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Last Updated on June 20, 2024 by Steal the Style
As temperatures cool and days shorten, switching out your closet for fall and winter is a must! At this crucial time of year, you can review your old clothing and toss pieces that have seen better days, no longer fit you well or just aren’t what you’re into these days. Take advantage of the extra closet space to go shopping. Trends for fall and winter dresses include bold print dresses, free-flowing peasant dresses (think Free People or Zara), looks with bedazzled statement collars (Alberta Ferretti), and colorful, fun shapes.
Bold Prints
Big, bold prints are plain cheerful on chilly days, and designers like Boohoo, Proenza Schouler and Jason Wu have put together some fabulous pieces. If you’re a print fan, add print dresses to your closet. Dress them up with a chic blazer, and dress them down with cowboy boots and a cardigan.
The quilted, patterned sheath dress is making a comeback (see below, via Glamour). This piece should be worn slightly big, Glamour suggests, but not so big that the fabric dwarfs you altogether. To maintain a youthful look, keep your legs bare or wear nude stockings and pick your baddest pair of pumps.
Peasant Chic
The new peasant dress has an updated feel and works well for casual weekend wear and out-of-town trips. Look for a simple cream or winter white dress with embroidery, gathered sleeves, and light patterning — Free People has the right sort of spirit for this look. Add some lightly patterned white tights for warmth, or even a pair of black leggings for contrast. Finish this look with boots.
Statement Collars
The statement collar is a trend with sticking power, and why not? It can pull together any outfit from humdrum to chic in about five seconds. There are two ways to bite this style during working hours or after hours. One: Pick a designer dress with a statement collar. Find something so sweet and sexy you could wear it to the opera, an anniversary party or an evening event. Two: Forget the dress and purchase a detachable statement collar. Then snap it on and turn plain tops into style pieces.
A dress with this type of collar won’t look too costumey if you pick out a comfortable fabric, like knitwear, or if you stick to a plain Jane dress, like a cream-colored sheath. It’s when you add colors, chiffon, ruffles, and all that jazz that the look may become a costume.
Working in Colors
Colors to work into your fall wardrobe include fiery red and orange hues (as seen at Carven and Thakoon), fuchsia and electric pink. Pair black with these statement colors to make the fall or winter transition. If you’re not a day-glow fan, purples and rich red wine colors are also on trend this fall and winter (see image below from Glamour), and allow you to showcase some color on gloomy days
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Hip to It
Hippy silhouettes can accentuate your curves in everything from blazers to an evening dress. Building on the success of the peplum, designers are adding in hip pads and exaggerated shoulders or hips on a dress or blazer, and gussying up a pair of pants with panniers. Add a hippy blazer over your new dress or test drive a dress in this fun shape! Be inspired by some of the silhouettes below (courtesy of Telegraph fashion).
Incorporate one or more of these dress trends into your wardrobe to stay on trend. With pumps and booties remaining on trend this fall, chances are you’ve already got the footwear to showcase your legs.
