Trends for Autumn and what I'm buying

As the leaves begin to fall, our attention turns to new arrivals for Autumn/Winter 18  (AW18) and the trends for the coming season.  I've been studying Vogue, Grazia and Pantone to bring you the lowdown, along with my own wish list.
First, colours. Grazia tells us that brown is the new black. There are signs of brown cautiously returning to the rails, and if you like brown, & Other Stories and M&S, where there is a tweedy brown trouser and jacket, are good bets. Caramel and other lighter shades, described by Vogue as "the new neutrals," are more predominant.

Purple is also expected to have a resurgence, a darker shade than the lilac which has been popular this summer.  Pantone's colour of the year, ultra violet, hasn't been much in evidence, although not surprisingly they include it in their list of colours for AW18:

Quite often the more fashionable and directional shades for a season don't arrive in the shops immediately.  Stores play it safe with lots of our favourite AW colours.

Great lengths

The good news is, there's no major new direction in lengths for skirts or trousers and jeans. So you won't feel old-fashioned continuing to wear last season's. There are still a lot of cropped culottes and wide legged trousers around, with turn ups making a return.

Midi skirts are the most contemporary looking, with asymmetric cuts, but there are plenty of A line, pleated and ruffled skirts around.  For corporate wear, the skirt suit is making a return but unlike the 80s, the two pieces shouldn't match exactly.

Talking of the 80s...

Grazia tells us the mighty shoulder is the focus for an 80s revival, and the second-skin bandage is the dress for those who dare. Is This Mutton? readers will almost certainly remember the shoulder pad fashion and how it's great for creating a powerful silhouette with a tapered waist.  I am inclined to consider the 80s trend one to avoid, however.

Blanket Coats

Another one to avoid, for me, is the trend for blanket coats. I just find them very impractical for the UK climate.  We get the occasional suitable day but mostly here it's too wet. Plus they take up a lot of room in the wardrobe for something worn so seldom. But I will be buying more long cardigans. If you like blanket coats, the way to wear them is swagged round the shoulder or clasped with a contrast belt.

Jumpers/Sweaters

The trend continues for jumpers with stars, rainbows and bright stripes. I bought the jumper in the top picture from Next a few weeks ago. I loved the bright, happy colours and it's the type of jumper that sells out quickly. Note that Topshop and Asos are both carrying a lot of oversize sweaters, so expect to see more of these. I will wear them belted.

Jackets 

Jackets are longer-line this autumn and often belted - see the Chloe example in the shopping guide below.

Shoes and Boots

Heels are lower but in interesting shapes: bulbous or tapered. Slingbacks are back, in bright shades and quirky prints. I've included some designer examples below because these are the styles that will influence the high street.

If you missed out on white ankle boots towards the end of winter earlier this year, they are still appearing on the market. I didn't get them earlier because I thought they would be too short lived, but now I'm tempted.

Leopard print is everywhere

There are a lot of checks and some tartan arriving in the shops but the star of the show is animal print, leopard and zebra. Leopard print has truly come of age with every retailer and brand featuring it. I suspect a lot of us will be throwing caution to the wind and wearing a leopard faux fur jacket or coat.

There are already some fantastic choices in the shops.  If you're still a little timid about this trend, adopt it in a bag, umbrella (look at the one from Topshop, below), scarf or boots. You may find that it's more wearable this time because many designs feature "leopard" in different shades, including pink. 

If you're really daring, Vogue suggests mixing leopard print with zebra head to toe.

Jewellery

Heavier, chunky necklaces are what Vogue is looking at, particularly with the new neutrals. Statement earrings are still in evidence.  I've decided statement necklaces suit me far better than chandeliers.

My wish list

Ahead of each season, I make a list of the things I need. For AW18:

• A raincoat. Preferably black or the usual beige, (but avoiding any "famous checks")
• A pair of metallic brogues. Honestly, I live and die in these.
• White ankle boots and gold ankle boots.  Metallics are fabulous neutrals and add a bit of zing to the most mundane outfits.
• A new leather tote.  I have an old M&S tote which I use for lugging my PC and other essentials around. I found this bag in M&S: it's leather and in three colour ways.  I chose the burgundy because it's a good colour to go with either black or brown. It's a little smaller than my old faithful bag, but there is room for my laptop and I'm trying not to carry such a heavy bag. 
• A black cashmere cardigan. I like the cropped style and I like those from Boden most of all. They are nicely finished and don't shrink. 

Those are the "needs" and then there the wants, which are the inessentials that add a touch of fashion to the wardrobe.  I haven't seen any "must have's" yet in terms of new directional trends. But I have bought a couple of jumpers (sweaters) and a skirt already, see them here, and I am thrilled with a new asymmetric skirt in red and black from M&S. In the online pictures it looks like it would be a fairly heavy fabric but actually it's light and swingy. I'll be showing you my new buys in due course.

One thing I will not be buying this year is a new coat:  I have too many and they take up too much room.

So what's on your wish list?  Bought anything yet? And what will you not be buying?

Sharing this post with #CreativeMondays at Claire Justine, #Anything Goes at My Random Musings, #IwillwearwhatIlike at Not Dressed as Lamb, Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style; Style with a Smile at Stylesplash; Turning Heads Tuesday at Elegantly Dressed and Stylish, #SpreadTheKindness at Shelbee on the Edge, Chic&Stylish at Mummabstylish,  Top of the World Style at High Latitude Style, Fancy Friday at Nancy's Fashion Style. Fabulous Friday at A Pocketful of Polka Dots, Tina's Pink Friday, Weekend Wear at Threads for Thomas 

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fashion over 50, trends for autumn-winter