Fashion forecast: lady-like leather for Autumn/Winter 2014

Ireland’s ‘fashion people’ nibbled on pancakes and strawberries while listening to Vogue Wilson’s DJ skills before the Arnott’s Autumn Winter 2014 preview show. After the catch ups and coffees, came the clothes. So what will we be lusting after this Autumn Winter? What trends will emerge once again, and what items will be banished to the back of the wardrobe?

Achromatic aficionados will be happy to know that monochrome will remain a firm favourite, but with black taking centre stage rather than this summer’s white. Texture, rather than colour, adds points of interest to outfits and fabrics like leather, and fur reigns supreme. Silhouettes and garment shapes will remain lady-like and tailored, with a 1950’s feel.  And the surprise addition on the Autumn Winter agenda? Gala leather gloves.  While ‘maximalism’ has been hitting the autumn winter catwalk at London fashion week, Arnotts has stayed true to its customer base and showed classic, chic selection from next season’s shelves.

The star of the show was undoubtedly husband and wife brand Raoul. Their elegant feminine silhouettes combined luxe fabrics like beautifully soft leather with tailored cuts, all at reasonably affordable prices. Raoul also showed a crop top (albeit a cocoon version), demonstrating that despite the colder weather of autumn/winter, this is one trend that may be here to stay.

The most important item in any autumn/winter wardrobe in Ireland, the coat, was shown in a variety of different styles. Grey and camel seemed to be the colours of choice, presented in fur as well as more conventional fabrics. Lengths varied from ankle-skimming to thigh-grazing and shapes from masculine to ultra-feminine. Ultimately, next season, the buyer can feel confident in picking a style of coat that will suit their shape and size.  "The" coat of last season has seen an update, still over-sized and in a masculine cut, but in a hot pink rather than the blush or pastel tone we saw so much of last winter. Gushlow & Cole scarves were added to many of the coats, a chic addition that will undoubtedly help to keep you warm with that crop-top underneath.