As a fashion journalist, who feels as if she's seen it all, I'm rarely shocked by an outfit choice. This morning, however, as I scrolled through newly released images from last night's Serpentine Summer Party, I was genuinely taken aback. No, it wasn't an obscure haute couture creation that stopped me in my tracks. Instead, it was my long-time style icon, Alexa Chung, wearing the one shoe trend I never expected to see her embrace.

Stepping out beneath London's blazing summer sun, Chung styled a sculptural two-piece by London-based designer Dilara Findikoglu. Rendered in a soft beige hue, the high-neck design featured partially undone buttons that eased its otherwise Victorian-inspired silhouette. Paired with a coordinating knee-grazing skirt, the look felt regal, poised and suited to the elegant occasion. To complete her ensemble, Chung reached for a pair of heels, but rather than the sleek slingbacks I would have expected her to choose, the model and presenter opted for a style I'd have confidently said she'd never wear: PVC heels.

Perhaps because of their long-standing association with looking a little "cheap", transparent heels were far from the first shoe trend I expected to see Chung champion.

Part of the trend's reputation may stem from the fact that PVC is generally less expensive than leather or suede. Yet the material has its advantages. Durable and easy to maintain, a quick wipe is often all it takes to keep the shoes looking fresh. Crafted from clear vinyl, the shoes appear almost invisible on the foot, creating a seamless effect that elongates the legs and allows the outfit to take centre stage. What's more, their barely-there finish creates the illusion of longer legs, making them a surprisingly clever choice for occasion dressing.

Not coming out of nowhere, designers have been experimenting with transparent footwear for several seasons now. Valentino's PVC heels sparked conversation thanks to their clever design, which made the sculptural heel appear almost unattached to the foot. Meanwhile, Alaïa's transparent styles have long been considered a fashion person's favourite.

If anyone can convince me to give a supposedly "cheap" shoe trend a chance, it's Alexa Chung. Scroll on to shop my edit of the best Alexa-inspired PVC heels below.

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Midi skirts are trending right now, and if you're looking for styling inspiration, you've come to the right place. After spotting Alexa Chung wearing the elegant skirt trend on Instagram this week, I couldn't help but notice that, instead of reaching for the flip-flops I'm seeing everywhere right now, the model and presenter opted for a decidedly more French-girl-inspired shoe choice: ballet flats.

Whilst flip-flops continue to dominate this season's trends, for those of us navigating city streets, the idea of commuting through London's less-than-pristine pavements in an open-toe shoe isn't always the most appealing. That's where the ever-chic ballet flat comes in.

Working perfectly with the modest length of a midi skirt, ballet flats lend an effortless polish to the outfit, whilst remaining comfortable enough for all-day wear. To keep the look from feeling too prim, Alexa styled her calf-grazing Reformation skirt with a playful green cap, adding a touch of personality and charm. She then layered on a casually buttoned white shirt, bringing an easy, relaxed energy to the outfit that felt distinctly French in spirit.

Inspired by the chicest flat shoe to wear with midi skirts this summer? Keep scrolling to shop my edit of the best midi skirts and ballet flats below.

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I'm with Alexa Chung on this one. But if you'd told me just a year ago that I'd be swapping my black ballet flats for vibrant purple pairs, I certainly wouldn't have believed you. Oh, how tastes change.

Perhaps influenced by the wave of purple that swept across the runways in February, my stance on the divisive shade—which, until recently, had been decidedly negative—has been steadily softening. And after seeing Alexa style the coolest pair of purple ballet flats, I think I can officially count myself a convert.

Using the punchy hue to elevate her chocolate-brown co-ord, Alexa landed on a colour combination I didn't realise was missing from my wardrobe. Rather than reaching for a predictable black shoe, she opted for a glossy satin pair in a vibrant shade of purple. The lustrous finish amplified the rich purple tone, injecting energy and personality into an otherwise understated outfit whilst still feeling polished and refined.

Long dismissed as one of fashion's trickier shades, purple has rarely been a favourite. Whether it's because the colour can feel challenging to style or because of its strong associations with certain brand identities, it's never enjoyed the same universal appeal as classics such as burgundy, navy or chocolate brown.

Lately, however, designers have embraced the shade, and fashion people are beginning to follow suit. So this summer, I'm on Alexa's side. If you're ready to give the unexpected colour trend a chance, keep scrolling to discover and shop the best purple ballet flats below.

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Even with tonnes of hair tools such as hot brushes and curling wands at my disposal as a beauty editor, I actually can't stand my hair looking too "done". Don't get me wrong, I love a bouncy blow-dry when the occasion calls for it. But day-to-day, I like my hair to look effortless and undone, like I just so happened to have rolled out of bed with perfectly dishevelled loose waves.

So it's probably unsurprising that Sienna Miller, Alexa Chung and Kate Moss are amongst some of my hair icons for their perfectly undone hairstyling and piece-y waves. Of course, their hair is expertly crafted by top hair stylists, but it just so happens that they're all fans of one particular texturising spray.

Hair by Sam McKnight Cool Girl Texture Mist

Cool Girl Barely There Texture Mist is one of those products that is exactly what it says it is on the can. Created by legendary hairstylist Sam McKnight MBE (who has worked on everyone from Princess Diana to Kate Moss and Sienna Miller), this texturising mist adds the perfect amount of grit to lengths, boosting volume and texture even in the finest of hair. McKnight was inspired by the effortless looks he's created on Kate Moss, and designed this product with her in mind to help us create the same undone looks at home.

In the above video, McKnight uses it on Sienna Miller, flipping her hair upside down and misting through for effortlessly texturised lengths. Alexa Chung also counts herself as a fan, having previously called it "a gig in a can" for her signature dishevelled waves. It's cool-girl hair in a bottle.

I've been using this product for years and can also attest to its brilliance. If I ever find my curls or waves are looking too polished, I like to spritz a little through my lengths and use my fingers to dishevel as I have above. It helps keep curls and waves looking undone whilst enhancing texture and giving root lift when sprayed around the crown. It's also one of the best-smelling hair products I've tried. In fact, I've had compliments on the scent alone.

Whilst it's not strictly a hairspray, it does offer lightweight hold to styles and brushes out easily at the end of the day—zero crunchiness here. Honestly, if you only invest in one hair product, make it this one. It also comes in a handy handbag-sized travel bottle, which is perfect for top-ups on the go. McKnight, thank you for your service.

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What do you wear in London when temperatures hover around 20°C? Whilst boots now feel a little too heavy, open-toe styles can still seem premature. Fortunately, Alexa Chung just stepped out with the solution—and it's one French women have been relying on for years.

Stepping out in a pair of blue straight-leg jeans and low-heeled ballet pumps, Chung mastered the art of easy city styling dressing. Paired with a light cream jacket and finished with an animal-print bag, her jeans and shoe outfit was perfectly primed for off-duty city days.

Building on the ballet flats trend, the emerging heeled ballet pump trend offers the same elegance with a slightly more elevated finish. The low block heel brings subtle height and sophistication, making casual outfits feel more considered.

Capturing the relaxed refinement that defines French-inspired dressing, this comfortable yet chic shoe trend is set to become a key player in any early-summer wardrobe.

Inspired by Chung's look? Scroll on to discover the best heeled ballet pumps to shop now.

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As the sun sets on another year of the Cannes Film Festival, I can’t help but reminisce on some the looks we’ve been blessed with on and off the red carpet. From Bella Hadid’s Jane Birkin-inspired ensemble, to the Monegasque-local Kelly Rutherford's prim pencil skirt, the last two weeks have been a treat for fashion people everywhere who are inspired by Riviera style. Never one to miss out on two weeks in the Côte d'Azur, Alexa Chung's most recent Instagram dump summarised her last two weeks on Cannes ’ balmy shores, but it was the last image in her recap that got my full attention. Her festival downtime look? A pair of sleek heeled ballet flats with a structured knee-length midi skirt.

This inherently French-feeling ensemble manages to combine the now-trending knee-grazing skirt with a sleek, wearable, heeled ballet flat in a chic and easy look that is easily replicated. Adding texture with a fine-knit jumper, and pop of colour through her tee and paisley print headscarf, her look was all Alexa's own her signature, laidback charm. But, it's the combo of the heels and skirt which really got me thinking. All over France, chic girls have been wearing the same combination over the spring, and Alexa just proved it's a look here to stay come summer.

After recently spotting the combo styled with billowing blouses, singlet tank tops (like Salome Mory above) and loose linen shirts. In each iteration the combo feels both fresh yet timeless, styled yet carefree. With the temperature continuing to increase, the pairing feels like a fail-safe way to shift your summer staples into a fashion-forward mood. Scroll to shop the heeled ballet flat mid skirt trend below.

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Yes, leopard print is still trending for summer 2026, but rather than going head-to-toe in the feline design, the coolest dressers are giving the enduring print a much more wearable, summer-ready feel this time around.

Case in point: Alexa Chung, who stepped out in sunny Cannes this week, making leopard print feel surprisingly fresh. Instead of reaching for the leopard-print minidresses that dominated a few summers ago, she took a more understated approach, slipping into a pair of leopard-print heeled flip-flops.

Styled with a knee-grazing pencil skirt and balanced out with a simple long-sleeve tee, Chung’s look felt easy yet polished, whilst the thoughtful shoe choice elevated the entire ensemble.

Now that summer has finally settled in and temperatures are steadily climbing, I have a feeling leopard-print sandals will become the sandal fashion people reach for on repeat. If you’re keen to get ahead of the curve, keep scrolling to shop the leopard-print sandals I’m recommending this season below.

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Sure, denim capri pants might not sound like the most likely jeans trend to make a mainstream comeback, but if the runways and celebrity style set are anything to go by—and they usually are—then it might be time to ready your wardrobe.

I first started paying attention to the trend a few months ago, after spotting Alexa Chung step out in a head-to-toe Chloé look featuring a pair of knee-grazing denim capris. Capri trousers have, of course, been gaining momentum for a few summers now, with tailored styles and slim pedal pushers steadily finding their way back into fashion circles. But now that the trend feels more established, designers are starting to take things a step further.

