Pleats, Prints, and Capsule Classics: The Fashion Trends this A/W 2024
Goodbye summer, hello autumn.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the light and floaty ensembles of the summer months, but when the autumn chill begins to pinch my cheeks, I can’t help but get excited about the new seasonal wardrobe.
As the inevitable chill descends, we are seeing the shift toward warmer staples. Although, this dip in temperature doesn’t equate to a dip in styling opportunities - it’s quite the opposite. The cold air brings with it a plethora of outfit possibilities as we head into the territory of layering, chunky footwear, and big coats. An array of seasonal textures, shapes, and colours offer a playground of styling combinations that will welcome the new season with boldness and vivacity. This season, there’s just so much to play with.
As we have seen on the runways and the high street alike, this year is all about colour. Red and burgundy hues are filling our wardrobes and adding a hint of luxury to our outfits, whilst animal prints are experiencing a resurgence of their own. Leather and fur textures are still very much in, and continue to elevate our outfits in these cooler months.
And now, more than ever, we are seeing ‘quiet luxury’ at the forefront of of our apparel. Classic pieces are flooding back into fashion, with some items giving a nostalgic twist to modern elegance. Timeless styles, shapes, and colours are becoming staples in our collections and building the foundation of our capsule wardrobes.
So, how can we prepare for a season of colour, fur, and timeless elegance?
Read the Room - Red’s So In!
Images: Pinterest & Hermès 2024.
Pops of red were welcomed to our wardrobes in the summer months. We paired vibrant red hues with leopard print pieces, and cherries became the emblem of the season. As we head into cooler temperatures, we’re delving into deeper shades of red - and burgundy is our main protagonist of A/W 2024.
You’ve more than likely already seen these gorgeous rich hues integrated seamlessly into layered fits and chic ensembles. Deep in tone and effective in outfit elevation, this colour goes hand-in-hand with this season’s ‘quiet luxury’ aesthetic. From burgundy to merlot to dark cherry, this colour palette is just oozing with a sense of status, luxury, and ambition. Whether you’re drenched head-to-toe in shades of merlot, or simply injecting pops of dark cherry into your autumnal fits, burgundy is giving us ‘effortless chic’ this season.
Why not add a splash of merlot to your own wardrobe?
Urban Outfitters
Red Buckle Sling Back Heels
£48
Radley
Sloane Street 90’s shoulder bag
£239
ASOS DESIGN
Formal Trench Coat in Burgundy
£75
Pretty & Preppy in Pleats
Images: Pinterest
The pleated skirt has truly stood the test of time. Once a staple in our adolescent wardrobe, the pleated skirt is back - and better than ever. Thanks to a number of full circle trends such as the noughties revival, preppy chic, and tennis-core, pleats are making their return and adding a pop of girliness to our outfits.
Whether it’s mini or midi, there are so many different ways to style your pleated skirt. In the autumn months, a mini pleated skirt goes perfectly with a chunky jumper, knee-high boots, and fur-trim coat. Heeled Mary Janes paired with long white socks are also perfect to give your pleated skirt that chic and preppy look.
This season, our pleats are coming in hues of browns and creams, tartan patterns, and even grunge leather. These colour schemes can all be styled differently to achieve gorgeous autumnal looks that will have you ready to strut through the autumn leaves.
Girly, preppy, gorgeous. Long live the pleated skirt.
Pull&Bear
Check Box Pleat Mini Skirt
£25.99
Miss Selfridge
Micro Belt Pleated Mini Skirt
£32.99
Boohoo
Vintage Look Faux Leather Pleated Mini Skirt
£26
Quiet Luxury - A Timeless Elegance
Images: Odd Muse & Pinterest
Quiet luxury is one of the hottest trends of the year. It’s all about chic minimalism and more refined, subtle expressions of elegance. It’s about owning less pieces that are of a higher quality and building your capsule wardrobe.
This trend follows a soft and neutral colour scheme, using palettes of black, white, cream, brown, and grey. Now, in the autumn/winter season, we are seeing this rich, deep burgundy take centre stage and add that sense of quiet luxury.
This trend also brings with it a nostalgic, old-time feel - throughout 2024, we have seen a huge wave of nostalgic shapes and silhouettes making their way back into our wardrobes. Feminine silhouettes have particularly shaped our attire and given us chic, tailored fits:
A-line dresses: A wardrobe staple, a-line dresses boast a gorgeous silhouette with a fitted bodice and a voluminous skirt. A timeless and feminine piece that can be reworn, time and again.
Trench coats: The trench coat is loved for its functional features as well as its timeless elegance. This trusty piece of outerwear will help you to brave the elements whilst looking chic and so put together.
Slingback kitten heels: Comfortable and chic, kitten heels have a wearable quality that is perfect for easy outfit elevation. With its classic shape and short stiletto heel, these shoes can be styled under jeans or with a stylish midi dress.
Tailored Pieces: Blazers, trousers, buttoned shirts. Business casual is in and tailored pieces are our wardrobe essentials. With tailored items, it’s all about the quality and fit. Sleek, clean, and understated, these items are a worthwhile investment.
Odd Muse
The Ultimate Muse Cap Sleeve Mini Dress
£100
H&M
Double-breasted coat
£54.99
Forever New
Cream Kiandra Wide Leg Trousers
£60
Leopard Print Continues to Reign
Images: Pinterest & Christian Dior 2024
Bold. Fierce. Vivacious. The leopard print obsession continues - and it shows no signs of stopping. Trends are always circling back into the spotlight, and leopard print has been the shining star this year. The beauty about leopard print is that it is so versatile and can be used to achieve so many different aesthetics, from rock chick to Y2K revival or glamorous chic.
Leopard print is a great print for easily jazzing up your wardrobe. If you fancy injecting some fun into your daily fits, leopard print is the perfect way to do it - and it can be as subtle or as bold as you wish. There are countless ways to style it, especially in the colder season, from knitwear, jeans, coats, shoes, and accessories. Varying in tones of yellows and browns, you can choose your style and truly make leopard print your own.
Be fun, be inventive. Channel your inner Scary Spice.
Zara
Animal Print Faux Fur Coat
£79.99
Urban Outfitters
BDG Kayla Lowrider Leopard Print Jeans
£65
River Island
Brown Satin Leopard Sling Back Court Shoes
£36
