Pre-Fall is a season of consolidation, with such labels as Chloé, The Row, and Zero + Maria Cornejo doubling down on all sorts of ’70s tropes, from rock-star shearlings to tunic-and-trouser suits to baja shirts straight off the beach in Malibu. What it means for you: It’s time to invest in a flared skirt (floor grazing or cropped way above the ankle), and you might want to consider a long tube skirt as well. They looked directional over loose pants and pleated skirts at places like Rag & Bone and Proenza Schouler. Or you could go the other way entirely and opt for something thigh-high short. Tiny baby doll dresses à la J.W. Anderson and Calvin Klein Collection had a big moment, too.
The Pre-Fall 2015 Trend Report
DRUG RUG DELUXE
The drug rug got a major upgrade this season, thanks to ponchos that were hipper than your average head shop find. Chloé's Clare Waight Keller distilled globe-trotting glamour with a fantastic tasseled number, but for those who prefer a poncho with a little more polish, look no further than Cédric Charlier.
Photo: Courtesy of Chloé
Photo: Oli McAvoy / Courtesy of Zero + Maria Cornejo
Photo: Courtesy of 3.1 Phillip Lim
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth and James
Photo: Courtesy of Cédric Charlier
NEW LIFE FOR LEOPARD
Is it time to stow away the It girl faux-leopard coat? Just maybe. We were seeing spots in a whole new way at the Pre-Fall collections. Joseph Altuzarra whipped up a purple jacquard parka and matching pencil skirt, while Julie de Libran sent out a Parisian take on jungle print at Sonia Rykiel. Wild.
Photo: Courtesy of Altuzarra
Photo: Courtesy of Stella McCartney
Photo: Courtesy of Sonia Rykiel
Photo: Courtesy of Lanvin
Photo: Courtesy of Max Mara
DOLL PARTS
Would-be dolly birds, unite! Pre-Fall's most darling indulgence came in the form of baby doll dresses. Whether printed (Valentino and J.W. Anderson's floral numbers) or plain (Francisco Costa's dreamy white knit), their thigh-grazing hemlines made certain that these frocks were anything but saccharine.
Photo: Christian MacDonald / Courtesy of Calvin Klein Collection
Photo: Hirokazu OHARA / Indigitalimages.com
Photo: Courtesy of J.W Anderson
Photo: Courtesy of Valentino
Photo: Courtesy of Giulietta
IT'S THE FUZZ!
Designers cozied up to plush shearling pieces for Pre-Fall. Whether long and luxurious or shaggy and shorn, Mongolian lambskin took center stage in collections from Altuzarra to Burberry Prorsum.
Photo: Courtesy of Altuzarra
Photo: Courtesy of Stella McCartney
Photo: Courtesy of Gucci
Photo: Courtesy of Chloé
Photo: Courtesy of Burberry Prorsum
NIGHTTIME IS THE RIGHT TIME
The best kind of evening look is an unexpected one. This season, that's where Alexander Wang's minimal elegance, Christopher Kane's nouveau blooms, and Rachel Comey's unfussy fringe all come in.
Photo: Courtesy of Alexander Wang
Photo: Courtesy of Christopher Kane
Photo: Courtesy of Boss
Photo: Courtesy of Maiyet
Photo: Gus Powell / Courtesy of Rachel Comey
SPORTY SPICE
"Athleisure" may be a word currently burrowing its way into the zeitgeist, but Pre-Fall's sporty sensibilities would look out of place at Pilates. Instead, designers sent out sophisticated pieces that nodded quietly to the graphic appeal of, say, the Nike swoosh or Adidas' bars.
Photo: Coco Capitan / Courtesy of Paco Rabanne
Photo: Courtesy of Versace
Photo: Coco Capitan / Courtesy of Paco Rabanne
Photo: Courtesy of Michael Kors
Photo: Courtesy of Preen by Thornton Bregazzi
Photo: Courtesy of Rag & Bone
TWIN PEAKS
Pre-Fall saw suiting aplenty, but our personal favorite take was one that proved that Spring's '70s mania is still alive and kicking: the corresponding tunic top and flares. Thanks to labels like Derek Lam and The Row, matchy-matchy has never looked so good (bonus points for a statement belt à la Pucci).
Photo: Courtesy of Derek Lam
Photo: Courtesy of The Row
Photo: Courtesy of Emilio Pucci
Photo: Courtesy of Edun
Photo: Courtesy of Gucci
TWISTED TWEEDS
The uptown classic has come undone. Once the domain of prim suits, tweed now comes frayed, fringed, and fabulous at labels like Thakoon. Let the pearl-clutching commence.
Photo: Courtesy of Chanel
Photo: Courtesy of Fendi
Photo: Courtesy of Dsquared²
Photo: Courtesy of Maiyet
Photo: Courtesy of Thakoon
IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL
The season's dark horse silhouette? Offbeat combos of long-over-long, as seen in Proenza Schouler's doubled-up tube knits and Rag & Bone's knee-grazing sweater and vest layers.
Photo: Courtesy of J.W. Anderson
Photo: Hirokazu OHARA / Indigitalimages.com
Photo: Courtesy of Rag & Bone
Photo: Courtesy of Public School
Photo: Courtesy of Proenza Schouler
