7 STYLE PREDICTIONS FOR 2019

No longer found mainly in the wardrobes of late 80s warehouse ravers and protesting French lorry drivers, neon has made its way onto the menswear catwalks of late. MSGM, Louis Vuitton and Versace went full fluoro with eye-popping greens, oranges and yellows for their SS19 shows, while Acne Studios and KENZO opted for a (marginally) more understated palette, incorporating the faded neon yellow of a well-worn hi-vis vest on suiting, sweaters and accessories. Expect to see PPE-certified shades entering your new-year rotation on a variety of streetwear staples like sweatshirts, beanies and tees. If you aren’t quite feeling the full glow-in-the-dark vibe, make like this Acne Studios model and add a neon accessory or under-layer to accent your neutrals. 

‘It’s just got too many pockets,’ said no one ever. For the year ahead, practicality is key with utility-pocket styling coming through on a number of fashion week collections. Seen across C2H4, Christopher Raeburn and A-COLD-WALL*, consider this your 2019 pocket wisdom: more is more. From boxy overshirts and functional gilets to updated cargo trousers, a surfeit of wallet-carrying options will bring practicality and a fresh, workwear vibe to your streetwear go-tos.

If you didn’t make it to Paris last year for Musée des Arts Décoratifs' Christian Dior exhibit, don't fret: London's V&A museum is hosting its own this year. Chronicling Dior’s 72-year history, the show (opening 2 February) will include 200 of the seminal designer's couture creations as well as delving into his influence on fashion and love of all things British.

Netflix’s new dramedy Sex Education follows awkward Otis (Asa Butterfield) and bad girl Maeve (Emma Mackey) as they open their own underground sex clinic at school, backed by (cringily enough) constant tips and updates from Otis' therapist mother (Gillian Anderson). If the retro-toned, colour-blocked and floral ‘fits repped by best friends Otis and Erik are anything to go by, Sex Education will join Netflix stablemates Stranger Things and The End of the F*cking World in sending us straight from sofa to vintage-shopping spree.

Some big names are making bigger changes to cruelty-free fashion this year with Gucci, Versace and Tommy Hilfiger all pledging to only use faux-fur in their collections. And it’s not stopping there, for more and more retailers, animal-related products like silk, mohair, feathers and cashmere are also joining the banned list – including ASOS for 2019. Creature-friendly couture? What's not to like?

Pro-skater/rapper/fashionista, Reese LaFlare’s got the whole slash gen, jack-of-all-trades thing going for him – but don’t confuse him with some upstart Instagrammer. The Atlanta MC has done the hard yards in his city’s booming hip-hop scene, releasing several years' worth of mixtapes before dropping his self-titled debut album last summer. With co-signs from Pusha T and Young Thug, and lyrical boasts about copping Balenciaga socks and not needing a stylist, LaFlare looks like being the latest rapper to influence our playlists and Saved Items in equal measure.