Last Updated on September 21, 2023
Wondering what the biggest fashion trends for Autumn Winter 2023 will be? You’ve come to the right place. Welcome to Wear Next’s Autumn Winter 2023-2024 trend report, where we’re defining the most significant trends for the season ahead, sharing some of the best looks from the runway and showing you how to get the look on the high street. While we saw a little bit of sunshine recently, autumn is on the horizon as we race through September. It’s time to do the big wardrobe swap, pack away all your summer dresses and hang your knits back up, but it’s not all doom and gloom. After all, the new season means new trends to embrace!
The main theme of AW23 is wearability, which might just come as a breath of fresh air if you’ve ever felt alienated by fashion. Office-ready tailoring, hourglass shapes, and cosy fits were huge this season, with more power suits than you could shake a stick at. Darker hues reigned supreme, with greys and blacks being championed this season in the form of long coats at Victoria Beckham, Alaïa, Prada and D&G, and oversized blazers at Diesel, Valentino and Saint Laurent.
But if you love colour (as I do), you’ll be glad to know that bright red was another key theme, with the shade worn head-to-toe on the Stella McCartney, Blumarine, Elie Saab, Marni and David Koma runways, to name a few. Whether it was the winter florals at Erdem worn with heavy eyeliner or the swathes of black lace teamed with leather at Chanel, gothic style was notable too, perhaps inspired by Netflix’s Addams Family spin-off show, Wednesday. After analysing the Big Four Fashion Weeks at Paris, London, New York and Milan Fashion Weeks, here’s our trend report for AW23 and how you can wear them now.
Love accessories? Read about the biggest autumn winter 2023 bag trends, shoe trends, knitwear and boots trends next.
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Check mate
We’re kicking things off with one of the most reliable and wearable trends there is: checks. It might not be revolutionary, but checks have their place in almost every person’s autumn winter wardrobe, whether it’s in the form of a flannel shirt, full-length coat or chequered dress. Burberry is known for checks, but this season they stepped it up a notch with chequered everything – including tights.
Seen at: Burberry, Dior, Marni, Emilia Wickstead, Thom Browne, Zimmermann, Vivienne Westwood, Thom Browne, Acne Studios, Stella McCartney and more.
Balthasar Coat – Black/Honey, £725, Shrimps – buy now
Wide-Leg Checked Wool-Blend Trousers, £110, COS – buy now
Dylan Western Shirt, £75, Levi – buy now
Hourglass silhouettes
Jessica Rabbit-style hourglass shapes seemed to be on every runway for AW23, with fashion creating this desirable silhouette in the form of oversized belts at Schiaperelli, Max Mara and Alaïa, peplum tops (yes, really) at Balmain, and cinched in waists at Jason Wu, Prada and Roland Mouret. You don’t need to look like Kim Kardashian to achieve this look; just use your clothes!
To get the look at home, use big waist belts to create an hourglass shape. Peplum dresses and tops are another easy way to embrace the trend, but anything with volume around the hips will do like this ASOS DESIGN dress I’ve found, below.
Seen at Balmain, Bottega Veneta, Chloe, Paul Costelloe, Dolce & Gabbana, Carolina Herrera, Jason Wu, Christopher Kane, Max Mara, Marni, Schiaparelli and Tory Burch.
Premium Tailored Bandeau Peplum Top, now £39, Nasty Gal – buy now
Wide Waist Belt, £45, & Other Stories – buy now
Premium Bandeau Maxi Dress, now £90, ASOS DESIGN – buy now
Linen Blend Peplum Top, £29.99, Zara – buy now
Looking to make a purchase at Zara? Here’s when the next Zara sale is.
Perforated leather belt, £1,050, Alaïa at Matches Fashion – buy now
Power suits
Autumn winter 2023 is set to be the season of the power suit. Embrace workwear with an oversized blazer with sharp shoulder pads as per Saint Laurent, or do it like a man with a grey two-piece trouser suit and white shirt as seen at Gucci. Frankly, there are so many ways you can wear this. It really is one of the most accessible and wearable trends this season.
This look is easy to copy. Simply invest in a great suit – either a trouser or a skirt suit is perfect. Team with an oversized blazer and kitten heels, and you’ll instantly mean business.
Seen at Saint Laurent, Alaïa, Awake Mode, Balenciaga, Bally, Chloe, Fendi, Gucci, Lanvin, McQueen, Versace and many more.
