New Season: Women’s Trends to Know for SS24

Words by Eleanor Hibberd

Spring/Summer 2024 is your shortcut to sophistication. Wardrobes are bolstered by new power moves in the form of sharp suiting, elegant drapery and splashes of poker-hot red, while a new guard of sartorial staples arrives to breathe fresh life into your regular rotation. This is style, made easy.

Maison Margiela blazer, Róhe top, Khaite jeans, Dior bag (available in-store), Jimmy Choo shoes, Jennifer Fisher earrings

Power Moves

Runways went back to basics with this anti-trend of the season, trotting out a host of low-key wardrobe essentials in a chic evolution of last year’s ‘quiet luxury’ phenomenon. But there are notes to take. Employ subtle tweaks to refresh your core rotation. Consider, for instance, loosening your jeans cut, bringing in a loafer or ballet flat – bold Jimmy Choo or cult Alaïa – adding a ’90s midi skirt, and investing in oversized shirting.

The Row coat, shirt, trousers and shoes; Tove gilet, Beare Park blazer, Alaïa bag, Fendi bag (available in-store)

Seeing Red

Amid a largely muted palette for Spring/Summer 2024, one searing-hot hue makes its presence felt. Bags and shoes are already seeing a rise in ‘pops’ of red, but 2024 is set to take it head to toe in dresses for day and night, statement trousers, bold knitwear – you name it. And those accessories aren’t going anywhere, either, if Miu Miu and Gucci are any indication.

Drapery

While the mood was altogether pared-back at the SS24 shows, one thing could be found in excess – fabric. Designers from Matthieu Blazy at Bottega Veneta to Vivienne Westwood’s Andreas Kronthaler reimagined Grecian draping for the modern goddess, swathing the body in superfluous material from asymmetric ruching to swooshing sashes and built-in scarves.

Vivienne Westwood jacket and skirt; Miu Miu sunglasses and shoes; The Row gloves, Jennifer Fisher earrings

THE BRAND TO BE SEEN IN

Spotlight On: Burberry

Daniel Lee’s second collection for Burberry was the must-have ticket at London Fashion Week, and the brand’s subsequent Spring/Summer 2024 drops are set to be hot property. Honing in on an outdoorsy kind of Britishness, the Yorkshire-born designer introduces Prince of Wales and houndstooth checks with a twist. Patterns appear supersized and warped across wool dresses, separates, car coats and more; British flora-and-fauna (including Burberry knight blue strawberries) are painted upon summery silk; while trench coats are reimagined in a new drop-waist silhouette.

Shop Burberry

The Bags & Shoes to Know

Comfort seekers, this is your moment. Ballet flats and Mary-Janes from Alaïa, Le Monde Beryl, Carel and more remain the key footwear buy of the season, with sharp-toed micro heels in hot pursuit. A less girly take on the flat-shoe trend, meanwhile, offers up loafers as an essential for every day of the week. On your arm, the Loewe Squeeze and Puzzle Fold along with Bottega Veneta’s Hop bag epitomise the season’s favoured slouchy silhouette, while business-like pieces à la Prada and The Row sit at the other end of the spectrum. In tone, high-shine metallics and oxblood reds dominate the accessories palette, and raffia textures aren’t going anywhere for summertime.