Your Guide to Wearable Autumn Winter 2018 Trends

The leaves are officially turning, umbrella’s are back in use and the new collections are in stores. It must mean it’s time to start thinking about next seasons wardrobe. This is your guide to the most wearable Autumn Winter trends.

The Trend: Rainbow Shades

Bold primary colours and secondary brights were a breath of fresh air on the Autumn/Winter catwalks. The perfect follow up to Summer’s love affair with pastels. We loved Preen by Thornton Bregazzi’s crayon coloured dresses, and Prada’s  highlighter bright separates. The elegance of tonal, on colour dressing was seen at Sies Marjan and Bottega Veneta. It’s a style of considered dressing that always looks professional.

From Left: Marine Serre, Zero + Maria Cornejo, Valentino, Preen by Thornton Bregazzi & Cienne.

How to Wear it:

Look for bold tones, no wishy washy shades here. If you are feeling confident, try one colour from head to toe. Experiment with different tones of your chosen colour, but the key here is a variety of textures. Silks, chiffons, velvets and wools all work well together in the same colour. If this isn’t quite your slice of cake, why not add one piece to your existing wardrobe. Great colours to start with are of course the primaries. A tomato red cotton shirt, a yellow dress or cobalt blue trousers. Pair and layer with neutrals like navy, white and this season’s stand out brown.

The Trend: Ride West 

Next up is the contemporary take on the uniform of Mid West America. Chloe’s silk rodeo shirts and Isabel Marant’s tasseled suede jackets and cowboy boots, wouldn’t look out of place on a cattle ranch. Styling wise, Vanessa Seward’s corduroy culottes worn over knee high boots is stylish as well as functional. Metal tipped boots and belts were a subtle nod to the trend. With so many of the inspirations for this trend coming from the Paris catwalks, it feels more Left Bank chic than Woody from Toy Story.

From Left: Hermes, Isabel Marant, Vanessa Seward, Mara Hoffman & Chloe.

How to wear it:

The beauty of this trend is that you probably already own the pieces that are going to work. Its work-wear! Think practical! Tough Levi style denim, cowboy boots and tasseled suede jackets (vintage ones are really the best in our opinion) are all on trend. We love how wearable a white cotton prairie blouse is paired with an aline skirt or your favourite jeans. For an added detail, why not tie a slim satin ribbon into a bow under your shirt collar? Or add a well worn, rodeo style belt to a dress?

The trend: 80’s Opulence

When looking to make an impact, a touch of 80’s glamour is always a winner. Alessandra Rich and Attico both brought a little allure to this season. With exaggerated shoulders balanced by soft handkerchief hems. Balenciaga and Balmain showed some pretty daring hemlines on body con dresses. They came in eye catching colours and prints, with touches of metallic. This is a season of one-piece dresses rather than separates.

From left: Balmain, Gucci, Balenciaga, Alexandra Rich & Attico.

How to wear it:

Take this to the evening and you wont be in the shadows for long. If you want to show off your legs then a mini skirt or dress is perfect. Pair it with barely-there-10 denier tights and a delicate heel. If you prefer a longer length, look for ankle length dresses in silk and satin. Add a metallic belt and turban to really get in the mood. Better yet, track down some vintage pieces from our favourite Instagram stores (Insta Vintage link) or your favourite local charity shop. Remove dated shoulder pads and have waistbands tailored to sit highly for the modern but authentic take on 80’s opulence.

The Trend: Sensual Dressing

Its official, sexy is back. But the beauty in this trend is that sexy doesn’t have to mean showing lots of skin. Elegantly draped dresses at Jacquemus and Kitx were crafted from silks and velvets that hugged the body and celebrated its curves. Peekaboo cut outs by Nanushka and low v neck dresses on the Zero + Maria Cornejo catwalk were perfect for drawing attention to erogenous zones like shoulders and waists. Stella McCartney’s floor length nightgown style transparent dresses edged with lace were the ultimate in sexy but covered dressing.

From Left: Sies Marjan, Kitx, Jacquemus, Loewe & Stella McCartney.

How to wear it:

This is the perfect opportunity to pull out an old faithful, that dress that makes you feel totally fabulous, hugging you in all the right places. Keep accessories minimal, this trend is all you and the dress. If you are looking to make a purchase here, we love draped silk and satin styles, cut on the bias and in any colour that suits you. Why not try something with cut out details for added sex appeal?

