Closet must-haves for Autumn/ Winter 2023 with Kimberly Hunt

Kimberly Hunt, known from The Style Side and Canberra Outlet, shared with us her must-have items for autumn and winter, so you can march into the cooler months with confidence.

According to Kim, the value in knowing what’s on trend isn’t about splurging on a whole new wardrobe every season – quite the opposite, actually.

“If you know what you’re looking for, you can search for it at op shops and outlets, rather than having to rely on stores to tell you what’s in.”

Fashion is above all things cyclical, so we strongly encourage you to take what you like from this list and go a-bargain hunting.

“Fashion and money shouldn’t be related,” says Kim. “With today’s cost of living, nobody should have to be spending heaps and heaps of money to feel good about their wardrobe.”

“Once you have an understanding of what is going to be current, and what’s going to move your wardrobe forward, you don’t have to go and buy brand new.”

Trend prediction #1: Suit up

When it comes to timeless versus trendy, Kim leans towards the former, and so does this menswear-inspired look.

“Classic, tailored pieces are really coming through at the moment. In 2023, we’ll see a lot of suiting, particularly vests. Blazers have been big for seasons, but now the vest is very much a hot item.”

A vest is always a killer accent piece (and easily found at op shops) but if you’re looking to channel a classic look, style it with a matching pant in a neutral colour.

“Building a functional wardrobe means having a lot of pieces that you can play with,” says Kim. “Suits are very easy to mix and match, so you’ll get lots of options out of that, and you can dress it up for the evening as well. It doesn’t just have to be corporate.”

Trend prediction #2: Hot chocolate

“We often see a lot of black in the winter,” says Kim.

Chocolate brown in particular is rising to the top. “It’s very ‘70s, and we’re definitely seeing a return of that era - a nice change from all that ‘90s minimalism.

“When we talk about micro and macro trends, colours tend to be more of a micro trend,” says Kim.

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Meaning that it’s easy to get swept away by trendy shades, which is a recipe for impulse buys.

Plus, if the colour of the season isn’t your thing (*cough* Bottega green), then you may find yourself taking a hiatus from saturated store windows.

However, if chocolate brown does tickle your fancy, Kim gives the all-clear.

“In two years’ time, we might not be doing monochromatic brown looks [but] it’s still a fairly neutral tone, so you will be able to wear your brown pieces, just maybe not head-to-toe.”

Trend prediction #3: Into the trenches

“Trench coats are going to be huge this season… it’s one of those pieces that will always be in style. Easy to layer and adds a super chic touch to any outfit.”

When shopping for a trench, Kim suggests the longer the better. “If it sits midway down the leg, you’ll find doesn’t work for a lot of outfits.

“A long-line trench creates a dramatic flair, making more of a statement. Go for a classic cream, beige, white or black.”

Trend prediction #4: Knit wits

“We saw so much linen in the last few seasons. Now we’re moving away from that and towards super soft, easy-to-layer knitwear.”

Something as simple as knitwear is key to building longevity into your wardrobe. “Start with those really paired-back basics, then you can add more statement pieces, knowing that you’re going to be able to use them with most of your outfits,” says Kim.

Today, Thursday 9 March, St John Paul II College in Nicholls will become the first ACT school to ensure male students receive a Periods, Pain, and Endometriosis Program, or ‘PPEP Talk®’, in honour of International Women’s Day, 8 March.

The government-funded program is run by the Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia (PPFA). It will be delivered to all Year 10 students at St John Paul II, in order to support teenagers who suffer from severe period pain and endometriosis, as well as to educate their peers.

According to PPFA, “one in four girls and people assigned female at birth” struggle with severe period pain.

“While pelvic pain and endometriosis are gaining greater awareness worldwide, and the progress made since the inception of the bipartisan supported National Action Plan for Endometriosis is significant, the impact these conditions have on an estimated 700,000 Australians remains largely misunderstood.”

Endometriosis is a chronic disease that may cause severe pain and infertility. The disease presents itself in a variety of ways and can compromise the education, career paths, social growth and productivity of women and girls in Australia.

By including the male students at St John Paul II, PPEP aims to help them understand the challenge that endometriosis and period pain is for their peers and better support them as a friend, brother, partner, co-worker, and potentially as a father in the future.

The program has been launched in independent and Catholic schools in the ACT, and conversations with the Department of Health continue regarding matched funding to offer PPEP Talk® to government schools.