The “Basic” Winter Trend That Will Make All Your Outfits Look Ten Times More Luxurious

It’s a commonly held belief that some of the clichés in life ring true because, well, they’ve got a nugget of truth to them. Within the context of fashion, that seems like a fair assessment. Let me cook: there are certain items in a fashion that we can always consider relevant, no matter if they can also be a bit “basic” or “boring.” After all, the entire premise of the capsule wardrobe concept is centered around the idea that certain items will always be cult classics (even if they sometimes feel cliché). But we’d argue that concept doesn’t just cater to staples but specific seasonal trends. Sure, most recent trends are the anti-thesis of staples, but occasionally, a few will cross over into the territory of being both—velvet happens to be one of those trends.

Whether we like it or not, we can’t entirely escape velvet! Once colder temperatures cover parts of the globe, velvet always comes back into the chat. You could blame all of the holiday parties, but if we’re being honest, there’s more to this “cliché” trend than we give it credit. Few other textiles can not only add a seasonal touch but also make an outfit look ten times more luxurious (when styled correctly). However, more often than not, being able to make this “passé” trend feel polished can be particularly challenging to figure out. But what if I told you that it’s not impossible? There are ways to wear this “holiday-centric” textile in a non-hallmark fashion. In an effort to prove that point, I’ve done hours of research to round up outfit examples of the trend on the runway and in real life.

Ahead, you’ll find a comprehensive overview of how to wear velvet, showcased by examples of velvet outfit ideas from the fashion set and F/W 24 runway collections. Plus, I’ve included a curation of the best velvet pieces at every price point in case you’re ready to be a walking cliché (in a chic way).

On the Runway

Styling Notes: One of the easiest ways to make velvet feel more elegant is to draw inspiration from Eudon Choi’s F/W 24 runway show. Pair velvet trousers with a blouse (ideally in a similar shade) and strappy sandals to make them a bit more approachable.

Styling Notes: If you’ve been unable to get more utility out of the velvet skirt you bought last year, look to Sportmax’s fall 2024 runway show for inspiration. You can put your velvet skirt to work by pairing it with some of the other workhorses of your wardrobe—e.g., a button-down blouse, tucked-in blazer, sheer tights, and ankle strap pumps.

Styling Notes: Besides pairing velvet separates with everyday staples, there’s another way to make even the most “borning blazer” more exciting: embrace texture. Pairing velvet pieces with different textures (e.g., cotton, chiffon, fur, leather) might seem counterintuitive, but it can be actually quite chic—case in point: Louis Vuitton’s F/W 24 show. There’s no safer way to spice up a velvet blazer this season.

Styling Notes: When you don’t want to put too much effort into putting together an outfit idea, you can’t go wrong with embracing a head-to-toe velvet ensemble. Just be sure to take inspiration from Akris’ F/W 24 show by embracing layers of velvet to add visual interest—bonus points if you wear velvet pieces in the season’s hottest shades.

Styling Notes: Frankly, nothing screams winter-time quite like the influx of holiday party invitations. If you’ve got a special occasion coming up where you know you want to wear velvet, but are unsure of how to make it less cliché, look to Gucci’s F/W 24 collection for guidance. Opting for a sultry velvet dress in a stunning color is always a safe bet.

Styling Notes: Who said velvet had to be limited to the holiday season? Make this textile seasonless by taking styling inspiration from Chloé’s F/W 24 runway show. Make a velvet mini dress a bit more “chill” by styling it with boho-inspired accessories such as clogs, a chunky necklace, and an oversized hobo bag.

In the Wild

Styling Notes: Consider dressing down a matching velvet set for everyday life by taking inspiration from the above ensemble. Throw on a long maxi coat, oversized tote bag, and unique ankle boots with a velvet jacket and trousers for a more casual take on this typically “formal” fabric.

Styling Notes: Another way to dress this textile down for everyday wear is with denim, as our editor, Eliza Huber, has shown above. Even the fanciest velvet blazer can feel less formal when worn with baggy light-wash jeans and ballet flats.

Styling Notes: Beyond pairing your velvet pieces with foundational basics, there are other ways to make them feel less holiday-centered—case in point: the outfit above. The key to making a bright-red matching velvet set less Christmas-coded is to style it with clothing in classic colors (e.g., black, white, brown, and so on).

Styling Notes: In addition to styling velvet pieces with varying neutral shades, there’s an even safer way to ensure these pieces look sophisticated—shop them in neutral shades from the start. There’s no better proof that velvet looks downright decadent in darker neutrals, like the chocolate-brown velvet suit and light pistachio sweater pairing shown above.

Styling Notes: It’s not just neutral colors that can make velvet look a little less, well, cliché. As shown above, opting for a velvet suit in an unexpected shade is a failproof way to make this seemingly “typical” item more trend-forward. Of course, if that’s not enough to convince you, try dialing up the ante by adding a vibrant handbag in a contrasting color.

Styling Notes: Ok, so it might not be groundbreaking, but the easiest way to wear velvet will always be in the form of a little black dress! Cliché? Maybe. Chic? Always. You can not only be rest assured that wearing velvet in this way will always look good, but you can cater it to your own style through pairing it with cool accessories—it’s a win all-around.

Feeling inspired to embrace the velvet trend this season? Keep scrolling to shop the best velvet pieces for every budget.

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