It's time to commit.
It's official... we're in the midst of cuffing season. While the typical definition of this period often refers to one's desire to redefine their romantic relationship, for fashion people, it takes on an entirely new meaning. Our qualms have less to do with efforts to secure a ring and more to do with solidifying a shopping list. Sure, choosing what trends to adopt for the season isn't a lifelong commitment, but it's no less tiring! After all, with the endless array of micro-trends and inflation at a record high, it's all too easy to become plagued with doubts. It's a reality that's even harsher for indecisive shoppers, who often worry that what they're buying will be something they want to wear in six months. Like any interpersonal relationship, taking something off the "market" and getting to that point where you're committed (at least to hitting the check-out button) takes time. Beating the cold feet that commitment-phoebe shoppers have is no easy feat, but it can be done. How so? Start by investing in items that you know will be around longer. While that might seem like an oxymoron, considering the very nature of trends, the truth of the matter is there are always a few that carry over from season to season. In an effort to help you identify the best fashion trends to invest in for the long haul, we spent hours sifting through F/W 23 and S/S 24 collections. Ahead, we're sharing ten trends that carry over from winter to spring easily. If these don't make even the most dubious buyers part ways with their dollars, then nothing can make them commit.
Every season, without fail, there's one outerwear trend destined to be around for the long haul—this season, it happens to be longline coats. We saw this trend sweep (quite literally) across the F/W 23 and S/S 24 runway collections in every form, proving their popularity. But it's not just the wide-spread prominence of this trend that makes it noteworthy; instead, it's all the various iterations of the style. While the coat's length remained unchanged, designers played with texture and color. For example, at Boss's F/W 23 show, a black satin maxi coat was layered over a draped blouse and fitted pencil skirt. While at Brandon Maxwell, white separates were layered underneath a fuzzy forest green maxi coat. But possibly the best example of this coat's transition from season to season could be found at Ami Paris and Khaite—although the latter was the brand's spring show, it still featured a pristinely tailored white coat. Each iteration of this trend proved that there's a long list of ways one could adopt them, making it the ideal investment for the long term.
Nordstrom has marked this gem down for a short period, so you better act fast.
White in the winter? It's giving wealthy.
Nothing is chicer than a black maxi-coat.
Now, here's a coat that can provide the pop of color your winter wardrobe needs!
The perfect addition to any work wardobe.
We know what you're thinking... "Gloves? Groundbreaking, reporting." Of course, it's a given that this winter-ready accessory would come back around once the temperatures drop. But how this "boring" accessory was made bold again across F/W 23 and S/S 24 collections can't be ignored. It wasn't just that designers incorporated this accessory into their runway looks, but they made it thefocal point. For example, in Jill Sander's F/W 23 collection, this accessory created a feast for the eyes—the nipped-in waist of a butter-yellow leather top was dramatized by the addition of scrunched-up egg-white opera gloves. Similarly, subtle color-blocking was spotlighted at Givenchy by styling a black turtleneck, trousers, and matching gloves with a contrasting navy maxi coat. It wasn't just fall collections, though, that we saw this accessory prevail—case in point: Tod's S/S 24 collection. In the show, polished polo dresses and mismatched skirt suits were given a slight edge with the addition of moto-inspired gloves on the hands and even adorned onto belts. But if that weren't enough to prove this accessory's relevance year-round, simply look to Fendi's S/S 24 collection, in which pastel-hued layered knits were paired with contrasting gloves. These collections proved that gloves aren't just a boring accessory; they can give (if styled right).
These gloves are so Saint Laurent-coded.
You can also shop these gloves in white and black.
A girl can dream.
Oh, this color!
These chocolate-brown gloves will make all your winter outfits look decadent.
