Fashion trends from 2021 we want to bring with us into 2022

Following a year of uncertainty and a lot of loungewear, many of 2021’s trends were defiantly bold and playful. We felt nostalgic when Y2K became the go-to look for off-duty models and goth romance dominated pop culture headlines as well as wardrobes.

Bags hugged shoulders and shrank to the most petite of proportions, while business dressing became so much more than just workwear. Cut outs began appearing in avant-garde places and skin-tight sheers suggested that sensuality was ready to be explored once more. 2021 might be behind us, but we’re not quite finished with its sartorial spoils just yet. Here are the trends that we hope will follow us into 2022…

Related: A wardrobe refresh: what we will be wearing in 2022

How small is too small when it comes to bags? 2021 didn’t seem to think there was a limit… The statement sac was the accessory of the year, and we welcomed everything from palm-sized pieces led by Jacquemus, to Loewe’s cylindrical pouch that transformed into a bracelet – not forgetting the revival of retro It bags, including the Fendi Baguette.

Happily, this collectable and universally wearable accessory continues to dominate SS22 collections. Chunky chains and metals contrast with tactile textures, pop art is a significant design influence, and the crescent moon – or slouchy hobo – shape is the one that everyone wants on their arm. While the mini was arguably the most-coveted size last year, for 2022, practicality appears to be back. But that doesn’t mean the end of pocket-sized pieces – at brands such as Ganni and Stella McCartney, you’ll find both mini and maxi versions of the same style, so you can even wear both at the same time for extra impact.

If Miu Miu’s newly-dropped SS22 campaign is anything to go by, the Y2K aesthetic isn’t going anywhere. Featuring the most extreme of crops and highest of hemlines – it is, after all, titled ‘Basic Instincts’ – the trend’s new direction looks to be even more divisive than last year.

If you aren’t keen on baring all, at least not at this point in the year, then why not experiment with some of the decade’s most versatile accessories instead? Chain belts, bicep bracelets and the aforementioned shoulder bags continue to gain momentum, and will add a spirited yet understated noughties nod to your time-honoured attire.

We predict that scarves will return in a big way too. Pop culture started getting creative with silk squares and bandanas in the nineties, but the accessory really bloomed in the early noughties when they were worn on the necks of indie girls and on the heads of pop stars. This generation didn’t invent the style though: headscarves, in particular, have been worn by icons for decades, from Ingrid Bergman to Audrey Hepburn. Current fans include the queen of Y2K dressing Bella Hadid and, of course, Carrie Bradshaw, who recently revived the look in And Just Like That.

While the world might've seen enough pop-punk PDAs lately, we’re enjoying the rebellious grown-up goth revival that’s been happening within fashion simultaneously. The Matrix Resurrections was released at the end of last year, four years after the last film in the franchise, which may have also inspired some major leather-on-leather looks. The material seems to be particularly popular in the form of tailoring at the moment, and what could feel more empowering than a full leather suit? Yes, goth business casual could well be the next hybrid trend we’re channelling.

Related: The 'Matrix'-inspired eyewear to skulk around in this winter

Related micro-trends include the evocative corset, which has been quietly having a moment for a few months now, marking the resurgence of the underwear-as-outerwear trend that we saw pre-pandemic. Bold eye make-up has been reappearing on the runways and the FROW too – actress Julia Fox was spotted sporting intense black graphic eyeliner during Paris Haute Couture Week, which she attended alongside Kanye West.

The 2010s are creeping back into the spotlight, with a bodycon dress revival that’s been pretty much confirmed by the second season of the glamorous American high school drama Euphoria – a standout look was Alexa Demie’s cut-out minidress paired with long gloves in the opening episode. Meanwhile, actress Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu who plays the nonchalant Sylvie in Emily in Paris, was pictured this week in a sheer green midi dress. Basically, sensual and party-ready dressing is still in, long after the festive season. The beauty of barely-there party wear is that it can look effortless underneath an oversized blazer or a trench, but as the night goes on, the pièce de résistance can be revealed in all of its glory. It looks like we’ll be wearing the trend well into summer too, with crochet pieces appearing in new collections by Ganni and Rotate Sunday.

The world couldn’t wait for normal business to resume in 2021, thus fashion brands made sure that we’d be kitted out appropriately. Maxi styles eased our transition from casualwear to workwear, however we should expect to see some more fitted cuts this season as designers continue to play with extremes.

The subtrends that accompanied these looks, from sweater vests to chunky mules, were in some ways more exciting though. As one of our favourite garments to come out of 2021, sleeveless knits worked with everything from jeans to tailoring and came in a spectrum of shapes and patterns. They have been spotted in several SS22 collections too, as businesswear is expected to become more academic. To rework the piece this year, try wearing it over an oversized shirt or dress – or hybrid of both…