One way to react to dropping temperatures is to snuggle under a cozy quilt—another is to wear one. Many designers, including Jean Paul Gaultier, Raf Simons, and the anonymous team behind the Japanese label Khoki, have taken inspiration from all-American patchwork coverlets with intricate, kaleidoscopic patterns that can be “crazy” or follow more orderly templates. Yves Saint Laurent was early on the trend; his quilt-like couture dresses for fall 1969 made hippies haute. Alternatively, patchwork details can evoke a more homespun aesthetic, which might be particularly apt as cupping season approaches.
Thom Browne, fall 2022 ready-to-wear
Photo: Courtesy of Thom Browne
Libertine, fall 2021 ready-to-wear
Photo: Courtesy of Libertine
Dolce & Gabbana, spring 2021 ready-to-wear
Photo: Alessandro Lucioni / Gorunway.com
Dolce & Gabbana, spring 2021 ready-to-wear
Photo: Alessandro Lucioni / Gorunway.com
Koché, fall 2020 ready-to-wear
Photo: Alessandro Lucioni / Gorunway.com
Koché, fall 2020 ready-to-wear
Photo: Alessandro Lucioni / Gorunway.com
Viktor & Rolf, spring 2020 couture
Photo: Alessandro Lucioni / Gorunway.com
Viktor & Rolf, spring 2020 couture
Photo: Alessandro Lucioni / Gorunway.com
CalvinKlein205W39NYC, fall 2019 ready-to-wear
Photo: Marcus Tondo / Indigital.tv
CalvinKlein205W39NYC, fall 2018 ready-to-wear
Photo: Marcus Tondo / Indigital.tv
Koché, fall 2019 ready-to-wear
Photo: Filippo Fior / Gorunway.com
Etro, fall 2019 ready-to-wear
Photo: Alessandro Lucioni / Gorunway.com
Loewe, fall 2019 menswear
Photo: Filippo Fior / Gorunway.com
Ronald van der Kemp, fall 2019 couture
Photo: Alessandro Lucioni / Gorunway.com
Christian Dior, fall 2018 ready-to-wear
Photo: Yannis Vlamos / Indigital.tv
Christian Dior, fall 2018 ready-to-wear
Photo: Yannis Vlamos / Indigital.tv
Rosetty Getty, fall 2018 ready-to-wear
Photo: Courtesy of Rosetta Getty / Artist, & Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, NY
Mimi Prober, fall 2018 ready-to-wear
Photo: Randy Brooke / Courtesy of People’s Revolution
Mimi Prober, fall 2018 ready-to-wear
Photo: Randy Brooke / Courtesy of People’s Revolution
Loewe, spring 2018 ready-to-wear
Photo: Yannis Vlamos / Indigital.tv
Loewe, spring 2018 ready-to-wear
Photo: Yannis Vlamos / Indigital.tv
Sonia Rykiel, fall 2017 ready-to-wear
Photo: Kim Weston Arnold / Indigital.tv
Dolce & Gabbana, fall 2017 ready-to-wear
Photo: Yannis Vlamos / Indigital.tv
Viktor & Rolf, fall 2017 couture
Photo: Alessandro Garofalo / Indigital.tv
Viktor & Rolf, fall 2017 couture
Photo: Alessandro Garofalo / Indigital.tv
TommyNow, spring 2017 ready-to-wear
Photo: Indigital.tv / Alessandro Garofalo
TommyNow, spring 2017 ready-to-wear
Photo: Indigital.tv / Alessandro Garofalo
Chloé, fall 2015 ready-to-wear
Photo: Marcus Tondo / Indigitalimages.com
Chloé, fall 2015 ready-to-wear
Photo: Marcus Tondo / Indigitalimages.com
Maison Margiela, fall 2014 couture
Photo: Kim Weston Arnold / Indigitalimages.com
Maison Margiela, fall 2014 couture
Photo: Kim Weston Arnold / Indigitalimages.com
Jenny Postle, Central Saint Martins, fall 2011 ready-to-wear
Photo: Filippo Fior / GoRunway.com
Jenny Postle, Central Saint Martins, fall 2011 ready-to-wear
Photo: Filippo Fior / GoRunway.com
Versace, fall 2002 couture
Photo: Shoot Digital for Style.com
Moschino, fall 1997 ready-to-wear
Photo: Gerard Julien/ AFP via Getty Images
Dolce & Gabbana, spring 1993 ready-to-wear
Photo: Condé Nast Archive
Dolce & Gabbana, spring 1993 ready-to-wear
Photo: Condé Nast Archive
Pretty in patchwork: A 1969 design by Yves Saint Laurent.
Photographed by Bert Stern, Vogue, March 15, 1969
Yves Saint Laurent, fall 1969 couture
Photo: Reginald Gray/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images
Patchwork with panache: A 1969 couture design by Yves Saint Laurent.
Photographed by Bert Stern, Vogue, March 15, 1969
This story has been edited and amended since it was originally published.