I can’t quite believe it but, we’re nearly in the throes of spring, and with the new year well underway, there’s a whole new set of trends to get excited about, it’s hard to ignore the excitement of longer, brighter days, and easy, breezy outfits.
The good news is, you don’t have to wait until it’s above 30 degrees outside to start wearing said trends. In fact, we’ve already spotted nods to this year’s predicted hits on Instagram, styled in ways that make them feel really wearable for the here and now.
But let’s take it back a step and talk about the trends, as the Spring/Summer 2024 runways told a tale of opposing halves. On the one hand, designers like Erdem, Acne and Versace adopted a no-holds-barred approach to romance, adorning garments with frills, lace and embellishment, fashioning coquettish silhouettes from cinched waists and pencil skirts. But alongside the fun-filled collections, labels like The Row, Hermes, and Bottega Veneta focused on wardrobe fundamentals like tailored trousers, oversized shirts and trench coats. But, if one thing is clear, it’s that this season is undoubtedly the return of the midi skirt, as the demure hemline appeared time and again in different colours and fabrications.
If we’ve learned anything though, it’s that we don’t actually have to pick a side. Even the most minimalist dressers have a magpie streak, and those with a dramatic fashion sense still need the basics to build their looks around. Needless to say, it’s all very exciting—but imagining runway looks working in ‘real life’ can be a challenge. So, we’ve collated some examples of how influencers are already styling 2024’s leading trends. Did we mention we’re excited?
Style Notes: You heard it here first—the bardot is back. And while there wasn’t much call for it during autumn and winter, its about to be everywhere this spring/summer, especially when worn with midi skirts, wide-leg trousers and tailored shorts (but more on those later).
This top looks like it cost so much more.
You can always expect elegance from Toteme.
Just a hint of one shoulder.
Effortlessly chic.
Style Notes: Like it or loathe it, grey denim is back by popular demand, and it’s had a chic upgrade. For those who had never considered this polarising wash, it turns out, it’s actually the perfect option for spring. Lighter than heavy black and just as versatile as blue (you can hold onto white jeans for another few months), grey denim has risen in popularity after luxury denim brands like Agolde, Citizens of Humanity and Mother are backing the colourway in a big way for 2024.
There’s nothing not to love about these Agolde jeans.
Already a bestseller in blue.
The best thing about these jeans are their versatility. Wear with knitwear, blazers, casual jersey or dressy tops.
Such a good slight balloon shape.
Style Notes: The best thing about getting dressed for spring and summer is their effortlessness, and there is nothing more nonchalant and easy-breezy than a pair of shorts. On the runways Bally showed micro shorts with boxy blazers and Chanel naturally paired black shorts with tweed, but if you’re wondering how to make shorts work for now when its still relatively cold outside, take notes from We Are Twinset and add opaque tights a boot until the sun comes out.
You can’t argue with that price.
My still my beating heart.
Smart enough for the office too.
Screenshot this outfit to copy later.
Style Notes: Seen on the runway in collections from Proenza Schouler, Christopher Esber, Schiaparelli and more, fresh whites are the ultimate in polished luxury, and the grown up alternative to spring 2024’s other major colour trend—baby blue. Wear it in the form of dresses and tights now and strip back the layers for summer. Nothing looks better with a tan.
Simply exquisite.
This will really pop on gloomy days.
This comes in five colours, but there’s something about the off-white.
An easy way to introduce this trend into your wardrobe.
Style Notes: As soon as the pencil skirt trend started gaining traction in December, our attention was diverted away from maxi skirts back to the midi. While the runway goes back and forth between the virtues of the mini vs the maxi, street style favours the easy midi—a skirt that rises to meet any dress code. From satin slips to cargo skirts (the natural evolution of the cargo trouser), expect to see much more of the calf-grazing length over the next 12 months.
This complementary colour is truly seasonless.
Chic. Sleek. Sophisticated.
Dressed up denim.
An evening showstopper.
Style Notes: As much attention as skirts are getting, we’re also seeing slimmer pants squeeze their way into the spotlight too. As jean trends get baggier, tailored trousers are getting slimmer, and we predict mini flares and perfectly-cut straight-leg trousers working their way in amongst the puddle pants in stores.
Everyone needs a great pair of tailored trousers.
These come in sizes 4 to 30.
Easy to dress up and down.
Just add an Oxford shirt and loafers for a smart everyday look.
Style Notes: One word to describe ’80s power dressing? Opulent. Channel the cast of Dynasty in the It shoe of the last year—the slingback, and wear with everything from the aforementioned midi skirt to loose-leg jeans. Any trend that continues to be this popular so long after its runway debut has got the stamina to go the distance, and we’re happy to invest in any piece that you can comfortably wear all year round.
This will totally transform even the simplest outfit.
Get a load of that sale price!
I think these might be the perfect shoes for everything?
Our entire team is swooning over these.
Style Notes: Hiding your arms is so passé. Seriously though, after summer 2023 brought back bandeau tops as part of the Y2K revival it was only a matter of time before it would be extended to the bandeau dress too, and this confidence-boosting, ultra-slimline dress is the pinnacle of modern minimalism. In the meantime, throw a blazer on top to keep the cool at bay.
An easy-to-style option.
This print is just too good to ignore.
Every fashion insider owns a Wolford Fatal dress for layering.
Bring on summer.
Next Up: The Only Spring/Summer 2024 Fashion Trends I’m Bothered About
This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.