Image credit: Liz Sunshine
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The biggest trend for winter this year? According to Vogue’s fashion features director Alice Birrell, it’s moving away from any trend at all. More specifically, it’s about not pigeon-holing yourself into a certain aesthetic or dreaded “-core”. Rather, the local and international style crowd is leaning into accessorising—“those little features and subtleties,” Birrell says, “that make an outfit your own”.
“With the fragmented nature of the internet and its ability to foster nano fads, we’re moving away from prescriptive headline trends which I think opens up a whole new world of possibility in our winter wardrobes,” she continues. “Miu Miu set things firmly on this path with its styling of everyday pieces in jersey and neutrals, accessorised with bags heaving with key-rings and talismans—as did Balenciaga—as if collected over a lifetime and it’s been building steadily. Clothing made to look deliberately worn in, frayed caps and faded bags- anything with a patina that signals it has been loved is key.”
Most recently at Australian Fashion Week, the Vogue team noticed a predominantly bottoms-up approach to dressing. “I’m thinking of a winter wardrobe this way,” shares Birrell. “First lay the bedrock in classic staples like wool coats, tailoring and denim, then adding interest in coloured knits, socks, hosiery and bags.” 9-to-5 cues like the necktie, and reworked ’80s touches like brooches and coloured stockings, were of particular interest. “I like to layer up stockings under sheer skirts, building, or taking away layers depending on the time of day,” Birrell advises, “or put a 15 denier under a pair of jeans. It no longer matters if the top peeks out of the waistband.”
“The feeling is haphazard but individual.”
Here, we bring you eight winter fashion trends worth investing in for 2024.