By reworking the controversial silhouette in denim, brands have managed to make the trend feel all the more wearable.

The look resurfaced once again in New York this week, this time on Molly Gordon, who wore the exact same pair from Chloé’s collection. Styled with a sculptural peplum jacket and sharp pointed-toe heels, the actor made a compelling case for the throw-back trend.

With celebrity endorsements mounting up and new iterations landing across designer collections and the high street right now, I have a feeling it won’t be long before denim capris properly enter the mainstream once again. Until then, read on to shop the styles I’m recommending right now.

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After the controversial chartreuse shade stormed the spring/summer 2026 runways, it should come as no surprise that the colour would once again rear its head for fashion’s night of nights, the Met Gala. Utterly polarising with a piquant tone that’s not quite a brat green nor a balmy yellow, this hybrid shade saturated the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art as guests made their arrival.

The first appearance of the evening came from Alexa Chung, who traded in her signature stovepipe jeans and twee knitwear for a daring Dior dress designed by Northern Irish creative director Jonathan Anderson.

The custom look continued the dialogue presented in the French maison’s autumn/winter 2026 collection, which Chung sat in the first row for as it was unveiled on an uncharacteristically scintillating February day in the Tuileries Garden. With a square-neckline, plunging slit and protruding botanical motif, the silhouette was a clear homage to both craftsmanship and Claude Monet’s magnum opus Water Lilies series, which couldn’t be more fitting for the dress code “Fashion Is Art”.

Later, the striking shade made another appearance in the burgeoning actress, Sarah Pidgeon. After becoming a household name for her performance as Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, the Love Story breakout star continued to embrace the codes of ‘90s minimalism that her character was so revered for. However, marking a firm schism in this form of method dressing, the 29-year-old arrived at the event in a chartreuse two-piece set designed by Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez for Loewe.

Again, this look is a bespoke version of a look presented on the runway that Pidgeon was privy to after attending the brand’s show back in February. Though it could be argued that this look nods to the iconic Donna Karen green set worn by Gwyneth Paltrow in Great Expectations, this slightly acidic version feels far more contemporary and cool.

In saying that, a key part of both Dior and Loewe’s brand philosophy is the importance of artistry and innovation within the boundaries of materiality, so it’s also no surprise to see these houses be some of the first to adopt this bold colour. (Of course, that’s not to mention the shared history of Anderson at the helm.) Elsewhere, Belgian fashion designer Pieter Mulier presented a series of asymmetrical chartreuse skirts for his penultimate collection at Alaïa. In Milan, Mrs Prada unveiled her interpretation of uniform dressing with chartreuse accents that covered boilersuits, puffed skirts and bralettes.

Of course, the sartorially aware amongst us know that chartreuse has always been a maligned colour that has sat on the fringes of the mainstream, only to be adopted by the most daring dressers amongst us. From Nicole Kidman wearing a John Galliano for Dior chartreuse chinoiserie gown to the 1997 Oscars to Zoë Kravitz wearing the shade to a Hollywood event earlier this year, this proactive shade continues to be exactly that.

Shop the Chartreuse Colour Trend, as Seen on the 2026 Met Gala

Of course, fashion people are still wearing cotton dresses and voluminous white skirts, but I have started to notice that a subset of the very chicest are welcoming a supremely pretty minidress into their warm-weather rotations this season.

Tipping me off, I spotted London It girl Alexa Chung swapping the cotton equivalent for the significantly more elegant satin dress trend. Wearing a milky-coloured Doen Junia dress (£485) adorned with the prettiest lace-trim design, Alexa set the scene for the lace minidress trend to permeate fashion crowds.

Inherently elegant, the glossy satin finish lends your styling a luminous quality that feels perfectly at home in sun-drenched settings, whilst the lace-trim in Alexa's design adds a romantic, vintage-inspired layer. Styling hers with colourful heels—Alexa picked hers up in the prettiest shade of pale pink—this trend would also look invariably elegant with a simple mary jane or low-key ballerina.

As effortless to slip on as your go-to cotton mini, unsurprisingly, both high-street and designer brands are already embracing the silhouette. Scroll on for my edit of the very best lace-trim minidresses to shop now.

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From London to New York, the It girls are rethinking the parameters of spring dress, and the eponymous slip dress is no longer at the centre of it. For spring/summer 2026, the mood is shifting away from slinky, barely-there silhouettes towards a frothy, feminine shape that’s primed to be everywhere soon.

Suddenly a fashion person's favourite, the apron dress trend has already been embraced by some of the industry’s most influential names. Alexa Chung, for instance, stepped out at a Miu Miu event in Milan this week wearing a floral-embellished apron dress, complete with ruffled sleeves and an open-back finish. True to form, she kept the styling simple, adding a crisp white Miu Miu bag and finishing with tan strappy sandals.

Building on the momentum, Chloë Sevigny was spotted reworking the trend, layering Miu Miu’s leather apron dress over knitwear and jeans, topped with a boxy leather jacket. Not a one-note piece, Chloë's styling proves the surprising versatility of the emerging trend.

On the red carpet, Emma Corrin gave the look a directional spin in a frill-adorned floral apron layered over a simple white tee and tailored grey trousers. Worn over basics, it instantly adds interest to everyday dressing with a distinctly 2026 sensibility; styled solo, it retains an easy, romantic charm.

Unexpected yet inherently compelling, the apron dress is shaping up to be one of the season’s most interesting shifts. Consider this your cue to get ahead—because if its current trajectory is anything to go by, this is one trend that won’t stay under the radar for long.

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The coolest jeans you can wear right now? Well, who am I to argue with Alexa Chung and Jennifer Lawrence? Both swapping the slouchy leggings that are doing the rounds this season for a sharper pair of on-trend denim, I spotted Alexa and JLaw step out in matching straight-leg jeans this week.

Putting a springtime spin on their mid-wash jeans, Alexa swapped the chunkier boots she's been wearing throughout the winter months for something no less smart, but significantly lighter. Slipping into a pair of polished leather loafers in an inky shade of black, Alexa wove a polished, pull-together element into her weekend look. Layering from there, Alexa slipped into a waisted leather jacket, tapping into another spring trend set to soar this month.

Meanwhile, Jennifer Lawrence wore her pair a little lower on the hips, as her jeans skimmed the leg for a relaxed shape. Veering casual with her styling, she wore her jeans with white and red Adidas Tokyo trainers. Echoing the accent on the shoes, a cosy red cardigan brought warmth and vibrancy into her otherwise laid-back look, keeping things feeling relaxed but far from boring.

The chicest way to wear denim right now, straight-leg jeans are quickly becoming the most relevant denim silhouette of the season. If you’re ready to follow suit, scroll on to discover the chicest straight-leg jeans to shop and wear now.

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When it comes to travelling, I always find myself subconsciously influenced by the style of the local set of whatever destination I’m visiting. Yet, when it comes to visiting Paris, I constantly feel like the stakes of what I pack to wear whilst I’m away are inevitably higher when compared to other fashion capitals.

Blame that on the fact that the French have a reputation for being quite particular, or that the personal wardrobes of those who reside in the City of Lights are heralded as the acme of chic, but without fail, I notice myself adhering to specific modes that are in keeping with the sartorial milieu. And it appears I’m not alone in this, with Alexa Chung recently proving she, too, sticks to this one very fundamental styling rule whenever she’s in town.

Taking to Instagram to share a carousel of her off-duty outfits from Paris Fashion Week, the model and ultimate fashion muse revealed that she follows suit in ditching trainers for a more graceful flat shoe when wearing jeans.

It’s a rare sighting to see a Parisienne in sportier silhouettes, let alone wearing this athletic footwear staple with sleek denim. So, when I saw Alexa don a pair of brown loafers to compliment her light blue jeans, I let out a sigh of relief in knowing that I wasn’t the only one who slightly adjusted their dress sense for this setting.

The look itself consisted of wardrobe basics you’d find in any well-edited wardrobe, including a longline trench coat, sumptuous cardigan and crisp white t-shirt. However, given this is Alexa we’re talking about, there was always going to be one subtle point of difference that made this ensemble extra covetable. For this occasion, this came down to the colours she rendered these staples in.

Whilst her shoes look like any pair of trending gathered loafers, they were actually a rich-looking chocolate brown colour, which gave her outfit an innate sense of nostalgia and ease, courtesy of this lived-in shade. The same goes for the wash of jeans she chose. Though Parisians have been wearing darker shades recently, the 42-year-old opted for a lighter colour, which evoked a sense of brightness and effortlessness.

With spring officially here, I’d even contend that this exact silhouette will be spotted all over, from the top of Montmartre all the way down to Le Marais. And as with anything in fashion, where the French go—or in this case, a Londoner in Paris—the rest of us follow. So, it will be only a matter of time before this precise formula begins cropping up across Britain. Get a head start on the trend, and shop the best light blue jeans and brown loafers below.

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Alexa Chung is stylish year-round, but I have to say, when she touches down for Paris Fashion Week, her outfits seem to reach their peak. Attending the Chloé A/W '26 runway show this week, Chung skipped over last spring’s favourite shade of butter yellow and instead stepped out in the prettiest wash of pink.

Opting for a lighter shade with a soft peach undertone, Chung tapped into one of the chicest ways to wear the sugary shade right now. Her gently draped dress, which fell just to the knee, featured contrast white lace trims and a delicate bow embellishment, adding a romantic, vintage feel to the summery dress. Styled with light beige heels, the outfit felt fresh, polished and spring-ready, and inspired me to rethink my own spring palette.

Attending the same show, Olivia Rodrigo stepped out in the very same peachy-pink tone, doubling down on the shade that’s quickly emerging as one to watch for the season ahead.

Unlike butter yellow—which, whilst joyful, can feel a touch too bright for those with a more pared-back approach to summer dressing—this softer pink reads more like a neutral. Its muted peach undertone makes it far easier to weave into an everyday wardrobe. It works beautifully worn head-to-toe in tonal layers, but looks equally chic styled with blue denim or rich grey shades for contrast.

