The transition from sunny to gloomy Autumn days is not something many of us look forward to, but the one good thing we can all look forward to is the transition to an autumn wardrobe. As much as I love the summer there’s something about snuggling up in cosy knits, trench coats and warm coffee to go that has me looking forward to Autumn season each year.
As the seasonal colours around us change to gorgeous oranges, browns and reds it’s hard not to be influenced by these rich, vibrant colours and the catwalk usually follows suit. So what’s trending in Autumn 2024?
Vogue Editors are the holy grail of what’s hot and what’s not, and looking at their top trends for Fall, I have to say I’m a little excited. We all expect trench coats, boots and knits to feature heavily but it seems this year there are a few rogue items in the mix, lets take a look.
Trench Coats
The Trench coat will always be a staple in Autumn but how we wear it differs slightly from year to year. This year leopard print, faux fur and denim were seen at all the fashion shows and we can expect to see a wider variety of trench coats along these styles in the shops too. Oversized more classic versions are still popular from last year but in shorter lengths with very cinched-in waists. Extravagant belts instead of a coat belt bring something more exciting and different to the original look and are very in keeping with the catwalk.
Wear a trench coat with a knitted cardigan or crisp white shirt and you’ll fit right in with the new ‘Preppy trend’ which was all over Victoria Beckham’s catwalk show.
Boho Skirts
We’ve heard a lot about mini skirts in previous seasons and although they’re still around during Autumn some of us just aren’t comfortable showing off our pins so much. If this is you, you’ll be happy to hear long boho skirts are sticking around from the summer. What I love most about them is their versatility, you can wear them to a picnic or the office. It all depends on how you style them because there is an endless array of models, patterns and textures to choose from.
Here are a few ways Vouge experts are styling them for Autumn:
- With neutral waistcoats and tall structured boots
- Business up top with Blazers in warm tones and a white shirt with a ruffly, floral skirt below.
- With cosy oversized cardigans in bright and warm colours.
Ballet Flats
You’re on the right track if you immediately thought of Chanel ballet flats and they go perfectly with all the Vogue experts’ favourite outfits. Possibly not the warmest of Autumn shoes but if the weather stays mild that bit longer then you can definitely get away with wearing them well into the end of the year. They look gorgeous with straight-leg trousers at the office or with a mini skirt and blazer for drinks after. Typically ‘French Chic’ I suspect they will be around for the rest of Winter.
Cosy Cardigans
A Winter jumper will never go out of style but this year the humble knitwear cardigan seems to be taking over the catwalk. Paired with mini skirts, boho and A-line skirts, jeans and work trousers, most designers included a cardigan somewhere in their layers line-up. The more oversized and fluffier the better and look for bright block colours or flower details rather than neutrals.
Cowboy boots
You can’t step into a stylish autumn without a pair of good boots. Whilst tall heeled boots still seem to be a firm favourite the cowboy boot has been edging its way back onto the catwalk for most of the year. Unlike the early 2000’s we’re stepping away from the classic Madonna style boot and now designers are giving us a more refined boot with wedge heels, square toes and cut a little lower than traditional styles.
If you love a splash of colour then a more traditional boot is the perfect way to jazz up a simple outfit but if you like something a little more sophisticated the newer versions in black with buckled detailing look fantastic with a long skirt or dress. These are the perfect boots to have fun with and keep for many years to come.
Preppy Blazers & A-line Skirts
Many of the styles on the catwalk this year took inspiration from Vintage fashions and although oversized blazers have been around for a while they are being worn more classically with A-Line skirts or dresses. There was a new theme of ‘Prestige’ to many of the shows and the styles were much more classic than they’ve been for a while.
Vintage silhouettes and 50’s style skirts work really well with blazers and you can’t deny how versatile they are. Whether you are a jeans or dress kind of girl a blazer will always add to an outfit in a way that other jackets don’t.
Denim-on-Denim
Once upon a time denim on denim was a fashion sin and many people look back to their denim ensembles from the oughties and cringe. But, not anymore, double denim is everywhere. Thanks to Tik Tok user’s obsession with the 2000’s they have somehow managed to bring this fabric and many more forgotten trends back, amazingly even back to the catwalk.
With more younger designers joining the fashion world, they are bringing these influences with them but with a modern twist. Wearing long denim skirts with structured boots and a belted denim jacket will put you right up there with all the trendy fashionistas, but If like me you are not quite ready to embrace this trend you could start with denim bottoms and add a cute denim bag to your outfit as a subtle nod without feeling overwhelmed.
Autumn Earthy Colours
Typically in Autumn, we see lots of rich neutral tones from oranges to browns and nudes but this year red dominated a lot of collections and for good reason. As much as we all love the go-to Autumn colours a pop of colour is a great way to inject some fun and vibrancy to what can sometimes be a pretty glum time of year. Many designers used red in entire outfits making it the focus of their collection and it looks stunning! Wearing red in classic styles allows you to wear it confidently and feel sophisticated rather than tacky.
Try adding a fitted jacket or cosy knit in red and accessories like bags or scarves to your Autumn wardrobe to see how you can incorporate this colour into your usual clothes. The good thing about red is the various shades available mean it works for all skin tones and is extremely flattering when you find the right shade for you.
Conclusion
The key aspects to take away from this year’s fashion shows are to embrace classic shapes and styles and add more colour. Whether red is your colour or bright florals this time of year gives us the perfect opportunity to have fun with our clothes. Classic cowboy boots, denim bottoms and rich colourful cosy knits are essential to a capsule wardrobe that you can wear all year round. As always fashion is about fun and finding key items that match your personality and Autumn is the perfect time to try a little of everything.
