Never wear sheer, avoid mini skirts and stay away from capes and ponchos! Fashion expert Shane Watson reveals the autumn trends to avoid if you’re over 50 – and the ten that WILL make you look younger

Let’s cut to the chase. The trends for autumn/winter 2024 are pleasingly grown-up and woman friendly. Tailoring — a woman’s best friend — dominated the catwalks. Heels have come right down and it’s all about flats or little kitten heels.

Necklines have risen to collar bone covering or chin grazing. For the first time in a long time a tailored skirt suit looks like something you might wear to the office and Pretty, Prim and Proper feel like three words we could do business with.

Here are ten trends to consider for the season ahead (and a handful to ignore)…

Luxe Bohemian 

This is the one everyone’s been talking about because it’s roughly 20 years since Sienna Miller and friends made the floaty luxe Seventies look aspirational, and Chloe is once again leading the trend.

A soft high necked chiffon blouse. A (faux) shearling or fur coat. Denim flares. A flowing wispy dress, plus aviator sunglasses, a high-wedge shoe or high knee boots (thigh boots if you’re taking Chloe’s lead) are the key ingredients of this new bohemian look.

Will it work for us? For those of us who were there the first time around, a little of this New Boho will go a long way. If you like the mood and want to dip a toe in the water, a pair of flared denim jeans and a leather pea coat or faux fur jacket is the way to wear it now, tucked-in floaty blouse and glasses optional.

Catwalk inspiration: Chloe

Dark prints

Floral print dresses can transition into autumn, but make sure to switch your pretty heels for a chunky boot or block heel

The floral print dress has become our go-to answer to summer dressing and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t work just as well in autumn, providing the palette is strong and the florals bold and graphic. Wear your striking autumn print with knee high boots.

Will it work for us? Yes, providing you get the footwear right. Pretty shoes will make these dresses look dated. Chunky boots and block mid-heels are the best solution. When the weather cools, a snood or big scarf will add extra fashion points.

Catwalk inspiration: Erdem, Altuzzara

The tall turtleneck

Tall turtlenecks made their way down the catwalk at Victoria Beckham, a trend that is not only fashionable but flattering

Cosy jumpers are in the fashion frontline for winter in everything from argyle patterns to vintage ski styles — but the sweater that will make a difference to our wardrobes, add elegance to trousers, inject Phoebe Philo cool under a blazer, and generally elevate your fashion rating, is the long tall turtleneck. 

Fashion is in love with the extra-high neck this season, on coats, jackets, blouses and sweaters. This is the smart way to wear the trend.

Will it work for us? Oh yes: the pulled-up neck is flattering — your head is framed — not to mention neck- and jaw-concealing. And this season a silky soft long scarf worn around your neck and hanging down behind (not wrapped around) is the new accompaniment to a plain cocktail dress. That works too.

Catwalk inspiration: Victoria Beckham

Feminine Tailoring (PPP)

Prada’s catwalk showed off a new, more feminine style of tailoring, with below-the-knee skirts and pretty knitwear

So long masculine minimal tailoring: feminine tailored staples that nod to the forties, fifties and sixties were everywhere on the catwalks. 

We haven’t seen smart wool skirt suits for a while, but there were endless variations on the theme at Prada, including just below the knee pencil skirts and fluted midis. 

Pretty, Prim and Proper are the words being used to describe these new-look clothes which will make life easy for women who love tailoring but are looking for more feminine options. And if you’re happy as you are, relaxed blazers and wide-leg trousers are still going strong.

Will it work for us? Yes, because this season is all about a suit with a difference and at its heart is the versatile, thigh-grazing, double breasted blazer. A straight below-the-knee skirt or wide-leg trousers plus a roomy longer jacket is the new ready-for-work look. The on point fashionable way to wear them is with a nippy-collared sweater or clashing, block colour twinset.

Catwalk inspiration: Prada

The bright little knit

Bright knits are a great way to bring your favourite summer colours into the autumn season, such as with this one from Boden

The way to wear colour this autumn is from the waist up in the form of a mix-and-match bright cardigan and short sleeved knit top. 

