key colors, fabrics and prints

Designers show their Pre-Fall collections between November and
mid-January, making it the longest season for store buyers. It has
become one of the most essential selling seasons, allowing retailers
to offer new merchandise between the Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer
seasons. Dropping in May/June and staying on the floor for up to six
months, it usually offers more commercial looks than the major runway
seasons.

This is certainly the case for the Pre-Fall ’24 season with many
designers showing updated classic styles in subdued colors and
traditional fabrics and prints. The quiet
luxury and soft power themes that were so strong last year,
continue to resonate side by side, with both masculine and feminine
influences present.

1. Cream of the crop

After the years of chaos caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, tailored
items offer welcome structure. Designers used shades of white and
cream to refresh classic styles.

Christian Dior: designer, Maria Grazia Chiuri

Look 102: a white single-breasted blazer and mid-length skirt with a
matching vest. A pearl choker, black socks and spectator platform
pumps completed the look.

Victoria Beckham

Look 38: a cream-colored mid-length sleeveless dress with a deep vee
trimmed with black lace. Accessories included brown high-heeled
sandals and a matching clutch.

Stella McCartney

Look 2: a sleeveless cream-colored tunic with patch pockets and a gold
trim, over matching pants with a fringed tulle hemline and cream
boots.

2. Latte Dressers

As reported by Fashion United, latte dressing was a favorite 2023 street
style. It is also a prominent Pre-Fall 24 ready-to-wear trend, with
the color palette ranging from light brown to chocolate. It is a chic
alternative to black.

Max Mara, designer Ian Griffiths

Look 13: A one-shouldered long-sleeved dark brown knit top, with satin
pants gathered at the ankle and a dark brown belt. Metallic gold
sandals added a pop of shine.

Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini

Look 7: a cowl neck/scarf jacket in caramel over a mesh midi skirt
dress in the same color. Accessories included yellow leather gloves
and nude sandals.

Maria McManus

Look 3: a chocolate brown cardigan and shorts in the same color, with
a brown belt and a pale blue knit polo. Navy shoes with a high profile
completed the look.

3. Like the boys

Quiet Luxury meets non-binary dressing. The vest, as a substitute for
a jacket, is a big win this season, shown with matching pants in
traditional menswear fabrics.

Adeam: designer, Hanako Maeda

Look 8: a single-breasted long line vest with three tortoiseshell
buttons and matching pleat-front pants in navy cotton gabardine. Tan
suede sandals completed the look.

Alberta Ferretti

Look 6: a double chalk striped fitted vest and matching overlong full
pants in cotton twill.

Daniel Del Core

Look 6: a beige and white windowpane check vest in lightweight wool,
with a strappy-back, over a cream-colored turtleneck and matching full
pants. Silver accessories add a pop of shine.

4. Now you see it…

Many designers enjoyed playing with texture for Pre-Fall 24, creating
looks that included sheer fabrics for dresses and skirts that exposed
the legs, and then teamed with tailored jackets and sweaters.

Ganni: designer, Ditte Reffstrup

Look 1: a lacy, open-work cream-colored slip dress over a fluffy beige
and cream sweater. Accessories included a cream-colored drawstring bag
and brown ankle boots.

Givenchy: designer, Matthew M. Williams

Look 7: a sheer black polka dot dress was shown under a fitted black
double-breasted tuxedo jacket over a matching mini-skirt. Accessories
included a sheer polka-dot neck scarf, a black satchel, sheer black
socks and black point-toe sling-backs.

Valentino: designer, Pierpaolo Piccioli

Look 37: a white scalloped lace knee-length skirt under a navy wool
jacket with broad lapels and a logo fastener, over a blue striped
shirt and burgundy sweater. An orange shoulder bag added a pop of
color.

5. Flowery Language

Floral prints have become fully trans-seasonal. Impressionist flowers
are a key Pre-Fall 24 print.

Erdem Moralioglu

Look 23: a sleeveless white satin two layered sheath dress with a
blurred pink and green floral print on black. Accessories included
long black leather gloves and white satin flats.

Alberta Ferretti

Look 22: a cheongsam style dress with a blurry green and pink print,
accessorized by black socks and spectator high heeled slingbacks.

Lela Rose

Look 7: a boat-neck short sleeved sheath dress with large sized pink
and yellow florals on a black background.

6. Get in line

Crisp striped cotton is used for modern silhouettes, including shirts
and dresses.

Adeam: designer, Hanako Maeda

Look 25: a wrap-front shirt dress in blue and white stripes with
pleats, accessorized by tan suede strappy sandals.

Hellessy: designer, Sylvie Millstein

Look 6: a layered shirt dress in green and white ticking stripes with
navy shoestring ties on the sleeves and waist. Accessories included
long navy gloves and open-toed boots.

Max Mara, designer: Ian Griffiths

Look 17: a red and white broad striped shirt with ruffles on the
sleeves accessorized with red double strapped flats and a mini
handheld beige satchel.