Hot trends for autumn
What are the hot trends for this autumn? There's a distinctly tactile feel to this seasons trends, velvet, PVC!, mohair, heritage printed wools and silver lame. I think it's the sartorial equivalent of a cup of tea in testing times, sexy touchable fabrics to soothe us and propel us forward after summer holidays up until Christmas! The less said about the latter at this point, the better.This blog is a brief rundown of what's new in the shops from these main trends so read on for more or watch my 6 minute new Facebook Live video here to get a potted run-down!
Velvet, heritage prints, space age (particularly silver) and tailoring are four of the new autumn trends I've been researching in the shops this week to find the best available now:
Velvet - particularly pink velvet it seems is everywhere. It's velvet central over at Whistles - they have a gorgeous dusky pink jumpsuit, these velvet strappy heels that would work beautifully with ripped jeans and a blouse in the evening or these amazing grey crushed velvet wide legged trousers that would work with white trainers.
Velvet jumpsuit
Pink velvet shoes
Velvet wide legged trousers
Zara have a big and good choice of velvet pieces right now from dresses to shoes to belts and jackets. I really like this velvet high collar double breasted jacket that will look much more expensive than it is and is a really handy item.
Zara velvet jacket
2. Heritage prints. This 'trend' never really goes away because always at this time of year they come back - a classic, and you'll get good mileage out of a jacket or coat in a heritage check print. Zara has some great tweed coats but it seems a little too early yet for coats so I'm on the look out for a tweed blazer. Boden always come up trumps with theirs in classic fabric but with a contemporary cut like this 'Elizabeth' blazer that comes in a few colours.
Elizabeth tweed blazer
Also from Boden, I really love their new collection of British tweed pencil skirts. The pink one is on my wish list to wear with scruffy trainers or the silver heeled ankle boots below from Topshop. They've styled it in an attractive ladylike way below that would be good for the more classic dressers among you for the office.
Pink tweed skirt
3. Tailoring - the designers went classic this season with lots of tailoring on the catwalks. The shape of trouser to wear now is still wide legged. I love these by Maje, great for work wear, a definite wardrobe basic, not exciting but versatile and hardworking so worth spending a bit more on. When you get past 40, having a few classic items in your wardrobe will make sure you've got something right to wear for most occasions. Even if you are a scruffy cow like me, I find there are more times now I want to look a bit more pulled-together.
Make wide legged trousers
4. PVC. Oh Yesssss!! I'm not going to start suggesting over the knee PVC boots at this stage of life but if you can carry those off do it! They're in the shops if you want 'em. If not, maybe a PVC trench from Topshop instead to keep the fun factor in your wardrobe. These are selling out really fast - comes in Burgundy too.
PVC trench
5. Space age - SILVER! This trend includes metallics but THE colour of the season is silver. Shiny silver ankle boots are all over the place including these from Topshop.
Silver heeled boots
This metallic skirt from Whistles is just like Prada's but a fraction of the price.
Kitty metallic skirt whistles
On the higher end but still not Prada prices is this gorgeous rose gold metallic skirt by APC at Selfridges, ALL OVER IT!
ALC pleated skirt
&other stories have a cute lurex silver metallic jumper that would be a winner for lots of events. It looks a lot more sparkly in real life than in this photo - I tried it on this week.
Silver lurex jumper
Finally, just for fun because life is short, but also because puffa jackets are set to be huge this autumn/winter THIS from Mango!
Mango silver puffa jacket
Lisa Gillbe is a personal stylist and image consultant based in London. Get in touch today if you would like a professional wardrobe edit and shopping trip this season.