There’s a ‘clash three colours’ or ‘block one’ rule at play now. Wear a sensible neutral skirt with two clashing block colours (purple and red; green and pink) or a coloured cropped jacket and matching pencil skirt.

Will it work for us? Classic tailoring plus colour is an easy formula for women who work, you can leave the leather gloves and handbag hooked in your elbow at home.

Catwalk inspiration: Prada

Khaki — the new neutral

Khaki is now a year-round go-to colour, looking great with both colours and neutrals – try this jumpsuit from Mango

Traditionally a summer staple, khaki has crossed over and become the year-round go-to colour for women who no longer want to wear black, feel navy has its limits and don’t have the money for dry cleaning cream. 

Khaki has the triple advantages of looking great with neutrals, making colours like red and pink sing and giving tailoring a smart military edge. Other colours that are looking strong for autumn include conker brown, claret, cream and blush.

Will it work for us? Khaki is a can’t go wrong colour that seems to suit all skin types. If you’re feeling adventurous you might consider a pair of khaki jeans instead of your regular mid blues but the obvious choice is a swaggery khaki coat or blazer.

Catwalk inspiration: Stella McCartney

Dressed-up denim 

High-end denim, such as this set from Ganni, plus tailoring is a great look for a night out, but can be dressed up or down. 

If you haven’t yet found the perfect pair of flared wide-leg jeans, it’s not too late — they will give you dressed up boho options (over boots or wedges) or take you to the office under a long-line tailored jacket. 

Stella McCartney sent denim embellished with sparkles down the catwalk — with a clean tailored jacket on top. The message: high-end denim plus tailoring is your new Going Out fallback.

Will it work for us? Yes, it will. Get used to having a special going out pair of jeans and wear with kitten heel slingbacks and, later on, smart boots.

Catwalk inspiration: Stella McCartney

Shearling, fur and leather

The models for Miu Miu wore long fur coats, showcasing the trend for texture this autumn

This season texture is a big part of the picture — it’s not so much about the silhouette as tactile clothes in a mixture of textures and faux fur and leather (faux or not) are the big hitters. If there’s a year to try a fur or leather coat (go for short and double breasted), this is it.

Will it work for us? Yes, if you avoid fun colours, biker jackets and bombers — and go for authentic-looking finishes in classic tailored pieces.

Catwalk inspiration: Miu Miu

(Vintage) leopard

Zara’s vintage leopard jacket would look terrific with high-waist trousers while the weather is still mild

Yes, we know. You’ve been there and done it, and these days you’re inclined to think leopard’s too flash, too brash, too vampy, but not so fast because this leopard is distinctly different. They’re calling it vintage because of the subtler print; the softer, cooler palette and because of the elegant retro pieces that are getting the leopard treatment. 

The standout vintage leopard look for autumn is a tailored, double-breasted, belted Dior coat that could have been made for Catherine Deneuve in the Sixties.

Will it work for us? You bet and furthermore a bit of VL in your wardrobe will polish up the clothes you have. Zara already stocks a suede sharp-collared VL jacket that would look terrific now with high-waisted black trousers.

Catwalk inspiration: Dior

Back to black 

Reiss’s smoking suit is a great way for those in their 50s to try the all-black trend

All black — as in one block of black — is back in a big way, including the LBD for evening and the classic Le smoking tuxedo for women.

Will it work for us? Plain black tends to look funereal on older complexions, but for night, dressed up with strong jewellery, and bolder than usual make up, black can look as glamorous as it ever did. The safe route to take is the more versatile Le smoking tuxedo suit: wear the satin lapel jacket separately or the two together with a bright silk shirt.

Catwalk inspiration: Saint Laurent

And four to give a miss

1. The naked dress. Sheer everything from tops to dresses is going nowhere, and isn’t any more wearable for those of us who don’t fancy showing our underwear.

2. The Sixties mini. Very short dresses and skirts styled Sixties fashion with drummer boy hats, mini coats and thick tights are the opposite side of the coin to the grown up tailoring on the catwalks.

3. Bows. Not to say we don’t love the look of Prada’s fly away bow covered dresses but… not for us.

4. Capes. Cropped capes, wool ponchos, cape shouldered coats… there were plenty of capes on the catwalk, but you’re better off sticking with a go-with-anything double-breasted wool coat.