FW24’s Key Trends And How To Wear Them Now
From nostalgia-tinged collections to breathtaking designer debuts – FW24 reminds us of the importance of timeless style. Read on for our roundup of the looks to try now and love forever…
There’s a lot to be said for the emotive power of a piece of clothing. This season, Gucci creative director Sabato De Sarno sent red notebooks emblazoned with ‘Follow your heart’ to guests as part of the invitation to his sophomore show, reminding us that nothing is more important when getting dressed. FW24 is a season steeped in nostalgia, as London Fashion Week celebrated its 40th anniversary and a buzzy designer debut at Chloé saw new creative director Chemena Kamali pulling romantic ’70s references from the maison’s archives (which were met with emphatic applause from show-goers). Meanwhile, Saint Laurent’s sensual, almost-all-sheer collection stepped out concurrent to an exhibition devoted entirely to the house’s history with gauzy fabrics. Sheer: The Diaphanous Creations of Yves Saint Laurent, at the maison’s namesake museum in Paris (closing August 25), includes the couturier’s first ever sheer chiffon blouse from his spring/summer 1968 collection. Fifty-six years later, the look is just as powerfully provocative, as Zoë Kravitz and Olivia Wilde proved on the front row. There is plenty to fall in love with this season – discover your favorites with our guide to the top FW24 trends…
Not-so-quiet luxury
It would be easy to call this aesthetic ‘loud luxury’ – the antithesis to the uber-luxe, pared-back pieces that have dominated recent seasons. But doing so risks overshadowing the beauty and intricate craftsmanship of some of the more maximalist pieces from the FW24 runways. Take Saint Laurent’s slinky, sharp-shouldered suspender dress; it is neither quiet nor loud, it simply speaks for itself in rich ochre. Of the 48 looks in the collection, almost all were transparent – crafted from the same fabric used to make tights – and absolutely all were powerfully chic. Elsewhere, designers leaned in to the omnipresent ’70s vibe, with fuzzy coats, leopard print, thigh-skimming boots, supersized sunglasses, gilded evening dresses and sensual lingerie details. Nail the look by pairing Stella McCartney’s fuzzy faux-shearling coat and Gucci Eyewear’s oversized tortoiseshell sunglasses with everything. For after dark, Emilia Wickstead’s scintillating sequin dress fits the brief.
Prep school
At the opposite end of the style spectrum is the preppy, polished, chic sportif look, spotted at Bally, Bottega Veneta, Rabanne and Jil Sander. Giving uniform-dressing a grown-up feel, sleeveless cricket vests, collegiate blazers, polo shirts and sensible loafers are key. Master easy elegance in &Daughter’s playful argyle knit, styled with tailorded pants and Gucci’s perennially chic leather loafers. For major preppy points, Pucci’s cable-knit vest is the ultimate layering piece – add Toteme’s blue shirt, leaving the hem untucked, over wide-leg pants for a modern take on the look.
Retro elegance
The season’s inherent nostalgia touches every facet of our wardrobes – from workwear to eveningwear. Erdem Moralıoğlu often looks to the past to inform his collections, but this season, brands including Jil Sander, Khaite and Bottega Veneta were also drawn to the peplum waists, fitted blazers and sophisticated accessories – from top-handle bags and brooches to elbow-length gloves – that hark back to a bygone era. Inject timeless elegance into your workwear looks now with Veronica de Piante’s sleek black pencil skirt, paired with a silk pussy-bow blouse by Nili Lotan and Gucci’s slingback pumps.
Fall colors
Every season has its own color story, and FW24 ushers moody fall hues of eggplant, mustard, olive green and browns – ranging from russet to rich chocolate – to the fore. Maximilian Davis has built a reputation for making color a key talking point in his Ferragamo collections, and while his signature scarlet was present, some of his most desirable looks (long, chic wool coats and luxe separates) came in an elegant, earthy green. Try Dries Van Noten's chic yellow alpaca-blend sweater with your favorite jeans, or Khaite’s claret-colored midi skirt with crisp shirting to perfect this beautifully modern color story.
Burgundy bags
Richly saturated, reddish-purple bags are an easy way to elevate any look. Spotted on and off the runways across New York, London, Milan and Paris, this sophisticated shade acts like a neutral in that it pairs seamlessly with most colors, while also showing up as more of a statement piece. Look to Loewe, Khaite and Victoria Beckham for standout styles this season.
Pretty pumps
Sleek pumps in vintage-inspired silhouettes are the ultimate office-to-out shoe. Details to look out for include timeless T-bars, pretty bows and elegant ankle straps, as seen on the Ferragamo, Gucci and Carven runways. Manolo Blahnik’s iconic ‘Campari’ pumps are decorated with playful polka dots this season – exclusive to NET-A-PORTER, they come in a bold crimson color. Meanwhile, Toteme’s sleek ‘Wedge’ pumps add a more directional feel to this sophisticated silhouette.
And a hat to top it all off
Feel like your outfit is missing something? It’s probably a hat. From buckets to pillboxes, hats topped off looks at Altuzarra, Dolce&Gabbana, and The Row – a show that was so shrouded in secrecy, guests were asked not to use their phones throughout. For instant Parisian chic, pair The Row’s sweet beret with a fine-knit turtleneck and wide-leg jeans for a modern take on a classic look.
The models featured in this story are not associated with NET-A-PORTER and do not endorse it or the products shown