The start of a new year always inspires a refresh on trends — it is the season of resolutions, after all. With the end of a decade, we were eager to summarize what made 2010’s fashion (Dad shoes, white sneakers; less recently, that whole era of the platform pump).
But what will define the next decade? A look at spring ’20 runways, the latest street style looks and even the start of the 2020 awards season red carpet provides some snapshots of what will, at the least, drive fashion in the coming year.
Here are 13 trends (some new, some crossing over from 2019) that are likely to dominate your fashion feeds in 2020.
1. A pop of sunshine
The look-at-me nature of social media has resulted in some tried-and-true tactics to get noticed, and bright colors are one of them. Hot pink is still having a moment and will likely trickle down to more mass brands this year. But both spring and pre-fall ’20 collections are full of sunny yellow hues. One or two pieces is all it takes, unless you’re brave enough for full-on banana monochrome.
A yellow dress and western boots at London Fashion Week, September 2019.
CREDIT: Shutterstock
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Yellow satin Balenciaga kitten heels at Paris Fashion Week, September 2019.
CREDIT: Shutterstock
Jeffrey Campbell Hurricane waterproof boot.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Nordstrom
To buy: Jeffrey Campbell Hurricane boot, $60.
Amina Muaddi Georgia glitter boot.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Farfetch
To Buy: Amina Muaddi Georgia glitter boot, $1,365.
Ulla Johnson Darby heeled sandal.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Shopbop
To Buy: Ulla Johnson Darby sandal, $395.
2. The Billie Eilish effect
The 18-year-old artist is a bona fide music phenom, but her body-unconscious style is equally groundbreaking, and fashion is following her lead. Oversized t-shirts, baggie pants and gender-fluid silhouettes may give new life to streetwear — especially for women.
A slouchy look at Shanghai Fashion Week in October 2019.
CREDIT: Shutterstock
Aleali May at New York Fashion Week in September 2019.
CREDIT: Shutterstock
Balenciaga Track sneaker.
CREDIT: Courtesy of MyTheresa
To Buy: Balenciaga Track sneaker, $570 (was $815).
Stüssy color block sherpa jacket.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Stussy
To Buy: Stüssy sherpa jacket, $160.
Stüssy color blocked sherpa pant.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Stussy
To Buy: Stüssy sherpa pant, $120.
3. Denim’s return
Nothing is more quintessentially American than denim, but the look has taken a backseat as of late to more tailored looks (looking at you, pantsuits). But if the past few months of street style are any indication, denim is poised for (another) comeback.
Xenia Adonts in a full denim look at Milan Fashion Week, September 2019.
CREDIT: Shutterstock
Denim on the street outside the Chanel spring ’20 show at Paris Fashion Week, October 2019.
CREDIT: Shutterstock
Coach Nettie clog sandal with denim upper.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Coach
To Buy: Coach Nettie sandal, $98 (was $195).
Isabel Marant Luam denim bootie.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Netaporter
To Buy: Isabel Marant Luam bootie, $365 (was $1,215).
Agolde Tatum denim jumpsuit.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Agolde
To Buy: Agolde Tatum jumpsuit, $248.
4. Square toes everywhere
One of the biggest shoe trends of 2019 will explode in 2020, as more mass fashion brands adopt the silhouette for spring, pre-fall and fall ’20 collections. Expect to see all versions, from unwieldy wide styles to pointy toe pumps that look like they were clipped.
Square toed leather boots by Balenciaga at Paris Fashion Week, September 2019.
CREDIT: Shutterstock
Trompe l’oeil square toed pumps at Milan Fashion Week, September 2019.
CREDIT: Shutterstock
Ganni square toe sandal.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Farfetch
To Buy: Ganni square toe sandal, $267.
Bottega Veneta stretch sandal.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Bottega Veneta
To Buy: Bottega Veneta stretch sandal, $840.
Staud Gita sandal.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Shopbop
To Buy: Staud Gita sandal, $325.
5. Apocalyptic boots
Combat boots were big in 2019, but you can expect them to get bigger, clompier and even slightly apocalyptic looking in 2020. The trend has Prada to thank, as its fall ’19 combat boots with ankle pouches were a street style favorite during fashion month in September and October. It’s also a men’s trend that has begun to replace the ubiquitous sneaker.
Gilda Ambrosio at Paris Fashion Week in September 2019 in Prada’s combat boots.
CREDIT: Shutterstock
A closer look at Prada’s utilitarian boots at New York Fashion Week, September 2019.
CREDIT: Shutterstock
Prada’s strapped patch platform combat boot.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Lane Crawford
To Buy: Prada combat boot, $1,815.
Both Gao lace-up rubber boot.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Netaporter
To Buy: Both Gao lace-up boot, $620.
Dr. Martens 1460 Rainbow boot.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Nordstrom
To Buy: Dr. Martens 1460 Rainbow boot, $130.
6. 2000’s mania
If the 20-year trend cycle holds, then 2020 is the year that the decade of Juicy Couture, rhinestones and low-rise pants returns. All three of those items have already crept back into the fashion vernacular, and it’s only January.
Bella Hadid at her birthday party in New York in October wearing a late 90’s/early 2000’s look.
