Sculptural Outerwear
London’s Cultural Outerwear Explosion: How the Streets and Catwalks Are Redefining Fashion
Stepping onto the streets of London this season felt like walking into a living trend report. As a designer, I’m always on the lookout for emerging styles, and what struck me most during my recent visit was the sheer breadth of cultural influences shaping outerwear right now.
A New Era for Outerwear
What’s happening on the catwalks right now is trickling down to the streets in a way that feels incredibly organic.
Maximalist Textures: Embossed leathers, intricate quilting, and textural patchwork coats that merge craftsmanship with avant-garde aesthetics. Raf Simons at Prada just now ..
New Utility: Utility reinterpreted with modern cuts and technical fabrics, oversize fits and unexpected layers.
Oversized Everything: From the runways to the high street, exaggerated proportions dominate. Think sweeping wool coats, puffers with dramatic volume, and cocoon-like silhouettes.
The Catwalk Confirmation
London Fashion Week cemented the fact that this isn’t just a streetwear moment—it’s a full-scale movement. Brands like Burberry leaned heavily into literal Knights … how very castlecore.. Up-and-coming designers showcased outerwear that fused nostalgia with futuristic elements, proving that fashion is in an era of creative evolution.
One of the most exciting shifts is how outerwear is no longer a secondary thought in collections. It’s becoming the centerpiece, with designers using coats and jackets as the foundation of an entire look. The investment in craftsmanship, bold silhouettes, and storytelling elements signals a real push forward for outerwear design as a whole.
Why This Matters
For those of us in design, this cultural outerwear explosion is an opportunity to rethink the way we approach outerwear. It’s no longer just about function—it’s about identity, about representing global narratives, and about pushing technical and aesthetic boundaries. The consumer demand is shifting towards investment pieces that hold significance beyond trends, making this an exciting time to be part of the industry.
This is such an exciting place for outerwear right now ….