While last year’s spring palette leaned a little more vibrant, I have a feeling it will be this more grown-up take on pink that truly takes off this season.

If you’re as inspired by the shade as I am, keep scrolling to shop a chic peach-pink edit below.

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I’m calling it: it’s time to tuck away your boots and welcome strappy sandals back into the fold. The sun is finally out, and there’s no better way to celebrate than with a footwear refresh. Right on time, Alexa Chung already delivered the summer shoe inspiration I’ll be weaving into my own rotation from here on out.

Encouraging me to style my jeans with something a little more interesting than the usual boots or trainers, Chung stepped out in straight-leg denim teamed with the prettiest heeled sandals.

Despite leaning into the odd element of embellishment, Chung’s look remained characteristically unfussy and chic. She layered an ornate jacket, decorated with intricate bird and floral motifs, over the outfit, the hem grazing her knees and revealing a mid-wash pair of stovepipe jeans beneath. Peeking out below? A pair of lilac heeled sandals in a trending mule cut. Whilst the mule finish brought a lightness to her denim outfit, the lilac shade nodded to the colour trend set to take off this season, the combination of which made her denim outfit feel impossibly chic.

While ballet flats and Mary Janes dominated last year’s street style scene, Chung’s heeled mules felt like a slightly more elevated alternative. She finished the outfit with oversized statement earrings and a black leather bag tucked into the crook of her arm.

A little more dressy, but just as easy to style, these shoes will be my go-to denim pairing now that the weather is on side. If you're inspired, too, read on to discover and shop the chicest straight-leg jeans and heeled sandals below.

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If anyone actually understands what Londoners want to wear, it’s Alexa Chung. Arriving in central London for the hotly anticipated Simone Rocha show, the model and enduring style icon stepped out in a chic two-piece look I expect to see replicated across the capital come March.

Sidestepping the prim, sharply tailored pieces that have dominated for seasons, Chung opted for something altogether more relaxed. For her front-row appearance, she shrugged on a billowy, sport-inflected windbreaker from the forthcoming Simone Rocha x Adidas collaboration. With a retro cut and easy funnel neck, the jacket nodded to the enduring track-top revival without feeling overly styled.

Balancing the sporty top layer, Chung grounded the look with slinky satin shorts, trimmed delicately with lace. Finished with sleek pointed-toe heels from Miu Miu, the heels complemented the prettiness of the lace, elevating what might otherwise read casual into something altogether more considered.

Londoners have long had a penchant for sporty silhouettes, but styled with lace-trim shorts—another trend quietly gathering momentum—this pairing feels newly relevant. Expect to see that subtle interplay of athletic and romantic cropping up across London before long.

Ever inspired by Chung’s approach to dressing, scroll on to shop the best windbreakers and lace-trim shorts to try the look for yourself.

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Unless you spent last summer under a rock, you’ll remember the impression that the butter yellow colour trend made on the season. Soft, saccharine washes of pale lemon flooded new-in sections, coating everything from slip dresses to It-bags in a pastel glow. It was, without question, the chicest shade in circulation.

But such was its ubiquity that, as we’ve moved into a new year, butter yellow has risked feeling a little… expected. The good news? With the right styling, this once-sweet shade can feel entirely fresh again. And, as ever, the industry’s most reliable dressers are already showing us how.

Stepping out into a brisk New York afternoon, Jennifer Lawrence chose a generously cut, belted coat from The Row in the dreamiest pastel yellow. Instead of keeping things strictly tonal, she introduced a whisper of pale blue at the neck with a wrapped scarf, creating a subtle but elegant contrast. A trending fur hat added texture and a distinctly 2026 sensibility.

Across the Atlantic in London, Alexa Chung offered a different take. Styling Mirthdate’s Oxford shirt in a delicate buttercream hue, she wore it back-to-front—subverting predictable styling cues. Paired with the season's favourite knee-length skirt and pointed-toe heels in a rich chocolate brown, the look gained depth and sophistication. The darker accessories grounded the airy yellow, lending it a grown-up, city-ready polish.

The 2026 butter yellow colour trend is less about tonal saccharine sweetness and more about contrast and texture. If you invested in the shade last year, rest assured, it still has mileage. And if you’re tempted to reintroduce this enduring hue into your spring rotation, a few clever styling tweaks are all it takes to make it feel brand new.

Read on to shop the butter yellow colour trend below.

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I don’t know about you, but the trainers in my wardrobe are getting far less airtime this season. Despite the steady stream of buzzy new sneakers hitting the scene, none quite feel like they’re finishing my outfits the way I want right now. Instead, I’m gravitating towards sleeker, more refined footwear—and, naturally, looking to the style set for inspiration.

While my trainers take a back seat, my jeans are working overtime. Specifically, my newfound favourites: stove pipe jeans. With their clean lines and polished silhouette, they’ve become my everyday go-to. But while baggier denim styles paired seamlessly with trainers, this sharper cut calls for something a little more considered. So, I doubled down on my celebrity research to uncover the non-trainer shoe trends fashion insiders are wearing with their jeans right now. Read on to discover the two silhouettes taking off this season.

Discover the Shoe Trend The Look Chicest With Stove Pipe Jeans:

1. Alexa Chung's Stove Pipe Jeans + Square-Toe Heels:

Style Notes: During the colder months, even my evening outfits tend to revolve around jeans, and stovepipe styles are among the chicest silhouettes for the job. This week, Alexa Chung demonstrated exactly how to elevate them. Stepping out for a runway show in Paris, she paired dark-wash straight-leg jeans with glossy black square-toe heels. Creating a polished yet unfussy silhouette. Adding height while keeping the colour palette restrained, Chung created a cohesive look that felt elevated, sleek and entirely wearable.

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2. Kendall Jenner's Stove Pipe Jeans + Loafers:

Style Notes: Where my daily uniform once revolved around looser jeans and trainers, this season it’s straight-leg denim and streamlined shoes doing the heavy lifting, and a glossy black leather loafer is my new go-to. Polished and preppy, this pairing feels like the chic evolution of my everyday wardrobe. Take a cue from Kendall Jenner and layer with a sumptuous suede jacket for a refined finish, or keep things cosy with a soft knit as we wait out winter’s final days.

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I get paid to monitor celebrity style, so I take the task of identifying celebrity-loved emerging trends very seriously. And with Paris Haute Couture Week drawing the world’s chicest dressers into one tightly packed location, I’ve been street-style spotting to my heart’s content. Among the swirl of couture and street-style looks, one shoe trend kept catching my eye.

Easing last season’s ballet flats and predictable court shoes out of rotation, fashion people in Paris—and also Los Angeles—are turning to curved heel shoes on repeat right now. Sculptural yet understated, the silhouette feels primed to thrive in 2026.

I first spotted the trend on Victoria Beckham, who stepped out in Paris wearing a sleek pair of black satin curved heels just yesterday. Styled with a longline jersey dress, her look was characteristically restrained, with the softly arched heel adding enough intrigue to elevate the ensemble without tipping into excess.

Soon after, Alexa Chung wore the same sculptural silhouette, pairing her curved heels with a butter-yellow dress trimmed in theatrical fringing. Balancing drama and ease, the heels echo the movement of the dress without feeling costume-like.

Then came Margot Robbie. Carrying the trend across the Atlantic to the Californian coast, I spotted Margot in a gothic black lace dress, a deep pair of aviator sunglasses and classic black curved heels.

With endorsements from some of the industry’s chicest, it’s clear this is a shoe trend finding its feet. Scroll on to shop the curved heel pairs I’m backing for 2026 and beyond.

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Swept in with the new year, stovepipe jeans are once again reigning supreme as the fashion person’s denim silhouette of choice. Usurping the stronghold baggy and low-rise styles have held on our wardrobes for the past few seasons, these slim-fitting, higher-rise cuts—with their sharper structure and inherently more polished energy—are completing all of spring's chicest looks.

With this sudden denim gear change, I’ve been trying to decode the shoe, and outfit, pairings that make this once-forgotten silhouette feel modern again. Luckily, inspiration arrived in droves when I spotted my perennial style icon, Alexa Chung, taking the trending jeans out for a road test this week.

In her typically effortless fashion, Alexa reached for what might just be the chicest shoe pairing I’ve seen for stovepipe jeans so far. Leaning into a distinctly London-girl aesthetic, she slipped into a pair of Maison Margiela Tabi loafers, allowing the split-toe detail to peek out from beneath the hem of her denim.

Perfectly toeing the line between playful and polished, the formal cut of the loafer nods to the London girl’s love of refinement, while the iconic Tabi design keeps the look knowingly unserious. While pointed-toe or square-toe boots will always work with this silhouette, the lightness of a loafer feels far more seasonally apt as we edge towards warmer months. Ballet flats, meanwhile, can stay in storage until spring sunshine is fully in play.

Layered with a striped scarf and a green cap, Alexa’s look was both practical and transitional—shielded against January’s icy gusts, yet lighter and fresher in feel. A cropped navy coat finished the outfit, landing just at the knee for a silhouette that felt spring-ready rather than winter-heavy.

Ever inspired by Alexa’s styling, read on to discover the best stovepipe jeans to shop now.

Shop Stove Pipe Jeans:

There are few style muses I return to as consistently, or as loyally, as Alexa Chung. With an unmatched ability to make even the most of-the-moment trends feel lived-in, the model and presenter has long mastered the art of cool, considered dressing.

It’s during the colder months that Alexa’s style truly comes into️ its own. Able to layer to her heart's content, I find myself honing in on her outfits from December onwards, pinpointing the pieces that do the real heavy lifting in her collection. After a recent deep dive into her cold-weather ensembles, I emerged with a renewed sense of inspiration, so if your winter wardrobe could also use a refresh, read on to discover the five pieces that form the backbone of Alexa Chung’s winter capsule wardrobe below.

