With the official start of winter almost here, it's officially time to discover this year's key winter fashion trends. Sure, that stroll to grab a sandwich for lunch has already become painfully cold, but there are some pretty major AW23 trends that make all that shivering worthwhile.
In fact, all this new season fashion fun is actually one of the most exciting things about the arrival of winter. And for fellow lovers of layers, just the *thought* of a good coat atop some super chic knitwear sees us - dare we say it - grateful for these lower temperatures.
If you're eager to update your wardrobe this winter then keep reading, because thanks to the world's four fashion capitals - that's New York, London, Milan and Paris - who are always ahead of the curve, autumn/winter 2023's fashion trends were forecasted way back in February.
These are the key sartorial takeaways to prep yourself for the new season…
1. PERPETUAL PLEATING
One of the simplest ways to elevate a look, pleating is back in a big way this winter. Whether you opt for a soft, draped pleat à la Loewe or a more intricate, dense pleat like Paco Rabanne and Rokh, it's a great way to add a sense of texture without overcomplicating a look through various different fabrics or layers. Keep the rest of your outfit relatively monochrome in order to let the pleating do the talking.
Spotted at: (L-R) Paco Rabanne, Loewe & Rokh - as well as Coperni, Atlein, Tove, Givenchy, Ferragamo, Altuzarra, Balmain & Mugler
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2. THE NEW PEPLUM
Buckle up, folks, because you didn't misread that. The peplum is officially back on the fashion map (we did warn you that you might need a while to digest these trends before you trial them!), and whether or not you were into them first time around you'd be wise not to disregard the look this season. Creating a beautiful silhouette, the traditional fit-and-flare shape of a peplum piece renders it universally flattering, and is a great way to dress up an otherwise more understated look.
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Spotted at: (L-R) Cecilie Bahnsen, Tove & Richard Quinn - as well as Christopher Kane, Bottega Veneta, Off-White, 16Arlington, Molly Goddard, Zimmermann, Paco Rabanne & Nina Ricci
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3. QUIET LUXURY
One of the easiest trends to get on board with this winter, quiet luxury has been gaining pace on the sartorial scene over recent months. Essentially the opposite of flamboyant displays of wealth via logos and instantly-recognisable designer prints, this is about the art of subtlety. From timeless vests to blazers and even simply well-cut jeans, quiet luxury will be one of the wisest trends to follow this season thanks to its timeless longevity.
Spotted at: (L-R) Tove, Bottega Veneta & Gucci - as well as Ferragamo, Gabriela Hearst & Miu Miu
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4. RED ALERT
People always want to know about ‘the colour of the season’, and while fuchsia is still having its moment thanks to the Barbie movie there's no doubt amongst fashion insiders that the real on-trend hue for AW23 is red. Not a soft red, not a ruby, a crimson or a burgundy, but good old fashioned scarlet. Wear it head-to-toe for bonus points.
Spotted at: (L-R) Stella McCartney, Bora Aksu & Nensi Dojaka - as well as Christopher Kane, Bottega Veneta, The Row, Victoria Beckham, David Koma, Di Petsa, Eudon Choi, Alexander McQueen & Prada
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5. SHEER REVELATIONS
Yes, we know, it's the trend that won't give up. But with designers forever pushing the boundaries with sheer dressing, it's no wonder we don't get bored. This season you're going to have to put on your big girl pants - both literally and figuratively - as the sheer trend is all about revealing yours. That's right, there are no modest slip dresses or cool trousers slung beneath these sheer sheaths - baring your briefs will be big this winter.
Spotted at: (L-R) Gucci, Miu Miu & 16Arlington - as well as Jason Wu, Bottega Veneta, Nensi Dojaka, Erdem, Fendi, Coach, Molly Goddard, Moschino, Ester Manas & Off-White
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6. THE LBC
One of the most wearable trends of the season, the LBC (Long Black Coat) is the coolest outerwear option for winter. While impractical floor scrapers may be at the top of the list when it comes to runway trends, there's no need for yours to be sweeping the pavements every time you leave the house. Opt for one that falls just above the ankle like Victoria Beckham's for an easy throw-on piece that won't look tired before Christmas hits.
