This season, fashion seems to have taken a bit of a funny turn. It’s not quite the Autumn/Winter trends report you may have expected. Out are the traditional khaki colours, and stylish workwear – not including the pantsuit which will always be in. Whilst in, are the wild prints, and even wilder hues and metallics; it’s all feeling just a bit less autumnal, and a lot more party to say the least. Anna Mather suggests that daring to be bold and confront any shyness is anyone’s best bet for making an outfit appear on-trend this season.
COLOUR COMBINATIONS
Fuchsia x raspberry red x forest green? Totally workable, even if it sounds like a disaster. Mustard x camel x burgundy? Interesting, but totally on trend. This season, no colour combination is too much. It’s not a season of “everything goes”, but you can bend the colour wheel ruling. Harmony needn’t be the memo, as colour clashing has been given consent. It’s this season’s take on some classic colour-blocking.
UTILITY VEST
Military soldier meets fisherman: the utility vest offers a combination of smarts and effortlessness, but must be styled to perfection. Wear with matching or harmonious colours to make it blend smoothly into your outfit. They are super functional, and will almost definitely carry all of your university cards, as well as your lipsticks discretely. Hoodies look great worn underneath, giving a nod to the hot sportswear trend of the moment – and with added jewellery, you’re set to be the trendiest on campus.
ANIMAL KINGDOM
If you hadn’t noticed by now, animal print is flavour of the year. The species nor colour matter, just pick up a jungle-infused item and you’re all set. Tiger print is the current hot favourite, while classic leopard print retains its status. You can always experiment with print-clashing here, layering and merging graphics of the wild if you’re feeling ultra-confident, or stick to a statement piece that still packs a punch if you’re a newbie.
NEW NEONS
Stationery lover? This walking-talking highlighter trend is for you. Go garish in bright shades, but stay inventive. A neon turtleneck looks super cute when layered with a pattern slip dress; this gives the overall look a toning down, yet still draws our attention to what we love about neon. Pair a fluorescent puffer jacket with black ripped jeans and converse to make a stress-free statement.
CHOCOLATE HUES
Brown is the new black. Go head-to-toe in brown hues. Think chocolate, camel, sepia, and caramel. By combining different textures too, your look will have depth and look clean. If a whole brown outfit is too much for you, start off with a camel-hued coat and some comfy ankle boots.
SWEET SILVER
Metallic is brought in new ways. Rather than ending up looking futuristic, or maybe a little too Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz-esque, reach for soft silvers that delicately catch the light. Temper this by utilising muted greys and pastels to keep the look soft and sweet.
CHECKED OUT
It doesn’t matter what the year, check prints are always the go-to for any Autumn/Winter season. Get your hands on a sleek, chequered longline coat, or get funky in a tailored, checked trouser. Pair the latter with a simple black tee, oversized denim jacket, and a red beret: a small citing to Parisian chic that ticks this season’s trend boxes. Avoid being too Clueless about it when it comes to choosing your prints; try to go for those that will last years, as you never want a print that will look dated (unless 90’s grunge is your approach of choice).
Whilst soul-searching for new ways to define Winter Fashion, labels across the planet seem to be subconsciously reaching for iconic features of the past, and taking them for a spin. Expect to see amalgamations exuding nostalgia for a time gone-by, and brought into the 21st century. Tom Scott walks us through his fashion standards for the months to come, and how these can be achieved on a small budget.
WILD WEST
By now, we’re used to seeing big brands regenerate and revive cultural phenomenon, and the winter western trend is no exception. For both men and women, you should expect to see bolo ties, denim, suede fringing, and check prints galore throughout this Autumn/Winter season. However, the timeless essential for our discerning, winter cowboy is a pair of statement cowboy boots, made prevalent by the likes of Givenchy, Brioni, Kim Jones, Wooyoungmi and DSquared2. The stand-out pair, however, were exhibited by Calvin Klein: finished to an aggressive point yet, were seasonal in their ice white tone. Unfortunately, this country, wild west trend is pretty niche, and therefore runs at an expensive price tag. However, similar pieces can be found on sites like ASOS, who have really embraced the western trend throughout both male and female lines.
SHEARLING
I know what you’re thinking, shearling for winter? Florals for spring? It’s not exactly revolutionary stuff. Yet fashions houses across the globe continue to spoil us with the most gorgeous, winter shearling coats. A particular standout this year is a stunning, white fleece coat by Hermes, from their A/W18 collection. For your own wooly pleasures, outerwear like this can be sourced from vintage stores and charity shops, which often stock retro shearling pieces.
NINETIES BABY
Right now, nineties panache is really in its renaissance epoch. Expect to see the continuation of denim overload, ugly trainers, and bargain bucket hats as the big fads. Both Dolce & Gabanna and Prada have really captured the 90’s essence for A/W18. Remarkably, this season saw a return for Prada to athleisure and minimalism. Fans have also witnessed a return for Prada in their iconic, nylon-through clothing, apparel, and accessories; an ode to the house’s influence on nineties fashion. At this point, you can grab the sport-meets-grunge inspired pieces from almost any fashion retailer. The Fila Disruptor has already made a name for itself in line with imitating this era, with no doubts in continuing through the winter months to sell itself. Cop your own with a 20% student discount at Schuh, online or in-store now.
TENDER TEXTURES
Soft textures and textiles are a must-have for the upcoming season. Labels are trading conventional materials for delicate finishes, in order to compensate for a more winter-appropriate dress code. Versace, who appears to dwell on an array of trends in this season’s collection, encompasses a combination of 90’s, Maximalism, and softer fabrics, whilst maintaining their trademarks. You can seize this soft-textured style for your own wardrobe using brands like Topman and ASOS, whose technical winter jackets come in a variety of fashion-forward and comfort-focussed materials.
MAXIMALISM
Gucci continues to exert its dominance over the fashion landscape for this year’s winter season. The relationship between Gucci and Maximalist fashions appeared to peak during their Fall 2018 collection. Models were disclosed carrying teacup dragons and their own heads, swarming in embellished dad cardigans and coats with animé panels. The garments utilised Gucci’s iconic colours, with a splash of glitz from a series of sequins, embellishments, and appliques. This type of glamour is what you should expect to see as the biggest trend for men’s formal autumn wardrobe. In order to capture the Gucci essence, attempts to buy fashions covered in intricate and bold detailing is a given. Zara’s A/W18 collection provides pieces evidently inspired by the Gucci Maximalist trends, and fall much more appropriate for a student-friendly budget.