Discover Alexa's Winter Capsule Wardrobe

1. Navy Jumper

Style Notes: Alexa has long championed navy knits as a cornerstone of her wardrobe, so it comes as little surprise that they cropped up repeatedly during my scroll. Opting for chunky silhouettes with high necklines, she keeps the styling pared-back, allowing the knit’s rich tone and cosy texture to take centre stage.

Shop Navy Jumpers:

2. Brown Faux Fur Coat

Style Notes: A breakout trend this winter, faux fur coats have quickly become a fashion person’s outerwear of choice. Alexa’s take, a warm brown iteration, taps neatly into the season’s dominant colour palette. Glamorous yet unfussy, it elevates even the most low-key outfit.

Shop Brown Faux Fur Coats:

3. Leather Trousers

Style Notes: As much as I hate to admit it, even the most devoted denim-wearer needs a break from jeans. So, according to Alexa, that's where leather trousers come in. Alexa’s glossy pairs offer immediate polish, making them the perfect antidote to slouchy knits and oversized coats.

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4. Striped Jumper

Style Notes: For more casual days, a striped knit brings just enough interest without feeling overdone. Alexa keeps things classic, teaming hers with blue jeans and cosy accessories.

Shop Striped Jumpers:

5. Leopard Print

Style Notes: If there was ever any doubt, Alexa confirms that leopard print isn’t going anywhere. Her now-sold-out Queens of Archive coat is a particularly chic interpretation, but there’s no shortage of equally compelling alternatives worth considering this season.

Shop Leopard Print Coats:

There aren’t many shoes I wouldn’t wear with jeans. As someone who reaches for denim almost every day, I need my footwear to work hard alongside my favourite pairs. That said, for the longest time, rounded-toe heeled boots were one of the few pairs I wouldn't consider. I could never quite put my finger on why, but when styled with denim, the softer silhouette always felt a little… dated. Less sharp, less impactful than some of my alternatives.

So I avoided the pairing—until recently, when suddenly, almost overnight, some of the chicest dressers I follow began styling their jeans with the very shoe trend I’d written off. I had to reconsider.

Just this weekend, Lila Moss finished her fruit-trimmed jacket and jeans with a sleek pair of black rounded-toe heels boots peaking out below her hem. Adding height and polish, the boots brought drama to her denim without tipping the look into overly dressy territory or clashing with the casual base.

Alexa Chung echoed a similar sentiment, styling her black cardigan and dungarees with, yes, another pair of rounded-toe boots. Where a pointed or square toe might have felt too sharp against the relaxed denim silhouette, Alexa’s choice felt perfectly balanced, lending softness and cohesion to the look.

Consider me converted. If, like me, you’ve been overlooking rounded-toe heeled boots for far too long, read on to discover and shop the chicest pairs to invest in now.

Shop Rounded-Toe Heeled Boots:

As a proponent of uniform dressing, I can’t help but adore it when someone commits so firmly to a strict arsenal of clothing. It’s this reason why I love Alexa Chung and her sense of style. Flitting between a tomboyish attitude and a hyper-feminine sensibility, the model, author and overall fashion muse never deviates from reliable silhouettes and trusted pieces that she’s honed over the years. It always makes for compelling viewing as each outing presents a new way to style or reinvent something she’s had in her wardrobe for years.

Now, for an evening event at Cadet, a neighbourhood wine bar in Newington Green, for a festive season celebration with Reformation, she has done exactly what we expected by mixing a range of classic styles with unconventional elements to create an altogether fresh ensemble. To do so, the 42-year-old paired a champagne-coloured slip dress decorated with French-inspired lace with a boxy grey coat that looks like something you could easily find in any grandfather’s wardrobe. Adding further dimension to her look was a vintage-esque diamond necklace and an olive-hued and celebrity-approved cardigan—Reformation’s best-selling Clara style is now 30% off!—that she tied around her waist.

The look felt entirely Parisian in the way that it combines boudoir staples with traditional masculine tailoring, which is also very true to her own style philosophy. However, where it deviated from typical French fashion was through her shoe choice: gold peep-toe heels. Indeed, the metallic shoe is certainly fitting for the party mode inherent to December, but it feels quite discordant with the way locals in Le Marais or Montmartre would dress. You’d typically find them in either something incredibly timeless, like a pair of Chanel slingbacks, or quite sexy and bohemian, similar to a pair of studded leather boots from Chloe or heeled knee-high iterations by Saint Laurent.

To me, gold heels are reminiscent of the indie sleaze days that Chung came up in; a little bit chintzy, susceptible to looking dated and quite raucous at the best of times. However, given this is an Alexa look after all, I’ve come to expect this medley of opposing motifs. And in my personal opinion, the way she plays with tensions and pieces that are at odds with one another makes the outfit all the more interesting. If there’s one thing to glean from this look, too, it’s that peep-toes are a shoe trend that's holding firm for 2026.

I noticed this trend back in the summer at the height of Addison Rae’s promotion for her debut self-titled album. The pop darling made peep-toe Christian Louboutins a crucial part of her stage persona, which brought a renewed interest in the shape. These days, you’ll find everyone from Victoria Beckham (the original high fashion song siren) to Margot Robbie and Hailey Bieber wearing a pair.

And if these co-signs prove anything, it’s that irrespective of the colour, this once-maligned style is certainly staging a comeback. As they say, what goes around comes around, and there is no better knowledge when it comes to investing than knowing that your purchase certainly has longevity. Ahead, shop Alexa Chung’s exact outfit and my edit of the best peep-toe heels to bring with you into the new year.

Shop Alexa Chung's Reformation Outfit:

Shop Chic Peep-Toe Heels:

It’s chilly outside, and staying warm without piling on endless layers of knitwear is no small task. Determined to keep cosy without disappearing under a mountain of wool, I’ve been re-learning the art of clever layering—and naturally, Alexa Chung is leading the lesson.

Demonstrating exactly how it’s done, the model and presenter built a cosy look from the foundation up. She began with a chin-skimming white turtleneck—fresh, bright and the perfect blank canvas. Rather than stopping there, Alexa locked in warmth by adding a classic crew-neck cardigan over the top. With the turtleneck subtly peeking out, her simple two-piece styling formula added instant depth and dimension in the easiest way.

She then completed her outfit with a pair of deep-indigo dungarees and black, rounded-toe heeled boots, styling her navy cardigan buttoned right to the top—save for the highest button she left undone to reveal an intentional flash of white beneath.

Rather than reaching for a slouchy jumper and stopping there, this clever knitwear combination worked extra hard to elevate her casual denim, giving the look more structure while maintaining a sleek silhouette that would style neatly under a heavy winter coat.

If you’re looking for the chicest way to pair knitwear with jeans (or dungarees), read on to discover and shop the chicest turtlenecks and cardigans of the season.

Shop Turtlenecks and Cardigans:

What better introduction to Miu Miu’s soon-to-be biggest shoe trend than seeing it on Alexa Chung, lounging in a garden, grass beneath her, fairy-lights-strewn across her, wearing Miu Miu's Leather Loafers with Straps (£820) with her signature ease? Debuting the shoes in the dreamiest way possible, the model and presenter slipped into a style I’m certain we’ll still be talking about in seasons to come.

With wearability firmly on their side, these non-fiddly flats might just be one of the most practical new launches of the year. Built on a classic loafer silhouette, the black leather pair features a Mary-Jane-style strap that secures the shoe neatly to the foot, along with ruching, a key loafer detail dominating right now, subtle logo branding and a slim, elegant sole.

Available in two colourways, the inky black Chung wears, and a rich chocolate brown, the rich tone allows the loafers to slot easily into a capsule wardrobe. Styled with socks and a mini, as Chung demonstrates, they bring a pretty, preppy energy while still feeling polished and poised.

Blending two of the season’s most influential flat-shoe trends, this clever hybrid design has all the makings of a fashion-person favourite by the time the weather begins to warm. If you see the appeal too, read on to discover Miu Miu’s new loafers—and shop my edit of the very best loafers to know now.

Shop Miu Miu's Loafers:

Shop Loafers:

As someone who was born in Sydney but now lives in London, there’s a certain benchmark for British style that I always turn to; Kate Moss in her Hunter Wellington boots at Glastonbury, Sienna Miller in her high-street coats, whatever caped jacket Claudia Winkleman chooses to wear on The Traitors.

But tonight at the 2025 Fashion Awards, perennial British It girl Alexa Chung has stepped out in a shoe trend I had only seen worn by the city’s more sophisticated dressers, proving that regardless of your approach to fashion, this silhouette really is one to note.

You see, as a fashion writer, it’s not only my passion but my career to chronicle the latest happenings by the celebrity style set. So, when I saw the former model and present arrive on the pink carpet outside of the Royal Albert Hall, I was left surprised to see her abandon her trademark denim jeans and white shirts for a more bohemian (and wind-resistant) dress from Chloé.

Debuted in the French maison’s recent spring/summer 2026 collection presented during Paris Fashion Week, the canary yellow knee-grazing style was made from a rather practical and weather-endurance fabric and featured a sleek funnel-neck, elongated drop waist and peplum-esque hemline. But rather than lean into the boho connotations of the luxuriate, she instead went a posher route, opting for a pair of croc-print heels that both fashion royalty and actual royalty have been wearing on repeat. Her pair were travertine-toned pumps from luxury shoe brand Christen, a modern label founded by Chilean Swiss shoe designer Nina Christen.

Indeed, earlier this week, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, stepped out for an appearance near Angel wearing a grey coloured pair. She also defied expectations by eschewing regular protocol and contrasting her Hugo Boss embossed pumps against her brown suede DeMellier Hudson bag.

Then, a few weeks earlier, Victoria Beckham stepped out to attend her husband David’s knighthood at Windsor Castle wearing a black pair of croc-effect heels. They say it takes three to make a trend—and I’m calling it here first.

Of course, given the fact the Posh Spice wore her pair on the former Duchess of Cambridge's home turf and Chung's outing comes a stone's throw from Kensington Palace, it's only fitting that these three taste makers share this shoe in common.

