While we’re all trying to be more mindful of how we shop, it can be hard when there are so many trends attempting to capture the zeitgeist and our attention. How do you know which are worth investing in and which are simply here today, gone tomorrow? It’s tough, but with every trend there’s a point at which it either begins to fade out or steadfastly continues, cementing itself as a failsafe fashion friend that you can always rely upon. It’s at this point that it’s safe to invest.
Here, I’ve detailed six trends I love that have surpassed fad status and made it into the sartorial hall of fame to be anointed The New Classics, so you can shop them all guilt-free and wear them forever. You can thank me later…
Black leggings 2.0
We’ve all become acclimatised to loungewear over the last couple of years, wearing it more often than we ever have before. And that may be part of the reason why leggings have now become a wardrobe essential.
They’ve had a stormy path to classic status, riding high as a ‘70s Studio 54 staple, before becoming an ‘80s aerobics uniform, disappearing for a while, then roaring back into fashion in the early ‘00s. Another blip, then they returned in an updated form of their ‘80s guise as a key ingredient of the enduring athleisure trend. But in the past few years they’ve shifted yet again, moving from exercise (or at least looking like you’re about to exercise) essential to every day essential. In 2019, cult label Wardrobe. NYC introduced its zip-cuff leggings and they quickly became a must-have. Styled with heels and oversized shirts and blazers, they suddenly became an entirely acceptable alternative to jeans. Throw in pandemic-induced dressing for comfort and now the latest iteration of black leggings is more than a must-have, they’re an essential building block of any good wardrobe. Just ask Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.
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The new Breton top
What started life as a uniform for French seamen (the stripes made them easily identifiable at sea in an emergency) has taken on a whole other life as a wardrobe staple. It was reportedly Coco Chanel that introduced the design into mainstream fashion in 1917, inspired by a seaside holiday.
We’ve got a lot to thank her for. Since then it’s become synonymous with French style and beloved as one of the easiest throw-on-and-go pieces anyone can have in their wardrobe. But while the classic boat-neck style remains a favourite, in recent seasons it has taken on a new look thanks to another French giant, Celine, and the cult Swedish brand, Toteme. The former created a collared, open-neck version that has spawned many a dupe, while the latter has made Breton-striped knitted roll necks a must. These new iterations have superseded their simpler predecessor to become modern-day classics.
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Sleek mules
Just a few years ago, the thought of wearing mules was ridiculous. Then Gucci reworked its classic horsebit loafer to make it backless and everything changed. Suddenly, the loafer-mule hybrid became the must-have shoe – even in the depths of winter. Such was its popularity, it looked destined to peak then disappear thanks to overexposure. But the opposite happened and instead heeled mules quickly followed suit and regained popularity too, with Manolo Blahnik’s dainty kitten-heeled Maysale style becoming a sell-out.
Now, mules are as viable an option for day and evening wear as trainers and court shoes. Perhaps it’s the slip-on, slip-off ease, or the simplicity of them that we love – the way they can make a formal loafer look more casual, or a kitten heel more contemporary. Whatever it is, they’re now here to stay, heeled or flat, closed toe or open.
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Save: Heeled mule sandals, £75, Charles & Keith
Spend: Mojito 90s heeled mules, £225, Russell & Bromley
Stomper boots
It’s great when practical trends happen. Few have been more so than chunky, lug-sole boots, and the thicker the sole, the better. Whether laced, slip-on or zipped, they’ve cemented themselves as a wardrobe staple by inhabiting that sacred space where utility meets style. Perfect for autumn and winter with trousers and jeans but just as good in spring. They even work on dreary summer days with dresses, so they’re a worthy addition to any wardrobe, and one that you’ll wear for years to come.
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Leather trousers
It can be hard to pinpoint the moment at which a trend becomes more than just a passing fad, and that’s particularly true of leather trousers. They’ve been in and out of the spotlight countless times, an emblem of various eras and edgy subcultures throughout history. They’ve even, perhaps cruelly, been a signifier of a midlife crisis. But over the last ten years or so they have quietly worked their way into the mainstream, becoming an essential that offers sophisticated edginess.
Their adaptability is key to their appeal; paired with cosy knitwear and trainers they are perfect for down days, but add an elegant blouse and some heels and they’re perfect for work or evening too. Much like jeans, there is a style out there for everyone, from skinny to wide leg, high-waist to low-slung – perhaps that’s what makes them a new classic, the ability to work on anyone in all sorts of different occasions.
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Save: Faux leather-effect trousers, £35.99, Mango
Spend: Ankle-length leather trousers, £199.99, H&M
Bias-cut slip skirt
Versatility is the key to a classic, and the slip skirt is the epitome of versatile. First popularised in the 90s by the likes of Kate Moss and British label Ghost, it landed back in the fashion fold just a few years ago amid the revival of all things fashionable from the decade. But why do we love it so? It’s understated, simple and universally flattering thanks to its soft bias-cut. Best in fluid satin or silk, it is at home paired with a knit and boots in winter as it is a camisole and sandals in the summer. Likewise, it’s ability to adapt to any occasion. If you were only to own one skirt, this should be it, and Ghost’s version is still as fabulous now as it was then.
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Save: Black bias cut skirt, £30, River Island
Spend: Anine Bing Bar silk-satin midi skirt, £219, Net-A-Porter
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