Five autumn/winter 2019 trends you can start wearing now, from moody florals to puffed sleeves
Kick off the new season in style
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Your support makes all the difference.Summer isn’t over just yet but with cosy yarns and stylish coats beginning to fill the shop floors, our craving for autumn/winter fashion is becoming more difficult to resist.
In fashion circles, August marks the onset of autumn, so while temperatures in the UK continue to hover around the mid-20s, our favourite shops are already preparing for the brisk months ahead.
If you find yourself yearning to splash your cash on some new-season garb, the good news is that there are plenty of ways to get your cold-weather fashion fix while simultaneously staying cool on clustered train carriages.
The trick here is to embrace the notoriously tricky transitional period and invest in autumn/winter trends that will work both now and as the golden autumn leaves begin to fall.
For 2019, the autumn/winter catwalk shows presented a vast array of trends that can be sported ahead of the new season’s arrival, from the return of punk-inspired plaid and puffer coats to fresh and exciting colour combinations.
But whether they’re totally new or tried and tested, the sheer number of trends that emerge at once means updating your wardrobe can be a real head-spinner.
To help, we’ve rounded up our pick of the best autumn/winter 2019 trends that you can wear now safe in the knowledge that they aren’t going out of style any time soon.
Purple reign
A shade that was once synonymous with royalty, power and wealth, purple is officially the reigning colour of the new season.
While it might not be for everyone, major names including Dries Van Noten, Tom Ford and Comme des Garcons stood behind the regal hue for autumn/winter.
On the runway, designers presented head-to-toe looks featuring a spectrum of different shades, from delicate lavender to valiant violet.
However, to translate this trend into your own wardrobe we suggest using it as an accent to other colours. Pair a purple T-shirt with off-white jeans and dad sandals now before switching to darker denim and ankle boots when winter calls.
Supersized bags
Last season saw the mini-bag serve as the ultimate status symbol, with designers instigating a big bag backlash among fashion fans.
However, come autumn/winter pint-sized purses will be scrapped in favour of supersized carryalls that will do just that. Finally, a trend that satiates our need to lug around obligatory junk wherever we may go.
As seen at Sportmax, Lacoste, Michael Kors and Rejina Pyo, handbags on the AW19 catwalks resembled overnight carriers which were clutched under the arm or slung nonchalantly over the shoulder.
A useful trend for any season, wear yours now and in the months ahead to prepare for unpredictable weather. Umbrella? Check. Sunglasses? Check. Cardigan? Check.
Gothic florals
Floral dresses are a wardrobe staple at all times of year but for next season they are back and broodier than ever.
As seen on the runways at Prada, Erdem and Marc Jacobs, rich floral hues dominated everything from frocks and tops to flouncy skirts.
Retire your go-to summer smock to the back of your wardrobe and stay ahead of the curve with a midi-length dress adorned with dark and moody floral prints. Wear now with open-toe sandals and layer with a roll-neck jumper and knee-high boots as the temperatures begin to fall.
Power puff shoulders
This summer saw fashion fans forgo bare shoulders in favour of OTT puffs. And for 2019, the trend shows no signs of abating.
While recent puff sleeves were largely present on milkmaid-style cotton blouses and dresses with sweetheart necklines, a number of designers including Givenchy and Alexander McQueen used the trend in their collections to add a fun contrast to sharp tailoring.
Fans of the feminine look needn’t be disappointed though because other designers, such as Richard Quinn and Emilia Wickstead, used the girly accent to accentuate already feminine, floral designs.
To translate this trend into your winter-ready wardrobe choose button-up cardigans and lightweight knits that can be worn on their own now and layered with T-shirts in the months to come.
Disco-ready platforms
Evening shindigs have been dominated by the dainty kitten heel in recent months, but for the upcoming months they’re being replaced by a chunky, towering new breed of shoe: the sky-high platform.
Thanks in part to the unrelenting influence that the Seventies is having on fashion right now, numerous designers including Stella McCartney, Alexa Chung and Saint Laurent all sent models teetering down the catwalk in chunky heels.
Signal the end of summer with retro styling and pair high-heel versions with A-line dresses and miniskirts for nights out. Alternatively, opt for a more versatile pair of platform boots that can be worn with everything from straight-leg jeans to midi dresses
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