Autumn/winter 2018 fashion: the five trends to wear now
- Posted by
- Billie Bhatia
- Published
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.
Victoria Beckham a/w 2018
Tom Ford a/w 2018
Balenciaga a/w 2018
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.
Chloé a/w 2018
Tod’s a/w 2018
Jacquemus a/w 2018
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.
Versace a/w 2018
Erdem a/w 2018
Fendi a/w 2018
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.
Christopher Kane a/w 2018
Ashley Williams a/w 2018
Gucci a/w 2018
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.
Calvin Klein 205w39NYC a/w 2018
Fendi a/w 2018
Isabel Marant a/w 2018
Western boots with toe cap, £105, office.co.uk
Paisley neckerchief, £25, levi.com
Western style ankle boots, £425, Alexa Chung at matchesfashion.com
Images: Getty