KEY STATEMENT MAKING BUYS TO REFRESH YOUR WARDROBE

SS24 means business. This season we’re all about the hustle. We’ve got places to go, people to see, and looks to be seen in. We know you’re busy. We’re not here to waste your time. This is a fresh take on statement-making style inspired by ‘90s workwear and cutting-edge corporate attire you’ll want to wear long after you’ve left the office. Throw in some statement off-duty and party pieces from designer icons and it’s serving office siren with a side of It girl appeal.

This is fashion with ambition. Think modern tailoring and crisp shirts and statement prints and larger-than-life accessories. This isn’t about adhering to a strict uniform. This is about breaking the rules and wearing what you want, wherever you want, whenever you want. If the adage ‘dress for the job you want, not the job you have’ is true, we’re dressing for the role of fashion icon.

From all-eyes-on-you dresses via Dsquared2 and Jacquemus to all-out colour via Vivienne Westwood and Off-White all the way to new season It-accessories c/o Givenchy and Diesel, we’ve crunched the numbers and this is how to make a statement this spring. Blue sky thinking, but make it fashion.

AKA ‘B-E-D’. Don’t be shy. These looks amp up the volume with thigh-skimming hemlines, voluminous sleeves, figure-hugging silhouettes and bold prints. Think fashion power-players that work hard but play harder.

Looking to nail statement dressing in one easy move? Then an all-eyes-on-you dress should be firmly on the agenda. Dsquared2’s lingerie-inspired white mini dress looks like it’s been borrowed from Paris Hilton’s ‘00s wardrobe while Magda Butrym's pale pink slip complete with corsage detailing  goes big on spring energy. Feel like turning up the volume to max? Look to ultra-loud printed picks from Balmain and Dries Van Noten.

Usher in the new season with a statement skirt. Marine Serre and Acne are serving up their take on a classic pencil skirts with denim and prints putting a statement spin on the wardrobe stalwart. While Bottega Veneta and Dries Van Noten are serving twisted up, cleverly draped takes on the classic maxi.

Sky blue, cherry red and pistachio green. These are the colours that dominated the SS24 runways, and we think would look great in your wardrobe, too.

Feeling blue? Bottega Veneta’s sky-coloured jersey dress and pool-blue leather skirt will cheer you right up. Soothing and fresh, blue is the most coveted colour of SS24. A bright manifestation of spring optimism as we look forward to the season ahead. Plus, it looks great on everyone. Make a statement in Vivienne Westwood’s frayed jacquard denim two piece (the pattern is inspired by a corset from the brand’s ‘Tied to the Mast’ SS98 collection) Exaggerated silhouettes, frayed edges, lustrous taffeta and hallmark Westwood draping make these pieces hard to miss.

Likewise, cherry red brings a heady dose of sex appeal to the spring colour palette. A move towards richer shades feels glam and seductive. From Gucci’s deep red monogrammed leather skirt to Jacquemus’ sought-after ballet flats and Norma Kamali’s side-slit gown, it’s a go-get-em shade that shouts confidence and sensuality. You don’t have to wear that dress tonight, but you’ll probably want to.

Last but not least on the spring shades lineup, green has been on the scene for a while now, with grass green still a key fixture of the season’s palette (we’re looking at you, Bottega). But this spring sees designers lean into softer, dustier shades of sage, olive and pistachio too. Look to Dries van Noten for a laid-back green bomber jacket, Bottega Veneta for pistachio ice cream-coloured accessories and Acne Studios for a statement green skirt.

Put away the puffer. Hang up your down jacket. Spring has sprung and now is the time to swap heavy coats for lightweight layers. Think leather and satin bombers, oversized blazers and denim jackets by some of the world’s most iconic designers.

We live in hope that spring means warmer temperatures, but as anyone who lives in the UK knows, we have to be ready for anything. Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.

That’s where Acne Studios, Saint Laurent, Balmain, Off-White and Prada come in. Don’t leave the house without one of their versatile, hyper-stylish jackets. From padded leather bombers with a hint of ‘80s power dressing about them, to Balmain’s cult monogrammed blazer and Prada’s cropped denim blouson jacket, we’ve got every spring occasion covered.

Play with proportions and team a statement oversized satin bomber with Off White’s net mini dress in the season’s It-shade azure blue. Finish with a pair of square-toed black leather mules, Off White’s cult ‘Clam’ shoulder bag and some statement visor sunglasses.

Business objective? Fashion. That’s corporate speak for these-are-the-shirts-you-need-now. What with half the population working from home in their sweats, we’re feeling nostalgic about officewear these days, and can appreciate a tailored shirt’s power-playing capabilities more than ever. Cue our new favourite trend: the ‘office siren’.

As reported by fashion data account Databutmakeitfashion, the term ‘office siren’ has increased by 78% in popularity between February and March this year. A quick google of ‘office siren’ throws up one reference on repeat – Giselle Bündchen in The Devil Wears Prada, so get ready to channel your inner corporate super and button up, baby. Hustlers from London to Leeds and New York to Paris know that a blue striped shirt is the cornerstone of any serious wardrobe. Perfect for tucking into your sleek new pencil skirt or layering under a spaghetti strap dress, ‘90s-style.

Jacquemus, Prada and Dries Van Noten have all moved the needle on shirting this season. These are no ordinary shirts. Deconstructed tailoring, asymmetrical silhouettes, and exaggerated proportions elevate these pieces beyond the standard 9-5.

We’re not here to mess around. Your accessories have to pull their weight, and these ones pack a punch. Whether you start or finish your look with your accents, these are the pieces to try this spring.

SS24’s most-wanted bags throw it back to the 90s and early noughties, with small shoulder bags, metallic leather, denim and graphic prints featuring heavily in the spring collections. Amp up the volume with Givenchy’s denim shoulder bag – think Britney circa ‘01 – or spice up your life with Diesel’s Spice Girls baguette – giving us all the fashion nostalgia feels. Alternatively, Gucci’s silver Horsebit bag and Alexander McQueen’s copper-coloured jewelled Hobo bag brings the glamour with almost endless styling possibilities.

The hardest working item in your wardrobe? Your shades. And these new season styles are no exception. They work hard, so you don’t have to. Especially handy after a few late summer nights. Off White’s Volcanite Sunglasses serve up cutting-edge cool, while Bottega Veneta and Casablanca nail the old-world glamour look with classic tortoiseshell, and Chloe’s oversized colourful frames are giving retro chic.

The finer the jewellery, the better the outfit. Or so the saying goes. And these pieces are testament to that. Silver has really made a comeback recently – as reported by Databutmakeitfashion, silver jewellery increased in popularity by 15% in 2023 alone – look to Givenchy’s signature padlock necklace to get your fill. More of a gold girl? Look to Paco Rabanne and Saint Laurent for glittering pieces well worth their weight in gold.

Finally, no statement outfit is complete without a pair of killer heels. Go ultra-loud with Westwood’s jacquard platforms, opt for Jacquemus’ instantly recognisable ‘Les Double’ sandals, or step out in snakeskin in Bottega Veneta’s python platform pumps.