With the somewhat abrupt start to autumn signalling the end of summer-dress season, the question is: what to wear now?
Your faithful woollen midis will happily see you through the colder weather. So, too, your maxis. The current boho revival (as championed by the Princess of Wales, who recently wore a romantic floral dress) means longer lengths can be eked out for a few more weeks – just layer up with long boots.
However, the bottom-half item of choice for the season ahead is indisputably the trouser.
The A/W’24 catwalks were awash with trousers, from slouchy at Stella McCartney to maxi-legs at Max Mara. The red carpet, too. Cate Blanchett wore multiple trouser outfits at the recent Venice Film Festival, proving that they can be as elegant as they are practical.
You will find plenty on the high street. John Lewis and Marks and Spencer’s autumn offerings are notably heavy on trousers. The latter reports that its wide-legs in forest green (£29.50, marksandspencer.com) were the second-most popular style across womenswear last week.
“We wanted [to make] a classic style that moved seamlessly from workwear to weekend,” says Pip Durell, the founder of the women’s shirt brand With Nothing Underneath. The company has just launched its first trouser off the back of customer demand. The tailored Rampling (£225, withnothingunderneath.com) – inspired by and named after the actress Charlotte Rampling – comes with a flattering front pleat and in versatile black or navy wool.
“The Rampling is an effortless wardrobe staple designed to be worn by all the women you are in one day,” says Durell. Add a blazer for the office, or dress down with a jumper and trainers. For party season, look out for the slinky Tencel iteration launching at the end of October.
Whatever the occasion, a pair of new-season trousers will update your existing autumnal staples – not to mention keep your legs warm. And there’s one to suit every shape, style and budget.
The XL wide
The reign of the wide-leg shows no sign of ending. In fact, as we head into autumn, trouser widths are only getting greater. “We are seeing exaggerated volume and silhouette growing in popularity. A ‘super’ wide leg is the newest style this season.” Says Lisa Ferrie, the fashion design lead at John Lewis. The extreme-wide-leg trousers (£99, johnlewis.com) is a hero style. Wear with heeled boots for supreme leg-elongation.
For those who prefer a more demure wide leg, Whistles’ pinstripe trousers (£139, whistles.com, available end of September) have a slimmer cut. Balance the wider hem with a point-toe shoe.
The barrel
With a tapered leg that curves from the hip, the barrel is the uber-trendy shape of the season. The fashion pack is wearing Citizens of Humanity barrel-leg jeans (£370, selfridges.com); however, this shape works equally well in trouser form and is surprisingly flattering, thanks to the voluminous leg creating a nipped-waist silhouette.
Trousers, Me+Em, £195, meandem.com
The trick is to go for a subtle barrel or risk looking bow-legged. Wyse’s Luella trousers (£165, wyselondon.com) have the right amount of balloon and will give your off-duty outfits a modern spin. Smarter are Me+Em’s tailored barrel (£195, meandem.com), which have a wider hem for slipping boots underneath, and an on-trend cuff detail.
The bohemian flare
The aforementioned boho revival means flares are back. If you already have a pair in your wardrobe, dust them off and style them with a floaty blouse and stacked heel boots à la this season’s Chloé catwalk.
Trousers, Reiss, £150, reiss.com
For those yet to invest, Hush’s Rowan (£90, hush-uk.com) has a streamline cut that sits high-waist and gently kicks out. Reiss’s cord flares (£150, reiss.com) lean further into the Seventies look and would work with this season’s suede jackets. Both are available in shorter leg lengths, too.
The swish of a flared leg adds instant evening glamour. Try Jigsaw’s velvet flares in vampy red or midnight blue (£160, jigsaw.com).
The cold-weather cropped
Capri pants were a hit over the summer and dropping temperatures haven’t lessened the appeal of a cropped trouser.
The way to do them now? Think less Audrey Hepburn, more Princess of Wales, and switch cigarette legs for a slightly wider cut (all the better for wearing boots underneath).
Me+Em masters wearable crops. Look at its cord culottes (£225, meandem.com), which have an elongating central seam and end at the lower calf. Sézane’s Martin trousers (£125, Sézane.com) are a universally flattering 7/8th length. Wear with loafers for a leg-lengthening flash of ankle.
The straight
In terms of wardrobe foundations, you can’t go wrong with a classic pair of straight legs. These are the trousers that will complement all top, jacket and shoe styles. No wonder they’re a perennial favourite, although particularly popular this season; at John Lewis, searches for straight-leg trousers are up 86 per cent year-on-year.
Classic doesn’t mean dull. Albaray’s leopard-print style (£89, albaray.co.uk) are just the thing to pep up your jumper drawer. For smarter occasions, Mint Velvet’s straight pin-stripes (£120, mintvelvet.com) have an air of 1990s power dressing.
Shorter statures may prefer a straight leg that tapers at the ankle. Try Boden’s best-selling Richmond trouser (£80, boden.com) in burgundy – the perfect colour to segue into autumn, as the leaves turn orange and the wine turns red.
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
