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12 Fashion Trends That Defined 2017

When they go low, we go millennial pink.

By Chelsea Peng

Nov 16, 2017

Fashion model, Clothing, Fashion, Runway, Street fashion, Outerwear, Spring, Footwear, Dress, Fashion show,

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The usual "writing year-in-review content" mood is "I can't remember last Thursday, let alone January," but not this time. No—in 2017, it's more "every moment was so excruciating not even years of therapy could erase the pain." But that sort of muscle memory is good for fashion, especially when you have to summarize the sartorial ups and downs of the past 365 days, as we've done here.

White, Clothing, Fashion model, Shoulder, Fashion, Dress, Waist, Haute couture, Fur, Gown,

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Ruffle-mania!

Ruffles, with their associations of smocked babydoll dresses and slow-dancing, say "you're doing amazing, sweetie," even if you aren't. At least that's the vibe this Alessandra Rich gives off, and plenty of other designers who incorporated the sweet, movement-friendly embellishment in their collections this year.

Pink, Textile, Art, Dress, Stock photography, Photography, Picture frame, Illustration, Style,

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Ruffle-mania!

Gucci

Shop similar: Missguided, $28.50

BUY IT

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Ruffle-mania!

Christopher Kane

Clothing, Pink, Fashion, Haute couture, Dress, Fashion model, Fashion design, Event, Street fashion, Style,

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Pink, of the Millennial and Non-Millennial Varieties

Few will be able to utter that phrase without cringing, but the stenographer of time (tough gig) will confirm that this is what we did in 2017. Here is Gigi Hadid wearing whatever-shade-you-like Nina Ricci.

Fashion show, Fashion model, Fashion, Runway, Clothing, Shoulder, Pink, Dress, Public event, Event,

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Pink, of the Millennial and Non-Millennial Varieties

Céline

Pink, Clothing, Dress, Street fashion, Shoulder, Fashion, Eyewear, Sunglasses, Cocktail dress, Fashion model,

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Pink, of the Millennial and Non-Millennial Varieties

Jessica Alba in Narciso Rodriguez

Shop similar: Cinq à Sept, $425

BUY IT

White, Clothing, Pink, Fashion, Yellow, Street fashion, Leg, Sari, Photography, Trousers,

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Stripes

Whether one central stripe across the chest on a tracksuit a Victoria's Secret Angel would wear on the plane or a bunch of really tiny ones zigzagging around Tamu Macpherson's very billowy pant legs, stripes burrowed themselves deep into the aesthetic of this year. Why? Could be that they're a sure bet in an uncertain time. Or it could just be that they're...stripes.

Street fashion, Clothing, Fashion, Snapshot, Leg, Fur, Leather jacket, Jacket, Human leg, Footwear,

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Stripes

Kate Bosworth in Antonio Marras

Shop similar: Roger Vivier, $1,750

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Clothing, Pink, Outerwear, Fashion, Blazer, Jacket, Suit, Photography, Cardigan, Neck,

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Stripes

Chloë Grace Moretz in Victoria Victoria Beckham

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Creative Shirting

On the other, riskier hand, striped button-downs got chopped up and sewn back together again, a bit like Frankenstein's Monster but way better-looking. There's a 9/10 chance you bought something resembling this Monse number this summer.

Shop similar: Monse, $1,490

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Creative Shirting

Ann Demeulemeester

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Creative Shirting

Sacai

Shop similar: Sacai, $420

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Western Front

Henry Holland showed cowboy boots (a shoe trend of the year), Calvin Klein did those ranch-hand shirts with the contrast pockets, and pretty soon, others will follow. Get thee some boots, ya hear?

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Western Front

Calvin Klein

White, Clothing, Leg, Pink, Fashion, Dress, Footwear, Sitting, Thigh, Human leg,

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Western Front

Cinq à Sept

Shop similar: Topshop, $160

BUY IT

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Red

This one seemed to have been agreed on without the input of the Corporate Fashion Illuminati, but designers might've conferred amongst themselves, given how much red showed up on 2017's runways. Here's Fendi.

Clothing, Outerwear, Red, Fashion, Street fashion, Academic dress, Overcoat, Mantle, Coat, Fashion show,

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Red

Dolce & Gabbana

Shop similar: Forever 21, $50

BUY IT

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Red

Giambattista Valli

Fashion, Tartan, Fashion model, Clothing, Fashion show, Runway, Pattern, Plaid, Kilt, Textile,

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Checks and Plaid

The print: you know. The twist: acidic colors and unexpected tailoring. (And just so you know, the designer here Bottega Veneta.)

Runway, Fashion, Fashion show, Fashion model, Clothing, Tartan, Pattern, Design, Human, Plaid,

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Checks and Plaid

Tome

Fashion model, Fashion, Clothing, Fashion show, Plaid, Tartan, Street fashion, Beauty, Pattern, Runway,

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Checks and Plaid

Stella McCartney

Fashion model, Runway, Fashion show, Fashion, Clothing, Fashion design, Event, Footwear, Human, Outerwear,

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Arts and Crafts

With all the patchwork and crochet, the point is to acknowledge the artist's hand but in an inventive way that suggests the whole thing is much more *elevated* than a simple, "I crocheted this over the course of a year" affair. Take this Public School suit, for example.

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Arts and Crafts

Valentino

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Arts and Crafts

Dolce & Gabbana

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Anti-Corporate Suiting

Just as clothes in general got comfier, so too did suiting, of all things. In texture and in cut, matching blazer and trouser sets got a softer makeover, like this long-line guy from Zimmermann.