Crop tops, baggy pants and statement sleeves: the tailoring trends for Spring/Summer 2017

The Spring/Summer 2017 ready-to-wear shows have finally wrapped up, and it's time to examine the key trends for the upcoming season. When it comes to tailoring, the next season will be all about playing with proportion. 

There were bra tops all over the SS17 catwalks, but the real star piece was its more wearable cousin, the crop top. Nicholas K crafted them into miniature 1990s-style halter tops in New York, while Alexander Wang made them one of the main features of his collection, even cropping 1980s-style sweatshirts to fit in with the trend. They were flirty and retro-looking at Michael Kors, and plastered with cartoonish prints at Jeremy Scott. In London Anya Hindmarch and Versus Versace made them sporty, and in Milan Prada styled them over buttoned-up shirts and turtlenecks for a quirky take on the look. In Paris, Mugler gave the piece a futuristic makeover, playing with proportions and metallic panels.

The tops might be shrinking, but the pants are expanding, with the wide-legged silhouette firmly back in fashion. The French houses loved the look, with Chanel, Chloe and Sonia Rykiel all favoring a loose, relaxed style in breathable fabrics. Monse cropped wide trousers in New York, while Boss sharpened them up for office wear. Stella McCartney made them high waisted and suitable for everyday activities, while in Milan Missoni adorned them with multicolored stripes for a festive vacation vibe.

Sleeves are less about keeping warm and more about making a statement nest season, with multiple brands playing with length, volume and transparency. They were puffy and Disney-esque at Gucci, full-on 80s revival at Marc Jacobs and even worked into flower bud shapes at Dolce & Gabbana. Jil Sander, Proenza Schouler and Jacquemus opted for a more conceptual look, crafting almost perfectly semi-circular silhouettes, while Vera Wang kept them long and skinny, extending over the wrists and hanging down the sides of the torso.