WGSN, a leading trend authority serving the fashion and creative industries, has forecasted the main looks and colour schemes to grace the London Fashion Week runways for AW16. WGSN’s Catwalks Director, Lizzy Bowring, has made fashion week forecasts on the styles that will be most influential for next season’s retail, enabling designers and buyers to make commercial decisions as the shows are happening. As part of its dedication to better serving the fashion industry, WGSN has also launched the WGSN Catwalks app, which allows subscribers to browse all of the catwalk shows in New York, London, Milan and Paris, from anywhere in the world. The WGSN Catwalks app features all the latest shows and allows users to explore past collections and save their favourite looks to WGSN’s digital collaboration tools. Users will also have access to WGSN’s expert coverage and analysis of the key runway trends. The app is available to download on both iOS and Android.

The trends to watch this season include:

Dark Fantasy
The decadent and romantic Dark Fantasy look will draw its inspiration from ornate historical dress and opulent antique decoration. Expect to see dramatic voluminous silhouettes gliding down the runway, draped in lightweight sheers and long slim lace dresses, layered with full coats or nipped waist jackets.

Soft Legacy
Echoing the minimalist aesthetic with a slight nomadic appeal, Soft Legacy is inspired by cosy and clean, comfortable and effortlessly wearable styling. Clean lines, simple cuts and a soft, slightly oversized silhouette lend easy structure and purity to this minimalist and highly feminine look.

Grunge Luxe
Characterised by its layered textures, prints and dark, bold colour schemes, Grunge Luxe finds its roots in the early 1990s movement. This gritty attitude is updated and elevated with refined heritage checks and traditional florals, creating a grownup, irreverent, tomboy aesthetic.

Urban Street
Born out of the desire for a more relaxed and youthful silhouette, this laid back look is characterised by oversized outerwear, worn over boyfriend jeans or loose trousers to create a cool, effortless downtown vibe.

Tea at the Ritz
Society girls taking tea at the Ritz have raided their mother’s closet, irreverently mixed her occasion wear with daywear pieces Opposites attract in layers of tulle over satin, while animal prints in oversized coats are paired with clashing prints.

Eastern Opulence
References to the Far East will pervade the collections this autumn, providing an exotic theme suffused with floating and lightweight materials. Feminine silhouettes are wrapped in the manner of sari dressing and inspired by the adventures of a “Femme Fatale” in India in the early 1900s.

Stardust
The new season will indefinitely be influenced by David Bowie. Stardust, 80s glam rock and body conscious silhouettes put the fun back into fashion. Jean Paul Gaultier’s Couture collection for S/S 16 provides the backdrop this glam rock comeback.

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