Want to be bang on trend this autumn? Here's our top 8 fashion tips for AW20
Loungewear. We salute you. You served us well, but we are well and truly ready for a wardrobe refresh, and with autumn fashion trends filling our feeds – there really is no better time to do it.
Coronavirus may have ruined our summer, but we are not going to let it have our favourite fashion season too – no way!
So, rid your checkout baskets of all those would-be holiday outfits and prepare for the start of a new season – and here are all the rules you need to know.
1. Show-off seventies
Throwback to the super-sophisticated style of the polished seventies. Layers of cream and peach complement shades of brown, beige and tan and mix with retro patterns and chunky gold jewellery to create an elegant touch to cool fashion. Not sure where to go with this? Check out the cast of the political drama Mrs America, available to watch on the BBC iplayer. It timelines the turbulent years of America’s sex equality war. Cate Blanchett, Rose Bryne, and Elizabeth Banks star, among a host of other top A-listers. But the fashion is powerful, chic and definitely makes a statement – tick, tick, tick!
2. Back to black
For the love of goth – black is most definitely back. This time, though, forget the need to style it up with colourful accessories. The moodier, the better for this welcome addition to this year’s autumn fashion trends. But how to embrace this stripped back, subtle style? Dress head to toe in black – from your bag to your shoes and everything in between. If that’s a little too ‘plain’ for your liking though, you could take some inspiration from the ever-chic Celine and Chanel, who teamed black dresses with white collars and cuffs and layered cream, frilled shirts under daring black coats. Have a little fun with texture too; leather, velvet and knit were all big hitters on the AW20 catwalks. Seriously though, one could even be mistaken for mourning the end of 2020…
3. Loafs of style
Most of us will remember these chunky soles from their previous revival in the 90s. But these buckle-decked chic shoes are making a serious comeback in 2020 – and we’d expect nothing less from a seventies fashion reboot. That’s right, the loafer just has to be on your fashion checklist this season. The best bit? As shoes go, these are pretty comfortable thanks to their platform soles and thick heels, so I would say they are probably going to give your feet some respite – result! There’s plenty of variation to choose from with modest heel heights as well as sky-high platforms all being thrown into the mix. Croc print, leather, patent, and even velvet finishes mean you can dress your style up or down with this versatile shoe. So, if you add just one thing to your autumn wardrobe – this is a strong contender.
4. Get the scoop
When it comes to bags – functionality is certainly coming back in style, thankfully. Boxy satchels, top handle shoppers and the elegant scoop shoulder bag are the most prominent styles and what we’ll all be adding to basket this season. We can’t get enough of the ‘scoop’ though, with its firm structure and hidden space making it the perfect accessory for any outing whether that’s with the fam or lunch out with your girls. And its distinct curve shape and short shoulder strap just oozes buckets of 2020 style.
5. College cool
It’s back to school season so it’s fitting then that designers have leaned towards college cool ensembles. Striped rugby tops, baseball jackets, flared jeans, plaid and a whole host of headwear from scarves to beanies – it’s all making your preppy look work for AW20. Cord, denim, and structured shirts and dresses topped with loose-fit knits are the items to go for if you really want to nail this trend. But jazz your look up with white ankle socks, bold colours and pimping jewellery to finish it off perfectly.
6. Throwing shapes
Patterns are adding some fun to this season, and if you like to dress your look with a little pizzazz you are going to love the multitude of shapes from checks to polka dots. Tartan, plaid, stripes and even chevrons all add some funk to your wardrobe for autumn. What’s more, it’s totally ok to mix, match and even clash those shapes and patterns too if you follow the likes of Dior and Longchamp.
7. Find your length
There’s no one single skirt length to opt for this season – but before you rush to buy, the fashion world has some rules it wants you to follow when it comes to dressing lengths. Denim maxi skirts were for sure one of the highlights of the catwalk, but there’s also a flurry of A-line denim midi skirts to choose from too – both of these styles are super flattering and comfy and look great teamed with boots or flats. Look out for splits up to the thigh and patchwork detailing for added style points. Another firm favourite across the board was the mini skirt which is going to enjoy somewhat of a renaissance after a while away from the spotlight. From cool leather-look to cute tartan numbers, you are going to keep those pins on show for a while yet. Thank goodness for tights – thick black and wool white are your best options here, teamed with a pair of loafers and an argyle knit and you are good to go.
8. The bright side
Aside from black and neutral shades, there are some colours you can have fun with too this season. The catwalks were awash with pieces that dared to long-jump from the muted end of the spectrum right onto the bright side. Sunset tones of red, pink and orange were huge bringing a new lift to tailoring and suit dressing. Metallics were also big, especially sparkling silver to really push that retro glam into your wardrobe.
