6 Fashion Must-Haves This Season

by Tyler Derek Conroy

With the golden-brown hue taking-over London parks and gardens, it is a sure sign that the Fall/Winter season is now upon us. Wildlife are adjusting to the changing weather, and clocks are being adjusted to account for the shortening days. This seasonal transition is not limited to just nature and the administration of human life, but also to humans. The change in seasons is also a sign to revamp our closets in preparation for the coming months.

The splendor of garments that were sent down the runway during the Fall/Winter 2017 shows cannot be doubted. Designers around the world took this opportunity to highlight and accentuate their individuality, style, and aesthetic. From the metallic-chrome scheme of Ximon Lee to the athleisure look of Yeezy, it is clear that the emphasis is put on modernizing classic pieces.

Of course, from the blur of color, fabric, and intricate hairstyles of the designer shows manifested many trends that were featured by a wide range of designers. Here are 6 trends I think you should be watching out for. Incorporating these pieces into your closet this season can only place you ahead of the curve.



1. Pattern and color mixing

Pattern and color mixing are some things we have been seeing more of over the years. Instead of a ‘matchy-matchy’ ensemble, try different combination of clothes displaying patterns and colors. It will certainly scream ‘fashion’ and ‘modern’ from afar.

Regarding this, I have to single out Marni, who showed an inspiring collection of patterns and colors. The use and clash of stripe and checks is beautiful and harmonic — almost as though wearing just checks or just stripes had never been the correct way. But that’s not to say other designers’ interpretations are unworthy of mention. Alexander McQueen, Christopher Raeburn, and Burberry are also worth mentioning.

2. Belted Coats and Jackets

Trench coats are no longer the only outerwear pieces that are being designed with belts. Many designers displayed pieces that were designed with a chic belt around the waist — adding an almost militaristic style. The style of belted outerwear is no longer confined to the realm of coats. Jackets, too, are now being shown with this age-old accessory. Recommended pieces can be found from Lanvin, Versace, and Raf Simons.

3. Red (and other warm colors)

Rather than the muted colors one expects from the colder seasons, designers have been focusing a lot on sharp, visible colors — such as red. Red features a lot this season from nearly every designer. Be it a coat, jacket, or sweater, you can’t go wrong incorporating some red into your Fall/Winter closet (you might even pull off some acute red lipstick!).

But designers who did not focus on red specifically did highlight many pieces in other warm hues. If red isn’t your thing, try some yellows, pinks, or oranges. For designers, I can definitely single out Max Mara, Sibling, or Boss.




4. Bold Patterns and Prints

You might not think you can pull this off, but adorning pieces displaying bold patterns and prints will definitely make you stand out amongst a crowd of indistinguishable looks. This might even be your signature style during this season. What else can boldness in fashion indicate other than poise, chicness, and confidence? Go-to designers for assuredly bold prints and patterns are Dolce & Gabbana (of course), Erdem, and Versace (not forgetting to mention Dries Van Noten too!).




5. High collars and tight necks

For whatever reason, you might not want to be showing much neck this season. Many designers are featuring pieces of outwear with high collars. For those not featuring such collars (like Lanvin), be sure to throw in a scarf to give you the little-neck look. In this cold weather, it should come as no surprise clothes are showing as little skin as possible. I must particularly pick out Burberry and Sibling. Burberry managed to take their classic tartan and incorporating it into a modern poncho featuring a tight neck. Sibling created a sweater that featured bold prints and a high collar. Don’t miss them out!

6. Plaids, checks, and tartans

And finally, of course, the classic trio of plaids, checks, and tartans make a central appearance on the Fall/Winter 2017 runways. These fabrics and patterns may be mixed into any of the trends mentioned above. It is always fun to mix things around. This season, we are seeing a mixture of patterns of tartan within articles of clothing and outfits (i.e. Kenzo). Nobody ever said you couldn’t mix diagonal patterns with tartan. Or you can even go with a colorful plaid top and plain pants (i.e. Missoni). Whatever it is, the options are endless this season.

But remember, as fashionable as trends are and as plentiful and varied as they come, fashion is always the most fun when you incorporate a bit of you in your outfit. Follow trends by all means, and play around with them — mix and match to your heart’s content — but make sure you say to yourself in the mirror at the end of the day “this is me”, and not “is this me?”.