The 8 Best Trends from New York and London Fashion Weeks

The fall season has begun, but as usual, the fashion world is already onto the next big thing. The past month has seen a flurry of fashion shows from all over the world focusing on trends for spring 2020. Want to make sure you’re staying on top of all the latest fashions? Here are the eight best trends from New York and London Fashion Weeks.

1. Hats

Accessories are always a great way to freshen up your look without having to buy a tonne of new clothes. Hats were definitely the hot accessory at New York Fashion Week 2019, but they also appeared in shows all around Europe, including in shows from designers such as Fendi, Chanel, Prada and Celine. The actual styles differed greatly – everything from fishing caps to sun hats, with special standouts like the bucket hats at Christian Dior and the fun twist on a cowboy hat from Marc Jacobs. London also upped its hat game with designs from Rejina Pyo, Erdem and Emilia Wickstead. Not sure if you can pull off some of those more adventurous hats? Stick to more subdued styles that will still allow you to upgrade your outfit.

2. Vests

Want to look a little more professional at the office? You don’t have to stick with the same old boring suits. Instead, consider adding a little more chicness to your outfit with a vest. There were a variety of styles of vests presented at Fashion Week, including an oversized option from Tibi and a more tailored fit from Dion Lee in the New York shows. Other designers offered their own spin on this office/formal wear with styles from Saint Laurent, Anna Sui, Louis Vuitton and Givenchy.

White or neutral blazers are a great update to your spring work wardrobe.

3. White or neutral blazers

To lighten up your wardrobe after a blah winter, designers have come up with a style that works for both the office and weekend brunch. Proenza Schouler’s oversized 80s-style white- and tan-coloured blazers create a sleek but still ultra-fresh look. New York Fashion Week 2019 also featured Barragan’s white blazers, which he paired with white pants for a full-on monochromatic vibe. Whether you’re brave enough to dress all in white or just want a fun take on a spring classic, white or neutral-coloured blazers can easily help to refresh your wardrobe.

4. Monochrome

Speaking of monochromatic looks, this aesthetic swept London Fashion Week 2019. With inspiration from the gorgeous suits by Burberry and Victoria Beckham, you can easily coordinate your outfit to look polished and put-together with a monochromatic suit. American designers also caught onto this trend, judging by the looks from Sies Marjan, Brandon Maxwell and Pyer Moss. You always have the option of sticking to a minimalist vibe with this trend, so don’t hesitate to dress exclusively in one shade for a fully cohesive look.

5. Trench coats

The 70s-era trench coat is back in fashion! There was a gorgeous silk with floral laser cuts version from Oscar de la Renta, as well as a more traditional khaki option from Michael Kors. If you want to try out a similar piece, our army-green bomber jacket women’s has the same utilitarian vibe without sacrificing style. Longline coats were also the rage in New York shows from Tory Burch, Max Mara and Jil Sander. To obtain this full-coverage look, check out our longer women’s waterproof macs. They’ll keep you protected from the elements while still looking fashionable.

Dresses made from flowy fabrics make for a sweet, feminine look that’s perfect for spring.

6. Flowy dresses

The onset of warmer weather means spring dresses should be front and centre in your wardrobe. Don’t worry if you’re not into form-fitting options – London Fashion Week 2019 saw plenty of designers featuring long, flowy dresses (think heavenly chiffon), including Roland Mouret, Bora Asku and Valentino. Stateside, designers from Rodarte skipped a runway show for an ad campaign featuring celebrities wearing their newest designs of gorgeous dresses – including (you guessed it) several long, flowy pieces.

7. Purple anything

If last year was all about millennial pink, this year the hot shade is purple. Rodarte featured designs with lots of purple overtones, and Tom Ford also elected to add in some royal colours, ranging from a deep purple to a soft lilac. Other designers, such as Balenciaga and Jacquemus, showcased head-to-toe purple looks, along with dashes of purple showing up in Christian Siriano and Michael Kors’ shows. Even if you tend to stick to dark or neutral palettes, adding in some purple can bring a touch of sophistication and fun to any outfit.

8. Sustainability

Although there were plenty of aesthetic trends to follow from this year’s Fashion Week, perhaps the biggest overall trend throughout the industry was the drive for more sustainable fashion. It started this September with Gabriela Hearst’s first-ever carbon-neutral fashion show (in which she used upcycled prints from previous collections). Then, the very same day, the British Fashion Council announced its Institute of Positive Fashion, a coalition designed to set more acceptable standards for green businesses. From there the trend continued, with the Gucci show being carbon-neutral and the brand taking it a step further by pledging to offset all of its carbon emissions from its operations and supply chain. Stella McCartney even handed out notices during her show that let attendees know about her brand’s achievements in using recycled nylon, sustainable viscose and biodegradable shoe soles. London Fashion Week 2019 also showcased a number of sustainable brands (known for both eco-friendly practices and styles), including Vin+Omi, AV, DB Berdan, Riley Studio, Riona Treacy, Hanna Fiedler and Unaji.

Even though you might be excited to try out looks inspired by the best trends from New York and London Fashion Weeks, you don’t need to buy into the notion that you must toss out all of your clothes and start over with a brand-new wardrobe. Many of these trends might be found in items you already own – and recycling your clothes to fit with the times is the best thing you can do to be sustainable. It’s always a good idea to focus on buying designs that will stand the test of time: ageless, minimalist pieces you can cherish for a lifetime should always be any true fashion maven’s goal. So, feel free to spice up your wardrobe with these trends, while keeping in mind that classic pieces (like that trench coat or flowy dress) will likely always remain in style.