At this point, it should come as no surprise that suiting was prevalent (yet again) on the runway. We've seen some form of these staples reimagined every season. But with F/W 23 collections and S/S 24 collections, designers put in the work to make this suiting feel special again. Unlike previous iterations of suits that leaned into the oversized feel, we saw a sharp focus on tailoring. For some designers, that meant creating the illusion of sharp shoulders using shoulder pads, which were present in various F/W 23 collections, including Saint Laurent, Versace, and Zimmerman. While other designers choose to play with nipped-in waists—e.g., at Remain's spring show, a tan blazer with shoulder pads and cocoon sleeves curved tightly at the waist. Similarly, at Carolina Herrera's spring show, a simple black blazer was made sharper through dart pleats, a belt at the waist, and an oversized brooch. And then, there was Bevza's S/S 24 collection, which used tailoring to flatter the bust by creating bralette-like seams in a crisp white blazer. By leaning into tailoring in their F/W 23 and S/S 24 collections, designers gave workin' girls something they'll be excited to wear again.
Great blazers don't have to cost a fortune.
Saint Art's tailored seperates are worth every cent.
Already own a pair of black trousers? You can also shop these in green, navy and tan.
The rounded shoulders add an elegant touch to this blazer.
Speaking from personal experience, these Madewell trousers are extremely flattering on the form.
Let's be honest: following bag trends over the past few years can feel a bit like whiplash. After all, it was quite a drastic change from mini bags being the prevailing trend to oversized carryalls making a big splash. One could argue that the desire to find a middle ground between the two trends is the driving force behind most designers' F/W 23 and S/S 24 collections. With these two seasons, there was less focus on playing with proportions; functionality was the focus. We saw a wide embrace of a trend we're dubbing "huggies"—i.e., a traditional-sized bag silhouette that can be easily snuggled underneath the arms but still can be slung over the shoulders or carried by hand—basically a bag that can do it all. The movement towards embracing more pragmatic shapes was first ushered in on Ferragamo's F/W 23 runway with the debut of the Hug Bag, which is characterized by its structured top-handle silhouette with timeless front-clasp hardware; the bag can be easily "hugged" underneath the arms. Since then, we've seen multiple designers carry the trend on in their S/S 24 collections. For example, oversized cloud-like clutches were spotted in both Victoria Beckham and St.Agni's runway shows, while at Jil Sander and Tibi, more structured handbags were styled as if they were clutches. No matter how they were worn, the prevalence of this style showed that the best bags aren't determined by size, but if you want to hold on to them for a long time.
It wouldn't be a tribute to huggable handbags, without the bag that started it all.
Mango popped off with this one.
Normally, I don't share my own wish list but this DeMellier bag is too chic to gatekeep.
The fashion set can't get enough of this Toteme bag.
'90s-inspired handbag shapes never go out of style.
Like clockwork, certain textiles always make a trimupment return on the F/W runways—leather happens to be one of them. If you can recall, it was only a few seasons back that we saw this material takeover the runways in the form of heavy-duty leather pieces with overly distressed finishes fashioned into more "masculine" silhouttes (e.g., oversize bombers and moto jackets). Since then, the textile has still played a significant part in collections, but in a suprising way. Unlike previous versions of this trend, we saw designers use leather in their F/W 23 and S/S 24 collection to create more traditionally "feminine" pieces. For example, in Sportmax's fall collection the simple shift dress became stunning through using a pale yellow leather material with a matching feather boa scarf. Similarly, at 16Arlington's spring show, a dress's drop-waist silhouette was dramatized through the usage of a slate gray leather. But it wasn't just dresses that played with leather, as we saw both in Brandon Maxwell's F/W 23 and Rokh's S/S 24 show that cropped leather blazers with buckle details were styled with matching bottoms. While the prevalence of this textile is no doubt a selling point, it's ultimately the craftmenship that carries it. Because when you're dealing with a material that is so common in collections, you have to find a way to make it lovely again—luckily for us, designers did just that.
Not your basic leather blazer.
Zara does it again.
Leather has never been more posh.
The styling possibilites with this skirt are endless.
A moment of silence for this Brandon Maxwell dress, please.
