Autumn/winter 2018 fashion: the five trends to wear now

Posted by: Billie Bhatia
Published: 2 years ago

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September has arrived and with it a fresh set of autumn/winter trends are ripe for the picking

We’re not wishing the summer away (sunshine, we beg of you, please stay but just don’t be too hot), but there is no denying that the seasons are about to take a turn. September may be fashion’s favourite month: new-season styles hit stores, fresh trends are explored, new coats are bought and we get to retreat back into a wardrobe of cashmere roll necks.

The idea of new-season trends can be overwhelming. Where to start? Will it suit me? Do I really need a mutton sleeve mini dress? (You do). How hot will I be if I take Balenciaga’s layering technique seriously? (Very. Avoid this Joey from Friends look at all costs).

Fear not – we’ve broken down the five biggest trends to invest in this season. September never looked so good.

Animal Magic

It is impossible to talk about the autumn/winter season without the mention of animal print – it was everywhere. If you haven’t already taken up a leopard print silk midi skirt, a pair of faux snakeskin ankle boots and a zebra print dress, it’s time to invest.

Stripes and spots covered the catwalk from Victoria Beckham to Givenchy, Balenciaga to Tom Ford. Wild and bold in equal measure, animal print allows the wearer to take on a (literal) fierceness with their fashion. The ultimate style hack for autumn/winter? Go for head-to-toe prints.

Leopard print ruffle dress, £490, ganni.com

Faux fur leopard print handbag, £29, topshop.com

Faux snakeskin jacket, £79.99, zara.com

Seventies Revisited

There is often a reincarnation of the Seventies on the catwalk: the crop of a trouser, excessive fringing, smudgy coloured prints. For this season, the Seventies took on their most literal form: brown. That’s right, the colour you almost always shy away from is making a play for biggest shade of the season.

Chloé, Jacquemus, Sies Marjan and Tod’s brought us tobacco, caramel, chestnut and mahogany hues so deliciously sensual that you’ll be wearing brown all season long. We give you permission to add in crochet and shearling for maximum effect.

Vegan leather dress, £165, kitristudio.com

Belted wool coat, £169, stories.com

Corduroy brown skirt, £17.99, hm.com

Check Mate

There was a time when all we wanted was a brightly coloured plaid suit. That time was 1995 and Clueless’ Cher Horowitz was the world’s biggest style icon.

Thanks to Versace’s rebirth of this Nineties favourite, Cher-level excitement is back. Fendi brought us a print that is going to add some rebellion to your workwear wardrobe and Erdem presented the most elegant of checks. Less lumberjack and more modern punk, the checkered plaid comes in a close second as the print of the season.

Checked wrap skirt, £35, riverisland.com

Check print roll top, £140, Acne Studios at matchesfashion.com

Blue checked dress, £240, Maje at net-a-porter.com

Bling Ring

We have long been used to the idea of decorative crystals in any form being the epitome of uncool. Opting for sleek leather bags, gold chunky jewellery and an altogether more pared back aesthetic, autumn/winter 2018 sees a huge shift in how we finesse our looks. Gucci opted for crystal-encrusted trainers, Christopher Kane gave us ankle boots dripping in Swarovski jewels and Ashley Williams continued to up our hair game with jazzy slides. Shine bright like a diam…ante.

Crystal embellished earrings, £310, Miu Miu at net-a-porter.com

Embellished slip on shoes, £140, kurtgeiger.com

Crystal sweatshirt, £69, topshop.com

Wild West

We have said it before and we will say it again (but you have to take it seriously this time): cowboy boots are the only ankle boots to invest in this season.

Calvin Klein started the trend and continue to send their models stomping down the catwalk in various Wild West iterations, Isabel Marant brought us slouchy knee-high versions and Fendi matched their boots to their neckerchiefs, naturally. Yee-haw your way into the new season in style.