Fall 2020 Trend Report

From heavenly mulberry to crystal hardware, we’ve translated our favorite fall fashion trends from the runways to the dance floor, promising a season of ballroom dresses nothing short of enchanting. If the plethora of nostalgic looks is any indication, this season designers looked to the past to design for the present, taking sartorial trips to the Gothic cathedrals of the twelfth century, the wildflower wonders of pre-industrial gardens, and the diamond-laden glamor of Old Hollywood.

As the weather slowly changes, so does our color palette: the brightness of summer pink morphs into the sultry power of winter red, making a pit stop at “raspberry spritzer” in the fall. This delicate blush marries all the romance of pink with all the sophistication of red. Just look at

Giambattista Valli’s achingly sumptuous fall confections; the design house doused any silhouette from a pea coat to an evening gown in the elegant hue. And the few ensembles that weren’t pink stood out against the lush backdrop of raspberry-tinted flowers.

Off the runway, Naomi Ackie took this trend for a whirl, sitting front row at a Valentino fall show in a sugary mulberry skirt. Equally show-stopping, actress Margaret Qualley dazzled at the Chanel fall previews in a vibrant light fuchsia slip with classic proportions that would have made Coco proud.

As these leading ladies prove, this trend translates effortlessly into the whimsical world that is ballroom dresses, adding a femininity and youthfulness to any style of dance dress.

There’s something undeniably modern about this trend. Perhaps it’s the easy sense of excess or fierce amounts of glitter. For the best sartorial argument, just look at Paco Rabanne’s fall collection. Slinky hoops flirted with a fraying flapper-style skirt and gold leaf decals hung along the hem of an iridescent, champagne gown – with an accompanying headpiece, of course.

Rosamund Pike illustrated the fiery glamour of this trend in a red Alexander McQueen suit with an attached, slick black belt getup. Striking a more glitzy note, Janelle Monáe donned a fall- appropriate tweed Chanel two-piece suit dripping with pearl-encrusted chainmaille.

For your ballroom dress rental, look for dance dresses with built-in eye candy in the form of belts, necklaces, and cuffs. And don’t be shy – the chunkier the bling, the better.

Of all the fall fashion trends, this one’s the most nostalgic and fanciful. Biting into the Gothic aesthetic of ancient fairytales and majestic architecture, this trend exudes noir drama, femme fatales, and forbidden romance, but with a contemporary twist. We’re talking streamlined jewelry, minimalist monochrome, and frothy netting that are all filled with agency – feminine and empowered.

Alexander McQueen’s fall line exemplified the Modern Gothic. Supermodel Kaia Gerber overtook the runway in a witchy cape with billowing rouge sleeves. And a buttressing white chiffon gown bedecked with moody florals offered a lighter interpretation to the trend. As a final touch, a silvery choker emboldened the sweetheart neckline.

On the red carpet, French actress Anna Mouglalis stunned in a midnight Chanel suit that looked to have moon dust sprinkled like shooting stars across the fabric, perfect for a velvety villain or dark fairy. Equally captivating, Evan Rachel Wood’s crystal-dotted Versace gown in inky black and matching smoky eye screamed Gothic drama.

For your ballroom dress rentals this fall, look for gowns with gilded accents, stained glass window motifs, haunting florals, and gem detailing in shades of emerald, sapphire, and ruby.