Top Trend: Fringe is at Fashion’s Center Stage

If in your mind “fringe” rhymes with “cringe”, allow us to reintroduce you to this trend, which definitely has much more to offer than just a costumey Pocahontas style,  retro cowboy jackets or the curtains at your grandma’s house.

Fringe is a fashion staple that is deemed desirable again every few seasons or so, and most of us plead guilty of owning at least one fringed item. Be it a subtly fringed suede handbag, or a slightly more conspicuous piece like a leather jacket with fringes along the sleeves and back. And it is true that discrete and casual fringed pieces are a good bet if you don’t feel like diving in feet first into this embellishment and adorning your outfit in an abundance of  floor length colorful strands. However, the fringe feature we’re most excited about right now is just that: extravagant, statement fringes.

In fact, designers have seized on the vast possibilities that the trend offers and have delivered a genuine fringe festival this season: they come in all lengths, colors, fabrics and places. Basically there are no fringe rules and therefore no risk of infringement! With that being said, let’s fringe it up, shall we?

Jil Sander, Sally Lapointe, Chanel

In case you are looking for an easy way to make office wear less bland and more sophisticated, fringe might be just the ticket. A perfect example is the all-white ensemble by designer Sally Lapointe. It’s an understated fringe style, but one that is still making a hell of a statement. The model is wearing a clean, minimalistic white tank top and loose trousers, with no other accessories than XXL hoops and white pointy pumps. Yet all the magic happens around her waist, where a wrapped belt is adorned with a thin chain, and, what makes the whole outfit stand out: its magnificent range of white fringes. We couldn’t think of a better outfit to illustrate the phrase “Less is more”.

The designers at Jil Sander also used fringe to take an outfit to the next level. Indeed, the combination of a loose white blouse, white flats and navy jodhpur pants would be commonplace and boring if not for the white crochet knit overlay, embellished with fringing so long it brushes against the floor. It instantly elevates an uninteresting normcore ensemble to one with dazzling allure in just one step. Did we mention this trend was great for lazy days?

The Nina Ricci brand used the power of fringe to great effect and proved what an amazing impact a touch of fringes can have. Designer Guillaume Henry mixed cycling shorts with a bold, puffy-sleeved shirt. Both pieces came cut in a neutral navy fabric, and only accessorized with minimalistic silver sandals. The outfit as it stood could have been dull, if not for the super long navy fringes, attached to the shirt that brought movement and gracefulness to the silhouette. Chanel, on the other hand, introduced fringe as a means to modernize its iconic swinging sixties tweed ensembles, alongside with some PVC accessories in the form of see-through over-the-knee boots and rain hats. One garment, a bralette and a mini skirt worn under an oversized jacket, had frayed hemlines and revealed some skin, making the look even more fierce and revolutionary.

Acne Studios, Celine, Paco Rabanne

The Céline fringed look is nonchalant and minimalistic at its best, but doesn’t fail at making a statement. Case in point, an earthy taupe dress that was simply wrapped around the body and held together by a thin link tied around the neck. The dress would have been super simple and commonplace if not for the massive, thick, row of fringe that covered up the entire lower part of the body. It absolutely pulls the look together, giving it a raw, almost unruly and wild edge.

Last but not least, at Paco Rabanne designer Julien Dossena delivered a delightfully over-the-top version of a fringed dress. One that was reminiscent of pompom girl getup that had a very simple t-strap cut, that was contrasted by the glittery silver fabric and extra long fringing that make up the lower half of the dress. It’s glittery, regressive, and fierce, so what’s not to love!

After watching the Spring/Summer 18 shows, we’ve come to the conclusion that everything can be fringe-able with the right dose of resourcefulness and boldness. We can already picture all the swishing and twirling that will occur this summer, and no doubt we’ll join the movement. Friends, the time has come to free the fringe!

Marta Indeka

After studying Marketing at ESSEC Business School, Marta has recently joined Launchmetrics driven by the desire to engage in what thrills her most : fashion. When not scrolling through runway pictures or debating about prospective trends, she enjoys exploring new places in search of hidden gems.