15 fashion trends for 2015: expect gingham, flowers, Ziggy Stardust and cows

1 Painterly notions.

Paint is making an impression on the catwalk and the street. At Burberry, it took the form of macs daubed with broad brush strokes; at

Chanel

, bright spatters were woven into tweed on jackets; at Loewe, patchwork suede tops resembled a haphazard gathering of paint samples.

2 Fully-rounded femininity. Designers are exploring the notion of feminine identity. Vulnerable yet strong, this trend involves floaty fabrics contrasted with utilitarian details. Think Stella McCartney and her flowing, pale blue bomber jacket/dress hybrid, or Simone Rocha's floaty dresses paired with strong flat brogues.

3 The sparkle spectrum. Sequins are slowly receding into the background, while bold metallic fabrics are gaining a strong foothold. It's not all in-your-face glamour, though: pale fabrics with a subtle shimmer will be big for spring.

4 Back to the 1970s. Saint Laurent was all about 1970s rock chic – platform sandals, miniskirts and leopard-print ensembles redolent of Studio 54 and nights of heady excess. It's hedonistic but not bohemian. Look to the pouty androgyny of David Bowie circa Ziggy Stardust for inspiration.

5 Athletic goth. The whole world is on a health kick and this will continue in to 2015. In terms of athletic gear, this means a lot of black Lycra and training shoes. It's sleek, looks expensive and can be worn outside the gym as well as in.

6 Trouser suits. The new power dressing is focused on the evolution of trouser suits. No longer are they the exclusive realm of lady executives in bad sitcoms. Fitted or relaxed, full-length trousers or cropped, plain or patterned, there's a trouser suit for every women.

7 Groundbreaking florals. Florals for spring are nothing new, but the ways of presenting them are nothing but original. From mind-bending, morphing lenticular prints and plastics at Christopher Kane and dark, gothic dresses at Erdem to tablecloth florals at Celine and rich, tapestry-like textiles at Louis Vuitton, florals are going nowhere.

8 Sustainable fashion. Sustainability and being environmentally friendly aren't just moral and ethical concerns; they affect bottom lines and budgets too. We're going to see more designers producing their clothing as a greener option to the wasteful alternative. Vivienne Westwood is already doing it, and where Westwood goes, more will follow.

9 Succession planning. The game of designer musical chairs is long and never-ending, so much so that fashion fans now buy for a designer and not necessarily the label. With the death of the legendary Oscar de la Renta and the abrupt departure of Frida Giannini at Gucci, you have to wonder what's in store for the fashion world next year.

10 Fashion will eat itself. Moschino started it with its McDonald's-themed collection, and food is fast becoming a fashion item. While many young women are already devotees of snackwave – an online subculture that is obsessed with wearing pepperoni pizza print outfits – more and more will find themselves wearing their food on their sleeves in 2015.

11 Gingham. This pretty-as-a-picture picnic print will be a new summer staple. Cool and breezy, gingham is easy to wear. Gingham dresses at Michael Kors and Diane von Furstenberg have a retro, vintage feel, but if that's all a bit too much, gingham accessories look like they'll also make an impression.

12 Leather for all seasons. Leather isn't just for winter any more: we'll be wearing it all year round. Leather jackets, leather trousers, leather tops and leather dresses; if it used to moo, there's a good chance people will end up wearing it.

13 From the catwalk to the high street. High-street brands are streamlining their manufacturing, which means that what you see on the runway in Celine could very easily end up as an approximation on the racks at Zara in a matter of weeks. The high street is going to look a whole lot more designer.

14 The no-statement, statement bag. Gone are the days of the it-bag with all its bells and whistles. In 2015, the statement bag will whisper rather than shout: quality leather, a simple shape and unobtrusive hardware that exemplifies restrained luxury.

15 Red alert. Crimson, tomato, brick, vermilion, carmine, ruby and maroon – red in all shades will step away from the "scarlet lady" connotations and become less dangerous as more people explore the myriad style possibilities of this striking primary colour.