These Are the 7 Most-Wanted Pieces to Invest In for Fall 2024

Fall/winter 2024 runway
(Image credit: Launchmetrics)

Fall fashion is the conversation on deck everywhere from the Who What Wear offices to chats happening at fashion week. Though we’re still on the tail end of summer, the official beginning of the fall season arrives in just a few days and I’ve been interested to investigate the exact trends and items that will top the fashion set’s shopping buys for the months ahead. I’ve already dug into the biggest trends from the fall/winter 2024 runways as well as consulted style insiders and editors alike to see which items they are planning to invest in and there are some clear common themes.

So what has landed on the short list of key buys for fall 2024? Ahead, I’m breaking down the most-wanted pieces to invest in including everything from the unexpected jacket that is already dominating the street style set to the bag everyone wants in their closet. See the best new-season designer shopping ahead.

The Suede Jacket

Ask any fashion editor about one of the top buys for fall 2024 and they are almost guaranteed to say a suede jacket. Suede is the unexpected texture that has all but taken over bags, belts, and trousers alike, but a suede jacket is the clear It buy for the season.

Ralph Lauren runway look

(Image credit: Launchmetrics)

The Animal-Print Piece

From classic leopard to graphic zebra, animal prints are back with a vengeance. On the Jacquemus fall/winter 2024 runway, portrait-collar maxi coats and skirts were executed in bold zebra while Michael Kors showcased nostalgic yet modern takes on leopard. Work the prints into your wardrobe with a coat for a head-to-toe look or something subtler like a pair of printed shoes.

Jacquemus fall/winter 2024 runway

(Image credit: Launchmetrics)

The Burgundy Bag

We have been reporting on the burgundy color trend since last year and the wearable shade remains a beloved shade by the fashion set. This fall, we’re specifically seeing the color executed in great bags including the recently reintroduced Bottega Veneta Lauren 1980 clutch that is set to be the next in-demand bag.

Bottega Veneta fall/winter 2024 runway look

(Image credit: Launchmetrics)

The A-Line Skirt

The A-line skirt has been on our radar since last year when it made a strong appearance on the runways and the street style, but its dominance among the fashion set has solidified it as a must-have piece. Look for midi length with soft pleats.

Valentino fall/winter 2024 runway

(Image credit: Launchmetrics)

The Funnel-Neck Coat

The outerwear set to take over for fall? The funnel-neck coat. We have been predicting its rise since it appeared on the runways in the collections of Burberry, Chloé, Ferragamo, and Proenza Schouler, to name a few. An editor favorite, our team has already been spotted wearing it at fashion month.

Chloé fall/winter 2024 runway

(Image credit: Launchmetrics)

The Colorful Knit

Neutral shades have dominated for the last few seasons. Even when a color trend has emerged, such as burgundy, it has been on the more muted side of the color spectrum. For fall, however, we’re seeing the rise of more eye-catching colors such as martini olive green that are especially showing up in knitwear as seen on the Prada runway.

Prada fall/winter 2024 runway look

(Image credit: Launchmetrics)

The Cigarette Pant

While time will tell if skinny jeans reenter the fashion space again in a major way as they did a decade ago, the nipped-in silhouette is making a comeback in the form of cigarette pants. The tailored, polished pants recall outfits spotted on icons such as Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Kennedy-Onassis.

Altuzarra fall/winter 2024 runway look

(Image credit: Launchmetrics)
Associate Director, Special Projects

Kristen Nichols is the Associate Director, Special Projects at Who What Wear with over a decade of experience in fashion, editorial, and publishing. She oversees luxury content and wedding features, and covers fashion within the luxury market, runway reporting, shopping features, trends, and interviews with leading industry experts. She also contributes to podcast recordings, social media, and branded content initiatives. Kristen has worked with brands including Prada, Chanel, MyTheresa, and Luisa Via Roma, and rising designers such as Refine and Tove, and her style has been featured in publications including Vogue.com, Vogue France, WWD, and the CFDA. Before Who What Wear, Kristen began her career at Rodarte, where she worked on assistant styling, photo shoots, and runway shows, and at Allure, where she moved into print and digital editorial. She graduated from the University of Southern California, where she studied art history and business, and currently lives in New York.