Less than three months before the new year, you might be tempted to overlook 2022's biggest fashion trends in favor of a 24/7 sweatpants existence until 2023. Lucky for you, soft clothes are a piece of the style puzzle. That said, they’re not the only items on deck.
Nostalgia is the name of the game.
With Y2K fashion peaking higher than ever, the remainder of the year has plenty of fun trends in store. Spotlight-stealing attire with a joyous mood is taking over ahead of the holidays, from vivid colors and prints to bold silhouettes like bubble dresses, volume tops, cut-outs galore, and ultra-low rises on pants and skirts.
Accessories are in on the fun, too. Think: chunky-AF platforms, rainbow-bright bags, and a more-is-more jewelry aesthetic combining beads, pearls, and rhinestone-decked baubles. Oh, and if your 2022 resolution was to adopt a new signature color, you better make it purple — it’s the 2022 hue in all tints, from Pantone’s Very Peri color of the year to saturated violet and lavender shades.
Ahead, a deeper dive into 2022's biggest fashion trends to fit before the year ends. Naturally, with an edit to shop.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
2022 Fashion Trend: Sweats 2.0
Whether an oversize, fleece-lined jogger is your jam or you’re more the elevated soft-pants type, preferring knitted flares and flowy culottes, leisurely bottoms continue to be a 2022 constant, mostly thanks to the continuation of hybrid work setups.
Victor Glemaud Wool Flared Leg Pants, $, available at Saks Fifth Avenue
Cuyana Washable Silk Wide-Leg Drawstring Pant, $, available at Cuyana
2022 Fashion Trend: Voluminous Silhouettes
From oversize shirting to ballooned silhouettes and a continuation of the puff sleeve trend, dresses and tops will retain their volume through the end of the year. If anything, the latter will spice up all the soft pants you’ll probably still be rocking on the bottom.
Carolina K Kendall Blouse, $, available at Carolina K
Dôen Meribel shirred floral-print cotton-voile midi dress, $, available at Net-A-Porter
Good American Tapped Poplin Shirt, $, available at Good American
Rebecca Taylor Pleated Romper, $, available at Rebecca Taylor
2022 Fashion Trend: Platform Shoes
From sky-high heels to flatforms, loafers, ankle-strap heels, boots, and even clogs, this year's most popular shoe silhouette is amped up for a throwback-inspired lift. So, go ahead and give your micro-heels a break — 2022 is all about chunky soles.
Melissa Farah Platform Mary Jane, $, available at Nordstrom
Katy Perry Collections The Uplift Buckle Platform Pump, $, available at Nordstrom
Simon Miller Vegan Platform Bubble Clog, $, available at Simon Miller
Brother Vellies Empire Platform Boot, $, available at Brother Vellies
2022 Fashion Trend: Low-Rise Pants
Dipping wayyyy below the belly button, the low-slung pant and micro-mini skirt are back in full force. If you're not the snug ‘n’ stretchy thong-revealing style type, embrace the look via low-slung denim, leather pants, or cargos á la Jennifer Aniston in the ’90s.
Urban Outfitters UO Peachy Low-Rise Mini Skirt, $, available at Urban Outfitters
The Ragged Priest Low-Rise Baggy Jeans, $, available at Free People
Ester Manas Asymmetric Drape Skirt Black, $, available at The Webster
With Jean Tommy Cargo Pant, $, available at With Jean
2022 Fashion Trend: The Color Purple
From Pantone’s calming Very Peri to more saturated tones with a regal air, pieces tinged with purple are everywhere, so lock in your signature hue before it's too late.
Ganni X Levi's Western Blouse, $, available at Ganni
Hanifa Miya Knit Cardigan Dress, $, available at Hanifa
ALOHAS South Bicolor Lilac Boot, $, available at alohas
Simple Retro Ruby High Neck Purple Knit Sweater, $, available at Simple Retro
2022 Fashion Trend: Regencycore, Continued
Corsets, pearls, lady cardigans, and prim florals show no signs of a slow-down. Embrace this form of head-to-toe elegance for polished occasions like work or a party. Or, flirt with the trend with a single frilled piece combined with leggings and sneakers.
Reformation Twilight Dress, $, available at Reformation
LoveShackFancy Cropped Tweed Cardigan, $, available at Saks Fifth Avenue
Maje Cotton Shirt with Small Flower Print, $, available at Maje
2022 Fashion Trend: Cutouts
No shame in the cutout game. Skin is still in, and cleverly-placed cutouts on dresses, tops, even the occasional low-rise bottom will stick around as part of the Aughts 2.0 fashion movement.