CREDIT: Shutterstock
Velour trackpants and sneakers at Milan Fashion Week, September 2019.
CREDIT: Shutterstock
An early 2000’s esque look at Milan Fashion Week, September 2019.
CREDIT: Shutterstock
Staud’s Billie wedge in lime green.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Staud
To Buy: Staud Billie wedge, $275.
7. More ugly sandals
At New York Fashion Week in September, designers, editors, influencers and, well, everybody had comfortable shoes on the brain, on and off the runways. Expect to see more of the “ugly” (translation: comfortable, sensible, slightly chunky) sandal once temps rise again.
Prada sandals and socks at Paris Fashion Week, September 2019.
CREDIT: Shutterstock
Patent leather two-strap slides at 3.1 Phillip Lim spring ’20.
CREDIT: Shutterstock
Birkenstock’s Papillio platform sandal.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Birkenstock
To Buy: Birkenstock Papillio platform sandal, $220.
8. Return of the babydoll
Always a somewhat impractical silhouette for grown women, something about this fantastical silhouette feels right for now. You can thank Danish designer Cecilie Bahnsen for reigniting the craze with her ethereal gowns. Bahnsen has been pairing her babydolls with — you guessed it — “ugly” rubber sandals courtesy of Japanese sandal brand Suicoke, but they would also look at home with an equally chunky combat boot.
A babydoll dress from Cecilie Bahnsen’s spring ’20 collection — paired with thong sandals — at Copenhagen Fashion Week.
CREDIT: Shutterstock
A voluminous hot pink babydoll dress at Milan Fashion Week, September 2019.
CREDIT: Shutterstock
Cecilie Bahnsen Ronja tiered fil-coupé dress.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Matches
To Buy: Cecilie Bahnsen Ronja dress, $708 (was $1,416).
Cecilie Bahnsen x Suicoke sandal.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Net-a-Porter
To Buy: Cecilie Bahnsen x Suicoke Aurelia neoprene sandal, $475.
9. Tangerine dream
Another look-at-me hue that seems destined for Instagram, orange is a trending color for both men and women.
Paris Fashion Week, September 2019.
CREDIT: Shutterstock
Caroline Daur in a burnt orange leather trench coat at New York Fashion Week, September 2019.
CREDIT: Shutterstock
Unravel Project mule stiletto bootie.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Shopbop
To Buy: Unravel Project mule stiletto bootie, $231 (was $772).
10. Pantsuits stick around
Hillary Clinton’s sartorial legacy is still going strong into the new decade, and there are endless options, from monochrome color and patterns to the skirt suit. They’re worn with just about anything but we’re guessing that sneakers-and-suits will be swapped for suits-and-boots this year.
An oversized suit with white pumps at Paris Fashion Week, September 2019.
CREDIT: Shutterstock
Caroline Issa in a plaid suit at Paris Fashion Week, September 2019.
CREDIT: Shutterstock
& Other Stories blazer.
CREDIT: Courtesy of & Other Stories
To Buy: & Other Stories blazer, $129.
& Other Stories trousers.
CREDIT: Courtesy of & Other Stories
To Buy: & Other Stories trousers, $79.
11. Cardigans
Katie Holmes, one patron saint of ’90s fashion, may be singularly responsible for the return of this once-stuffy style. Matching sets and cropped fuzzy versions a là “Clueless” are making big comebacks. They’re the perfect match for square-toed mules and sandals.
A lavender cardigan set paired with denim at Paris Fashion Week, September 2019.
CREDIT: Shutterstock
Holmes in New York wearing a cashmere bra and cardigan set from womenswear label Khaite that went viral on fashion sites.
CREDIT: Joker / SplashNews.com
Vox Lux cropped fuzzy argyle cardigan.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Bloomingdales
To Buy: Vox Lux cropped cardigan, $128.
12. Tie dye
It’s been around since even before the original Woodstock and has had many a comeback, but this time around tie-dye wants a longer run. From Jonah Hill’s scumbro look in 2018 to his-and-hers by Justin and Hailey Bieber this fall and plenty of street style cameos, this pattern play refuses to quit.
An oversized tie-dye shirt paired with a bucket hat, wide leg pants and square-toed sandals at Milan Fashion Week, September 2019.
CREDIT: Shutterstock
An all tie-dye look at New York Fashion Week, September 2019.
CREDIT: Shutterstock
Superga tie-dye platform sneaker.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Shopbop
To Buy: Superga 2790 Fabric Fan Tie-Dye sneaker, $23 (was $89).
13. Ankle chains
Bottega Veneta had a few “It” shoes in 2019 that kicked off the square toe trend, but the Italian luxury brand is also ushering in a new era of anklets.
Bottega Veneta’s mesh pumps with a square toe and ankle chain, at Milan Fashion Week, September 2019.
CREDIT: Shutterstock
Bottega Veneta quilted sandals with the brand’s anklet at Milan Fashion Week, September 2019.
CREDIT: Shutterstock
Chan Luu tiger’s eye anklet.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Chan Luu
To Buy: Chan Luu Tiger’s Eye anklet, $125.
All products featured have been independently selected and curated by our editorial team. If you buy something through the links included on our site, FN may earn a commission.
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