In fact, I’ve had a pre-loved pair of powder pink croc-effect heeled ballet pumps from Parisian-based label Maryam Nassir Zadeh sitting in my Vinted cart for a few weeks now, and if this isn’t enough to convince me to join the fold and invest, I don’t know what is.

A little regal, quite refined and a little unexpected are exactly the characteristics I can get behind. Ahead, the best croc heels I’ve found, so you can make like this trio and step out in style.

Shop the Croc Heel Trend from the 2025 Fashion Awards

Step into the universe of the coolest creatives in the fashion industry with Who What Wear US's new series My World, where readers will discover how the top stylists, designers, and tastemakers built their careers; their favourite under-the-radar restaurants and hotels, beloved deep-cut album, and fashion finds; etiquette rules they stand by; and so much more.

The year was 2007. Images of a then fairly unknown Brit appeared in blog posts online and the pages of magazines. She was attending Glastonbury Music Festival clad in a leather motorcycle jacket, striped tee, denim shorts, and tight over-the-knee boots. She appeared seemingly out of nowhere and quickly took hold of the zeitgeist in a way that could only really happen in the mid-2000s. Her name was Alexa Chung and her je ne sais quoi was as difficult to put your finger on as it was influential.

For many of us, the first "style icon" who ever held influence over us was none other than Chung. Long before the social media algorithms or Pinterest boards, there was a little website called Tumblr.com, where you would search for and collect fashion and cultural inspiration, and Chung was its reigning queen supreme.

Flash forward to the present day, and Chung is the multi-hyphenate supreme, floating effortlessy between creative pursuits and deftly defying any single concrete label. On the one hand, she's a published author. Her coffee table book, It, comprised of personal writings, drawings, and photographs, was published in 2014, and she's a regular contributor to the Financial Times. But she's also a model, having walked recent runways for Chloé and Miu Miu, and when she's not modelling, she's seated front row at their shows. And lest we forget she's a designer in her own right, too, having helmed her eponymous ready-to-wear label from 2017 to 2022, and she is currently collaborating with Madewell on her third capsule collection for the brand.

Ahead, Chung shares more about her career journey that led her to the ultimate It-girl title, her perpetually sold-out collaboration Madewell, where she likes to spend her rare downtime while at home in London, and so much more. Step into Chung's world.

You’ve worn so many hats over the years, from your design and business ventures to being a published author. I'm sure it's impossible to choose, but if you had to drop everything to focus on one thing, what would it be?

I'd love to be a creative director because that job encompasses everything. I do enjoy design, but I also love art direction and thinking about how people wear the clothes and the life that they live. Storytelling is quite important to me, so I enjoy all of that. You get to do the copywriting for the website, but you also get to seed out the gifting and think about strategy with influencers. And you're doing design and styling and campaign imagery—you're at the top of the funnel.

You've just launched the third instalment of your collection for Madewell. What were some of the references on your mood board when designing this one?

I wanted it to be a lot more personal and a celebration of my own wardrobe and personal style. I had this amazing image on my mood board of Fran Lebowitz, who's obviously an iconic New York character. There's an amazing image of her on a white sofa or armchair at an Oscars party, and to me, it evoked the exact atmosphere and feeling that I was trying to create in this collection, which is that sort of holiday-season party where you're dressed up. In this particular photo, she's wearing a tuxedo, but our response to it, I made a tuxedo jumpsuit, which I really love because it's casual but also dressed-up.

What is one item on your shopping list at the moment?

I love shoes at the moment that are almond-toe mini heels, like a modern take on an '80s heel. I love that you can wear that with thick socks, and you feel quite put-together, even if you're in denim and a sweatshirt. An unexpected colored sock and then those little '80s shoes would look so cute.

What would you say is the most quintessentially British thing about your wardrobe?

It's that I've got more outerwear and coats than I have anything else. There's actually a real problem in terms of space versus reality. Even though I have a wardrobe, I have a rolling rack of just coats because I don't have enough space. I love outerwear so much, so I think that's the tell that I'm a Brit because I'm really committed to surviving all weather and still going outside. I won't take the cab. I'll walk to the tube regardless.

You’ve worn so many iconic looks over the years. Is there one that you look back on fondly? What’s the story behind how it came to life?

The first one that comes to mind is the Loewe silk dress with the trompe l'oeil trench coat printed onto it. I just want to own that, and [after I borrowed it to wear to the 2023 British Vogue Forces for Change party], the courier came to pick it up at 9 a.m. the next morning, like Cinderella, and I just think about it all the time. I think I'd wear it all the time.

Many consider you a style icon, but who would you say are your own style icons?

I think Fran Lebowitz for sticking to her guns and wearing just one look essentially. Then, there's this brand in Paris called Husbands that does men's tailoring. The designer and owner, Nicolas Gabard, is the chicest man in the world. And then, I love Mrs. Prada. I mean, still keeping us on our toes, like when she came out to take a bow [at the end of the Prada spring/summer 2026 show] and was wearing a silk shawl. And then I do find myself looking at old pictures of Lee Radziwill, especially when she's in her 40s or 50s, [when] she started wearing a lot of one-shoulder gowns.

What is one detail about your home that people would be surprised by?

I love putting pictures in weird places. This is a print by Tracey Emin that I love, and I hung it on my bedroom door. It makes a really annoying clanging noise when you open the door, but I put up with it because I love how it looks.

Where is your favorite local spot that feels like an extension of your home?

I love Dover Street Market in London. I have lunch there at the Rose Bakery on my own all the time.

What is the one travel destination you can't stop dreaming about?

Le Sirenuse. I went in early summer to this stunning hotel in Positano and find myself scrolling back to the pictures to admire their interiors and the chronic vistas.

What is an item you bring to keep yourself grounded when traveling?

Charvet slippers. I ended up getting the silver pair, but now wish I got red! What they lack in friendliness they more than make up for in mega shirts and pyjamas. Haha.

What is Alexa Chung's ultimate party trick?

Me and my friends play a lot of Trivial Pursuit but without the board. You all as a team have to get through one card before you can go to bed, and it usually takes far too long. Sports really trips us up.

Since Manhattan was a huge source of inspiration for your Madewell collection, which are your favorite quintessentially New York films that you revisited?

I think there's something really fun about observing American culture as an outsider and romanticizing it, and what helps me drive that home, in my mind, is all of the movies that I watched or associate with Manhattan. Manhattan, Annie Hall, and then also Taxi Driver even, honestly, Die Hard, and Party Girl, that movie Parker Posey's in.

What band or album are you currently listening to on repeat?

I love Fontaine’s D.C. I caught their gig at Finsbury Park recently.

You’re widely regarded as an It girl, and even the title of your book is a reference. What is your relationship like with that term, and has it changed over the years?

I think that when I first started, that was confusing to people in Britain, because I would write things for a newspaper at the time, and then I would host a TV show, and then I would make clothes. That was 2007, and they'd be like, "Oh, she's an It girl."

Nowadays, it doesn't necessarily resonate with me, but I do find it an interesting term for other people. I don't think the term will ever go away, either, because it is so exciting and powerful when when someone turns up and offers a new energy that feels really modern, and you can't really describe what that factor or that allure or that charisma is that they possess.

Are there any fashion eras your closet has seen that you never want to relive?

Peter Pan collars make me unwell at this point. Like, I just can't. Even a Mary Jane, to a certain extent.

If we were to peek into your camera roll, what would we see a lot of?

I randomly take a lot of pictures of fonts for inspiration for graphic design in the future in case I need them for T-shirts or other projects.

Shop Alexa Chung for Madewell

It’s not every day a new cult coat emerges, so when whispers started circulating about a new rising It item, you can bet I wouldn't be keeping it to myself. Quietly working its way onto fashion editor wish lists, Queens of Archive’s Priscilla Coat (£450) is showing all the signs of becoming the season's favourite buy.

How do I know? For starters, I’ve already seen links to it ricocheting around multiple Who What Wear Slack channels. I’ve spotted it on a handful of impeccably dressed Londoners. But the real clincher? Alexa Chung’s debut this weekend.

Stepping out in London this week, Chung styled the retro-inspired design with semi-sheer tights and red peep-toe heels. Tapping into the leopard-print revival that’s been simmering for several seasons now, the Priscilla Coat offers a timely update: plush faux-fur trims that frame the silhouette and add a level of drama. The fuzzy cuffs and collar bring a sense of luxe nostalgia—an elevated touch that’s basically catnip for the city’s most stylish dressers.

While Alexa paired hers with a sleek satin dress, this coat is equally adept at transforming your everyday basics—a throw-on-and-go piece that does all the work for you.

With several members of the Who What Wear team already slotting it into their weekly rotations, I have it on very good authority that this is the coat trend destined to dominate winter.

If you’re looking for a chic winter layer to carry you through the colder months and well into spring, keep scrolling to shop the Queens of Archive coat, and discover my edit of the other most stylish leopard-print coats available to shop right now.

Shop the Queens of Archive Coat:

Shop Leopard Print Coats:

When friends ask me which trends to have on their radar this season, I’ve noticed that lately the first style to roll off my tongue is the pencil skirt. After several years out of our rotations, the sleek, form-fitting silhouette has made a triumphant return to the runway and at once worked its way into the rotations of the chicest celebrities, too.

As I’ve been admiring this resurgence, I’ve also been paying close attention to the shoe pairing that the fashion set is using to complete their looks. Because, let’s be honest, despite its polish, the pencil skirt isn’t always the easiest piece to pair with footwear.

After some dedicated research, I’ve landed on two shoe styles that consistently flatter every kind of pencil skirt. Both tried and tested by some of the chicest dressers around, these are the pairs I’d recommend wearing with your pencil skirts this winter—and well beyond.

1. Ballet Flats

I’ll admit, I once thought that pairing ballet flats with a pencil skirt risked cutting the legs short. But recently, I’ve seen too many effortless, elegant examples to keep believing that.

Take Alexa Chung, for instance. Styling a knee-grazing leather pencil skirt with a graphic T-shirt and classic black leather ballet flats, she made the sharp silhouette feel relaxed yet refined. The flats added an easy, wearable edge to her look without compromising on sophistication.

