What Autumn/Winter 2020 trends should you actually invest in?

By Ethne Tierney

Every year designers come up with clothes that they present on the runway. Those ideas become trends that are then used to design everyday clothing. These trends are bombarded to us on our social media feeds by ads, influencers and celebrities. Some we may like more than others, but they don’t necessarily suit our personal style, body type or lifestyle.

Some of these trends don’t survive the passing of time either. Who hasn’t bought a trendy, overpriced fashion item that we were hoping to wear a lot, and ended up at the bottom of our wardrobe because we got tired of it or didn’t have anything to wear it with?

To feel happy and confident in your clothes we need to know our style and not rely on trends too much. Shopping smart is key, not only for your style, but for your pocket too. This is why we are reviewing some of the top trends for this Autumn/ Winter and their wearability.

Balloon Sleeves Balloon sleeves got a relative pass in the wearability test. The pass depends on how plain the top is and how big the sleeves are. A black top with small balloon sleeves, for instance, will be worn in many more occasions than a bold colour with lace details and a textured fabric.

Everything Gold Gold is elegant and it can make a real statement. The designer’s idea to use gold especially on gowns and suits won’t translate into street fashion.

Gold is still a great way to elevate even the simplest of outfits. Our suggestion? Use gold colored accessories in your hair, your earrings, a nice necklace or a watch. Spend money on small bits that are inexpensive, and you can incorporate into your everyday outfits. If, like most people, you are going to spend a great part of you day in a tracksuit or something comfy, combining this with a couple of comfy gold accessories will make you look super put together.

Cardigans Cardigans are infinitely versatile. They are great to put over a floral dress, you can wear an oversized one over some sweatpants and a t-shirt, or you can use a cropped one with a pair of jeans as a top. The possibilities are endless!

Warm, comfy and stylish, cardigans get an A+ on wearability. This is the ideal time to purchase them too as there are so many colours, shapes and prints to choose from.

Checkered Prints Checkered prints must be the easiest trend of the season. Designers are encouraging mixing them all together in one outfit. Burberry went for checkered hijab for this season’s collections. Wearing an outfit with different checkered patterns and colours from head to toe is a possibility. If you need to make a statement with your outfit or wear something bold you can do so, but you can, of course, just grab your dad’s shirt and wear them over a top. And... voilà! You look just like an Instagram influencer spending no money and no effort.

The beauty of this trend is that you will more than likely have checkered skirts and dresses from previous collections, borrow your parent’s old clothes, or even you granny’s scarf. Checkered patterns seem to always come back in one shape or another, so the chances are you have a few items to play with already.

Fringes/Tassels Tassels are an organic and feminine detail that, frankly, are pleasant. Is it worth investing in? Perhaps not. They get tangled, and wash after wash they tend to deteriorate very quickly. Many designers and brands have applied this trend in a ’20s flapper-style dress. The dresses are beautiful, but unless you are a character from ‘The Great Gatsby’ you won’t have many occasions to wear them, and when you do you will struggle to know how to match it with shoes, purses, etc.

If you fall in love with the idea of fringes, we suggest you go for items that have more of a hippie-chic or cowboyish vibe. The materials used for this style are more durable: denim, faux leather and others. Fringes in jackets, boots and handbags will last longer as they are washed less often.

The Matrix Coat The edginess of a dark XXL coat made of faux leather can be intimidating. It really depends on one’s preferences when deciding whether it is a good trend or not. That being said, with regard to practical use the Matrix coat is a great investment. Waterproof and warm, it hugs your whole body with its long length. The colour and material will hide stains and will last for a long time looking its best.

If you tend to go for more edgy or goth inspired styles this coat will be your best

friend, but as practical as it is it won’t necessarily suit someone with a girlier, more colourful wardrobe.

Red Dresses Red is a very flattering colour for all skin colours and features. It is one of those colours that suits curvy, skinny and everything in between bodies. We have to give red a pass since even if you tend to go for neutrals or blacks, anyone can use a red dress for Christmas, for example.

Here’s a little tip: Red being a bold enough colour, means that red dresses tend to have less complicated seams, textures and patterns, which makes their production cost lower. This means you can get very beautiful pieces for an affordable price.