com/espacevy/).
Bodycon Is Still Very Much a Thing
It happens all the time: we go from one extreme to the other when societal change is needed. So let’s just say everyone was done and done with sweats, tie-dye and comfort, and wanted something definitely more body-hugging and sexy. Enter the corset, in much more forgiving fabrics and fit than in their heyday, at the beginning of the 20th century.
So no more fainting fits. Corset dressing in 2022 is not about conforming to an archetypal, ideal body type — far removed from anyone’s reality. We’re not in a burlesque show, either. It’s more about feeling confident, empowered, beautiful. And having fun while doing it! Plus, nothing says sexy like wearing your underwear as outerwear.
The inspiration? The current corset is much more Euphoria than Bridgerton. Think splashes of bright hues, metallic fabrics, flashy prints. Corsets are worn like a cami with pleated pants, coordinated with schoolgirl minis (see above), and even long circular skirts. Corsets as the perfect fun party top sprinkled with a bit of Y2K nostalgia dressing, while channelling a fun, sexy vibe.
If you remember, corsets were all over at the Met Gala edition of May 2022, when the dress code called for “gilded glamour.” At the time, Minaj joked about her striking Burberry look combining a black bustier gown with leather leggings, and a wide belt with a gold buckle cinching into a perfect hourglass shape the singers’ waist: “The only unplanned thing about my look is my boobs popping out, because they made my cup size a little small.”
Just make sure your corset look is the right size and fit for you, and enjoy making a splash for your back-to-school season!
