Return to 1997 AUTUMN Index
by Anita Hunter
Clothes that were paraded down the catwalks of London, Paris, New York and Milan in the spring are now beginning to appear in the shops. Retailers have consigned their summer clothes to the sale rails to make room for their autumn ranges. Here is The New Millennium's Guide to the major trends and the key items to look out for.
 | Minimalism. Clean cut and unfussy, the trend for pared down clothes has continued and there is not a frill or floral print in sight. Luxury fabrics and clever cutting are used to ensure that things aren't too dull or boring. Zips and concealed fastenings are favoured over buttons and help to pare down the overall image even further. |
 | Micro Minis. Mini skirts are back in a big way (not that they ever really went away) and are shorter than ever. Team with knee boots and flesh coloured hosiery for an up to the minute look. |
 | Leather. Tailored leather appeared in a lot of designer collections. Soft leather was sculpted into form fitting jackets, trousers, skirts and even dresses. Sexy clothes with Avengers rather than biker appeal. Suede provides a softer but equally sensuous alternative. Now is the time to invest in a pair of leather (or leather look) trousers. |
 | Tailoring. Tailored clothes continue to play a key role and the overall look is still very minimalist. Suits are worn with either a short skirt or loosely cut trousers. |
 | Any colour as long as it's black. Black is overwhelmingly the choice for the season. Red and gold were colour alternatives offered by designers for those not wishing to be completely funereal. In the High Street, mauves and purples seem to be extremely popular and are complimented by new cosmetic colours in shades of plum and damson. |
 | Boots and Stiletto's. Perhaps as a reaction to all that restrained minimalism, footwear has become deeply sexy. Forget clompy shoes and wedge heels, stilettos and kinky boots are back. Best buys are high-heeled ankle-boots or leg hugging knee-boots. High Street shops seem to be a bit slow to embrace the return to more elegant footwear but the death knell has (at last) been sounded for ugly, heavy shoes. |
| Sumptuous Fabrics. Pared down styles and simple shapes are counteracted by gorgeous fabrics. Lacy knits, velvet, sequins and embroidery provide the interest on otherwise understated clothes. Fake fur and feather boas add a fun fashion angle. |