Fall/Winter 2020 fashion trends are truly the ones who got away. Thanks to Miss Rona, these runway looks will likely spend more time on IG feeds than in closets. Major bummer, seeing as this season was 🔥🔥🔥.

For a quick lesson in fashion, the looks you see on the Fall/Winter 2020 runways were designed months ago. In fact, trend researchers and fashion designers began dictating what would be hot on FW 20 runways around 2 years ago. Despite being designed way before the chaos of 2020, some of the trends seem eerily spot on.

Consider this your cheat sheet to the best Fall/ Winter 2020 fashion trends the season had to offer.

Gloves

No trend proves our case for fashion premonition quite like this one. Designers insightfully predicted the looming global pandemic while offering a high-fashion take on PPE.

The look is more 50s dinner party than doctor's office— a couture take on our accessory de jour. At Miu Miu, Saint Laurent and Valentino, leather gloves were a staple accessory. They were also seen at Marine Serre, Rodarte, Versace, and Ulla Johnson to name a psychic few.

Get the look: Bright leather driving gloves + all-black outfit

Knit Bra Tops

Loved by hypebaes and French-girls alike, the knit bra top has become a growing trend over recent years. This season they were seen at Jacquemus, Off-White, and Yeezy— three brands with cult-like online followings only predicted to grow as fashion goes online.

Unlike summery crochet bras, the knit bras on the fall runways were in classic sweater knits and cozy fall fabrics. Perfect for transitional weather and playful layering. C'mon, who can complain about a trend where you don't even have to wear a bra.

Get the Look: Bra top + oversized blazer + boyfriend jeans.

Woodstock Frocks

Thanks to the growing cottagecore movement on Tik-Tok, Woodstock-worthy 70s dresses feel fresher than ever. Consider it the perfect garment for embracing the 5 lbs of banana bread weight you just gained.

This season, designers stayed true to the piece's hippie roots with predominantly patchwork and paisley prints— fall's version of tie-dye. Paired with suede outwear at Chloé, layered necklaces at Etro, and tall leather boots at Ulla Johnson the look had clear Stevie Nicks connections.

Get the Look: Boho midi dress + slouchy tall boots + red lip

Matrix Leather Coats

Channel your inner spy in one of Fall/Winter 2020's sleek leather coats. For classic all-black looks check out shows by Erdem, Fendi, Ferragamo, Khaite, and Miu Miu. For a less literal take on the Matrix-inspired trend, try an oversized relaxed fit like one shown at Balenciaga.

Don't shy away from colored leather options either. Or leather anything for that matter. Leather serves as an overarching trend of the season. If you're craving color, check out the runways at Prada and Stella McCartney.

Get the Look: Leather coat + white tee + boyfriend jeans

Chain Accents

If you haven't already jumped on the chunky chain bandwagon, the time is now. A favorite choice on the fall runways was the chunky chain purse straps seen at Ulla Johnson. Peep Alberta Ferretti, Balmain, Chloe, JW Anderson, Off-White, Sacai, Saint Laurent, and Stella McCartney for more.

Inspiration for the fall jewelry trend can be traced back to old-school hip-hop jewelry popularized throughout 80s and 90s fashion, so check out icons like Aaliyah and LL Cool J for styling inspo.

Get the Look: Add layered chain necklaces to any outfit; the chunkier the chain the better.

Bubble Hems

If you didn't wear a bubble hem dress to at least one middle school dance, then you must not be a millennial. Thankfully, this season's voluminous silhouettes were far chicer than the ones we wore back then.

The voluminous hems mirrored the puffed sleeves that were also popular on 2020 runways. Designers like Oscar de la Renta and Simone Rocha made the style feel brand new again.

Word of Advice: Hold off until a time when you’ll actually wear the trend

Hot Tamale Red

Cherry red was the season's hottest (literally) color to try for your next monochrome look. To avoid looking like a human Hot Cheeto, stick to luxe fabrics and sleek styling.

Unexpected fabric choices helped pack even more of a punch and helped distinguish each designer in the sea of red. Bottega Veneta played with lace. Christopher Kane and Valentino experimented with sequins. Saint Laurent went with vinyl. At Alberta Ferretti it was ruffles. And Molly Goddard her now-signature tulle.

Word of advice: Start with a casual red hoodie you’ll wear well into spring.

Fashion-Forward Wellies

ICYMI, Zeitgeist is based in Seattle, so we know a thing or two about waterproof footwear. If you haven’t already added a pair of chunky-soled Wellies to your wardrobe, this winter is the time to do it.

