From Sheer Sequins to Bold Prints: 6 Maximalist Spring Trends to Try Now
As the fashion aesthetic has swept the web, you can’t scroll the internet without coming across the terms “quiet Luxury” and “old Money,”. Don’t get me wrong. As much as anyone else, I love good staples. The overwhelming popularity of minimalism is almost in opposition to its ethos, which is about choosing items that will outlast trends. A wardrobe that is too full of basics, while minimalism might be in vogue, can make me feel a bit bored. Fashion is all about finding the perfect balance.
You can escape the quiet luxury trap by taking some risks with your spring clothing. You don’t have to be a maximalist in a day. If you are in dire need of a rest, you should opt for some bolder spring trends. To give you a much-needed break, I spent countless hours combing the spring/summer runway collections of 2024 to identify the six most maximalist trends. There’s something for everyone, whether you want to spice up the basics or are a staunch anti-minimalist.
Launchmetric Spotlight (Image credit): Pictured are Tory Burch, Calcaterra, Dries Van Noten, Schiaparelli Versace Prada
Maximalism’s guiding principle is that “more is better” – embracing as many prints, textures, and colors as possible. You may not know where to begin when it comes time to wear this aesthetic if you have never adhered to the maximalism principle. Then, embellished clothing enters the conversation. Designers used trimmings in their new-season collections to add a special touch to everyday silhouettes. Schiaparelli and Dries van Noten, for example, covered classic separates like tailored blazers or trench coats with chain hardware and tiny sequins. Calcaterra’s sheer white pants and black button-down looked ordinary from a distance, but up close, the embellishments were everywhere. Then there were the collections of Prada, Versace, and Tory Burch, which covered classic dress silhouettes in beading and chain netting. Each look was embellished differently, but the common thread seemed to be that designers wanted to make maximalism fit into any wardrobe.
Image credit: Courtesy 16Arlington, Launchmetric Spotlight. Pictured: Emilia Wickstead, Proenza Schouler, Ndeg21; Missoni and The Attico.
It was hard to ignore another trend, so I gave it a name. What I call “total transparency” is sheer sequins. This season, sheer fabrics were given a maximal twist with iridescent sequins. Combining sequins and sheer clothing, which have been staples in the eveningwear department for years, gave them a fresh feel. Designers have also expanded the use of sheer sequins beyond eveningwear by incorporating them into staples. Proenza Schouler, 16Arlington, and other designers gave the midi skirt a shiny update by covering it in iridescent colors. Emilia Wickstead’s, The Attico’s, and Ndeg21 all made classic dress forms feel cooler by using opaque fabrics. Missoni’s sheer sequin tanks are another example. They all show that even the “unpractical” fashion trends can actually be practical if you are willing to look at them differently.
(Image credit: Launchmetrics Spotlight, Courtesy Christopher John Rogers and 16Arlington. Pictured: Coperni, Christopher John Rogers, 16Arlington, Prabal Gurung Balmain Rotate).
This is your permission to avoid sparkly items if they do not speak to you. Although many collections with a maximalism bent used textiles and trims to captivate audiences, this wasn’t the only way on display. Designers gave the classic sundress a maximalist twist with voluminous shapes in spring/summer runway shows. There was no one dress type. The idea was to use different tailoring techniques in order to create a form that made someone say, “Va va vaoom.” Some designers adapted the classic A line shape by using puddle hems and box pleats. They also used plisse fabric and lots of ruffles. Others, such as Coperni Balmain and Christopher John Rodgers, chose to create rigid dresses that had waistlines that darted dramatically out. Overall, the result was a collection of dresses that took up space and also allowed for new generations of fashionable people to embrace maximalism.
(Image credit: Launchmetric spotlight; Courtesy Balmain. Pictured: Gucci, Officine generale, Gauchere, Balmain, Fendi and Valentino Couture).
Color is a must when discussing maximalism! This movement, unlike minimalism, is all about wearing the colors of the rainbow. It’s not surprising that I included them in my maximalist trend report. This season, designers didn’t simply use a few bright colors in their collections. They used color theory. Officine Generale’s menswear show and Valentino’s haute couture show are the best examples of this. Purple and cerulean accents were used to highlight sharply tailored separates. Other brands, such as Fendi and Gucci, opted for color-blocking, pairing up more than two colors to create visual intrigue. The designers have embraced colors to the maximum, no matter what they did to style them.
Launchmetrics Spotlight (Image credit: Bottega Veneto; Tom Ford, Calcaterra, The Attico, Jil Sander and Alexander McQueen).
The most unexpected way I’ve seen designers this season interpret maximalism is not through silhouettes or colors. The senses are evoked, most notably touch. All textiles have some texture, but none is as tactile as the fringe. You read it correctly. This trimming is often associated with festival wear, but it has become an important part of high fashion in the last few seasons. Designers have reinvented it through form and fabric. The spring shows by Alexander McQueen The Attico and Tom Ford reflected the first. Fringe was no longer just a hemline decoration but draped over the entire body to enhance the female form. This is some of the most chic fringe ever created. Designers also experimented with different fabrics to give fringe a more feisty feel. Designers have created a trend for spring that is begging to touch.
(Image credit: Launchmetrics spotlight; Courtesy Christopher John Rodgers, Courtesy Chanel; Pictured are Dries Van Noten, Louis Vuitton, Ulla Johnson and Burberry. Christopher John Rodgers is also pictured.
Maximalism is about doing more. I hope that’s clear. Prints are the best way to capture that energy, and I would be compromising my journalistic integrity by not suggesting at least one print trend for spring. It’s hard to choose just one because there are so many patterns. Whatever you want, it’s there. Why choose just one pattern when there are so many to choose from? The most prominent print trend at the spring fashion shows was “the clash,” which I call mismatched prints paired together. It might be intimidating but now is the time to try it, as many fashion houses are doing so (such as Louis Vuitton and Chanel as well as Ulla Johnson and Christopher John Rodgers). I would recommend sticking to a limited palette of colors (take inspiration from Dries Van Noten and Burberry) to make this look more manageable.
