Just as trends change, the rules in the world of fashion have been transformed in 2021. Renowned brands such as Gucci, Balenciaga, Versace and Fendi have come together to create exclusive collections that any lover will love. of fashion I would lose my head. Online sales, on the other hand, increased significantly, leading several companies to close physical outlets en masse.

Diversity was more echoed on the covers of renowned publishing titles, and gender barriers became so thin that pieces like crop tops and pearl necklaces are now part of the men's wardrobe. We invite you to review the events that changed the course of fashion this 2021 and that will mark a new direction for next year.

1. Unity is strength

Collaborations between fashion brands are nothing new. Usually, it is common to hear about alliances between luxury firms and massive labels, such as Versace and H&M, or Dior and Nike. However, exclusive houses came together this year to launch special collections that every fashionista would fight for.

Photo: Courtesy Gucci

“Aria”, the name given to the collaboration between Gucci and Balenciaga, was made up of two-piece dresses and suits with special attention to tailoring and volumes, but with nods to the seventies and bondage. A few months ago, Fendi and Versace did the same with "Fendace", a proposal made up of 25 looks that fused iconic elements of both firms (such as the "FF" logo and the famous jellyfish). What stamps will surprise us this 2022?

2. Renewed fashion shows

The sanitary measures applied in different countries led a series of fashion houses to present their collections in a more intimate way, with a reduced number of attendees. The Chanel house, for example, held its spring-summer 2022 show in a smaller space than what we are used to. Firms like Ralph Lauren and Saint Laurent made the decision to abandon the official fashion weeks and bet on showing their proposals in private events or via streaming.

Photo: Courtesy Chanel

In our country, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Mexico chose a hybrid format for the SS2021 season and recovered face-to-face fashion shows in its most recent edition, although in open spaces and with less attendance compared to previous years.

3. No one is indispensable

Successful designers at the helm of luxury houses were sacked suddenly, making it clear that no one has a secure place in the world of fashion .

Photo: Instagram @paulandrew

It was recently announced that Daniel Lee, former artistic director of Bottega Veneta, was stepping down after three years, during which time he once again turned the brand's accessories into objects of desire. Around his departure, rumors arose about racist comments, which the Kering group (to which the label belongs) denied. On the other hand, designer Paul Andrew left the Salvatore Ferragamo brand after almost five years. The chair game never stops in the fashion industry and opens up new chapters in these luxury homes.

4. New ´covergirls´

Diversity had a strong echo on the covers of the most recognized publishing titles. Leyna Bloom became the first transgender model to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated's swimsuit special, the biggest issue of each year. The British edition of Vogue chose Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai as its July cover, while the American team made history by featuring, in their September Issue, a motley crew of young people, including a black mannequin, an Asian woman, a transgender and two 'curvy'.

Photo: Courtesy Elle

In our country, Elle magazine opted for the model with Down syndrome Ellie Goldstein for its February cover, in addition to devoting its entire June issue to the LGBT+ community.

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5. The hybrid style triumphs

Among the few good things that the pandemic has brought us is a relaxation of dress codes for the office. The home office led women to look for comfortable but, at the same time, presentable options to be in front of the camera.

Photo: Courtesy Zara

That is why, now, formal clothing is reserved for the upper part of the body (shirts, blouses, blazers, and light jackets), while from the waist down, lighter pieces are used, such as wide skirts and relaxed fit cotton trousers. Regarding footwear, leather sneakers, flat sandals, ballerinas and heels of less than five centimeters are preferred. Everything seems to indicate that the comfy style (a mixture of comfortable clothes with other formal ones) is here to stay.

6. In favor of the planet

Fashion and beauty firms intensified efforts in favor of the environment. The luxury house Gucci launched a special collection of vegan leather sneakers, whose composition included 77% raw materials of vegetable origin. In his spring-summer collection, Louis Vuitton reflected on overproduction and waste, which is why he used recycled fabrics from previous collections.

Photo: Courtesy Louis Vuitton

Beauty brands like Aveda upheld their commitment not to test their products on animals and not to use parabens or mineral oils in their formulas. Also, in April, a short film called Save Ralph went viral, exposing the suffering experienced by different species used to test cosmetics.

7. No more gender barriers

In its autumn-winter proposal, the British firm Burberry presented various skirts for men, as well as shirt-style dresses. At another time, surely, this would have scandalized social networks.

Photo: Courtesy Dazed

However, more and more fashion labels (from Adidas to Gucci) are breaking down gender barriers in their collections. The crop top, for example, experienced moments of glory thanks to Bad Bunny and the Olympic medalist Tom Daley. Pearl necklaces became the preferred accessory for singers like Shawn Mendes, Maluma and Harry Styles, who also risked wearing high-heeled shoes, colorful stoles, and even launched a genderless makeup line, made up of nail polish and facial care products.

8. The power of influencers

After a year on hiatus due to the pandemic, the Met Gala returned in style, but in a more private format. In addition to the reduced number of guests, the coveted seats at this event were filled by a new generation of content creators (from TikTok, Instagram and YouTube).

Photo: AFP

Influencers such as Addison Rae, Emma Chamberlain and Nikkie de Jager were among those invited, while the event was co-hosted by actor Timothée Chalamet, singer Billie Eilish, poet Amanda Gorman and tennis player Naomi Osaka, none older than 25 years old and all with a strong presence on social media. The goal was clear: attract a wave of young viewers and get a lot of likes.

9. E-commerce on the rise

With the pandemic, online sales intensified in different sectors, including fashion. Currently, mobile devices account for 66% of online purchases of clothing and accessories, according to data from the behavioral marketing company SaleCycle.

Photo: Courtesy GAP

The Gap brand, for example, saw a 40% increase in sales through digital media during the first quarter of this year. As a consequence, physical store closures have increased in various countries. This same fashion label expected, at the beginning of 2021, to stop operating at least 75 physical points of sale. A few weeks ago, the Sears chain closed its last store in Illinois, the United States, the state where it opened its first department store in 1925.

10. Irreparable loss

Sadly, two fashion geniuses lost their lives this year. Designer Alber Elbaz, who was Lanvin's creative director for more than a decade, has died of complications from Covid-19. He was responsible for bringing splendor back to this house in the 2000s and making the dress the most coveted piece of the wardrobe.

Photo: AFP

A few days ago, the Louis Vuitton firm announced the death of the artistic director of its men's line, Virgil Abloh, who since 2019 had been secretly fighting an aggressive cancer. The success of his collaborations with brands like Nike, as well as his own Off-White label, lay in knowing what the young public wanted to buy. It also showed that luxury and urban culture can go hand in hand.

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