We may be in the thick of boot season, but you better believe that's not the only footwear worth your time. If you were to scour recent runway collections, you'd likely realize that only one shoe style is sure to stick around until spring—ahem, pointed pumps. Sorry to your beloved boots, but across the F/W23 and S/S 24 seasons, designers rode ten toes down for every type of pointed heel. While the widespread ubiquity of this footwear is reason enough to invest in it for the long haul, the true allure lies in how designers were able to give this traditional style a "contemporary" spin. Of course, there were still a few classic iterations of this footwear in the mix—e.g., the pointed ankle strap pumps spotted at Givenchy or the slightly curved pumps at Giada's S/S 24 show—but, for the most part, designers weren't afraid to play with their pumps. A prime example was Miu Miu and Saint Laurent's fall collections, in which pointed pumps were adorned with belts. Similarly, designers sharpen the silhouette by opting for angled heels and shiny patent leathers (reference: Ferragamo and Tory Burch's F/W 23 collections). But the most exciting example was how designers incorporated texture onto the pumps—e.g., Khaite's fall show featured heels covered in fur, while Gucci's spring show had them embellished with tinsel. Each variation of this footwear in the collections proved that this style is always on point.
Careful, these pumps are sharp.
Saint Laurent's buckled pumps are quickly becoming a cult-status item.
It's the little bow for me.
These classic slingbacks are available in 12 other colorways, making them the perfect purchase for anyone.
Are these not the prettiest pumps you've seen?
If we're being honest, most color trends are fleeting. But occasionally, one manages to break out of the cycle and become a "neutral" hue in its own right—red has done just that. Since last spring, we've seen various shades of red surface on the runways, but it wasn't until we began researching for this story that we were fully convinced this color is here to stay. While we didn't see one singular shade of red reign supreme, two noteworthy variations were found across the F/W 23 and S/S 24 collections: crimson and cherry red. With the former, we saw the highly saturated crimson red play a bigger part in fall collections, although it did carry over into spring, too! Designers often used crimson to make more typical silhouttes feel sultrier. That aim was on full display at Stella McCartney in a double-breasted coat and matching slip skirt that came in crimson red. While at Tory Burch, we saw how a longline wrap coat becomes fiery when fashioned from a crimson red material. And then, there was Ferragamo's fall collection, which featured suits, knits, and coats all in the brightest possible version of crimson. If the fall collections were all about using this shade of red to dial up the heat, then spring was all about bringing it to a subdued simmer—which is apparent in the broad adoption of cherry red. Designers took this decadent darker shade of red and dialed up the ante by using it for more "luxurious" items. For example, in Sabato De Sarno's debut show for Gucci, leather goods like bags, moto jackets, midi skirts, and pumps all came in cherry red. Similarly, Versace, a matching skirt suit, came in a drool-worthy cherry red leather. Although the shades differ in vibrancy, they're both a reminder that any color can be neutral if you're willing to commit.
Even when it's cold out, you'll still bring the heat in this coat.
Perfect for the holiday season.
Pro tip: inject this color trend into your closet in small doses through accessories.
The burgundy hue of these trousers feels so bougie.
Hot, hot, hot.
Much like gloves, tights are can be an afterthought for most as they're staple that's not necessarily all that snazzy. However, that's not the case when it comes to recent runway collections, as we saw designers use this underrated underpinning as a way to add visual intrigue to their looks. In fact, the popularity of this undergarment in F/W 23 and S/S 24, made it seem as if designers had decided to collectively raid the hosiery department in search of inspiration—boy, did they find it. Not only did collections champion almost every type of tight—there was everything from colorful tights to fishnets at Victoria Beckham and Tory Burch's fall shows. But, additionaly, we saw designers get creative with the ways in which they styled tights. For example, in Miu Miu's F/W 23 collection, sheer tights were layered underneath exposed briefs and paired with triple-layered tees, cardigans, and sweatshirts. While at Gucci, tights in contrasting hues were purposely styled underneath low-slung hemlines and sheer separates to expose the top of the pantyhose. And then, there was Sportmax's S/S 24 collection, in which, a pencil skirt with an exposed opaque chiffon lining was layerd over matching sheer white tights and thong sandals. All of the ways in which designers got creative with styling this underpinng showed that some staples shouldn't be underestimated.