Kaia Gerber has also leaned into this combination, opting for a minimalist pencil skirt and a pair of low-heeled ballerinas. Poised, elegant and understated, this is a two-piece look you can keep coming back to.

2. Pointed-Toe Heels:

If your goal is to embrace the pencil skirt’s innate elegance, there’s no better partner than a pointed-toe heel. Sleek and sculptural, it elongates the leg and complements the skirt’s tailored shape perfectly.

This season, I’ve spotted countless celebrities leaning into this timeless pairing. From calf-grazing pencil skirts to knee-length iterations, the pointed heel brings a touch of refinement to every version. Elsa Hosk and Hailey Bieber both crafted impossibly chic looks around this classic combination.

With these two shoe styles in rotation, my pencil skirts are about to get much more airtime. Scroll on to discover the chicest ballet flats and pointed-toe heels to style your pencil skirts with this season.

Shop Ballet Flats:

Shop Pointed Toe Heels:

The word "muse" gets thrown around a little too lightly nowadays, but if there’s one tastemaker who is undoubtedly deserving of this title, it’s Alexa Chung.

Over her two decades in the industry, the perennial It girl has garnered a legion of adherents who worship her commitment to ethereal everyday style—Peter Pan collars paired with boxy leather jackets, denim jeans finished with quaint lace-up derbys, knee-grazing shift dresses plastered with an illustrated portrait of Elvis Presley’s face.

Now, to celebrate her 42nd birthday, the British fashion icon delivered a masterclass in effortlessly elegant evening wear just in time for the upcoming party season. Fusing a timeless silhouette with a contemporary trend, Chung donned a knee-grazing little black dress that boasted a raw hem trim and saccharine bow accent.

This enduring mini is a style that appears in any well-edited wardrobe and has been a staple for chic socialites like Audrey Hepburn to Margaret Qualley since Coco Chanel invented the garment over a century ago. But to ring in her latest lap around the sun, Chung leant into the zany girlishness she’s curated over the years by teaming the look with a pair of light-denier tights and white court pumps.

Given the fact that Chung fêted the occasion in New York, the outfit formula also felt like an homage to some of the city’s most prolific dressers, like Sex and the City’s Carrie Bradshaw and Madonna during her Material Girl era. As it turns out, Chung isn’t the only one to gravitate towards this ensemble.

Earlier this week on the island of Manhattan, Hailey Bieber also embraced this template by stepping out in a black leather midi from Saint Laurent’s spring/summer 2026 collection and razor-sharp white heels.

With the festive season fast approaching, it’s only a matter of time before we see more of this exact outfit formula. Between the classic dress shape and the polished shoe colour and cut, don’t be surprised when you see this at every upcoming soirée from here on out.

Because if you can’t beat them—and I doubt you’ll be able to find a more sophisticated look than this—join them, and scroll on to shop the best black dresses, black tights and white heels below.

Shop LBDs, Black Tights and White Heels:

Alexa Chung is the ultimate it-girl. Whenever I need some fashion inspiration, I know that one look at Alexa's Instagram account will do the job. There's something so simple yet sophisticated about her outfits, and the same can be said for her beauty looks, too.

It's no secret that Alexa has mastered the art of glowing skin and perfectly tousled, loose waves, but it's her seemingly effortless approach to makeup that really keeps me up at night. Whether I'm dreaming about her soft, smokey eye or her perfect pink lipstick, it's safe to say that if I could take a look into one celebrity's makeup bag, Alexa would be my first choice.

Luckily for me, as a beauty editor, I have insider knowledge about Alexa's go-to makeup artists, and I've spent the past few days scrolling through their Instagram accounts to figure out which products they've used to create some of her very best makeup looks.

Below, I've rounded up nine makeup essentials, from foundation, eyeshadow palettes, mascara and more, all worn by Alexa Chung herself. I don't know about you, but I'm going to be adding these products to my basket ASAP.

Alexa Chung's Go-To Makeup Products

1. Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

2. Tower 28 Swipe Serum Concealer

3. Carolina Herrera The Foundation Brush

4. Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream

5. Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Happy

6. Victoria Beckham Beauty Eye Wardrobe in Night Flash

7. Lisa Eldridge Seamless Glide Eye Pencil in Ground Coffee

8. Stila Huge Extreme Lash Mascara

9. Carolina Herrera Nude Couture Blur Matte Lipstick

I spend my days digitally digging through runway shots, scouring new-in sections, and dissecting the ebb and flow of trends with renewed enthusiasm every morning. So at this point, I feel fairly confident in saying that I can spot an emerging It bag a mile away. Since its debut on the autumn/winter 2025 runways, I’ve had a strong hunch that the Prada Dada bag (£2150) would become something special.

Now that it’s officially hit the market, my instincts seem to be paying off. Both Alexa Chung and Elsa Hosk have been spotted carrying the slouchy, belted design.

With its soft, dumpling-like shape and cinched belt detail running through the centre, the Dada feels at once relaxed and refined, the kind of tote that feels apt for everyday use, but can also hold up against the most formal parts of your wardrobe.

Both taking theirs out for a test drive, I couldn't help but notice that the two fashion mavens skipped over the beige, sand and black iterations of the new designer bag, both selecting a sleek slate grey style instead.

This tonal choice feels particularly on point. Slate grey is shaping up to be winter’s breakout neutral—soft enough to lighten a cold-weather wardrobe, yet grounded enough to maintain sophistication. It brings a certain freshness that black can’t match, adding dimension to a deep winter look, without detracting from it.

Inspired by the silhouette you can count on seeing everywhere very soon, below, discover the Prada Dada bag in all its forms, plus my edit of the best grey bags to shop now.

Shop the Prada Dada Bag:

Shop Grey Bags:

I spend a lot of time tracking what celebrities wear—so when one of my style muses steps out in a brand I thought was still flying under the radar, I know it’s only a matter of time before everyone else catches on. This week, that moment came courtesy of Alexa Chung, who was spotted wearing the very same under-the-radar trainer brand I’d previously only seen on Sienna Miller. The label in question? Hoff.

Chung attended an event with the brand this week, wearing an aubergine-tinted, low-profile design from the brand. By passing the typical jeans we expect to see worn with trainers, instead, Chung opted for a sleek navy pinstripe suit, styled with a soft beige blouse. Grounding the sharp tailoring, Chung's retro trainers gave her a look that relaxed, insouciant edge that Alexa's always mastered.

While Sienna has previously reached for Hoff’s chunkier silhouettes, there’s been a noticeable shift this season towards more refined, streamlined styles. Luxury houses like Loewe and Dries Van Noten have set the tone, and now high street labels including COS and H&M have followed suit with sleeker, minimalist trainers that feel fresh and elevated.

Alexa’s pair, the Hoff Bridge Trainers (£160), come in a supple suede finish and are available in rich shades of plum, red, dark brown and light beige. Keep scrolling to shop her exact pair—and discover my edit of the best slim-line trainers to wear now.

Shop Alexa's Trainers

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Another day, another triumphant display of fashion to emerge from the streets of Paris Fashion Week.

Whilst the runways have certainly delivered countless looks of note this season—Schiaparelli’s sheer slips dotted with feathered accents, Jonathan Anderson’s micro bubble skirts and shrunken bar jackets for his debut Dior collection, the return of the 1957-era sack dress at Pierpaolo Piccioli’s Balenciaga—it’s really the maze of boulevards that make up the city’s arrondissements where some of the more relatable and immediate offerings occur.

This point was proven by none other than Alexa Chung on Sunday evening. The British style icon stepped out to attend Chloé’s spring/summer 2026 show in a millennial-adored trend I could’ve never imagined would come back.

So, whilst everyone was consumed with dissecting Chemena Kamali’s latest bohemian range, I couldn’t peel my eyes away from Alexa's denim capri pants. As a patron of England’s noughties fashion scene, it really should come as no surprise to see Alexa revive this silhouette. I thought it would be forever banished to the annals of the early 2000s. Alas.

As someone who believes that pedal-pushers aren’t the controversial fashion item they’re made out to be, but who also really struggles to wear jeans at the best of times, I was quite conflicted about the return of this structured shape. I loved her peplum-esque grey blazer, the cream satin blouse that peeked out from under the lapels, the chunky belt that was fixed at her waist and her pointed-toe, T-bar kitten heels. But knee-grazing, slim-cut denim trousers? Are we really prepared to go back there?

Then, I remembered who I was talking about. This is the premier It girl. The person who inspired that heart-stopping note, penned on the back of a cocktail-bar napkin and who introduced Mary Janes and Peter Pan collars to the mainstream. If Alexa wants to resurrect one of the more polarising looks of the last century, all the rest of us really should be doing is taking notes. (Especially when she finishes the look off with a Chloé Paddington bag!)

That’s exactly what I did, and after a bit of digging, I realised that some very similar ensembles had already been making the rounds in the French capital, with countless Parisian tastemakers posting themselves on social media wearing nearly identical outfits.

However, if you were to ask Alexa herself, her look isn’t necessarily Parisienne, but more pirate. Indeed, the 41-year-old posted it to her own Instagram with the caption, "Swashing, buckling etc. The Chloé show was very gorgeous. 🪝[SIC]."

The presenter turned model might’ve put the most sophisticated spin that I’ve personally seen, though she’s not the only one embracing the maritime aesthetic. Both Alaïa’s balloon trousers and Alexander McQueen’s hussar jackets evoke this buccaneer sensibility, as do the Kate Moss-approved slouch boots that have slowly been trickling back in. Still, if you’re looking for a more elevated way of testing the waters with this motif, Alexa's interpretation is surely the one for you.

So, whether you’re ready or not, capri jeans and slender-shaped denim is certainly on the way up. And if you can’t beat them, you may as well join them and shop pieces inspired by Alexa's outfit (her entire look is from Chloé's Resort 2026 collection, which will hit stores early next year), along with a few especially chic cropped-trouser options, below.

