“It’s euphoric,” says Shelly Corkery, Brown Thomas Fashion Buying Director, of the new season showcase presented this morning. Outlining the biggest trends and key pieces for spring summer 2022 across clothing, accessories and shoes, Corkery and her team didn’t have an easy task. Post Covid-19, the fashion scenescape has undoubtedly changed. Now, more than ever people will be looking to tastemakers to tell them what to buy – and how to wear it – as we push on with the new normal. 

In addition to clothing that will fit the bill for hybrid working and a return to going out, the biggest things customers are craving is a sense of refreshment. A shift to ‘What’s new?’ seems the perfect antidote to the mask mandates and restriction updates that have preoccupied our minds for the last two years. 

For Corkery and her team at Brown Thomas this was expressed through a colourful and diverse season. Corkery, who mentioned fashion moments such as the return of the skirt set and the interplay of masculine and feminine in some of the season’s best dresses, says it’s all about “colour” and “brightness” as well as “hyper prints and vibrant dyes”.

Main image: Multi-colour dress, Roksanda, €2,240 at Brown Thomas.

Pink blazer, Alexander McQueen, €1,990 and trousers, Alexander McQueen, €860 at Brown Thomas. 

This was culminated with a shoot, on the white-sand beaches of Fuerteventura, photographed by Perry Ogden and styled by Darren Feeney. The location is almost Mad Max in appearance, but the clothing couldn’t be further from dystopian. 

Not with the girlish dresses from Zimmermann, distinctive 1980s shapes from Erdem and Alessandra Rich, and flamboyant tailoring care of Alexander McQueen and Dolce & Gabbana. 

The majority of the 65 looks shown were a celebration of vivid colour. It meant the few monochrome pieces stood out all the more. A favourite here was a point collar, polka dot skirt suit by Erdem while a cap-sleeved Alaïa fit and flare black maxi-dress screamed restrained elegance.

Polka dot jacket, Erdem, €1,650 and skirt, Erdem, €1,495 at Brown Thomas. 

Blue mini-dress, Stella McCartney, €1,295 at Brown Thomas. 

One of the biggest trends touted is that of ‘psychedelic summer’ which sees hyper prints, such as those by Belgian designer Dries Van Noten, merge with vivid greens and impeccable tailoring. “The colour block vibes at Dries Van Noten, especially distinctive pieces like the jacquard mustard blazer and green trousers, are the ultimate everyday look,” says Aislinn Coffey, Style Editor of The Gloss.  

In a novel take on dressing up, beachy looks are adorned with sequins – this was executed masterfully at Loewe, designed by Northern Irish designer Jonathan Anderson. Details such as patchwork, crystal embroidery and decadent wallpaper prints nod to a bygone glamour of 1970s resort dressing. Spring’s woman is free spirited – or doing her best, at the very least.

Patterned cape, Balmain, €2,990 and jumpsuit, Balmain, €2,290 at Brown Thomas. 

Monochrome dress, Alessandra Rich, €1,755 at Brown Thomas. 

Nostalgia is a scream this season (those averse to the style of the aughts should avert their gaze now). In a nod to the early 2000s, waistlines are low slung – see Miu Miu and Dolce & Gabbana – with news that pin-up brand of the era Juicy Couture has been restocked by the department store this season. 

Entering the fold for spring summer 2022 are an exciting array of new brands including Copenhagen designers Cecilie Bahnsen and By Malene Birger who is joined by Alessandra Rich and current queen of sustainable dressing Gabriela Hearst (read more about Hearst here). Avid capsule wardrobe fans will delight in Wardrobe NYC, a brand founded by fashion editor Christine Centenera that celebrates low-key luxe. 

Meanwhile, going out is a big affair. If you do dress up, follow a few guidelines: the back of your outfit is a large focus, so embrace pieces that have a dramatic trail or train; secondly, volume is key – if your top or dress has a dramatic ruffle, then all the better.

There’s no doubt that fashion is in a fresh new place. Such uncharted territory could be a little daunting, however there’s an array of solid dressing options to distract – and to dazzle. 

www.brownthomas.com

Yellow top, Zimmermann, €795 and shorts, Zimmermann, €550 at Brown Thomas.