5 PROVOCATIVE TRENDS OF 2021

BY: Andy Shoulders

Sure, we could be like all the other fashion forecasts out there and give you just another “2021 trend watch” article, but that’s boring.  Here at PROVOKR, we want to talk about the more daring fashion trends we are seeing for this year.  Because what’s the fun in following all the trends if you can’t be a little louder than most?   Check out our picks of the five slightly more provocative trends we are seeing for 2021, and wear if you dare.

SECOND-SKIN TOPS

One big, daring trend (and quite possibly the biggest trend for 2021) we’ve noticed on the runways is second-skin tops.  What usually appeared as an undergarment is now standing alone and loud & proud as the main attraction.  Calling these tops “body-conscious” is still a misnomer, as these tops literally act as a second layer of skin.  They first made a splash in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s, and luxury brands like Marine Serre and Prada have reintroduced their own iterations for their latest runways.  Showing skin is so 2020.  Showing shape is what’s next.

BUBBLEGUM PINK

In the recent ongoing war against neutrals (the world is reopening, and so are our color palettes), perhaps no other color has emerged more victorious this year than bubblegum pink.  The tasty shade was all over the Spring/Summer 2021 runways (Valentino and Chanel were two bright spots), and it will definitely bleed into the fall wardrobes of the fashion set as well.  Pink is a color known to be universally flattering on everyone (the same reason women wear blush to give that “rosy glow”), and the specific shade of bubblegum pink is a pleasing, “healthy-looking” color to look at.  After the year we’ve all had, it makes perfect sense why this is 2021’s color of choice.

MICROSCOPIC MINISKIRTS

Not just miniskirts – micro-miniskirts.  We’re seeing the wristband-adjacent skirts everywhere from Miu Miu to David Koma, and the styling options are endless.  The more daring Instagram set will definitely be summer ready in this new barely-there fashion staple, most likely paired with a cropped tee to double down on the naked movement we’re seeing currently.  For those that want to incorporate the micro mini into more of the everyday lifestyle, pairing with an oversized blazer or button-down can help even out the proportions.

CHECKERBOARD PRINT

Eye-catching and graphic, checkerboard prints made a bold appearance on several 2021 runways.  The print has always been around and in style, whether in the form of summer-ready gingham to old-school plaid, but this year it seems to be taking the fashion world by storm like never before.  There’s a built-in nostalgia with checkerboard, namely due to the namesake game itself (Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit definitely helped with the recent renewed adoration), and the “cleanliness” of the print allows for pairing down with solids or taking it further with pattern mixing.  Take some notes from Dolce & Gabbana’s recent iterations of checkerboard for a myriad of styling inspiration.

BUILT-IN G-STRINGS

You’re probably thinking, “HUH?!”  And you’re not alone, trust us.  The exposed G-strings we saw raised up above the waistlines of the ‘90s and ‘00s (which gave rise to the fashion term “whale tail”) are back, but not as you once knew them.  This time around, the exposed thongs are actually attached to the clothes themselves, rather than being separate undergarments.  Think of this trend as the sassy younger sister to the cut-out dress, with exposed thong structures appearing on trousers, skirts, and jeans alike.  Much like bubblegum pink’s war on neutrals, the built-in G-string is also waging its own war on last year’s uniform of baggy and comfortable.  As people start to attend big events again, perhaps this is why the G-string trend has taken off like it has.