DREAM Oyster Jewel Tweed Jacket, £155, Sister Jane – buy now
DREAM Oyster Jewel Tweed Skirt, £95, Sister Jane – buy now
Asymmetric Double-Breasted Waistcoat, £59.99, Zara – buy now
Trousers with Contrast Waistband, £79.99, Zara – buy now
Relaxed Single-Breasted Blazer, £135, & Other Stories – buy now
Linen-Blend Midi Skirt, £75, & Other Stories – buy now
Double Breasted Linen Blazer, now £180, Reiss – buy now
Wide Leg Linen Trousers, now £95, Reiss – buy now
Michele Jacket, £175, Sezane – buy now
Damon Trousers, £130, Sezane – buy now
READ MORE: The Biggest Sunglasses Trends of 2023 and Where to Buy Them
Well red
Sick of Barbiecore? Take a step away from pink this autumn with the return of bright, bold red. Mark my words, this is going to be the colour of the season and you’ll get bonus points if you wear it head-to-toe a la Fendi and Stella McCartney. We all know the psychology behind red making us look instantly more attractive too, so it’s a win, win!
To embrace the look, wear red head-to-toe but even a pop of colour will work. Red dresses are the easiest way to wear the trend, and there are plenty of beautiful options on the high street.
Seen at Fendi, Stella McCartney, Bally, Christopher Kane, Hermes, David Koma, Marni, Alexander McQueen, Sakts Potts and more.
Marly Short Dress, £155, Sezane – buy now
Cherry Petals Midi Dress, £95, Sister Jane – buy now
Relaxed Pleated Detail Wrap Dress, £120, & Other Stories – buy now
Short-handle shoulder bag, £29.99, Mango – buy now
Long black
After a coat that will last forever? They don’t get more versatile or enduring than the long black coat. The maxi coat became the whole outfit at Dolce & Gabbana, with the glamorous edition of a glittering necklace, sunglasses, black gloves and of course, heels.
Seen at Dolce & Gabbana, Givenchy, Prada, Khaite, Valentino, Chanel, Max Mara, Stella McCartney and more.
Oversized Rounded Wool Coat, £270, COS – buy now
Long Wool Coat, £465, Ganni – buy now
Black Double Breasted Coat, £199, Albaray – buy now
All wrapped up
If you’re sick and tired of impractical trends, here’s another one you’re going to be relieved to see this season. It was hard not to notice the sheer number of cosy looks that graced the AW23 runways, especially those that featured scarves as the main feature.
To get the look, wear yours almost like a cape, as seen at Etro and Saint Laurent; it looks chic, but will keep you warm too. Alternatively, invest in Toteme’s scarf coat for two-in-one.
Seen at Etro, Saint Laurent, Chloe, Coperni, Dior, Max Mara, Khaite, Michael Kors, Stella McCartney and many more.
Scarf-neckline felt jacket, £810, Toteme – buy now
Fringed Pure Wool Scarf, £85, COS – buy now
Rock Star Embellished Velvet Cape, £250, Free People – buy now
Mohair Scarf In Fuchsia, £180, Victoria Beckham – buy now
Maxi skirts
Maxi skirts have been making their comeback for a little while now, but I had to include this in our trend report because they’re another easy-to-wear trend for AW23 especially when compared to those micro minis. Try a Y2K-style denim maxi with an oversized knit, or a simple black skirt teamed with a white shirt will kick two trends off at once.
Seen at Michael Kors, Paco Rabanne, Prada, Rokh, Fendi, Blumarine, Diesel, Molly Goddard, Givenchy and many more.
Rock The Runway Maxi Skirt, £168, Free People – buy now
Denim maxi skirt, £200, Self Portrait – buy now
Coated-Denim Maxi Skirt, £99, COS – buy now
Split back organic-cotton denim maxi skirt, £165, Raey – buy now
Metallics
Sequins are huge every winter, but metallics might just overtake in AW23. Sequins’ cooler, more sophisticated big sister, these can be dressed up for the Christmas party or down with trainers and an oversized knit.
Seen at Blumarine, Dolce & Gabbana, Coach, Carolina Herrera, JW Anderson, Dries Van Noten, Proenza Schouler and more.
Lupe metallic wide-leg high-rise faux-leather trousers, now £67.50, Amy Lynn – buy now
Freya premium leather thigh high square toe boot in silver, £200, Topshop Limited Edition – buy now
Metallic Croc Faux Leather Shorts, now £52.50, Warehouse – buy now
Lupe metallic wide-leg high-rise faux-leather trousers, £85, Amy Lynn – buy now
Go gothic
If you’re a fan of Netflix’s The Addams Family spin-off Wednesday, you’re going to love the gothic trend that appeared at Chanel, Paul Costelloe, Dior and more. As seen on the Kardashian-Jenner clan a lot lately, fashion made black lace, heavy eye make up and gothic jewellery super stylish on the AW23 runway.
