Collection Review: Key

Items – Women's Evening &

Special Occasion S/S 22
An energising mood evoked a glamorous sentiment across
this seasonʼs shows, while versatility and hi-lo styling
remains key for the category

Christa Kaufmann
10.27.21 · 5 minutes

Dries van Noten

Market analysis
While the joy of dressing up is also mirrored at commercial level, the party and
occasionwear category is currently blurring the lines between day and
eveningwear, as assortments that can be dressed up or down remain a priority.
Pieces that offer cross-category appeal and a fun element for multiple occasions
are key
As highlighted in our Wedding Party S/S 22 Design Capsule, day parties,
picnics and weddings have emerged as a key opportunity, leading designers to
embrace an optimistic mood via # gardenparty florals and # powerpastels
Although S/S 22 catwalks focused heavily on partywear, featuring sparkling
surfaces, sequins and embellishment, don't over-index, as these finishes should
be reserved for true, high price-point occasionwear pieces. Instead, look to
simpler ways to create dramatic silhouettes via cutouts, asymmetric draping and
necklines such as the halterneck

Sharon Wauchob

1
Test or invest
Back tops and experiment with sparkling surfaces, sensual details and new colours to grab attention at a lower entry price-point. Move the minidress to the forefront and
drive volume in a variety of styles that offer multiwear appeal from day to night. Incorporate easy-to-wear owing dresses familiar to many consumers and imbue
with summer orals and mood-lifting colours. Introduce slinky body-skimming silhouettes and offer smaller quantities of elevated sets for a variety of occasions.

Test Invest

Koché Valentino Cinq à Sept Giambattista Valli 3.1 Phillip Lim

01 02 03 04 05
Elevated set Long slinky dress #gardenparty dress Minidress Occasion top

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The occasion top
Consider tops an easy entry point to occasionwear and use them as a vehicle to trial attention-grabbing
details, materials, colours and new styles. From #underwearouterwear-inspired corsetry styles to off-the-
shoulder tops and sparkly surfaces, upgrade tried-and-tested silhouettes with a glamorous and sensual
edge. Pair with tailored trousers or a simply cut skirt for a contemporary hi-lo styling effect.

Ruf es Corset Camisole One-shoulder Sparkly embellishment

3.1 Phillip Lim Alexandre Vauthier Gauchere Christian Siriano Stella McCartney

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The minidress
With consumers wanting to dress up again and parties back on the agenda, the minidress continues its
upwards trajectory from last season. Echoing a nostalgic sensibility of past eras mixed with a contemporary
edge, abbreviated styles are upgraded through colour, volume and material.

Long sleeves Fringing Colour-blocking Voluminous Metalllic

Cinq à Sept No. 21 Giambattista Valli Valentino Versace by Fendi

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The #gardenparty dress
With the return of celebrations, romantic dresses cater to consumer demand for styles that can be worn on
multiple occasions such as garden parties, weddings and vacations. Explore a variety of  owers, from
folded stencilled blooms and garden pigments to classic ditsy orals, to transform summer dresses into
commercial winners, or opt for #gelatopastels for a modern take on this vintage-inspired trend.

Gathered seams Garden pigments Corset construction Ditsy print Foil-print orals

Cinq à Sept Jason Wu Alexander McQueen Paul & Joe Prabal Gurung

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The long slinky dress
As form- tting silhouettes are gaining new relevance, slinky dresses that gently skim the body and can
atter any silhouette are key for your occasionwear offering. Opt for styles that can transition from day to
night. Feature cleverly placed cutouts, drapes and splits to inject a sensual edge and drive items into the
partywear category.

Hardware Slip dress Softly draped Metallic Cutouts

Jonathan Simkhai Jason Wu Loewe Versace Valentino

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The elevated set
The pairing of matching separates offers striking head-to-toe looks while offering multiwear appeal for
casual and formal celebrations, as separates can be paired with any existing wardrobe. Explore tailoring in
#powerpastels and add glamour to minimalist lines with a subtle sheen and metallics. Tap into the rising
trend for #noughtiesnostalgia with the skirt suit and halterneck top, appealing to the younger consumer.

Halterneck Pastel suit Clueless skirt suit Short suit Minimalist sheen

Koché Del Core Chanel Jason Wu Gabriela Hearst

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Action points
Carefully balance your occasionwear range
around versatility while offering newness
Opt for styles that can be easily dressed up and down
to offer multiwear appeal and lower the price per wear.
Include new shapes, colours and materials attuned to
your market to grab the consumer's attention, while
boosting an upli ing mood in-store and online. Tops
and matching separates are a good entry point to
provide newness and tease consumers
Tempt consumers with small quantities of
sparkling statement looks
As the desire to party continues to grow, offer
attention-grabbing occasion and partywear pieces that
feature metallic surfaces, sequins, fringing or
embellishment in limited batches. Source eco-friendly
materials and include detachable embellishments to
create multipurpose items that provide statement
appeal
Introduce a slinky and sensual edge to
partywear 
With younger consumers embracing body positivity and
seeking opportunities to party, self-empowered
sexiness is gaining new relevance. Incorporate shorter
hemlines, cleverly placed cutouts and form-fitting
silhouettes