We’re not sure what happened, but all of a sudden summer is over and autumn is all around. We feel a bit sad to be putting away the denim shorts and floaty dresses, so the only way to cheer ourselves up is to think about what fashion joy autumn might have in store. As always, trends are evolving, rethinking and rejigging so there’s a lot of familiarity in the autumn/winter seasons for 2024. We’ll go through our favourite concepts for wearable trends and look at how to shape them.
Nostalgic Prints
Print trends are never really new, are they? This year is no exception, with a hugely nostalgic and retro vibe to the season’s choice of prints. Wear them on trousers, dresses, tops, shoes, bags, the list goes on. If you like, wear them head to toe, inducing bra and knickers – this year you can’t overdo a print, whichever you choose!
Leopard
Animal prints are always floating, and recently leopard prints have enjoyed rather a pop art twist with neon shades and bold framing. This season, however, is all about vintage leopard. Take inspiration from ‘50s classic styles of leopard print, or go ‘90s Scary Spice if you prefer – either way, stick to those more classic shades and styles.
Tartan
It’s a seasonal staple, and tartan and plaid continue fashion’s recent ‘90s love affair with grungy plaid shirts and cute tartan mini’s taking centre stage. Go for vibrant colours, reds and purples seem to be favourites on the catwalks. Especially when things turn festive, these prints are a sure fire hit.
Floral
While spring isn’t spring without a floral print, autumn has to be a bit more picky! But this year, autumn florals are back. This season, go for moody and dramatic florals. These are deeply coloured prints on black, and work beautifully to sit opposite the floaty florals of spring.
Layers
It’s a practical thing we suppose: every autumn we talk about layers. But of course we all have to layer in autumn, with fluctuating and unpredictable weather it’s the only way to dress. It’s how we layer that matters, though! Of course, it’s worth starting with a structured foundation layer. Control briefs and a shaping cami give great support while remaining practical all day. Where to next then?
Capes
This is always tricky territory since a cape can feel tricky to carry off, but stay with us! Capes have been everywhere on catwalks, and they’re all the shapes, sizes and textures that you can imagine. Cape style cropped jackets are a practical way to embrace this trend, if a full wrap feels a bit much.
Sheer
Whether you go for a chiffon overlay, or a more gothic lace dress, sheer white of the summer has transformed to black for autumn. Gearing up to party dress season, expect this trend to go from strength to strength. So make sure you get your core silhouette under control with a streamlined bodysuit.
Tailoring
Coats and jackets are boldly angular this autumn. At the more extreme, look for a super wide silhouette with oversized shoulders and lapels. More moderately, trenchcoat lines are an on trend and practical top layer this autumn. Classic neutrals or bold prints mean that you can engineer this piece to your personality.
Colours
There’s always a key hue of the season, and while autumn 2024 is set to be one of bold block colouring where any combinations go (and we mean any!) it’s the reds and pinks which seem strongest.
Oxblood
This rich burgundy shade feels truly autumnal. It’s the colour of turning beech, plum and cherry leaves, red wine and autumn spice. From leather boots to evening gowns and cosy knits, this colour gives everything a touch of elegance. So we’ll be quite glad to see it flood the shops this season!
Blush Pink
For a softer contrasting hue, dusty pink is another popular shade. Rather than the baby pastels of spring, this more muted and more sophisticated shade sits beautifully alongside burgundy shades. It works well for blouses and dresses to bring a sense of lightness to the shorter days.
Colour clashing
The clashing of colours is nothing new, and this season we’re keeping it firmly in one quarter of the colour wheel with red and pink. Contrast separate pieces, or go for dresses and sweaters which combine bold red and fuchsia pink. This trend is one to keep you feeling dynamic and energised!
The turning of seasons can be a challenging time, but we can all feel a bit more cheery with a wardrobe rehash. Most of this season’s trends have been around the block before, so why not see what is in the back of the wardrobe? Start with a foundation of shapewear, and those rediscovered outfits can feel as good as new!
Becky is a content manager who writes informed industry based articles for businesses and consumers. She’s written for Elle Courbee on women’s issues and fashion for a number of years.
Which shapewear should I use to perfect my curves?