The Trend: Dressing for the Weather

Sexy to Snug – the most welcome trend of all! Layering warm fabrics and textures to make sure we stay warm during the upcoming chilly days of Autumn. Gone are the days of seasonless winter dressing where we were encouraged to go bare legged. Balenciaga took the trend to the max by layering outerwear over sweaters and flannel shirts.  Models at Calvin Klein were dressed in protective working mens jackets and knitted balaclavas. While brands such as Maison Margiela and Prada showed oversize all-weather jackets that wouldn’t look out of place on the peaks of Mount Everest.

From Left: Preen by Thornton Bregazzi, Calvin Klein 205W39NYC, Balenciaga, Maison Margiela & Prada.

How to wear it:

Easy, just wrap up warm. Dust off your ethical eiderdown jackets, no goose feathers here please! Layer them under waterproof climbing jackets or over apres ski style knits for a fun, fashion forward edge. Don’t be afraid to wear this look over skirts and suits. It’s designed to be functional whilst rejoicing in the oddness of it all. For an ethical option, we love Christopher Raeburns’ collaboration with Finisterre.

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The Trend: Brown, the New Neutral

If you are sick of creams, navy and black then this one is for you. Whether you go for a light milky tea tone or a proper chocolate brown, this colour feels very contemporary. Marni spliced shades of brown in with another hot trend, Rainbow colours. Max Mara updated their classic camel coats with precise tailoring and fringing. And Coach 1941 experimented with a variety of tones and textures. From saffron-brown silk dresses to caramel coloured soft suede jackets, the mixture was good enough to eat.

From Left: Coach 1941, The Row, Roksanda, Vanessa Bruno & Chloe.

How to wear it:

We love the easy elegance of brown, but the best way to invest here is with outerwear. Thats because a well tailored wool or camel coat in your chosen shade will never go out of style. A bit of loving care each season (replacing linings and dry cleaning) will ensure it can be worn for years to come. Knitwear is also a great investment, biscuit cashmere cardigans and chunky cable knitted jumpers like the ones at Khaite NY, are an excellent wardrobe basic. Stump up for a great pair of brown leather boots or a moc-croc handbag.

The Trend: Plaids & Checks

A nod to the wider Heritage themes of the season, plaids and checks were everywhere on the Autumn Winter runways. Gabriela Hearst went the traditional route with exquisitely crafted checked suits. While Mara Hoffman used oversize checks in yellows and blues throughout her collection. Khaite NY printed Prince of Wales checks onto wool dresses and silk blouses for a subtle but chic feel. Loewe went for a more modern mashup. Check coats and suits had contrasting leather buttons and collars, or were spliced together to create beautifully cut dresses.

From Left: Gabriela Hearst, Richard Malone, Stella McCartney, Loewe & Mara Hoffman.

How to wear it:

There are many simple touches to achieve this lasting trend. A well tailored checked suit is a great asset, pair it with a silk shirt in a pale cream or pink. It’s a look that will wear well for years. If you want to make a fashion forward commitment, then look for mash up pieces featuring several checks in one, or oversize plaids in unexpected colours. Pair with Heritage style accessories like your favourite brogues and a chic beret for a considered complimentary effect.

The Trend: Animal Prints

Already all over instagram this year, animal prints will continue their popularity into the Autumn months. Leopard print silk skirts are replaced with textured knits. Realisation Par’s version was carbon copied by just about every label for summer. Max Mara’s wool separates are a very elegant choice. Reptile and zebra printed trousers and skirts are a more modern take on the trend. New York labels Proenza Schouler and Tome took a more conceptual approach to the trend, printing it onto silks in odd colours and sizes.

From Left: Max Mara, Bottega Veneta, Proenza Schouler, Tome NY & Preen by Thornton Bregazzi.

How to wear it:

To make this look wearable we’re pairing animal print separates with neutrals to avoid overload. A knitted skirt with a black tee and knee high boots is super chic. For a more relaxed look, reptile print dresses or trousers paired with your favourite trainers are perfect daytime attire. Accessories (again!) are a simple and effective way to pay homage. Animal print shoes win every time and never seem to go out of fashion.

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