The Streets Have Spoken, We Listened—Here Are the 9 Cult Buys Defining Winter 2024

The heating is on, the leaves are falling off the trees and there's a chill in the air that can mean only one thing—winter is coming. But instead of feeling dismay, the change in season needn't just be dark afternoons and the prospect of snow; as seasoned fashion editors, we happily welcome the shift in the trend cycle. Sandals give way to boots, linen becomes wool, and a whole host of new cult finds rise in popularity, becoming the signposts of style that will come to define a moment in time. We might not back every trend that comes and goes, but we do believe in the power of a a wardrobe-altering find to bring our look bang up-to-date, so what is in store for winter 2024 I hear you ask?

Following hot on the heels of summer's mesh flats, loafers and shearling boots are the cosy, cold-weather alternative we can count on to deliver comfort in spades, and, despite the impressive roster of winter coats on the market, we've spotted three styles in particular that have earned the influencer stamp of approval (and likely yours too). From luxury leaders such as Acne Studios and Miu Miu to high-street heroes like ARKET and Barbour, we’ve rounded up the cult buys for this season to help breathe new life into your winter wardrobe in 2024. Keep scrolling to discover our top 9 cult fashion buys worth adding to your basket now.

1. Saint Laurent Loafers

Style Notes: If anything has captured and held our attention in AW'24 its cocoa brown accessories and luxe suede, so imagine our joy when we found a shoe that combined the two in one luxury hit. Saint Laurent's Le Loafer Penny Slipper is the dressy flat shoe we'd be more than happy to trade in our heels for, and influencers agree—these do hit the higher end of three figure bracket, but take care of these timeless beauties and you'll be able to wear them all year round without the fear of them looked dated.

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2. The Frankie Shop Oversized Coats

Style Notes: It just wouldn't be a cult favourites list without at least one piece from The Frankie Shop making the cut, and this time around the style set are swapping their quilted jackets and bombers for the brand's supersized, boxy wool maxi coats. Take a look at the feeds of Paris, London and NY's best dressed this season and expect to see much more of the Frankie Shop's Gaia, Jane and Delphina oversized coats.

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3. ACNE Studios Wool Blend Scarf

Style Notes: Although many of us have been caught up in the recent hybrid scarf-coat trend and haven't felt the need to buy a separate scarf for a couple of years, if there was one style that has dominated the winter accessories category since its release in 2019, it is undoubtedly Acne's wool blend scarf. Pops of colour! Bold checks! Versatile neutrals!—this knit does it all, and in fluffy soft alpaca and mohair. The perfect way to style up even the most simple outfit.

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4. UGG Platform Boots

Style Notes: What happens when you take one of the most iconic winter boots of all time, and turn up the volume? Platform UGGs of course. After returning with a bang over the last couple of years, we've been treated to mini, tall, mules and clogs, but the celebrity favourite are the easy flatforms—just ask Bella, Gigi and Elsa. Looking for something with even more height? We just spotted J.Lo in the latest heeled platform boot, a strong contender for our 2025 list.

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5. Citizens of Humanity Horseshoe Jeans

Style Notes: If you'd asked us a year ago for the most popular jeans on social media, the answer would have been easy: Citizens of Humanity's Ayla jeans—a baggy, relaxed fit with a turn-up at the cuff, often seen worn with the shoe of the season, the Birkenstock Boston clog. Fitting then, that 12 months later COH is still tapping into exactly what denim shoppers are looking for, offering up a strong new silhouette in the form of the equally cool horseshoe. Unsure of how to wear the exaggerated bow shape? Thankfully there's a wealth of outfit inspo online thanks to how popular these jeans have become over the last six months, but we particularly love how Marilyn balances hers with power shoulders [pictured above].

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6. Miu Miu Arcadie Bag

Style Notes: From the Prada buckle bag to the Chloé Camera bag, we've been treated to some very buzz-worthy handbags over the last few months, but Miu Miu has been a hot topic of conversation in the accessories sphere since the first bag charms appeared on the runway at the end of last year. The bag underneath said charms? The simple but effective Arcadie, and for those who prefer the minimalist approach rather than decorating it in all the bells and whistles, the Arcadie now comes in different sizes and finishes that are strong enough to be the star of the show.

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7. Rise and Fall Cashmere Bandana

Style Notes: There's nothing quite like the luxury feel of cashmere in winter, and should you be looking for an accessory equal parts cosy and chic, we've spotted Rise and Fall's cashmere bandana loosely tied around the shoulders of editors and influencers alike. Wear with jackets, jumpers, wool coats, turtlenecks, cardigans—the possibilities are endless (especially when it also comes in nine different colours).

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8. ARKET Short Pile Coat

Style Notes: It goes without saying that there are plenty of amazing finds on the high street too, and one of our favourite stores for affordable pieces of premium quality is ARKET. On first sight the brand's short pile jacket looks designer, but unlike a luxury coat that would set you back four figures, this thick, blankety soft coat comes in at under £200. A bargain when you think of the substantial fleece and cost per wear.

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9. Barbour Waxed Jackets

Style Notes: Conclusive proof that the most iconic pieces aren't necessarily brand new, the Barbour jacket has been around for over 200 years, but still looks just as good in our wardrobes in 2024. Countryside or city, spring or autumn, rain or shine, this timeless jacket is the kind of sensible layer you'll be thankful you invested in, and after the success of Disney+ series Rivals, we're happily leaning into countrycore for the rest of the season. Just add a cosy knit, jeans, and chunky Chelsea boots.

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