There is always something brewing in the fashion industry, and this year was no less than a dramatic saga. We saw a major trend flashback with the rise of the Y2K aesthetic. And let’s not forget Valentino pink taking over every red carpet. Looking back, 2022 provided us with some iconic moments ranging from supermodel comebacks, big names getting dropped from brands to Indian designers making it big on the international level. So, let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit some of the biggest fashion moments of the year.
1. Alessandro Michelle Leaves Gucci
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After serving as Gucci’s creative director for seven years, Alessandro Michele made the decision to leave the company. Less than 24 hours had passed since rumours of Michele’s departure first started circulating. Because every one of us may have distinct perspectives, there are occasions when pathways diverge, according to Michele. “Today, a remarkable journey that has lasted more than twenty years and involved a company to which I have relentlessly given all of my love and creative passion comes to an end for me.”
2. Kim Kardashian’s Met Gala Controversy
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Kim Kardashian’s presence at the Met Gala set the red carpet on fire. But Kardashian made headlines for all the wrong reasons by donning the legendary Jean-Louis outfit worn by Marilyn Monroe at the 45th birthday celebration of US President John F. Kennedy in 1962. Kim is now accused of ruining the dress because it wasn’t fit for her body. Apart from the dress, she was also accused of promoting body image issues due to an intense fasting just to get into the dress.
3. Coperni X Bella Hadid Viral Moment
Bella Hadid‘s spray-on Coperni dress was the highlight of the spring 2023 fashion weeks and certainly the most iconic sight. The spray-on stunt was so popular that it became a viral Halloween costume this year, with fans of the runway look recreating it in various hilarious ways.
4. Patagonia Founder Donates Company
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Mr. Chouinard, his wife, and their two children have transferred ownership of the roughly $3 billion company Patagonia to a special trust and a nonprofit organisation rather than selling or going public. Mr. Chouinard said a statement, “I’m hoping this will influence a new form of capitalism that doesn’t end up with a few affluent people and a bunch of poor people. We are going to donate as much money as possible to people who are actively attempting to save the earth.”
5. Gaurav Gupta Goes Global
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6. Estée Lauder Acquires Tom Ford
7. Mathieu Blazy’s Debut Show For Bottega Veneta
Matthieu Blazy made his stunning debut as the new creative director of Bottega Veneta at Milan Fashion Week
8. Raf Simons Shuts Eponymous Label
After 27 years in business, Belgian designer Raf Simons’ eponymous label is closing. In the Instagram announcement, Simons wrote, “I lack words to describe how happy I am about all that we have accomplished. This has inspired an outpouring of support. I am thankful for the amazing support from my team, my colleagues, the media and buyers, my friends and family, and our loyal fans and followers.”
9. Rihanna’s Flamboyant Maternity Style
Bad Girl Riri’s pregnancy style made headlines this year as she became the captain of bump-baring troops. The singer’s outfit was anything but typically covered layers. Riri made all the heads turn in cropped co-ord sets, sheer lingerie as outerwear, low-waisted denim, and more.
10. Linda Evangelista Returns To Runway After 15 Years
Linda Evangelista made a triumphant return to the runway after 15 years, closing the Fendi show at New York Fashion Week.
11. Deepika Padukone Becomes The Global Ambassador For Louis Vuitton & Cartier
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It was a big year for Deepika Padukone as she became the global ambassador for Louis Vuitton in May, and she also joined the Cartier family in October 2022. She is the first Indian to be appointed as the brand ambassador for Louis Vuitton.
12. Timothée Chalamet’s Backless Halter Moment On The Red Carpet
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A custom Haider Ackermann ensemble consisting of fitting crimson pants and a matching backless halter top knotted artistically at the neck made the Dune star the talk of the red carpet during his Bones and All debut at the Venice Film Festival 2022. One fan tweeted, “Please take a moment to pause and appreciate what Timothee Chalamet does for the people.”
13. Kanye’s Fashion Downfall
This year, we saw a massive dent in Kanye West’s fashion career. Brands like Balenciaga and Adidas cut their ties with the rapper due to his problematic statements. Check all the companies that have decided to end their partnership with him here.
14. Kylie Jenner Pays Homage To Virgil Abloh
Kylie Jenner dazzled on the red carpet at the 2022 Met Gala, and her outfit was a tribute to the late Virgil Abloh. The reality TV star posted a touching statement on Instagram in memory of Abloh, who passed away in November at the age of 41 after a two-year struggle with cancer. Jenner posted, “Virgil and I were meant to go to the Met together until it got postponed in 2020,” alongside many images of her wearing the outfit from Off-White, the company that Abloh established.
15. Thierry Mugler Passes Away
The French fashion designer died at the age of 73. Mugler’s designs were worn by stars including David Bowie and Lady Gaga. He created many stage costumes for Beyoncé, and in 2019, he designed Kim Kardashian’s famous ‘wet dress’ for the Met Gala.
16. Harris Reed Takes Over Nina Ricci
Harris Reed is now the new creative director at the French fashion house Nina Ricci. The American-British designer–who at 26 is the youngest person ever to take the helm at the label–will be overseeing both fashion and fragrance.
17. Death Of Issey Miyake
The celebrated Japanese fashion designer known for his avant-garde pleated clothing and for creating 100 mock turtlenecks for Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, passed away from liver cancer in a Tokyo hospital at the age of 84.
18. Daniel Lee Is The New Head Of Burberry
Just a few days after Riccardo Tisci’s farewell fashion show for the British heritage brand, Daniel Lee was appointed chief creative officer of Burberry in September.
19. Ib Kamara Named Virgil Abloh’s Successor At Off-White
The multi-hyphenated Ib Kamara becomes the art and image director of Off-White™. Initial announcements were released over six months after Virgil Abloh’s passing. Having styled the label’s shows for many years, Kamara and Abloh have worked together on numerous projects throughout the years.
20. K-Industry Takes Over Fashion
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This was a major year for K-Icons. NCT Dream’s Jeno became the first K-pop star to walk the runway at New York Fashion Week in September, as part of Peter Do’s SS23 show. ASTRO’s Cha Eun Woo was named Dior’s South Korean ambassador joining Sehun from EXO.
21. Balenciaga’s Blunder
With toddlers cradling teddy bears dressed in bondage harnesses and costumes, Balenciaga debuted their holiday ad campaign in November. The BDSM accessories also appeared on the runway at Balenciaga’s Paris Fashion Week presentation. The hashtag #CancelBalenciaga started trending on Twitter and TikTok, and many people accused the company and its creative director Demna of supporting pedophilia and child exploitation in response to the photographs.
22. Thom Browne Is The Chairman Of The CFDA
The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) has announced that Thom Browne will take over as chairman. Tom Ford’s three-year term as chairman ended in May. The Board of Directors of the Council voted unanimously to appoint Browne to the chair.
23. Year Of Barbiecore
The fashion industry witnessed the first rise in popularity of Barbiecore’s revival. Hot pink become more trendy on red carpets and fashion runways. Valentino’s catwalk presentation for the previous season featured 22 totally hot pink outfits, making it the Barbie-approved colour.
Also, read our article on 18 Defining Pop Culture Moments Of 2022
