The Fall 2018 shows ended last week in Paris, where editors, buyers, and models faced some of the lowest temperatures in recent memory. For street style photographers like Vogue’s Phil Oh, inclement weather is usually a recipe for disaster—but we were pleasantly surprised this season. Scrolling through his photos from New York, London, Milan, and Paris (a whopping 787 of them!), we discovered a wide range of new trends to try, from the practical to the fantastical. Several women dealt with New York’s rain showers with waterproof PVC accessories and trenches, while others seemed to anticipate a few of the season’s top runway trends: ultra-miniskirts (sans tights!), rainbow motifs, and colorful plaids. Below, we’ve distilled a month of street style photos down to the trends you’re about to see everywhere in 2018.
Rain, Rain, Go Away
Buckets of rain gave New York women an excuse to rip the tags off the PVC hats, totes, and boots from Chanel’s Spring 2018 collection. Clear plastic trenches were popular, too; armed with one of those, you almost don’t need an umbrella at all—and everyone will still be able to see your outfit underneath. Street style gold.
What’s Old Is New Again
Skeptical of the flashy logos you’re seeing on the runways? Us, too. But you can’t go wrong with heritage logos and motifs, like Fendi’s interlocking F’s, Burberry’s classic Nova check and ’80s crest, and Coach’s stacked C’s. All of these made appearances on the streets, along with canvas Gucci G’s and a few Tommy Hilfiger flags.
Legs for Days
Flipping through these photos of Laura Harrier, Teddy Quinlivan, and Sora Choi out of context, you might not realize they were taken during winter. Despite the subzero temperatures, we saw tons of women in ultra-miniskirts and frocks like these, which feel pretty daring after years of flow-y maxi dresses and midi skirts.
Animal House
Leopard coats have been a street style mainstay for years now, and designers like Victoria Beckham, Raf Simons, and Tom Ford put them on the runway this season, too. On the streets, the look has evolved into head-to-toe animal spots and stripes—they’re better mixed together—from leopard slips to zebra-striped pants and men’s tiger coats. Think of them as your new neutrals.
Not Your Average Pastels
Is winter pastels an oxymoron? A few years ago, pale mint and lavender might have felt toothache-sweet in the middle of February. But in 2018, we’re seeing Easter-egg hues everywhere, from powder blue to chiffon yellow and Creamsicle orange. On a puffer, they’re unexpected; on thigh-high boots, they’re downright subversive. Women are reclaiming these “girly” colors at a time when head-to-toe black doesn’t feel quite right; find your new favorite shade in the slideshow here.
Wild Flowers
Like pastels, florals are no longer reserved for spring. In fact, we have a new theory: As the weather gets colder and grayer, your florals should get brighter. Most of the prints we saw on the streets this season were super-vivid, graphic, and even neon. If you’re not sure where to invest in the trend, we suggest a floral coat like the Prada and Miu Miu ones above.
The Winter-White Pant
Consider the old adage about not wearing white pants after Labor Day officially dead. This season, white trousers became a key ingredient in the fashion-girl uniform, whether they were skinny or flared, denim or silk. It’s a look very much in Phoebe Philo’s image, so maybe her departure from Céline has something to do with it. Just don’t spill!
Polychrome Plaids
Who would have guessed Donatella Versace would devote an entire collection to London in the ’80s, complete with neon plaid skirtsuits and argyle socks? Certainly not the New Yorkers who wore clashing plaid skirts, plaid-intarsia’d furs, and boxy checked suits weeks before the Versace show in Milan. Some editors are feeling Cher Horowitz in Clueless vibes, while others are more into the post-punk thing; either way, it feels like a reaction to all of the menswear tweeds and neutral plaids of seasons past.
The End of the Rainbow
Christopher Bailey’s final Burberry show is already iconic. From the Pride-inspired rainbow puffers and knits to the brand’s large donation to LGBTQ+ organizations, the feel-good moment may have just inspired us to wear every color of the rainbow for the rest of the month. On the streets, we found looks across the ROYGBIV spectrum, including sequined rainbow pants and glittering Lurex dresses.