Summer’s over and it’s time to go back to school. It’s a new year, a new term and of course, with that, comes new trends. It’s time to say good-bye to your summer shorts and sandals, pack them up, and say hello to those loose-fit jumpers, Chelsea boots and that favourite chunky knit scarf. Autumn has arrived, and with it a bright new wardrobe. Boy-cut trousers, chunky necklaces and, not forgetting, that all important tartan print have flooded the catwalks this September; it’s safe to say that autumn has definitely entered with a bang.
From bright pink coats to grungy biker jackets, there’s something for everyone this season. However, here at Her Campus, we wanted to know what the guys think about all this? Do they love the clean-cut coats as much as we do? Can they cope with our spikey neck-wear? No more shorts and no more sun- what’s their vote? We’ve asked three guys for their opinions on the top five major trends of this autumn, and here’s what they had to say!
Tartan
Undeniably out there, tartan is something that’s hard to pull off and is rarely worn. However, this autumn is the time to go bold. If you’re feeling brave enough you can take a leaf out of Saint Laurent’s book and layer it up- go loud. But, if like many of us, you’re a tartan virgin you can always start small with a sleek pair of cigarette trousers and work your way up to going all out in that boy cut two-piece. Collegiettes may be on the fence about tartan, but what do the boys think?
– “I appreciate girls who are bold, and tartan is definitely bold,” says Alexander Lill, a second year History student. “I think tartan is good, but in small amounts- too much and it just looks messy.”
– “I’m not a huge fan of tartan anyway so I’m not sure about this trend,” says Tim Salinger, another second year student studying Spanish and Politics. “It reminds me of my picnic rug at home, and I’m pretty sure that’s not what girls want to look like.”
– “I like tartan, it’s cool and quite edgy,” says Dominic Henry, a fellow second year student studying Geography. “I’d definitely like to see my girlfriend in some tartan trousers.”
So, a mixed bag here, the general consensus being – if you’ve got the confidence, go for it!
The Oversized Coat
Now we all know big coats aren’t new to the scene (you could even say they are becoming a classic!). The comfy fit and boyfriend-cut makes these coats irresistibly appealing for the winter ahead. They’re perfect in the classic greys and navy blues that we saw last year – an easy blend with your winter wardrobe. If you want to wear them with a twist, follow this autumn’s take on the big coat and go for a pastel colour like Carven did this September. After all, it’s what this autumn is all about; classic styles, but with new colours! Enough about this mysterious new coat, what did our boys think?
– “Personally I like baggy coats, I think they give off a relaxed vibe, which I really like in a girl” says Alex.
– “I agree with Alex, fitted coats can look a bit austere – I think baggy is better” says Tim.
– “I really like this look, I’ve seen quite a few girls wearing big coats, and although I’m not too fussed on the colours, I do like the style- it looks cool” says Dom.
A winning look! It’s easy to see why boys are a fan of the baggy coats, although they’re not figure hugging they look classic with a pair of jeans and Chelsea boots and look relaxed but well put together at the same time.
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Androgynous
Arguably another reinvention of a past trend, the “boy meets girl” look has been creeping into our magazines for a few years now. But, this autumn, the stakes are high as designers such as Berardi have combined boy-cut clothes with minimalist style, whilst others have followed Armani’s suit and gone with a softer, more feminine take on the look. Which one is better? It’s for you to decide! Either way, this look is a must this winter, with high street shops everywhere grabbing it for themselves. So, it’s going to be a popular look, but what about the people who are going to see us in it…?
– “Personally I’m a bit sceptical about this look, I prefer girls who wear more classic clothes rather than ‘boyish’ stuff” says Tim. “I just think it’s a bit hard.”
– “I actually really like this look, loads of boys aren’t keen on girls wearing more guy-like clothes, but I think if it’s on the right girl I think it looks really cool- very sophisticated,” says Alex.
– “I’m on the fence about this one,” says Dominic. “I personally prefer more girly clothes and I think most of the time it makes girls look quite scary, and no boy likes that!”
This look is for the bold. If you want to wear it- go for it. Cigarette pants and a dogtooth jacket are a classic, classy look which takes on-board the essence of the boy meets girl look, but doesn’t take it too far.
Punk
It’s hard, it’s dark and generally, it involves black eyeliner. The punk look is back – a hark-back to the ‘80s when punk hit the music scene. It’s the “I don’t care” trend of fashion; if you want to wear it, you’re going to wear it- no matter what anyone else says. Now, although most of us probably don’t have the confidence to fully pull this look off, the chunky chains and spikey necklaces that are appearing thick and fast in all the shops are our opportunity to give a nod to punk. Many of us may own a punk-esque item, but what do our boy’s think of our punk edge? Are they keen or are they just plain scared?
– “I really like some of the stuff that’s punk at the moment,” says Alex. “I think it’s pretty cool and those spikey necklaces always look good- I’m definitely for this look.”
– “I just don’t understand why girls would want to look scary and hard,” says Tim. “I just think the necklaces look a bit trashy and I definitely don’t like the look as a whole.”
– “I think if the right girl wears a bit of ‘punky’ stuff, it’s okay- I think the necklaces look pretty good,” says Dom. “But probably less is more, I’m not a massive fan of the studded jackets, they remind me of dog collars.”
This look is not for the faint hearted! If you’re the girl who wears what she likes no matter the looks she gets, then this is the perfect winter look for you. It’s dark and ‘in your face’, but can easily be softened with a relaxed jacket- more of an “edgy” look rather than the full “punk” look.
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Pastel Pink
This is a daunting one in terms of trends. Are we really being asked to trade in our dark wintry wools for something so bright as pink? Although this seems like a big deal, it’s not all loud and proud; Marc Jacobs, DKNY and Carven have gone for a mix of shades, from bright Barbie pink to a pale pastel damask. So if you’re not prepared to go all out on this look, there are plenty of less garish alternatives for you to find; there’s no need to fret. Now this is a pretty big change for A/W this year, do we think our boys can handle it?
– “I think it’s good to wear colours in winter, otherwise everything gets pretty dull and boring,” says Dom.
– “I’m not sure about this one either,” says Tim. “I definitely prefer a classic look and in winter that normally means more autumnal shades, pink is too summery for me.”
– “Colours don’t really matter to me, as long as they’re not fluorescent, I can’t deal with how bright neon is!” Says Alex.
This is an easy one to pull off even if you don’t want to go bright. Gentle pastel wools teamed with a pair of black jeans and a big coat is classically wintry, but with a hint of colour- you don’t want to forget summer just yet!
So, that’s the top five. You’ve had the info, you know what’s popular and what’s not. Now it’s up to you to find your style! Are you going to go for the bright pink coat or be bold and go for a tartan two-piece? Are you going to test the water, buy a gold chain before you get the punk look, try a pair of sleek cigarette pants before you go all out and complete the girl meets boy style? The boys’ jury was out on all of our trends, so whether you’re confident or shy, skinny or curvy, find what’s right for you and embrace this autumn’s style.
Picture Credits: uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com, clotheshorse-diaryofaclotheshorse.blogspot.co.uk, ivyprosper.wordpress.com, dresscagecity.com, dazeddigital.com, metro.co.uk