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At this point in the season, most of us are already feeling the quiet pull of winter. The mornings are darker, the air sharper, and our wardrobes—however reluctant—are shifting from lightweight layers to heavier knits and coats. It’s the time of year when you start to really consider your staples: the coat you’ll wear on repeat, the knit that feels just as good at home as it does in the office, the dress that earns its place as a true go-to.

No brand understands this moment better than Zara, which has a knack for capturing exactly how we want to dress now. Its latest drop, fronted by Alexa Chung, takes those foundational pieces and gives them an elevated spin. Floor-grazing coats come cut with just enough drama to make an entrance, argyle knits nod to heritage while feeling undeniably fresh, and little black dresses are reimagined in silhouettes that slip seamlessly from day to evening. Styled on Alexa, who has long epitomised that balance of polish and effortlessness, the collection feels more like a ready-made uniform than a passing trend.

Alexa Chung wearing Zara's Checked Cardigan.

What’s clever is the way Zara's winter collection manages to strike a balance between the aspirational and the practical. There’s tactility in the suede accessories, sharpness in the denim, and a lived-in ease to the knitwear that makes these pieces feel instantly at home in your wardrobe. It’s not about starting from scratch but about layering in items that work harder than the rest—the kind of additions you’ll find yourself reaching for daily, and wondering how you dressed without.

Keep scrolling to shop the best styles from Zara's new-in section below.

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For as long as I’ve been interested in fashion, I’ve been interested in what Alexa Chung is wearing.

In fact, I’d go so far as to say it was Alexa’s grungy, irreverent approach to early-2010s styling that first sparked my obsession with clothes. Over the years, my love for fashion has evolved, but my admiration for her razor-sharp style instincts has never waned. She remains one of the fashion figures I return to time and again for inspiration.

With a new season stretching ahead, I’ve been curating ideas for my chicest winter wardrobe yet, and naturally, Alexa’s Instagram feed was the first place I looked. A few minutes of scrolling left me brimming with outfit ideas I couldn’t wait to copy, so I’ve rounded up the ones that stood out most.

These are the Alexa-approved looks I’ll be re-creating from now until March.

Discover Alexa Chung's Winter Wardrobe:

1. Leather Bomber Jacket + Pleated Skirt

Style Notes: A leather bomber instantly lends edge to any outfit, but paired with a pleated skirt, it takes on an elevated, grown-up feel. The contrast of tough and pretty creates a balance that feels undeniably chic. For a 2025 update, choose a bomber in a trending chocolate-brown hue and offset it with a grey pleated skirt. Add black tights and boots as the temperature drops.

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2. Grey Coat + Denim + Black Flats

Style Notes: Whilst chocolate-brown and letterbox red might be the season’s headline shades, I’ll always argue that light grey is the chicest colour to wear in winter. Alexa styles hers in the form of a structured wool coat, layered over light-blue denim—an icy-cool colour pairing that feels timeless.

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3. Navy Knit + White Jeans + Scarf

Style Notes: Don’t pack away your white jeans just because the weather has turned. Instead, give them a cold-weather twist with a rich navy knit, then add a soft grey scarf for both warmth and polish. This is Alexa at her understated best: simple pieces, styled with consideration.

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4. Trench Coat + Sunglasses

Style Notes: There’s a short, sweet window at the start of winter when the air is crisp but the sun is still bright. That’s when Alexa’s trench-and-sunglasses formula comes into its own. A cream trench brings freshness to darker winter palettes, whilst oversized shades add a dose of effortless cool. As the chill intensifies, simply swap your base layer for a chunky knit to keep cosy without losing the sleek silhouette.

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5. Black Jumper + Beige Jeans + Black Flats

Style Notes: From October through April (and, if I’m honest, well beyond), black jumpers are the backbone of my wardrobe. Usually, I default to pairing them with black trousers or blue jeans, but Alexa’s beige denim has inspired me to try something new. The addition of black ballet flats taps into this season’s favourite footwear trend, but when the mercury really drops, I’ll switch them for black boots and add a cocooning coat on top.

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If there are two celebrities that I will happily take all of the fashion and beauty recommendations from, it's Sienna Miller and Alexa Chung. There's no denying that both of these women are effortlessly chic, and I'm always trying to emulate their laidback hair and makeup looks. We all know that the key to a good makeup look is the best skincare products, so when I heard whisperings in the industry that both Sienna and Alexa were fans of this £22 French pharmacy retinol (rumour has it Sienna was recommended it by Alexa herself), I knew I had to give it a go. Which product am I talking about, I hear you ask? Let me introduce you to A313 retinol.

I know what you're thinking: this product doesn't exactly give off luxury vibes. In fact, it wouldn't look out of place in my local pharmacy. But it's this unassuming nature that makes it even more appealing in my opinion. Forget the need for lavish packaging or a ridiculously high price tag, as the formula speaks for itself. Below, I've detailed what makes this retinol stand out from the rest, and I've even given it a go myself to see if the French skincare product will give me a little bit of that Parisian glow.

A313 Review

The Formula

This product is a pharmaceutical-grade retinol cream that contains 0.12% of retinol esters, a very mild form of vitamin A. It works to speed up cell turnover, which in turn can help with skincare concerns such as fine lines, pigmentation and blackheads.

Not only do I love the fact that it's gentle on the skin, but as someone who has tried a lot of retinol products over the years, what I love about this formula is how hydrating it feels. It has a balmy, almost ointment-like texture (it reminded me a lot of Vaseline), which scared me a little bit at first, as I thought it would be really greasy. However, it sinks in pretty quickly and, unlike other retinol products, doesn't leave you with that dry, stripped sensation.

The Application

I applied this product in the evening as I would any other retinol, using a small amount to see how my skin would react. As mentioned, I was a little shocked by the formula at first, but I really liked how this blended into my skin.

What's really interesting is that some people say that this retinol doesn't need to be followed by moisturiser, thanks to the richer texture. I still chose to follow up with my usual serum and night cream, as when testing retinols in the past, I have often woken up with dry, flaky skin. However, after using this, my skin felt silky soft, which was a welcome relief.

The Verdict

Honestly? I can see why people are obsessed with this product. It's unlike any other retinol I have tried. It feels gentle and hydrating, and although it can take a while to see changes in the skin, I already feel like my complexion looks more radiant.

One of the best bits about this French skincare staple has to be the price tag. At just £22 you really cannot go wrong. Don't worry if you're not heading to Paris anytime soon, either, as you can shop this celeb-approved face cream on Amazon. Thank me later.

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The oracle has spoken: skinny jeans are back. Stopping me mid-scroll this morning, Alexa Chung's New York Instagram carousel delivered more than the usual boost of styling inspiration. In fact, it reframed a denim trend I’d long written off as "dated".

Waiting for the subway in style, Chung posed in a semi-sheer, floral-embellished blouse. A notable choice on its own, sure, but what really caught my eye was the pair of dark-wash skinny jeans she wore it with. In her caption, Chung confirmed my double-take. "Bye, NY 👋 ps. And yes skinny jeans felt right again." [SIC] Consider the divisive denim officially back on the agenda.

What made the forgotten jeans feel fresh was her choice of footwear. Instead of leaning into something overly trend-driven, Chung paired her jeans with glossy black patent ballet flats. Comfortable and elegant, the pairing nods to the sleek ’00s silhouette we all remember—yet, with the recent resurgence of ballet flats, the pairing feels surprisingly relevant once more. Even more so, as we edge into the season of layers, when achieving a streamlined shape can be tricky, the skinny-jean-and-ballet-flat formula could be one of the new season's go-tos.

I have to agree with Chung: skinny jeans do feel right again. Scroll on for my edit of the best pairs to shop now, plus the prettiest ballet flats to style them with.

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For as long as I can remember, my style has leaned towards low-key and streamlined.

I’ll dip into a trend here and there, but at heart I’ve always favoured pared-back pieces that stand the test of time. Naturally, a trench coat sits at the top of that list, and like most, I considered a classic beige iteration non-negotiable. Still, I’ve never fully clicked with mine. The warm neutral shade can sometimes feel muddy against my pale complexion, leaving it hanging in my wardrobe more often than it should. That’s why I felt a genuine spark of inspiration—and, honestly, a little relief—when I spotted an alternative neutral that might finally solve my trench dilemma.

Last night, Alexa Chung stepped out for Burberry’s S/S 26 runway show in London wearing a classic trench reimagined in the most elegant pale cream. Light and luminous without veering stark or harsh, the shade instantly struck me as the upgrade I didn’t know I needed.

Why I hadn’t considered this brighter, fresher option before, I couldn’t tell you, but now that I’ve seen it, I can’t stop thinking of the endless styling possibilities. Alexa paired hers with sheer tights and pointed-toe heels, but I can just as easily see a cream trench layered over navy knits and relaxed jeans for daytime, or slipped over evening looks when autumn nights call for an extra layer.

Inspired once again by Alexa’s effortless eye, I’ve rounded up the chicest cream trench coats to shop now.

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I’ll always have a soft spot for ballet flats, but while they’ve been my go-to for the past few seasons, I’ve recently made a little room in my rotation for something with a little lift. While I’m not quite ready to reembrace sky-high stilettos just yet, until then, the mid-heel pump will tide me over nicely.

My new penchant hasn't come out of nowhere; in fact, the trend has been putting down roots at New York Fashion Week over recent days, where I spotted it repeatedly across the city’s style set. Just a few seasons ago, heels of any kind were a rarity on the street, yet now the pendulum is swinging back to these once-forgotten, ’90s-inspired pumps, and its revival feels right on time.

Making the case for the shoes' imminent return, Kendall Jenner and Iris Law temporarily set aside their beloved loafers and sneakers this week in favour of this elegant upgrade. Both styled their pairs with slim-fitting skirts, using the shoes to elongate their frames while leaning into the streamlined silhouettes their outfits already established.

Beyond the front row, Elsa Hosk turned to the shoe trend, pairing a mid-heel pump with a sharp leather pencil skirt and boxy jacket for a fashion week-worthy look. Unlike the stiletto, this style feels all the more approachable yet just as refined.

