These 14 Trends Will Define Street Style This Autumn
What a month! Over the past few weeks, we've shone individual spotlights on New York, London, Milan and Paris as the cities' respective Fashion Week schedules got underway and, my, what a spectacle they've all been. While there were moments on the runway we'll never forget—from the respects paid at many London shows to Gucci's twins to Coperni's spray-on dress—this has been a fashion month for the history books. But we'd argue some of the biggest takeaways aren't what we see on the runways, but the looks we spot on the streets outside the venues. And today, that's what we're going to focus on.
The street style between the fashion cities is always varied, but some trends are so strong that they transcend geography and air miles. Having spent the last four to five weeks pouring over, quite literally, thousands of snaps captured by our street style photographers, we began to see a pattern emerging. Looking with fresh eyes this week, we can confidently say that below you'll find the 14 most noteworthy street style trends from the spring/summer 2023 season. And get this: Instead of being whacky and wild, many of them are incredibly wearable and will work brilliantly with your autumn/winter wardrobe, too. So, without further ado, scroll on to discover which trends the world's street style elite are backing right now.
1. Puddle Jeans
Puddle pants are a major 2022 trend (even Kate Middleton has worn them), but fashion people? They're all about puddle jeans.
Long hemlines that pool around the ankle are what make a pair of jeans worthy of being labelled "puddle." At fashion month, we saw them being styled with everything from pointed-toe boots to retro trainers.
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Abercrombie's styles come in an array of colours and sizes.
2. Pinstripes
Breton knitwear might be mainstream trending, but at fashion month, it's all about pinstripes set against classic navy hues.
Formerly associated with workwear, pinstripes have been given the cool-girl stamp of approval, with those in the know styling theirs with vest tops, cropped shirting and casual footwear.
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A pinstripe blazer has the potential to be incredibly versatile.
Wear these with the aforementioned white vest and strappy sandals for nights out.
3. Over-the-Knee Boots
Over-the-knee boots were all over the autumn/winter 2022 runways, so it should come as no surprise that showgoers were wearing them for the latest string of catwalks and presentations.
White and ecru pairs kept cropping up, but classic black iterations will also help you tap into the trend.
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4. Sheer Skirts
Lingerie-inspired trends always make an appearance in some form when our street style imagery filters through. But this season's sheer slip skirts feel fresh and new.
Prada's black-to-yellow-to-pink midi was favoured by many in the street style set.
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If you have the budget, this is the style you'll want to invest in.
5. Split-Hem Leggings
We love it when we see a street style trend crop up that's 1) genuinely wearable, and 2) that we already have in our wardrobes, and chances are that might indeed be the case when it comes to split-hem leggings.
They might be the ideal way to show off a pair of statement shoes, but street style stars preferred to style their split-hem leggings with simple, pointed-toe courts for the shows.
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6. Leather Coats
Fast becoming a part of the fashion-person uniform, leather coats were the most prevalent outerwear option in every city.
You can't go wrong with black, but show-goers also served up lots of tonal moments, including this camel-coloured leather look.
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Trench silhouettes make this trend feel even more timeless.
7. Zebra Print
Ever since Réalisation's cult zebra maxi dress came onto the scene in summer, the print has become a bonafide fashion hit.
We saw it in monochrome in all four cities, mostly in dress and blazer form.
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When temperatures dip, just add tights and boots.
Now this is one way to breathe new life into your failsafe jeans-and-boots outfits.
8. Socks-and-Slingbacks
We're rapidly approaching the time when it'll be inadvisable to step out of the house without socks on. Handily, fashion people are here to show just how cool they can look paired with one of the season's hottest shoe trends—slingbacks.
We applaud the coordination here between the Gucci socks and The Attico mules.
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If you don't want to spend hundreds on a designer pair of woollies, & Other Stories has so many cute socks on a budget.
We say save your money for a pair of Prada's slingback beauties instead.
9. Cargos
The influence of Y2K fashion could definitely be felt in the street style lineup this season, with cargo trousers serving as the main way to channel the aesthetic.
For a subtler approach, try a pair of black cargo trousers.
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10. Heart Jewellery
Saint Laurent has put heart jewellery back on the fashion map with its puffy pendant, which was on the necks of so many show attendees.
These vintage Chanel earrings cement the trend as being wise to invest in.
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A less obvious interpretation, but we love it just as much.
If you prefer finer jewellery, Mejuri's new heart enamel necklaces are for you.
11. Pink Suiting
It might sound niche but pink suits were everywhere this fashion month. Of course, Valentino's PP Pink was bound to make an appearance.
This might not be as saturated as the two-piece above, but it's just as impactful.
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COS has designed in a handful of pink suits for autumn/winter 2022, but this corduroy version has to be our favourite.
12. Knitted Vests
Fashion people have confirmed that knitted vests are sticking around for another autumn/winter season, but with a slight update.
Now, the knitted vest to be seen in comes complete with a cable weave for an added preppy feel.
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This Rixo vest comes in a handful of equally pretty colours, including pink.
13. Grey Tailoring
Sometimes the most effective trends aren't the ones that vie for your attention. Instead, they're quiet and reliably chic. And that's true of grey tailoring.
From blazers to trousers to waistcoats, grey tailoring was firmly on the radar of show attendees this season.
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14. Leather Trousers
Leather trousers always make a comeback in the cooler months, but if the street style army is anything to go by, they're going to be more popular than ever in 2022.
We saw them styled with everything from neon blazers to striped shirting, but also other leather separates, as witnessed here.
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A great option that comes in an array of sizes.
Again, the wide-leg fit makes leather trousers feel more current (not to mention more comfortable to wear!).
Next Up: Autumn/Winter 2022 Fashion Trends: The 15 Looks You Need to Know About
Maxine Eggenberger is Who What Wear UK’s deputy editor and has over thirteen years of experience in fashion journalism. She been creating engaging and elevated style content specifically for Who What Wear UK since 2018, covering runway reports, emerging trends, long-form features, self-styled shopping stories and columns, including her edit of the best new-in buys. She ensures the highest editorial standards are met across the site, leads the editorial team in their SEO strategy and keyword planning, works closely with the beauty team on content initiatives, represents the brand at industry events, and regularly contributes to social media, including her own Who What Wear UK TikTok franchise, French Style Fridays. Previously, Maxine appeared on ITV's This Morning in her own fashion segment and has interviewed countless celebrities—everyone from Victoria Beckham to Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o.
Prior to Who What Wear UK, Maxine’s career began when, after completing her first-ever internship at Look magazine, she was offered a position on the brand's fashion desk. She accepted, leaving university a year early in the process. Her passion and natural talent for writing and styling meant she swiftly rose through the ranks to become the title's fashion news and commercial content editor, with a stint as InStyle.co.uk’s fashion and beauty writer along the way. She later served as Look’s acting Editor in Chief, overseeing both print and digital, before embarking on a successful freelance career, working with Grazia, The Pool, and Marie Claire amongst others.
Maxine is based remotely from her countryside home near Edinburgh where she spends her downtime renovating her house, walking her dogs, hosting friends and trying to master the art of making Old Fashioned cocktails.
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