A fashion trend refers to a clothing movement that is massively adopted over one or two seasons, driven by fashion shows, the streets, and social media. This season, the guiding principles can be summarized in three axes: clean silhouettes, a return to natural materials, and a marked preference for flat shoes. The style is built less around spectacular pieces than around thoughtful combinations of sustainable basics and characterful accents.
Archival fashion: the vintage piece as the pivot of the seasonal look
Thrift stores and resale platforms no longer serve solely to find cheap clothing. A more precise movement is emerging: archival fashion, which involves integrating a designer piece from past collections as the central element of a current outfit.
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A Céline blazer from the Phoebe Philo era, a Jean Paul Gaultier top from the 2000s, or a Dior dress from a past season become the centerpiece around which everything else is organized. The principle is simple: one strong piece, surrounded by neutral basics.
This approach contrasts with the logic of the total seasonal look. Rather than completely renewing one’s wardrobe, one invests in a unique piece that transcends the seasons. The looks constructed on Eleganzia’s fashion page illustrate this logic of association between contemporary pieces and carefully chosen vintage accents.
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Archival fashion works particularly well with structured jackets, iconic handbags, and patinated leather accessories. The vintage garment brings a texture and cut that current collections do not always replicate.
Flat shoes and chic style without heels: the real shift of this season
The most noticeable shift observed on the streets this season, particularly in Paris, is at the feet level. Flat shoes are gradually replacing heels in seasonal looks, without sacrificing elegance.
Three categories dominate:
- Thick-soled loafers, worn with wide pants or midi skirts, providing an effortless preppy look
- Round or square-toed ballet flats, making a strong comeback after several seasons of absence, ideal with a flowy dress
- Thin-strapped sandals, which work well with both jeans and long skirts for warmer days
This shift towards chic without heels reflects a pronounced need for comfort. The silhouette is no longer built by height but by proportions: well-cut pants, a defined waist, and flat shoes that elongate the stride rather than the leg.
Colors and materials to prioritize for a seasonal wardrobe
Earthy tones and pastel shades form the dominant palette. Beige, sand, powder pink, and off-white create a neutral base upon which bolder colors can be layered. Butter yellow, spotted on several spring-summer runways, emerges as the chromatic accent of the season.
In terms of materials, linen, thick cotton, and poplin take precedence over synthetics. Natural fibers worn over several seasons meet a demand for sustainability that goes beyond mere trend: French legislation is now pushing in this direction, with a progressive financial penalty targeting ultra-fast fashion and its rapidly rotating volumes of clothing.
This regulatory constraint, adopted by the National Assembly, accelerates a shift towards pieces designed to last. A cotton gabardine trench or a blended linen pant represents a better investment than a trendy polyester piece meant to be worn three times.
Combining neutral colors and a strong piece
The most reliable rule to avoid missteps remains that of ratio. A look composed of neutral colors can support only one saturated piece in color or pattern. Conversely, an ensemble already loaded with floral or geometric prints benefits from being tempered by understated accessories.
Butter yellow, for example, works well on top (blouse, light sweater) paired with a neutral bottom. Worn as a total look, it requires impeccable tailoring to avoid tipping into excess.
Structured silhouettes and wide pants: the cuts that define the season
The barrel cut of jeans, wider at the thighs and tapered at the ankle, asserts itself as the key pant cut of the season. It is gradually replacing slim and straight cuts in wardrobes, adding volume without sacrificing the sharpness of the silhouette.
Colorful cropped jackets and short trenches complete this vocabulary of shapes. The principle remains the same: controlled volume on top, generous volume on the bottom, or vice versa. The silhouettes that work this season play on the contrast of proportions rather than uniform adjustment.
- Structured cropped jacket worn with high-waisted wide pants: the contrast of volumes creates a sharp look
- Oversized sweater half-tucked into barrel jeans: the relaxed fall is kept in check by the visible belt
- Flowy midi dress paired with loafers: the length and flat shoe elongate the silhouette without artifice
These combinations do not require a considerable budget. A well-cut pant, a jacket of the right length, and quality flat shoes are enough to lay the foundation for a coherent seasonal style. The rest, an archival piece, a colorful accessory, a timely print, comes to enrich without weighing down.
The most sustainable trend this season is not a specific piece but a method: building around three or four solid elements rather than accumulating impulsive purchases. French regulations on fast fashion and the rise of archival fashion converge towards the same conclusion, that of a wardrobe where each piece has its function.