After 376-plus catwalk shows, presentations and who knows how many grainy shots posted to Instagram, fashion month has finally drawn to a close. While the trends we have seen come to fruition in New York, London, Milan and Paris won’t start materialising in stores until late August, the styling hacks spotted on the catwalk will have more of an immediate impact. Especially those that are free. Here are nine to get you started.
Grab a Sharpie pen
Similar to those school leavers signing shirts on the final day of classes, the shrunken T-shirts at Coach came covered in freehand scribbles. We’ll take any excuse for a trip to a stationery shop.
Unsnap that gusset
Anyone who has ever worn a bodysuit will know the struggle of trying to resnap it after a loo break. Who would have thought that Valentino’s Alessandro Michele would be the one to offer a solution. Instead of faffing around, just follow his lead and let it hang loose.
Dig out your sports day medals
First in the egg-and-spoon race? Channel the models at Balenciaga and dig out your old sports day medals. For bonus points, wear them with your old PE kit.
Recycle those ribbons
You know that bag of ribbons collected from Christmas and birthday presents that you hope you will reuse someday? That day has finally come. At Givenchy, Sarah Burton cinched waists with giant strips of grosgrain, then tied them neatly in a bow. Waists also came gift wrapped at Chanel, while dresses and tops at Simone Rocha were bound with baby-pink and scarlet ribbons.
Sprig up your lapel
Who needs a fancy gold brooch when you can get a thistle stem for free? At Burberry, models including the actor Richard E Grant walked the catwalk with a sprig of Eryngium planum, AKA sea holly, pinned to their lapels. It grows best, as the name suggests, by the seaside, but keep your eyes peeled for it around gravel gardens, too. Jeff Goldblum is already on it. He wore a fresh floral boutonniere to the Oscars, which matched his flowery printed Prada shirt.
A haberdashery hack
Several looks by Fendi included oversized knitted beanies with black veils sewn on to the front. You have at least seven months before the temperature drops to perfect your rib stitch, so the time is ripe to head to your local haberdashery. Can’t be bothered to learn how to purl? Just staple some black netting on to an existing beanie and, voilà, a catwalk creation for a fraction of the price.
after newsletter promotion
Swap a sweater over your shoulders for tights
Look, if the former child actors turned fashion designers Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen suggest you drape a pair of woollen tights over your shoulders, you drape a pair of woollen tights over your shoulders. Their brand, The Row, has previously spawned viral hits including mesh shoes that look like slipper socks, a cotton top that is not dissimilar to a doily and £670 rubber flip-flops, so the high street should standby for a spike in woolly tight sales.
Roll with it
For those hoarding the cardboard tubes from toilet and kitchen rolls for their kids’ next crafting project, we have found another use for them. At Victoria Beckham, the hems on minidresses and the collars on shirts were rolled up, giving the illusion that the material was still attached to the fabric roll. DIY with a four pack and a staple gun.
Don’t bother getting dressed
Next season’s It-piece is already hanging off the back of bathroom door. Riffs on the humble bathrobe made surprising appearances at Victoria Beckham, Balenciaga and Tom Ford. Slippers optional.
To read the complete version of this newsletter – complete with this week’s trending topics in The Measure and your wardrobe dilemmas solved – subscribe to receive Fashion Statement in your inbox every Thursday.