The last few years of fashion have arguably been its “ugliest” season thus far. From the eclectic grandpa aesthetic, to homeless chic, to man-repellent outfits, fashion has never been this chaotic–and the fashion world has been loving it.
But just as all trends eventually do, this one seems to be losing its traction, and the pendulum is starting to swing in the other direction. After years of “ugly” fashion, it appears that elegance is once again on the rise–but this time, it’s better, different, and more ethereal than ever before.
The rise of Ethereal Renaissance
We have begun to witness the rise of what we’ve coined as “Ethereal Renaissance”. Think: long flowy dresses, flowy sleeves, trailing hems–regal yet timeless and elegant looks.
A regal and romantic essence. Gowns: Gaëlle, Fanny Liautard, Daniella Frankel.
On one hand, this return of Renaissance Age styles isn’t surprising. Afterall, trends always make their comeback, and this one is no exception.
We saw the 1920s bring back elements of Renaissance fashion, which were once again embraced by hippies in the 1970s. And, most recently, we saw its return in the late 2000s and early 2010s counterculture, bohemian fashion. Considering the increasing rate of the fashion trend cycle, this return seems to be right on time.
1920s, 1970s, and late 2000s styles were heavily influenced by Renaissance fashion. Photos:
THE APPEAL of Renaissance Fashion
The appeal of Renaissance fashion lies in its rebellious nature. In modern times and for modern women, the Renaissance aesthetic has always stood for something more than style. It’s always been rooted in rebellion–rebellion against societal standards and expectations. It was a rejection of the status quo and the pressure to keep up and conform.
For the 1970s hippies, it was just another layer in their escapism culture. But, like the indie sleaze kids in the late 2000s, it was also a uniform. Free-spirited, laid-back, practical and timeless–this style stood against overconsumption, materialism, and chasing trends. It’s the very attitude that’s increasingly resonating within the public today.
FAST FASHION BURNOUT & CONSUMER FATIGUE
After years of fast fashion overload and overconsumption, people are exhausted. The race to keep up with every new micro-trend, and constantly buying yet feeling like nothing is ever good enough, certainly takes a toll on more than one’s wallet. Worse still, there’s a growing awareness of the environmental cost: mountains of cheap, non-biodegradable textiles growing in landfills and polluting our world. So naturally, elegance and timelessness are once again on the rise.
Gowns: Nia by Luis Infantes, Hérve Léger SS 1999, Oly by Harithand.
People are returning to styles that have historically aligned with this same attitude–styles that are made to outlast fads and transcend time. These ethereal and timeless styles reflect a time that prioritized quality over quantity, craftsmanship, and longevity–a sharp contrast to the fast fashion filled landscape today.
On another note, they also seem to signal a quiet return to romance–a renewed appreciation for softness and beauty in clothing after years of ironic, chaotic, and intentionally “unpretty” fashion.
The Future of Elegant Fashion
But this isn’t the same kind of minimal elegance we’ve seen time and time again. This new wave of elegance, is bringing something richer–something we’ve lacked in recent decades: complex, intricate, labor-intensive designs. These pieces are small works of art that stand in sharp contrast to the cheap and disposable clothing flooding the market.
Gowns: Juliette by Leanne Marshall, Yuki, Gaëlle
Fast fashion’s accessible nature has stripped fashion of its mystique–because when something becomes accessible, it loses its appeal. And nothing has been more accessible recently than fast fashion styles.
When everyone can have anything and everything (thanks to cheap fast fashion), the value of craft, artistry, and rarity becomes the new luxury. Time equals money–and time is precisely what these ethereal, intricate, and high-quality garments require.
Futuristic Fashion: The New Reality of Style
The result is something extraordinary: timeless silhouettes reimagined with complex, almost otherworldly design elements. They evoke the feeling of a future we’ve only seen in films–visions of advanced civilizations where clothing reflects technological and cultural leaps forward. And in our modern world rapidly being reshaped by 3D printing, AI, and the metaverse, these styles don’t just feel relevant–they feel inevitable.
Gowns: Alberta Ferretti SS 2023, Maison Margiela Haute Couture 2025, Stephane Rolland Haute Couture 2020.
This isn’t just another passing trend. This is the next era. The ethereal renaissance isn’t looking back–it’s shaping the future of fashion.
