Spring/Summer 2022 Womenswear Trend ReportSpring into the know — and new — this season with our top-line take on the latest collections landing instore and online at Harvey Nichols

Words by Naomi Pike

Photographer, Thomas Cooksey; Creative Director, Natalie Brewster; Fashion, Sophie Henderson.

Welcome to the new season

It’s not often that a season, with its vast wealth of collections, offers a singular, overarching theme. But, for Spring/Summer 2022, this was the narrative that unfolded as designers presented a united front of positivity and prosperity. From New York to London, Milan to Paris, storied houses and contemporary labels alike put forward messages of encouragement to breed joy and make sartorial choices that feel as good as they look. In reality, this resulted in bright and bold colour palettes dominating the story, with microtrends that run the gamut from rediscovering the millennium era’s cut-out fantasy to an artsy, craft-focused look at all-things tactile.

Here, Harvey Nichols breaks down this season’s must-know trends and spotlights the pieces you need on your wish list. Get ready for Spring/Summer 2022.

Left: Dress, By Malene Birger; Bag, JW Anderson; Earrings, Alighieri. Right: Dress, Petar Petrov; Baseball cap, Stella McCartney | Coat, Amiri; Bags, Jacquemus.

Citrus Appeal

The bright and the bold thrive in this full-throttle focus on citrus shades. From 16Arlington shirting to colour pops from Petar Petrov, no item is excluded from this invigorating approach to tonal dressing. Get ready to energise your summer wardrobe staples as shades of lemon, lime, tangerine and even apple (yes, the whole fruit bowl) enliven summer go-tos. For those who are more comfortable in a cocoon of beige and black, standout accessories in these vibrant shades are the gateway to this emboldening trend. Think of this as serotonin for your style.

Left: Dress, MISHA; Bag and shoes, Givenchy. Right: Top and trousers, Bevza; Earrings, Paco Rabanne | Top and trousers, Courrèges; Shoes, Gia Borghini.

Cut it Out

Get ready to bare all as the midriff takes centre stage. The mood is future-facing, but with a knowing glance to the Y2K era. Contemporary brands like Bevza, MISHA and Elleme lead the way, while French heritage label Courrèges and its twenty-first century reimagining offers more than enough inspiration for this hot take. Cut-outs are best executed with a sleek sense of monochromatic minimalism, then embellished with steely hardware. There’s a no-fuss toughness to this take, but inclusion is in. Peek-a-boo pairings are for everyone to try, with this trend running close to the catwalks’ timely embrace of body positivity and acceptance. Yes, the mini dress is the obvious entry point but don’t disregard the likes of knitwear and shirting for cut-out credentials either.

Dress, Acne Studios; Cardigan, Elder Statesman.

Artisanal Leanings

Headed up by Gabriela Hearst’s work at Chloé, the thinking woman is looking to prioritise a sense of craftsmanship with her pieces this summer. For some, this might mean choosing knitwear with homespun details, or selecting finishing touches that demand a second glance. Craft is cool as designers turn to the tactile, prioritising process and practice in doing so. These clothes look good, feel good and, as is the case for many, do good. Discover a new appreciation of technique and touch with JW Anderson, Acne Studios, Marques' Almeida and Christopher Esber, who are also in on the season’s cerebral celebration.

Left: Top, Siedrés; Trousers, 16Arlington; Shoes, Paris Texas. Right: Top and trousers, Siedrés; Shoes, Aquazzura.​

Candy Crush

This season’s positive sartorial stance comes down to one thing: the colour palette. The case for colour is never bolder than with the sweetest shades of the rainbow, and Stella McCartney has this covered, giving blazers, boiler suits, knits and sneakers the candy crush treatment. For those looking for a more conceptual take, it’s straight to Loewe for you. Get ready to take on this trend with gusto as the runway pieces that have filled Insta feeds become available for your wardrobe. Or, allow this colour palette to guide you to new designers, like Siedrés, which is new to Harvey Nichols this season. For now, it’s out with monochrome and in with a kaleidoscope of popping pigments as sweet as a summer sorbet. Delicious.

Bag, JW Anderson; Shoes, Paris Texas.

Blush Hour

Think pink this season. No longer just a shade packed with girlish connotations, pink is now a veritable wardrobe staple. For Spring/Summer 2022, it’s all about blushing up through your accessories. Whether you're choosing Paris Texas’s knee-high boots or the metallic redo of the Balenciaga Le Cagole, this trend is best worn as you might wear a neutral shade – mixing and matching to update your favourite pieces and summer must-buys.

Left: Dress, Petar Petrov; Shoes Paris Texas. Right: Dress, JW Anderson; Shoes, Bottega Veneta.

The Joy Of (The) Dress

If you’re looking to invest in a single hero item this summer, make it a joy-inducing dress. Not only a grab-and-go solution, these pieces are also intended to mood-boost the mundane and bring a sense of occasion to the foreseeable. The Spring/Summer 2022 dress directive is all about styles that take on bold prints and geometric patterns, delivered in strikingly simple silhouettes.

Jacket, Merryl Rogge; Denim, Magda Butrym; Shoes, Ancuta Sarca.

The New Guard

As we welcome the new collections into the fold, we’re also ushering in a fresh set of brilliant designers to Harvey Nichols. LVMH Prize semi-finalist Meryll Rogge is at top of the list here. Get ready to fall for her mash-up take on contemporary womenswear that blends the classic with the modern and the printed with the sculptural. Elsewhere, allow the brilliant Milan-based Jezabelle Cormio’s eponymous line of joyous knits and natty take on denim to embolden your wardrobe. Other just-in brands of note are BEVZA, Anna Quan and Siedres for Spring/Summer 2022 collections that are sure to help you to rediscover the joy — and art — of dressing.

From the world's most established designers to the best cult names to know now, discover Harvey Nichols womenswear.

Photographer, Thomas Cooksey; Creative Director, Natalie Brewster; Fashion, Sophie Henderson; Model, Molly Smith at IMG; Model, Emmanuelle Lacou at The Hive Management; Hair, Yumi Nakada Dingle at Management Artists; Makeup, Sandra Cooke; Nails, Chisato at Caren; Casting & Creative Production, Chloe Medley.