These affordable tights also come in a pretty pale blue, mauve, black, and red shade.
Love it or hate it, fishnets are back.
Red tights are habing a moment with the fashion crowd.
The quality of Sheertex tights isn't overhyped.
You'll look snatched in these tights.
As previously reported, styling has played a significant part in making knitwear feel tied to the moment—that's no more apparent than with the trend we've dubbed "in knots." Spotted in previous seasons, this trend is characterized by runway looks featuring layered knit pieces tied over the shoulders, waist, bust, and so on. While the trend began as a styling hack, with F/W 23 and S/S 24 collections, we saw designers transform it. Knotted pieces no longer require extra time in the dressing room to recreate, as designers made them a built-in feature of the apparel. For example, in Gauchere's F/W 23 collection, a slate gray jumpsuit had a built-in knot around the waist that mimicked the appearance of blazer sleeves. While at Henne's S/S 24 show, the technique was applied to a camel-hued mohair sweater dress to create a dramatic draped knot with a long train. And then, there were all the knitted tops that were in knots, too. In Rabanne's F/W 23 collection, a baby blue sweater featured an oversized tie detail. While at the spring shows of Brandon Maxwell and Fendi, sleeveless knits were embellished with faux knotted layers. If you ever had a fear of being "tied down," these pieces proved it's far more alluring than you'd think.
Alaïa always understands the assignment.
The deconstructed sleeves on this blazer will allow you to tie them in a way that pays homage to this trend.
You can adopt this trend in the form of layered knitwear or sweaters with built-in knot details.
You'll wear this skirt for years to come.
Sweaterdress are always a safe purchase.
By now, you hopefully have been able to finally stir up the willpower to dedicate your budget (and some closet space) to some of the previously listed trends. But if you still find none of them satisfy your desire to take a risk, consider investing in a few risqué sheer separates for the season. While we've seen varied forms of "naked" clothing on the runways over the past few seasons, with F/W 23 and S/S 24 collections, we saw them take a subtle shift. With the first waves of cold fronts blowing in, so has a new way of styling sheer pieces. The focus for fashion designers seemed less on leaning on the opacity of the textiles to stimulate the senses and instead experimenting with visible layering. That's no more evident than in Saint Laurent's F/W 23 collection, where sheer crewnecks and tanks were layered underneath sharply tailored suit jackets and matching pencil skirts. Beyond Saint Laurent, we saw sheer separates given a more "modest" feel through styling throughout various spring collections. For instance, at Proenza Schouler, saffron-red sheer tops were layered on top of each other and paired with a matching chiffon midi-skirt. Similarly, at Shushu/Tong, a chiffon blouse was layered underneath a bra and semi-sheer pointelle knit tank. And then, there was Coperni's show, which featured a taupe gauzy sweater styled with a sheer white slip skirt. While many designers' found that the solution to making sheer items more approachable (and shoppable) was all in the layering, it's not the only way. Look to Givenchy's S/S 24 collection, in which a sheer slip skirt was paired with non-opaque items to make it more wearable. It's a reminder that while some trends may seem impractical if you're dedicated to making them work, there's no reason to pass them up. Because, in the end, what makes a trend worth investing in isn't solely its popularity but whether it's something you can see yourself wearing long after the front has passed.
So pretty.
Is there a better way to show off your stunning legs with a pair of sheer pants? We think not.
Spotted in Altuzarra's S/S 24 collection, this crinkled slip dress is made from semi-sheer yarn, allowing you to try this trend without showing it all.
Styling tip: play with layering to dial up the visual intrigue of this blouse.
It also comes in black, if that's more your speed.
from Who What Wear
from Who What Wear
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