Oak + Fort Cutout Blazer Dress, $, available at Oak + Fort
Autumn Adeigbo Solid Keiko Blouse, $, available at Autumn Adeigbo
2022 Fashion Trend: Bra Tops
Pshh to real shirts, right? Whether dressing comfy at home or making a bolder statement for a night out, the bra has officially reached “real top” status. Layer yours under a shacket or oversize blazer for balance.
Bevza Seashell Pleated Satin Bra Top, $, available at Intermix
Paloma Wool Consuelo Organic Cotton Blend Bra Top, $, available at Nordstrom
Jonathan Simkhai Aeris Bra Top, $, available at FWRD
Everlane The Seamless Bra, $, available at Everlane
2022 Fashion Trend: Bright Bags
Orange, pink, yellow, green, and bright blue are just a few ways to get in on the rainbow-bright bag trend. If not a single color to accent an outfit, go for a two-tone design or one swirling in several shades.
By Far Dulce Shoulder Bag, $, available at Revolve
Coach Pillow Tabby Shoulder Bag 18, $, available at Coach
Brandon Blackwood The Syl Bag, $, available at Shopbop
Charles & Keith Ridley Chain-Link Boxy Bag - Mustard, $, available at Charles & Keith
2022 Fashion Trend: Mod Print
From A-line mini skirts to near-dizzying motifs — butterflies included — designers nodded to the ’60s on the runways while adding a dash of Y2K nostalgia to the pot. So, embrace your inner print mixer by combining bold with bolder (think: jacquard knit sweater and swervy skirt to start.
When I tell you boots are the key to a chic ensemble, it's true. The shoe is a wardrobe staple that instantly makes you look put-together, and there are countless options to choose from. For instance, you have your classic black booties, ankle boots that might be an inch or two higher, and sky-high thigh styles. But the perfect balance between this vast selection is knee-high boots. The best knee-high boots are comfy, effortless to pair with any laid-back matching sweatsuit or your collection of fall dresses, and have a bit of spunk to them. Plus, the tall height will shield you from any unwanted brisk drafts that flow by unlike shorter boots.
Therefore, knee-high boots are an essential piece to invest in. Although the prices could well dip into the $500+ category, we've compiled a list of affordable silhouettes and luxe footwear that fits any shopper's budget. We also understand that the versatility of knee-high boots is endless, so we've scoured the internet for only the best ones. Our picks range from leather boots with relaxed lug soles to fashion-forward animal prints to Western-inspired versions and the classic sultry-heeled pair.
So take your time and browse the 20 styles to add some flair to your boots lineup.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
Part of TikTok’s compulsively watchable appeal is the FYP’s ability to show you new things that also feel like exactly what you were looking for, you just didn’t know it yet. Like when I stumbled on a viral video from a runner who had found the impossible: Running shorts that don’t ride up. When Erin Azar — also known as Mrs. Space Cadet, the “professional struggle runner” — appeared on my TikTok feed, I felt like the algo hit hard. As a person who is often unmotivated to finish any sort of creative or personal task, the literal push I was seeing from Azar and her runs really got me emotional and inspired (Azar is also hilarious, so there’s lots of giggling too). She also often reviews running gear, including the elusive shorts that won’t ride up.
Off-screen, Azar is a mom living in Pennsylvania, who started running as a way to stay active and improve her overall well-being. Her training sessions are everything you actually imagine runs to be: sweaty, unglamorous, gnarly, the whole ordeal. (But, not to worry, there are moments of pure joy peppered throughout her journey too.)
“I was feeling mentally and physically unhealthy after having my third baby,” Azar writes in an email to Refinery29. “I ran a mile out of desperation because I needed fresh air and movement. It helped my anxiety and exhaustion a bit so I kept going.” And go she did — eventually, Azar signed up for a marathon as a way to keep herself on track with her exercise routine. “I’m someone who quits everything I start, so signing up for a marathon was a way to force me to keep running even on days when I didn’t want to,” she explains. Azar recently finished her third marathon in Chicago and declares there’s “no going back.”
As you can imagine, Azar has been testing and wearing a ton of activewear — and the post that had me gripped was her search for flowy shorts that don’t ride up. (Relatable.) The post has low-key gone viral, with 1.3 million views to date, probably because it’s nearly impossible to find shorts that truly don’t, as Azar would say, “get gobbled by your thighs.”
