Autumn Fashion Trends

The new school year marks the dawn of a fresh start; whilst pupils enjoy the excitement and anticipation of the new term, High Street and leading designers are proudly unveiling their latest a/w collections.

Fashion and education collide this season. The satchel holds a prominent place as the bag to carry. Fluorescent straps at designer brand Jas MB give the classic satchel a cool edge. For a more sophisticated take on the traditional bag, check out 3.1 Philip Lim’s messenger satchel. Education’s all about ABC and the alphabet got top marks at Stella McCartney’s pre-fall collection with letter print trouser suits. Alphabet notebooks and stickers by Cavallini & Co can be found at Liberty. And meanwhile, at Versace, letter prints adorned belted mini dresses.

The biggest colour news this season comes in hues of purple; from violet to amethyst it featured at Prada, Christopher Kane, Givenchy and Balenciaga to name but a few. Sheer, jacquard and print fabrics added a luxurious opulence.

Trousers are big news, having been absent on the fashion radar for nearly ten years. Designers have gone wild and offer a plethora of shapes and colours to dip into. Wide leg, the slim crop, the pencil and the tuxedo stripe are all key silhouettes to check out. Celine, Stella McCartney, Christopher Kane and Proenza Schouler lead the way.

Winter blooms continue the floral trend. Trousers, jackets and shift dresses were anchor points at collections by Burberry, preen, Erdem, Kenzo and Dolce & Gabbana. And layering reminiscent of the mid nineties sees skirts once again being worn over trousers. This time a new luxury dominates with fancy textured tweeds and metallic brocades, while velvet and leather create a lavish look.

Style note: use a belt to cinch in the waist to prevent the look feeling too bulky and shapeless.

Deborah Campbell’s blog - www.styleindustrieslondon.blogspot.com