London Fashion Week [1] showed us how much the characters of our favourite series are inspiring the way we want to dress. London's autumn 2021 season is filled with members fit for a royal court — harlequin jesters, modern debutantes, and ballerinas who are also very badass. We scanned 13 of our favourite collections from London's most influential designers and picked five fresh fashion trends for updating your autumn wardrobe.
Bridgerton [2] recently collaborated [3] with the British Fashion Council [4], and the modern period drama's fashion influence is just getting started. At London Fashion Week February 2021, we saw so many fabulous characters of court, from corset-wearing punk debutantes at Vivienne Westwood, to Nigerian eclectics at Tolu Coker, and ballerina-pink bustiers at Marques'Almeida. To keep these debutantes entertained, were collections filled with an innovative new take on the popular check print [5] — the harlequin diamond. At Maximilian, Daniel w. Fletcher [6], and Vivienne Westwood 2021, the diamond print stood out like a lucky pick in a pack of playing cards.
Childlike ballerinas at Molly Goddard and Simone Rocha [7] confidently danced in tulle tutus and ribbon-strapped shoes. But while Goddard continued with her signature smocked tulle tutus, Rocha added edge to this look with leather jackets and combat boots. Leather is always a classic choice for autumn, winter, and even spring — particularly when it's vegan [8].
Leather in autumn might mean biker jackets or mac coats to some, but London Fashion Week was reaching for more sleek and minimal leather looks. Maximilian's white leather two-piece miniskirt set is one of our favourite looks of fashion week, while fashion rebels will love the leather pieces at 16Arlington, and sophisticates will see themselves in the chic leather outfits at palmer//harding. Ahead, five autumn fashion trends we'll be adding to our wardrobes.
Autumn 2021 Trend: Harlequin Diamond Checks
We are so excited to see a fresh interpretation of classic check prints. Only recently fashion people were buzzing about checkerboard pieces à la The Queen's Gambit. But London's designers are switching the game and playing with the diamonds of a pack of cards instead — or the playful diamond-patterned costume of the Harlequin jester.
At London Fashion Week February 2021, Fashion East up-and-comer Maximilian showed us how to wear the diamond print with confidence, Next In Fashion's Daniel w. Fletcher's first womenswear collection made sure the Harlequin pattern got the special treatment it deserves, and Vivienne Westwood also interpreted the diamond check in a minty green colourway.
Maximilian Autumn 2021
Autumn 2021 Trend: Harlequin Diamond Checks
Daniel w. Fletcher Autumn/Winter 2021
Autumn 2021 Trend: Harlequin Diamond Checks
Vivienne Westwood Autumn 2021
Autumn 2021 Trend: Corset Matching Sets
You can always count on Vivienne Westwood to create a captivating corset moment. But this year, it's Bridgerton [9] that's encouraging the fashion set to try a cinching top for the first time. While corsets are nothing new to the catwalk, at London Fashion Week February 2021 there was a more laser focus on corset matching sets. We especially love Westwood's interpretation of a renaissance painting printed on the corset with matching jeans, while emerging designer Tolu Coker brought the corseted two-piece to '68 Nigeria, and Marques'Almeida added a touch of ballet to its collection with a pink corset matching set.
Vivienne Westwood Autumn 2021
Autumn 2021 Trend: Corset Matching Sets
Tolu Coker Autumn 2021
Autumn 2021 Trend: Corset Matching Sets
Marques'Almeida Autumn 2021
Autumn 2021 Trend: Sleek, Elevated Leather
At London Fashion Week February 2021, leather got a very posh makeover. Instead of showing tradition leather biker jackets, or classic leather macs, designers were all about leather pieces that were tailored and elevated. Maximilian designed a beautiful white leather two-piece that we could see being worn by a modern '60s bombshell, 16Arlington created a feather-trimmed coat made for a woman who is as glamorous as she is daring, and leather pieces at palmer//harding were sophisticated and relaxed with drawstring details — leaning more toward chocolate and ecru leathers than your classic black.
Maximilian Autumn 2021
Autumn 2021 Trend: Sleek, Elevated Leather
16Arlington Autumn 2021
Autumn 2021 Trend: Sleek, Elevated Leather
palmer//harding Autumn 2021
Autumn 2021 Trend: Ballerina Details
Have you heard of fashion flossing? Or are you a fan of tulle? It seems that both of these microtrends have been leading towards a longing to be dancers — ballerinas to be exact! Ballerina ribbons on our sandals and midriffs have been making appearances at London Fashion Week for a few seasons now.
We were first introduced to this trend with Fashion East's collection for Charlotte Knowles in Spring 2019, then again throughout multiple collections from Supriya Lele. More recently, Fashion East's Nensi Dojaka put a dancewear twist on delicate spaghetti trap ribbons laced around the body for Spring 2021, while ballerina tulle has long been a staple at Molly Goddard and Simone Rocha collections. For Autumn 2021, it seems that ballerina ribbons are being interpreted on sandals and boots with crisscross ribbon straps at Molly Goddard, Simone Rocha, and Vivienne Westwood.
Molly Goddard Autumn 2021
Autumn 2021 Trend: Ballerina Details
Simone Rocha Autumn 2021
Autumn 2021 Trend: Ballerina Details
Vivienne Westwood Autumn 2021
Autumn 2021 Trend: Two-Tone Trousers
Two-tone and patchwork pieces [10] are not going anywhere, anytime soon so why not try your hand at styling the trend by making it your own? At London Fashion Week Autumn 2021, Roksanda was truly a pro at contrasting colours on an elegantly designed garment. Halpern continued its joyful approach to getting dresses with two-toned, sparkling pieces that will be perfect for party season. And Tolu Coker — certainly one to watch — gave us a new interpretation of on-trend patchwork denim.
Roksanda Autumn 2021
Autumn 2021 Trend: Two-Tone Trousers
Halpern Autumn 2021
Autumn 2021 Trend: Two-Tone Trousers
Tolu Coker Autumn 2021