To try the trend, a long black dress will work, teamed with chunky boots and gothic jewellery.
Seen at Paul Costelloe, Chanel, Awake Mode, Acne, Balmain, Rodarte, Dior and many more.
Waisted broderie midi shirt dress, £140, ASOS EDITION – buy now
Asymmetrical Pleated Skirt, £269, Claudie Pierlot – buy now
Mila Velvet Top, £149, AllSaints – buy now
UO Rebel Extreme Slash Long-Sleeved Top, £36, Urban Outfitters – buy now
Winter florals
Florals are never far away when it comes to fashion, but this season they’re less girly and more gothic. If you’re not quite ready to embrace black lace from head-to-toe, this is a much more versatile option. We saw bright florals on black at Richard Quinn, Erdem and Herrera, while at Armani and D&G, corsages offered a more subtle take on the trend.
If you haven’t got gothic florals somewhere in your wardrobe, there’s plenty to choose from like this adorable dress from Sister Jane or a mesh bodysuit from AllSaints.
Seen at Richard Quinn, Erdem, Balenciaga, Chanel, Dior, Elie Saab, Miu Miu, Van Noten, Emilia Wickstead and many more.
Pearl Marina Mini Dress, £89, Sister Jane – buy now
Floral-print silk-twill scarf, £165, Gucci – buy now
Floral Embellished Detail Column Dress, now £52.50, Warehouse – buy now
Ruby Shirred Midi Dress – Floral, £85, Damson Madder – buy now
Everyday essentials
Following the pandemic fashion was loud and proud, but two years on we’re embracing every day essentials instead, whether it’s hoodies at Miu Miu, vest tops at Bottega Veneta, trench coats at Dior or loose-fitting jeans at Gucci.
This look is easy to copy, and you probably have plenty of the staples in your wardrobe already. Try a hoodie and jeans with a wool coat for a comfy, casual look.
Seen at Miu Miu, Bottega Veneta, Courreges, Dior, Tods, Coperni, Chloé, Fendi and Hermès.
Oversized Cotton Jersey T-Shirt, £29, & Other Stories – buy now
Pocket Detail Hoodie, £44.95, NA-KD – buy now
Mom Straight in Smoke Sea, £90, Wrangler – buy now
Cropped Elasticated Shirt, £75, COS – buy now
Tie it up
The move towards Y2K fashion is still going strong, and this season we’re seeing the return of ties. Reminiscent of Avril Lavigne in her Sk8er Boi era, this time around it’s a little more polished. Team yours with a shirt and loose-fitting trousers with chunky boots and an oversized aviator jacket.
Seen at Chanel, Valentino, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Carolina Herrera, David Koma and more.
Textured Tie in Black, £15, ASOS DESIGN – buy now
Striped Wool Tie, £79, Sandro – buy now
Lavallière Thin Scarf, £235, Saint Laurent – buy now
Bag trends
XXL totes
Seen at Coach, JW Anderson, Balmain, Jil Sander and more.
For those who can’t step outside the house without a colossal bag, you’ll be glad to know that XXL totes made a reappearance on the AW23 runway. Chances are you have one or two of these in your wardrobe already!
Top handles
If you pick just one bag trend to embrace this season, make it those with top handles. These structured bags added a ladylike touch to the runways at Dior, Schiaparelli and perhaps most notably, Prada.
Seen at Prada, Schiaparelli, Off-White, Dior, Acne and more.
Read our full trend report for AW23’s biggest bags.
Shoe trends
Western boots
Western-inspired boots aren’t exactly new, but that’s not to dismiss their prevalence this season. With a slight heel and a whole lot of style, these are so wearable. Wear yours under skirts and dresses, as seen at A.W.A.K.E. Mode.
Seen at A.W.A.K.E. Mode, Zimmerman, Isabel Marant, Chloé, Off-White and more.
Over the knee boots
Over the knee styles are definitely the standout trend when it comes to boots this season. Seen at Fendi, Lanvin, Bottega Veneta and so many more, they’ve been given fashion’s seal of approval. Not only that, but they’ll keep your legs warm. Win win!
Seen at Bally, Bottega Veneta, Elie Saab, Fendi, Hermes, Lanvin and more.
Read our full trend report for AW23’s boots trends or shoes trends.
