I’m not generally one to follow trends (I really just like to wear what I like to wear). BUT occasionally, I’ll get curious to see what is trending for the next/current season. And when I REALLY dive in, I get SO inspired. I probably should have shared the below round-up of trends for Summer 2020 with you all last time instead of my Summer Capsule wardrobe, but funnily/coincidentally/strangely enough, I included several of the trends in my capsule wardrobe - see if you can find them!  

Today, I’ve rounded up the top trends from the Spring/Summer 2020 shows via various outlets, and am sharing my takes on them. I’ve linked resources at the end in case you want to do your own research/inspo gathering/deeper dive. And when you are done, let’s talk about it! Hit us up on social @thebackrack or @bottesdeleanor - I’m ALL about fashion dialogue! 

Vogue (US and UK) had a really interesting take on the Spring/Summer Runway; it was all about sustainability. The fashion world is growing and evolving a lot lately in response to shifting consumer demand and preferences, and that is great! But how can an ages old institution hope to survive if they aren’t listening to their consumers? From the article ….”as one of the most polluting industries on the planet struggled to get with the climate crisis programme…Clever repurposing/upcycling plus a shot of novelty will keep us coming back for more…”* It also sounds like fashion houses will continue to stick to their strengths: Tuxedo suits - Saint Laurent, Tweed - Chanel, to name a few, but hopefully in a more sustainable … fashion :) 

Anyway, check out the trends pulled from the Spring/Summer 2020 Runways (I’ve also included current pieces in the Back Rack shop that may inspire some trendy, sustainable, summer fashion for you)! 

Neon - I was so happy to see Neon as an “official” trend for summer. I’ve been wearing that neon orange pencil skirt I shared with you all last time for years now, so happy everyone is getting on board with its “healing” powers. 

A few of my favorite looks from the shows:

     
Courrèges; Moschino; Jacquemus

If you did a quick scan of your closet, and don’t see neon (and tbh, it’s pretty tough to miss), check out this dress from the shop - I love the subtle neon cross-stitch!

Shop here

Shorts Suits - I’ve occasionally thought about risking it and wearing a short suits to my day job, but actually, never went through with it - we are a pretty casual environment, but still not a “shorts to the office” level of casual. HOWEVER, with our indefinite remote work in place, short suits it is! No one needs to know I am wearing shorts in our video conference, although, they will now, but with shorts like these (or something similar), who would care?

    
Max Mara; Michael Kors; Marco de Vincenzo 

All White - here’s another one I shared last time - all white - summer whites just really are that classic, but below are some fun takes on it.

Alexander McQueen; Louis Vuitton; Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood

Cut-outs - No offense to anyone who likes this trend (seriously), but personally, I can’t believe we are back here again - here’s why: I remember the Summer of ’11 as “the summer of cut-outs”. I had just moved home from teaching English in France: Didn’t have a job, or a serious one at that, had also just discovered fashion bloggers and blogging and gotten really into DIY (again). I made several regrettable dresses with cut-outs and wore those all summer, thinking I was the coolest ever. Silver lining, I learned from that fashion “don’t”, and now know, a subtle cut-out is best (at least for me, a woman in my 30s). Although, how easy and fun would a few petal cut-outs and a super high slit be on a plain dress (lookin’ at you coral Gucci dress - middle)?

    
Emporio Armani; Gucci; Mary Katrantzou Rick Owens

Speaking of subtle cut-outs, check out these two great tops from the shop! Perfect the way they are styled here with denim shorts, but I can see them paired with a summer suit, jumper or pencil skirt. 

Shop here 

Trench coats - these never go out of style, so I’m not sure why they were listed as a trend, but I think the news was around new colors - none of which I included below because the styling wasn’t very inspired, but now that I think of it, styling a trench coat as a dress, without looking like a flasher is an interesting challenge. 

         
Alberta Ferretti; Celine; Louis Vuitton; Paul Smith 

Denim - Another no-brainer, but it was more about the ways in which designers used denim - Bermuda shorts, up-cycled and denim-on-denim styling. Another denim trend that emerged (for me, at least) - the DIY denim - bleached, slashed, chopped! Check out the below bleached out denim look.

    
Givenchy; Christian Dior (DIY); Isabel Marant

And you all know TBR has the best denim in OHIO (possibly America), so be sure to snag a pair of denim shorts for your summer! 

 
Shop here 

Underwear as outerwear - I wore a ton of corset-inspired tops back in the day - ie college and just after college (basically the same time as my cut-out phase, so was it really “the summer of cut-outs and underwear as outerwear”?), so I’m excited about a more elevated way to style this trend. The runways had some great inspiration, but I already know I’m not the most comfortable with sheer only. 

    
Jacquemus;  Ashish; Ann Demeulemeester

I love the below top from the shop for a vintage, but modern take on this trend. 

Shop Here 

Button-Downs - I know I’m new around here, but I hope it’s already evident my love of button-downs. I will wear a button-down instead of a t-shirt any day, sometimes/most times to bed. They are so versatile; it’s insane. However, I can see how wearing a button-down as much as I do can become boring, so happy for the runway inspiration of how to style button-downs this season. Something Vogue UK called out in their article about this trend: there was a look from the Row (that I didn’t include in my round-up, which is a shame because I LOVE Mary-Kate and Ashley and also the Row has some amazing basic pieces) that got everyone’s attention because it included pieces that were likely already in their closets. SO be sure to give your closest a once over for button-downs that can be styled in new, fun ways. 

       
Versace; Valentino; Alberta Ferretti

Not that I need to add any button-downs to my collection, but if this one sits in the shop much longer, I might have to snatch it up. 

Shop here 

Seventies (Re-Re-Re-Run) — I was actually surprised to see a 70s trend for spring/summer, because we/I usually see it pop in the fall/winter. However, I was not mad about seeing a yellow suit from Marc Jacobs!

    
Marc Jacobs; Paco Rabanne; Louis Vuitton

If you don’t see anything 70s inspired in your closet/you aren’t ready to commit to a yellow, designer suit, this dress is available in the shop - I love the print, but also the versatility - wear it as a dress, with some suede boots and a chunky necklace and giant bag or floppy hat, or as a top, with some wide-leg denim (might I suggest bell bottoms?), and platform heels, to really go for that 70s feeling. 

This dress has since sold out of the shop, but keep an eye out for something similar (in your closet, or the next time you are out thrifting). View more photos here 

There are so many thoughts I have on all of these trends, but will leave it at this for now. Let me know what you think! 

And stay tuned, because next week, I’m going to style up some looks using pieces from my closet that will hopefully inspire you to take a second look in your closet to see if you already have things that could follow these trends (if that’s what you are in to).

_Abby

Resources:

*Vogue UK: https://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/gallery/spring-summer-2020-trends

Who What Wear: https://www.whowhatwear.com/spring-summer-fashion-trends-2020 

Vogue US: https://www.vogue.com/article/spring-2020-womens-fashion-runway-trend-report