Interestingly enough, Azar tells me she only wears bike shorts when she’s marathon training because she can’t have things flopping around in her pockets (bike shorts keep things contoured to her legs). But, for any other physical activity like walking, running errands, strength workouts, yoga, or going to the beach, she prefers flowy shorts so that her legs can breathe.
“I almost always wear a size large but women’s sizing is so unhinged, so a Lululemon size 10 for me translates to a large in some brands but XL in others, especially the ‘knockoff’ products,” Azar says of how she goes about what pant sizes she wears and tests, noting that she has an “enormous rant” stored up about the problems with women’s sizing. Since that can make it hard to give recommendations to viewers, her workaround is to “generally just show my body, share what size I wear, and hope that provides enough value and info for my followers to make informed decisions about what size might work for them.” Ahead, watch Azar’s TikTok video and shop the three flowy shorts she has tested (complete with brisk walks, squats, and high kicks) that remain, for the most part, unsucked into the vortex of the inner thighs.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy or click on something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Welcome to Fashionably Black!, a style and culture guide for Black people highlighting the cultural moments, pioneers, and conversations we’ve always been a part of! Putting a magnifying glass to style & self-expression, Fashionably Black! explores the many ways we are the history, we are the fashion, and will ALWAYS be. We’re not trending, we’re true.
Have you ever been the only Black person in the room? Did you not realize that you were any different until it was blatantly pointed out? And at that moment, did you feel the need to camouflage yourself in the overwhelmingly white space? Fashion editor, 2 Black Girls (2BG) co-founder, and newly-published author Danielle Prescod has been there. In her debut memoir, Token Black Girl, she recounts of growing up in Connecticut and having to navigate through one of the country’s whitest communities.
Prescod doesn’t hold back her honesty as she shares vulnerable instances from her past. Because of where she attended school, the author was frequently exposed to white-washed pop culture via the television shows, films, and magazines that her white classmates would discuss in the hallways. This made her feel as though she needed to shrink the parts of her Black identity that she felt would be misinterpreted or not easily understood. That mentality continued as the years passed, leading Prescod to become obsessed with working toward a position within the fashion and beauty industry.
Throughout Token Black Girl, Prescod maps out exactly how being forced to assimilate from a young age prepared her for the strenuous work environments she would later endure as an adult. Being made into a token Black girl was toxic and emotionally taxing. At the same time, it helped her focus on growing professionally, giving her the tools to climb the proverbial ladder in the media space. Now, as she looks inward and faces the emotions she buried all these years, she’s finally able to confront the deep consequences of white supremacy in her life. Ahead, she shares with Unbothered the emotional motivators behind unpacking this trauma through a memoir, and what she hopes readers are able to take away from her relatable story.
Unbothered: Why was it important for you to reflect on your upbringing and share how your foundation inevitably shaped your future?
Danielle Prescod: A few years before I’d written the book, I had been in therapy. I had really started taking it seriously and decided to stop lying to my therapist. One thing that my therapist would constantly talk to me about was self-love. I obviously love myself, so I didn’t understand why she kept bringing it up, but what she was trying to highlight for me was that I didn’t love myself unconditionally. I only loved myself conditionally — if I had the kind of job and title that I wanted, if I looked exactly how I wanted that day, if I was wearing the clothes that I want, and if I was controlling every aspect, then I could love myself. But, if I was just existing, I couldn’t! So I was looking inward and going back to the times my self-esteem had been affected, and figuring out why I needed all these things to fully accept myself as an adult.
Working in fashion and beauty, do you think it’s beneficial for us to attempt to climb the corporate ladder or play the long game even though we often experience microaggressions in these spaces?
DP: I can’t tell everybody, “This is what you should do.” But, for me, if you really think about the trajectory of my childhood and my career, I was groomed to be in the white spaces. I never expected to go into a workplace or to a school and see a majority of people of color; I always expected to see mostly white people because I had been shown that from a very young age. I do think that I was able to use that to my advantage in instances where I faced microaggression. I dealt with mean white girls in school, and that didn’t deter me away from my goals at the time. I don’t even know if I would do anything differently.
What do you want Black women to leave with after reading your memoir?
DP: One reason I wrote this book is that I hope girls who are younger than me read this and understand that they need the vocabulary to put a name to things that they are feeling in these spaces, like micro-aggression. As I was coming up, there were no spaces for me to ask questions, and if I could go back I’d want there to be more resources and spaces talking about this. I want them to understand that the pressure they’re putting on themselves all comes from the same place. It’s all in response to white supremacy. What should we be? What are we supposed to be? Who we are is totally acceptable as Black women. Just because we are Black does not mean we’re a monolith or that we fit into one box.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
