It’s been an unseasonably hot fall. While normally I look forward to debuting a fresh pair of UGGs and my chunky Rory Gilmore-inspired sweaters, this year I’m still keeping my biker shorts and flip flops on-hand.
An 80-degree November day means that, very soon, the weather will abruptly shift to full-blown winter. We will have no transitional fall period. Just a Game of Thrones-like winter.
But that hasn’t stopped a girl from dreaming. Now that the weather’s been sizzling for so long, I’ve had enough time to cook up some killer winter outfits in my head. Especially as winter collections are releasing in stores, I’ve got my eye out for early trends.
And while the days of winter fashion may be a little ways away, it’s never a bad time to start building the winter wardrobe of your dreams.
This winter, the statement jacket is back with a vengeance. Whether it’s a scarf jacket (which we’ll discuss later), or a classic fur coat, you’ll want your outerwear to do the talking this year.
We are also welcoming back the generation of oversized suits for both men and women. Yes, one of the most prominent styles of the 90s is surging into popularity again. An oversized pair of trousers and a matching blazer are all you need for a cool, tailored look.
One of the more concerning trends (at least for myself) is that plaid is making a comeback. In my opinion, this print is not flattering on everyone and is hard to match at times…which can eventually lead to disastrous clashing. But I digress.
If you’re looking for some 2024 winter fashion trends to shop before the cold weather hits…here are some early trends I’m noticing!
Plaid Is Back
I know you were startled to hear that, once again, plaid and argyle will be returning to a sweater near you. But, if you think about it, it shouldn’t be that surprising.
I mean, look at Olivia Rodrigo’s pop punk rocker chic style, or the rising popularity of schoolgirl style. With every stylistic trend, we were edging closer to plaid — it was inevitable.
And now that it’s the holiday season, apparently there’s no better time to bring it back full force. Plaid coats, argyle sweaters, plaid skirts, argyle socks. Are you getting the picture yet?
Patterns that your grandmother knit are back. Full force. So, if you’re insistent upon participating in the holiday’s oldest fashion trend, here are some of my favorite plaid pieces:
The Scarf Coat
I can’t really find a better name for these jackets just yet…but once they’ve coined a better term for the scarf coat, I’ll be the first to call it that.
The scarf coat is pretty self-explanatory, but I genuinely think it’s one of the most ingenious trends we’ve seen in a while. How many times have you been walking around in the winter and realize your scarf fell off blocks behind you? And you’re standing there with a wet, soggy scarf.
This trendy piece of outerwear combines the scarf and jacket so you only have to worry about one unit of clothing. It mitigates the need to hang up two separate pieces of winterwear, and it guarantees that your outfit looks cohesive.
I can’t say enough good things about this trend, so I’ll move on to recommending some fantastic jackets instead:
And You Need A Fur Coat, Too
I don’t know the science behind it, but something about wearing a fur coat feels so rockstar. If you truly want to make your look stand out and turn heads, then you need a good statement coat.
And this season, a fur jacket is precisely on-trend. It doesn’t matter if it’s cropped or floor-length, or if you wear it with jeans or over your gown as a guest at a wedding reception.
It’s a versatile piece that will always make you feel like a million bucks. Here are a few of my faves:
Welcome Back, Fair Isle
Well, if you didn’t see this one coming I don’t know what to tell you. If we’re bringing back the likes of argyle and plaid, we may as well make the Scandinavian Fair Isle sweaters a moment again.
Apres-ski style was a major fashion trend last winter, and this year things aren’t so different. This time, we bent on capturing that cozy ski style all winter long with a classic Fair Isle sweater.
I don’t hate this as much as I dislike plaid, so bring on the ski knit chic. These are my picks:
Extra Puffy Puffers
Credit: @khy via Instagram
Also referred to as “duvet” style, the puffer style is still super relevant in 2024 winter fashion as it was in 2023. However, this year’s is a bit more elevated, avant-garde take on the puffer jacket.
By making puffers intentionally oversized and relaxed in fit, it gives them a fashionable look. No worries about looking basic or overly sporty, these are a solid fashion statement.
These are my favorite puffy puffer jackets:
Wild Style
Another trend that’s forced its way back on the wheel of fashion is animal prints. Whether it’s leopard or cheetah — even zebra isn’t out of the question. And these prints are scattered all over pants, skirts, jackets, and tanks.
Many of these trends are just elevated versions of the mob wife aesthetic that was trending last year…however, they have a few tweaks. While wearing the animal prints and fur coat together would lean a bit “mob wife,” wearing them separately is “on trend.”
Here are a few examples of animal print that’s great for winter: