Knightsbridge Trend Guide: London Fashion Week

According to Vogue, “discreet” and “chic” (as epitomised by Phoebe Philo’s October launch) are words to live by this year. Think minimalist ’90s à la Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, the quiet luxury of Succession and a farewell to garish, logo-centric looks. We recommend a solid core of trench coats, pencil skirts, trouser suits and good jeans – and where else does one go for trench coats other than Burberry? Its iconic overcoat is a practical investment piece that has stood the test of time, weathering every fad and trend, season after season. Wear it with a white tee, boyfriend jeans and a good pair of loafers for an effortlessly elegant daytime fit. Speaking of white tees, we’re particularly fond of this incredibly cute, ’90s-style Valentine printed cotton T-shirt from Damson Madder’s new collection at Harvey Nichols.

The colour palette may be muted but SS24 makes up for it by going heavy on the metallics – see Christy Turlington walking for Ralph Lauren in a liquid-gold gown and Versace decking Claudia Schiffer out in chequerboard chainmail. With gold and silver accents sticking around well after the festive period, take a trip down to Bimba Y Lola to snap up its new season metallic pieces.  Looking for something a little more on the casual side? Diesel’s M-Clarksvillex-B knit tube-top with metallic effects, worn with a midi-length skirt, makes for a more modern take on the trend.

With the recent resurgence of Y2K style, it’s not really surprising that the polo shirt is making a comeback. If you don’t believe us, just take a look at the spring/summer Miu Miu show, where the cotton collared tee was paired with everything from men’s board shorts to sequin-embellished blouses. The country club aesthetic also made an appearance at Dries Van Noten and Dsquared2 in the form of rugby shirts, while Chanel and The Row accessorised with spa towels and flip-flops. For those wanting to recreate the look, there are two designers that cannot be ignored. The first, Lacoste, European master of the classic block-colour polo for a chic, timeless tennis-led take on the sportswear staple. The second, Tommy Hilfiger, the East Coast’s bold and bright answer to the preppy chic trend. We especially love its colour-blocked oversized rugby shirt – team it with heels and a short skirt for the ultimate early-noughties look.

To the relief of 99.9% of people over the age of 25, low-slung waists may be on the way out with super-high-waisted trousers coming to take their place. Jonathan Anderson, celebrating his 10-year anniversary at Loewe, is at the forefront of this leg-lengthening style, echoed by the likes of Alaïa, Hermès, Louis Vuitton and Saint Laurent. The best part about this change in direction is the versatility offered by high-waisted options – from office wear to dinner parties, date night to days out, it just works. Take Ted Baker’s Graciej high-waisted belted cargo jumpsuit; add a blazer and flats for workwear or heels and some chunky jewellery to hit the town. Want to add an injection of colour? These Marciano satin wide-leg pants from Guess are pretty in pink and are a perfect example of this most flattering of cuts.

Catherine Hales is a London-based writer and editor