While fashion insiders are mostly styling them with skirts of every length, I can already picture these shoes looking just as chic with tailored trousers for an equally polished finish—or even with denim for an everyday upgrade.

And if the street-style sightings weren’t enough proof, the shop floor is confirming it, too. I’ve spotted sleek mid-heel styles at H&M, Zara and M&S, alongside ultra-chic iterations from Aeyde and Toteme.

Scroll on to see my edit of the best mid-heel pumps to shop right now.

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As any frequent flyer will tell you, there’s an art to a great airport outfit. Having to navigate the practicalities of security checks and seatbelts—plus the possibility of heading straight from baggage claim to a meeting or dinner, or even being photographed in transit—means that your in-flight wardrobe needs to do a lot of heavy lifting.

This is why I’ve long looked to celebrities for inspiration, specifically, Alexa Chung. She understands better than most that what you wear to fly in has to be functional, but not at the expense of looking chic. So, you can imagine my delight when I spotted her strolling through Venice airport ahead of the Venice Film Festival in an outfit I’ll be saving to my inspiration board for seasons to come. Instead of defaulting to leggings and trainers—a common combo that feels too casual for my liking—she opted for a look that was equally as comfortable but infinitely smarter.

Setting herself up for success, Chung began with a smart foundation, selecting a pair of black tailored trousers that skimmed rather than clung to her frame, offering movement and ease without feeling slouchy. Not only do they feel far chicer than leggings, but their structure still holds up after hours spent sitting on a plane. Then came the shoes. Leaning into the sophistication of her trousers, Chung completed the outfit with classic black leather loafers.

Flat and comfortable enough to handle airport sprints, but sufficiently polished to ensure she stepped off the plane looking put-together, loafers are the perfect upgrade from trainers for all airport trips. The slip-on design makes navigating security a breeze, whilst ensuring that you feel ready for whatever’s waiting at your destination. Finishing the look with a butter-yellow button-down layered over a white tee and grounded with a brown leather jacket, Chung crafted one of my favourite airport looks I've seen in some time.

If you’re as inspired as I am, keep scrolling for my edit of the best tailored trousers and loafers to shop now.

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When I'm considering a new purchase, I usually run a quick mental check of the pieces already in my wardrobe to be sure that I can style it easily. So when I finally got my hands on a pretty, lace-trimmed satin skirt, the wardrobe maths kicked in. Kitten heels? Check. Mary Janes? Definitely. Sandals? Of course. What didn’t even register was that my trusty trainers might be the most on-trend pairing of all.

Proving that I should never make snap styling judgments, this week I spotted Alexa Chung wearing a silky satin skirt in the softest shade of pink, finished with a delicate lace border, styled with the one shoe I hadn’t considered: a pair of chunky Balenciaga Hamptons Trainers (£675).

By teaming the floaty fabric with grounded, heavy-soled trainers, Chung added a cool, wearable edge to her look that stopped the outfit from feeling too precious. She layered in some texture with slouchy wool socks and a boxy white tee, which helped to close the gap between the polished miniskirt and the laid-back kicks.

Turns out, if you want to make your pretty skirts feel a little more relaxed, trainers might be exactly what your outfit is missing. Scroll on to shop the best lace-trim skirts and trainers to try the look yourself.

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The trend cycle is ever-spinning, and this time, the spotlight is on one that I haven’t worn since the 2010s. When I was a fashion-obsessed tween circa 2014 to 2016, my friends and I constantly wore button-front denim skirts with T-shirts. And now, Alexa Chung, a fashion icon I look to for inspiration and watch for trend predictions, was just photographed on the NYC streets from the set of a GAP shoot, likely for her next collection with the brand. And guess what she was wearing for one of the looks? My old outfit obsession: a button-front denim skirt paired with a graphic T-shirt, which she wore with sleek leather knee-high boots to add a modern touch to the throwback outfit combination.

Alexa Chung Now

Don’t be fooled, though—Chung has been championing button-front skirts since the mid-2010s. (While mini lengths are what she often wore in the past, this time she's cosigning a knee-length style.) Her style sensibilities may have evolved, but some things never change. It’s refreshing, for me, to see old things made new. If that’s the case for you, keep scrolling to shop the button-front denim skirts of your 2010s dreams and the T-shirts to wear with them.

Alexa Chung in 2016

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I think of the blue jeans in my collection as a blank slate for an outfit. Easy and reliable? Yes, but interesting or outfit-enhancing? Not especially. They're what I reach for if I'm popping to shops or running errands, but not so much if I'm heading out to the office or meeting friends in the evening. Still, I love the ease and casual cool of denim, which has motivated me to track down a fresh trend that can easily stand in where my blue jeans fall short. After a little time searching—pulling inspiration from New York, Paris and beyond I've noticed that so many of the chicest dressers are swapping blue jeans for beige this season, and I'm feeling inspired to do the same.

Naturally, Alexa Chung is steering the shift. I spotted her styling the beige jeans trend with a fresh white tee and black ballet flats this week. I'm sure that, were she to have styled them with a blue pair, I probably wouldn't have looked twice, but in a wash of light beige, her outfit had an easy coolness that blue couldn't match.

Less stark than white, but just as easy to style, you'll feel much more at ease (read: less scared of scuffs or spills) styling jeans in this more forgiving colour. Wearing well with white T-shirts, this trend would also pair seamlessly with the other staples that populate a capsule wardrobe, including black and grey knits and sleek tailored blazers.

Not a denim trend we've seen much of lately, this season the style is primed for a revival and, with a sign-off from Chung and recent sightings in New York and Paris, I expect it won't be long until the beige jean makes its way into many of our wardrobes.

Catering to the growing demand, brands including H&M, Mango and Reformation have already tested out the trend, and I've also spotted chic iterations at Róhe and Miu Miu, too.

To discover the denim trend I personally deem much cooler than blue, read on to shop my edit of the best beige jeans below.

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Just when you think you know what's what, some shoe trends seem to come out of nowhere and, this week, the peep-toe heeled mule falls firmly into this category. With its sleek, minimal shape and subtle nod to '90s styling, it’s been steadily reappearing on the fashion set’s feet this summer but, in a matter of days, it officially eclipsed the ever-reliable flat.

Of course, flat shoes still remain a prominent part of the style conversation, particularly among those who favour practicality. But even so, it’s hard to ignore the impact that heeled mules have had on some of the best outfits I’ve seen recently.

The silhouette has undeniable retro appeal: a backless heel with a gently curved vamp and just enough toe on show to feel flirty but not overexposed. The mule had its heyday in the ‘90s (Carrie Bradshaw certainly had a few pairs in rotation), but today’s fashion insiders are giving it a refresh that feels polished and modern.

Alexa Chung was spotted in a pair this week, using a simple black mule to elevate a casual striped mini dress, proving just how effective they can be at dressing up a low-effort outfit. Meanwhile, Emily Ratajkowski stepped out in New York in a look that could’ve been plucked straight from the streets of Paris: slim black capri trousers, a navy scoop-neck blazer and—yes—chic peep-toe mules. The fact that two fashion icons who have very different aesthetics both wore the same shoe trend with just a few hours between them tells me one thing: this is something to pay attention to.

Far from a coincidence, the market has certainly caught up. Whether you're after a classic black pair or something with a subtle colour pop, I've found the chicest peep-toe mules to add to your summer wardrobe now.

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We might be basking in the height of summer right now, but I've noticed a small group of stylish dressers already casting their eyes towards autumn. Always one step ahead, the style set is beginning to signal the trends poised to define the new season, and this week, Elsa Hosk and Alexa Chung offered a sneak peek at two of the key shoe styles about to take the lead.

Wearing a black cotton minidress, Hosk sidestepped the season's ubiquitous flip-flops and jelly sandals in favour of a pair of leopard-print ballet flats. Whilst it's a timeless motif I’ve long considered seasonless, leopard print really comes into its own during autumn. Perhaps for the way it easily complements rich seasonal tones like chocolate brown and burgundy, or for its ability to add instant depth to a simple look, this playful print adds richness to any ensemble. And this year, it’s set to be one of the defining prints of the season.

Chung, too, gave her breezy cotton dress an autumnal energy, swapping sandals for knee-high boots in sleek patent leather. The high-shine finish introduced texture and gloss, adding contrast to the otherwise soft and romantic outfit. Unlike matte leather, the patent finish imparts extra polish and dimension, making the look feel more directional. Layering on a boxy cream barn jacket—another key outerwear trend for the coming months—Chung has already mastered that tricky summer-to-autumn styling balance.

Of course, there are still weeks of warm weather to enjoy, but if you're already plotting your next-season wardrobe, scroll on to shop my edit of the best leopard-print ballet flats and patent knee-high boots to get ahead of the curve.

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When the heat reaches its peak, as it has done over the past few days, my wardrobe narrows to a very tight edit of items that can keep up. This summer, the hero of my rotation has been a simple yet sophisticated black skirt.

Classic and endlessly versatile, the black skirt is a summer staple I reach for time and again. It delivers on polish, works for practically any occasion and pairs easily with the rest of my summer capsule. But I’ll admit—without the right supporting act, even the most timeless pieces, like my favourite black skirts, can start to feel a little… flat.

Luckily for me, and the many black skirts that reside in my collection, Alexa Chung has just introduced me to the new-season sandals trend that makes them feel so fresh. Eschewing the usual suspects (read: black leather flip-flops or minimalist slides), Chung gave her look a playful twist with an unexpected footwear choice—rope sandals.

Styling a pair of Miu Miu Rope Sandals (£660), with a slinky black skirt that cropped at her knees, Chung completed her high-summer look with a simple black bra and breezy cotton shirt layered on top.

Though rope sandals have been bubbling up for a while—thanks in part to Miu Miu's Spring/Summer 2024 runway collection that introduced us to the trend a few years ago—their influence is peaking right now. Offering a breezy, tactile alternative to leather pairs, this emerging sandals trend is imbued with a playful undertone that feels more in line with a brighter summer mood.