5 Trends That Will Define 2019—and How I'm Wearing Them Now

I often walk away from fashion month feeling inspired but also frustrated. Inspiration comes in the form of fashion items that hit the runway that I’m eager to add to my closet. Then, the frustration sets in when I come to terms with the fact that I won’t be able to get my hands on these newly minted trends for a solid six months. So, what’s the solution when I’m not willing to wait around until spring 2019? I scour the internet.

This is where my fashion-editor skills come in handy since I’m almost always able to track down pieces that echo the upcoming trends. Ahead, I’ve identified some of the biggest trends that will define the spring 2019 season and included my edit for items to wear now. Go on to see how they were styled on the runways and then shop them for yourself.

NAKED SANDALS

Brace yourselves because naked sandals will be everywhere in six months. The barely there shoes have minimal designs and extra-slim straps that make them perfect to pair with just about anything.

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Jacquemus S/S 19
(Image credit: Courtesy of Jacquemus)

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Rejina Pyo S/S 19
(Image credit: Getty Images)

UTILITARIAN

Fashion is taking a turn toward utility with pieces like boiler suits and cargo pants. Here's where function will meet fashion for the season ahead.

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Stella McCartney S/S 19
(Image credit: Getty Images)

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Givenchy S/S 19
(Image credit: Getty Images)

THONG HEELS

We saw cool takes on the '90s thong heel trend hit the runway at designers like Bevza and Prabal Gurung. Word to the wise—order yourself a pair of thong heels now before the trend explodes this spring. Right now there are extremely well-priced designer versions on The RealReal for under $100, but they're sure to sell out once the trend hits. You can also preorder the ones spotted at Bevza if they tickle your fancy.

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Bevza S/S 19
(Image credit: Courtesy of Bevza)

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Prabal Gurung S/S 19
(Image credit: Getty Images)

PERMANENT VACATION PIECES

Whether sunny, tropical prints topped with seashells or prints sourced from travels across the globe, designers had their sights set on travel themes for the S/S 19 runway shows.

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Altuzarra S/S 19
(Image credit: Courtesy of Altuzarra)

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Chloé S/S 19
(Image credit: Getty Images)

BEIGE, BEIGE, BEIGE

Yes, wearing head-to-toe beige sounds pretty dull, but it's actually super chic. It was one of the most spotted trends during fashion month, so the runway looks are providing plenty of inspiration for how to approach tonal dressing.

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Miu Miu S/S 19
(Image credit: Getty Images)

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Burberry S/S 19
(Image credit: Courtesy of Burberry)

Next: the biggest trends hitting spring 2019.

Associate Director, Special Projects

Kristen Nichols is the Associate Director, Special Projects at Who What Wear with over a decade of experience in fashion, editorial, and publishing. She oversees luxury and runway content as well as wedding features, and covers fashion within the luxury market, runway reporting, shopping features, trends, and interviews with leading industry experts. She also contributes to podcast recordings, social media, and branded content initiatives. Kristen has worked with brands including Prada, Chanel, Tiffany & Co., and MyTheresa, and rising designers such as Refine and Tove, and her style has been featured in publications including Vogue.com, Vogue France, WWD, and the CFDA. Before Who What Wear, Kristen began her career at Rodarte, where she worked on styling, photo shoots, and runway shows, and at Allure, where she moved into print and digital editorial. She graduated from the University of Southern California, where she studied art history and business, and currently lives in New York.