Discover next season’s modest-wear trends with The Modist’s fashion buyer Sasha Sarokin

The Modist (pronounced Mode-ist) has only been up and running for a little over a month, but the new e-commerce platform is already super-popular. This is thanks, in part, to a social-media campaign that involves fashion bloggers from all over the world, who post images of the minimalist white shopping bag that flaunts The Modist's diamond-shaped lettering.

While The Modist is headquartered in Dubai Design District (d3), its team is stationed all over the world. London-based fashion and buying director Sasha Sarokin was in Dubai on April 11 to give a presentation about style trends for the upcoming autumn/winter 2017 season. And while summer has only just hit us, it isn’t too early to start sourcing pieces for your next-season wardrobe, as most of the trends (with the exception of turtlenecks, perhaps) are applicable during the summer, too.

The Modist was launched for consumers who opt for luxury brands when dressing modestly – not in a manner that’s conservative or mumsy, but rather edgy and fashion-forward. It may surprise you to learn that after the UAE, the United States is the highest-spending country with the website, with most of its American shoppers being non-Muslim. Modest fashion may resonate with many Muslim women in this region, but the brains behind the The Modist are keen to point out that modest dressing as a larger trend relates to women across all religions, races and ethnicities.

“It’s a macro trend in the industry,” says Sarokin. Unlike many modest-wear sites, The Modist features pieces that may not be typically considered modest – sleeveless shirts, for instance. That’s because one of the season’s key trends is layering – whether it’s a blazer over the shirt or a ribbed top underneath, it can easily become part of an overall modest ensemble.

“Layers on layers.” That’s what Sarokin says is one of the season’s top style trends. It’s worth mentioning that the fashion buyer herself is dressed in a graphic T-shirt, underneath a striped shirt with the top buttons undone, so that one side of the shirt is pulled over the back of a shoulder. She wears this with a pair of jeans, topped off with a belt skirted with sheer fabric – a prime example of the layering trend she speaks about.

Matching suit separates, shiny fabrics and opulent, velvet textiles are also big next season, she says. “Pretty bright”, or colour combination, is another trend. It involves pairing a bright colour, such as lipstick red, with a more pared-down, feminine shade, such as blush pink. In accessories, glitter-covered socks and shoes, socks-with-sandals and faux fur-covered slip-ons will be key.

New brands to take note of include Teija, for opulent shirting techniques, Christopher Kane for oversized knits, Adam Lippes for iconic, animal-print coats, and Blazé for statement blazers.

For the upcoming month of Ramadan, The Modist will be working with some international luxury brands to produce exclusive kaftan collections.

Visit The Modist and use the promo code MODGIFT to redeem 10 per cent off of your first purchase.