Spotted at: (L-R) Stella McCartney, Givenchy & Victoria Beckham - as well as Alaïa, Balenciaga, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada & Chanel
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7. MOODY BLOOMS
Many of us love florals come spring (Miranda Priestly-aside, of course), but have you ever considered them a winter staple? That's all about to change, with moodier-hued blooms having taken centre stage on the AW23 runways. Go for those with a deep base colour - black or charcoal grey, ideally - and let the floral pop on top. Whether it's one bloom or a few, it's a guaranteed way to brighten up the fashion landscape in the depths of winter.
Spotted at: (L-R) Erdem, Carolina Herrera & Christopher Kane - as well as Burberry & Alexander McQueen
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8. TIGHTS IN SIGHT
We'd be lying if we said we weren't into all of these super practical trends emerging from the designer catwalks. Next up, it's tights. Not the subtle nude ones, or the functional black pair you reach for every time the temperature dips into single digits. No, these are shout-about-it, out-there pairs of tights that were made to be seen. Bright reds were all over the runways this season, but there really are no rules here. Red, blue, pink, green, white… we're here for them all.
Spotted at: (L-R) David Koma, Ahluwalia & Coperni - as well as Dundas, Nina Ricci, Gucci & Victoria Beckham
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9. BUTTER STICKS
A slightly subtler, but no less beautiful, colour trend emerging this autumn/winter is this buttery, pastel-y yellow-y gold tone. Worn head-to-toe it often ticks off the ‘quiet luxury’ trend too, as it exudes such subtle elegance while being one of the easiest shades to wear. Unlike the slightly louder scarlet red runway moments, this is a more subdued colour trend which is a lot less intimidating to step into.
Spotted at: (L-R) Tove, Givenchy & Zimmermann - as well as Cecilie Bahnsen, Christopher Kane & A.W.A.K.E. Mode
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10. SCARF SWATHES
Is it 2010 again? Because we're about to all be buying blanket-sized scarves and Googling the chicest ways to wrap ourselves up in them. Whether you go super simple à la Michael Kors with a muted hue slung casually over one shoulder, or you opt for a punchier look like Saint Laurent and Gabriela Hearst via vibrant hues/prints and a fuller-coverage drape, it's hard to go wrong with this one.
Spotted at: (L-R) Michael Kors, Saint Laurent & Gabriela Hearst - as well as Burberry, Marni, Stella McCartney, Etro, Collection & Louis Vuitton
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11. LIQUID METAL
Metallics come around almost every winter thanks to their strong association with party season, but for 2023 it's not solely about the shimmer but also about the quantity and the placement. While previous seasons have welcome splashes of silver here and bursts of sequin there, for autumn/winter 2023 there's no holding back as the look requires a full liquid metal take on the trend. Head-to-toe, it needs to look as though the metallic sheen is dripping from your every limb. Extra? Us? Never.
Spotted at: (L-R) Gucci, Simone Rocha & Paco Rabanne - as well as Proenza Schouler, 16Arlington, Isabel Marant, Rodarte, Giambattista Valli, Valentino & Coperni
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12. LOW WAIST BELTS
Another trend that may make you shudder as you remember many of your 00s looks which relied on the concho disk belt in particular, we'd be lying if we said we didn't see this one coming. After all, low-slung waists were one of the biggest trends all summer. But if you're not into stomach-baring looks fear not, because - much like Off-White's epic denim midi - there's no reason you shouldn't wear the belt atop a dress. Just be sure to opt for a dress with an existing dropped waist to avoid looking as though you've simply buckled a waist-cinching belt too loosely.
Spotted at: (L-R) Versace, Off-White & Blumarine - as well as Vaquera
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13. BACK TO SCHOOL
Remember when the end of summer signalled a time for new school shoes, endless name-taping and persuading your parents that the ‘knee-length’ stipulation r.e. skirts was only a suggestion and not a requirement? Well 2023 has seen us reverting to our old ways, with back-to-school fashion - namely shirts and ties - being one of the most frequently recurring themes of the AW23 runways. The only difference is that this time you can pair it with whatever bottoms you see fit. We dread to think what the headmistress would have said about those PVC trousers.
Spotted at: (L-R) David Koma, Valentino & Christian Dior - as well as GCDS, Carolina Herrera, Loewe, Alexander McQueen, Prada, GCDS, Saint Laurent, Dolce & Gabbana & Balmain
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Looking for some more shoe trend inspo? Say no more…
If your shoe could potentially puncture a football you're on the right track.
For more from Glamour UK's Fashion Editor Charlie Teather, follow her on Instagram @charlieteather.
