A 2022 Fashion Reverie According to Influencers, Stylists, Designers, and Photographers

With a new year comes new aspirations, and in the fashion industry there is much to aspire to. The fashion landscape is changing with each passing year as many consumers, especially Gen Zers, are choosing to shop second hand as they love the treasure hunt in searching for unique one-of-a-kind items. This shift in shopping habits is drastically changing industry values, especially those regarding sustainability. Similarly, many designers and creative directors are pushing for ethical manufacturing, diversity in teams, and higher quality pieces. This desire to return to “slow fashion” will likely persist in 2022. While some look to an aspirational future in the new year, others look for a resurgence of the past. The global pandemic has altered how those in the industry work, leaving those affected longing for the past. Photographers and stylists, for example, whose careers mostly rely on in-person contact, have had to adapt to working in entirely new ways from Zoom photoshoots to virtual fittings.

Fashion Reverie sought out several people in the industry to answer one question: “if you could live in a true fashion reverie in 2022, what would it look like?” to understand a wide range of desires, both personal and industry-wide, for fashion in 2022. Read below for input from content creators and designers to stylists and photographers!

Diego Leon (@dandyinthebronx)

Diego Leon created his blog, Dandy in the Bronx, in 2014 following a career as a dapper preschool teacher. His following has grown to over 40,000 people who look to his blog for tips on being impeccably suited by keeping shirts tucked, socks up, and seams straight. He has long advocated for tailoring, especially since he is 5’7” and wants to help all men have perfectly fitted outfits to wear. He also wants to make menswear accessible to everyone as shown by his partnerships with Wardrobe, and Amazon. With his eye for accessible classic menswear from head to toe, Diego Leon’s fashion reverie is set in a sustainable future.

“My fashion dream world would be that tailors and cobblers would be more mainstream. This would lead to a more sustainable world as people would just get their clothing made to measure and encourage people to repair their clothes when needed. This would also make people appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into tailoring/crafting and people would understand the prices for these kinds of things.”

Tayla Santos (@taylasnts)

Tayla Santos is a Boston-based, faith-driven fashion influencer. For as long as she can remember, she has always loved fashion; however, she’s come to realize that as much as she loves shopping and putting together outfits, what she really loves is using fashion to tell a greater story. She mixes elements of fashion, styling, and photography to create an aesthetic that captivates her audience of over 35,000 people on Instagram, Pinterest, and her blog, Tayla’s Closet. Her style is timeless, chic, and casual in neutral colors of coffee and cream, so, her fashion reverie is set in a minimalistic haven.

“When I first started out my career as a fashion and style content creator/influencer, I was known for my neutral toned capsule wardrobe. Over the years, I have collected more and more items and my wardrobe has become oversaturated with trendy pieces that it became difficult to get ready in the morning. A true fashion dream for this year would be to get back to a capsule wardrobe, get rid of a lot of unnecessary trendy pieces and focus on styling more chic and timeless looks.”

Taylor Reed (@treedfl)

Taylor Reed posted his first TikTok “get ready with me” about two months ago, and since then he has garnered a following of over 200,000. Reed tells us, “I got into creating fashion content to document my favorite clothes, which are mostly gifts from friends, vintage pieces, and other meaningful garments.” Sustainability is hugely important to Reed as his Levi 550s, which he gets dry-cleaned to keep their shape, often lays the foundation for each outfit. He then pairs a classic piece with high quality, ethically sourced garments like his Dijon-colored Deus Ex Machina jacket, Carhartt hats, screen printed tees from friends, thrifted polo sweatshirts, and passed down items from his family. As an environmental health student, many of his videos show him getting ready for classes. He also loves being outdoors, which his clothing often reflects, as he tells us, “I love rock climbing, mountaineering, surfing, and just being outdoors in general.” It is no surprise, then, that Reed’s fashion reverie is set in a world focused on nature and sustainability.

“A fashion reverie for me is one where the garments I wear are as functional and sustainable as they are aesthetically pleasing. I’d love to be able to look as good while I’m hiking and rock climbing as I do on the street.”

Thermal Taveras (@callthermal)

Thermal Taveras is the head fashion designer for WHENSMOKECLEARS, an Atlanta-based fashion brand. The brand’s roots are in jewelry as the jewel encrusted “Radiant Heart” is their signature piece and is at the heart of each collection. Last year, WHENSMOKECLEARS debuted their first ready to wear collection called “Welcome to the Underworld” mixing regal styling with casual streetwear pieces. In their upcoming collection, the brand will be presenting a collection showcasing innovation in evening wear staying true to their roots in jewelry and streetwear. With high quality pieces that dazzle most under the runway and retail lights, Taveras’ fashion reverie is set in a universe where retail powerhouses reemerge.

“My fashion reverie would be where fashion retail returns with the excitement that got me into fashion.”

Rachel Gilman (@rachelgilman_)

Rachel Gilman is a NYC-based fashion stylist who began her career as a design assistant to Betsey Johnson which blossomed into assisting stylists Lori Goldstein, Patti Wilson, Alex White and Aleksandra Woroniecka, Fashion Director of Vogue Paris. Gilman has since styled for several major publications from Vogue Ukraine, Glamour US, Interview, M Le Monde, Dazed, and The Laterals to Harper’s Bazaar KZ, ContentMode, Elle Mexico, Flaunt, Teen Vogue, Elle Vietnam, GQ South Africa, and PAPER among many others. Some of her celebrity clients include names like Dua Lipa, Nathalie Emmanuel, and Amandla Stenberg. As a stylist, her job was greatly affected by the pandemic, so her fashion reverie is set in a pre-pandemic world.

“My fashion dream is pretty simple but feels very far off- I would love to come to set without fear of getting sick, to be able to see faces again, and to create magic with nice teams.”

Roshan Moayed (@roshanmoayed)

Roshan Moayed, photographer, has worked with a variety of clients, especially locally in Houston, Texas. In the fashion realm, he has worked with notable figures like Alan Gonzalez, fashion designer and host of Project Runway Redemption. He also worked with Chasity Sereal, who is currently one of four finalists on Project Runway season 19. He has also done commercial photography jobs with NYX and CZAR by Cesar Galindo. While his work has been featured in Goji and Ignite Magazine, Moayed’s personal fashion reverie revolves around high fashion brands and publications so his work can reach a wider audience.

“That dream would probably consist of commission shoots by big brands in the industry like Prada, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton. Of course, being asked by major publications to shoot editorials would also be a dream like Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, and W amongst other publications, of course. My reality is much more humbling, so I get my work where I can find it. I’ve shot some fashion designers here in the local market in Houston, Texas. I’m quite happy with the people I’ve met and the connections I’ve made.”

—Tessa Swantek

Image credits

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