Thankfully, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Dior, Prada, and Versace gave us plenty of drool-worthy options to wear this winter. Paired with everything from jeans to professional pantsuits to eveningwear, the season’s Wellies showed a surprising amount of versatility.

Word of Advice: Ditch boring black for a brightly-colored pair that turns heads.

Monochrome Black

As designers shift away from short-lived seasons and towards more sustainable alternatives, monochrome black looks have never felt more relevant. Unlike short-lived seasonal colors, these all-black outfits will last for years and years to come.

Check out shows by Balenciaga, Balmain, Brandon Maxwell, Chanel, Givenchy, Jil Sander, Lanvin, Off-White, The Row, Valentino, Versace, and Victoria Beckham for outfit ideas.

Get the Look: Black hoodie + black yoga pants + black sneakers

Blazer Fever

After sticking to our WFH outfits for months we're aching for business professional outfits again. Weird right? Thankfully, designers treated our inner Employee of the Month to plenty of statement-making blazers and 80s-inspired power suits. (Alexander McQueen, we're looking at you.)

Belting was popular at Brock Collection, Carolina Herrera, Michael Kors, Miu Miu, and Prada. Per usual, minimalism reigned supreme at Jil Sander and The Row.

Word of Advice: Elevate a basic black blazer with a cinched leather belt.

Equestrian Chic

The equestrian-inspired looks from this season were a welcome departure from the western trends of years past. Instead, the look was very après riding lesson chic.

Brandon Maxwell, Brock Collection, Etro, the ever-equestrian Hermès, Khaite, Tods, Tory Burch, and Victoria Beckham took to the trend. At Chanel and Self-Portrait, the trend was more literal thanks to the black-velvet riding caps that topped off the looks.

Word of Advice: To avoid looking yeehaw, ditch the cowboy boots and opt for knee-high riding boots instead.

Midriff Cutouts

Will going out outfits ever be a thing again?? IDK about you, but we're ready to hit our favorite bars and wear our favorite night out lewks again. Don't worry. We won't be actually be going IRL anytime soon. (cough, cough @Florida)

Midriff cutouts started as an early 2000's fad, so it's no surprise they’ve made their way back to the runway this year. Since Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner have both been adding this Y2K style to their recent rotation, you know it’s about to be big. Peep the runways at Balmain, Brandon Maxwell, Jacquemus, Khaite, Marni, Mugler, Off-White, Prabal Gurung, and Proenza Schouler.

Word of Advice: Keep the rest of your 'fit ultra-modern to avoid looking overly early 2000s.

Tassels & Fringe

We’ll admit, fringe used to be a no-no in the Zeitgeist rulebook. In the 2010s fringe felt a little too influencer at Coachella or Forever 21 attempts western. This fall, fringe felt far chicer. Perhaps even minimalist??

Gabriela Hearst and Jil Sander showed minimalist fringe done right. For statement-making fringe, see Dior, Dries van Noten, Oscar de la Renta, Prada, Rodarte, and Stella McCartney.

Word of Advice: A tassel-trimmed silk scarf is the perfect accessory for a summer 'fit.

Crystal Fringe

Yeah, we did just talk about fringe. And yeah we are about to talk about how crystal fringe is arguably the best Fall/Winter 2020 fashion trend.

The shimmering looks at Area, Burberry, JW Anderson, and Salvatore Ferragamo have us dreaming about the dance floor at Bowery Electric. What better place to wear crystal fringe than under a disco ball dancing the night away??

Word of Advice: This statement piece is worth investing in. While the fast-fashion variety is guaranteed to fall apart after a night out, a high-quality metallic piece will last a lifetime.

Oversized Fur Coats

This fall it's all about BFE, Big Fur Energy— BDE's fashionable little sister. Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Celine, Coach 1941, Dries Van Noten, Isabel Marant, Moschino sent long wool coats and shearling outerwear on this season's runways. Just to name a few.

As an increasing number of designers shift away from animal products, there were faux-fur coat alternatives galore. Take the always-eco Stella McCartney as a shining example.

Word of Advice: Stick to a neutral palette for maximum impact.

Sweater Vests

This season's sweater vests are surprisingly cool. The growing streetwear trend is thankfully less suburban mom and more rebellious teen raids suburban mom's closet.

Dior and Prada's cool-girl styling puts their shows at the top of our list, but check out Etro, Gucci, and Lacoste too. The trend was just as popular for the Spring 2021 season too.

Word of Advice: Pair with streetwear sneakers or sexy heels to keep your sweater vest youthful.

Images courtesy of Vogue Runway.

The Fall/ Winter 2020 Fashion Trends We’ll Be Wearing For Seasons to Come