Summer 2019 has come and gone in the blink of an eye. Now, it’s autumn, and while it’s not quite cold enough yet to start thinking about winter dressing and the holiday season, it’s time to put away your summer wardrobe in exchange for something more seasonal.
Fashion moves fast luckily, so there’s something out there for all types of weather and occasion so you’re not left in the dark. When it comes to dressing for young girls, however, catering towards specific ages can be a little trickier; the lower and upper boundaries are admittedly easier for this, since toddler and teen categories have a much clearer sense of what is age-appropriate.
But it’s the middle ground between the two that can sometimes be forgotten about, and that’s why we’ve put together a list of the top autumn dress styles for girls around the 12-year-old marker so that no one is left unaccounted for.
In order to do this we’ll be looking at the runway collections from the AW19 fashion weeks earlier this year in conjunction with the current trends from the kids’ fashion industry to create a hybrid guide that includes all the must-have knowledge you need to create some seriously stylish and on-trend autumn ensembles.
It’s hard to believe that the Autumn 2019 fashion shows took place in January and February this year, but fashion loves foresight and so planning ahead is essential. The season showed that the biggest trends were bursts of colour, floral prints, big silhouettes and lots of sparkles, so there’s a lot to have fun with here. Then, in kids’ fashion, jewel tones and mixing textures are looking to be a big hit for autumn; rich, vibrant colours are perfect for transitioning from summer, and combining different textures creates eye-catching looks that are visually interesting.
1 – Pink Rose Garden Gown
Florals aren’t just for spring. Usually thought of as a spring trend, florals were a huge hit on AW19 runways, and now you can wear them whenever you want and demonstrate your fashion knowledge at the same time. Roses were a dominant feature, and were seen in the collections of Prada, Dries Van Noten and Erdem to name but a few. And what’s great about this trend is that it means if you’ve already got floral pieces in your wardrobe, you don’t need to save them for the spring, but can instead wear them year-round.
This floral gown is one way you can incorporate the trend into your wardrobe; the gorgeous pale pink background colour reminisces of summer, while the red rose details tap in perfectly to that popular floral trend. It’s a pattern that has long been associated with elegance and sophistication, and is so is perhaps better to suited to slightly older girls rather than the toddler/pre-teen category.
Alexander McQueen AW19: A silk taffeta dress in saturated deep red recalls the rose in full bloom.
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2 – Navy Velvet Luxe Party Gown
If florals aren’t for you, and admittedly they aren’t for everyone, you might want to choose something monochromatic and simple as sometimes, less is more. There are multiple benefits to a piece like this navy party dress. It combines those on-trend jewel tones with mixed textures to guarantee a look that’s both classic and modern.
In a rich navy blue, the dress has a textured bodice and skirt, and is finished with velvet sleeves with bow details. The puffed balloon-hem sleeves and wide A-line skirt are a nod to the ‘big silhouette’ trend that was seen in the collections of designers like Marc Jacobs and Comme des Garçons. Larger silhouettes are probably better suited to girls aged 12 upwards as they can be slightly overwhelming for younger, smaller girls.
Marc Jacobs AW19:
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3 – Two Tone Ivory and Red Jewel Dress
Party dresses are certainly a lot of fun to play and experiment with, but sometimes circumstances call for something a little more formal. If you’re in search for something along these lines, a piece like this two-tone gown could be perfect. With a smart ruffled white bodice, the deep red of the skirt is allowed to stand out alongside the three dazzling jewels down the front.
Again combining jewel tones and textured fabrics, this piece is on-trend and incredibly versatile. The classic style ensures that you can wear this piece not just during autumn, but time and time again, and the added sparkle is something fun to finish the look. At the runway shows, designers like Chanel and Dior demonstrated that shimmers and sparkles aren’t just for the holiday season or special occasions – you can add them to any outfit to make you feel amazing.
4 – Green Brocade Party Gown
Green is often a colour associated with nature and, as a result, the fashion of spring, but no longer is it so restrictive. This metallic shade will fit perfectly into your autumn wardrobe since bright colours are on-trend, and the sophisticated silhouette is especially well-suited to pre-teens and above; with a straight shape, flared hem at the bottom, embossed floral pattern and jewel embellishments, this gown will ensure you’re the star of the show at any event or party.
Though it may be slightly unusual for autumn, it demonstrates personality and confidence. The shape is also reminiscent of 1920s and 30s fashion and the styles made popular by the likes of Coco Chanel, so you can really show off your knowledge of fashion and pay homage to some of the greatest names in the business.
Long, straight silhouettes can be traced back to the 1920s where Coco Chanel introduced more masculine, androgynous looks to women’s fashion:
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5 – Black Waterfall Dress
Last, but certainly not least, a little black dress. Whatever season, whatever age, and whatever occasion, every girl needs to be equipped with one of these wardrobe weapons. A little black dress is the perfect piece if you’re in a panic or simply unsure of what to wear; from the every day, to parties, to events, an LBD can carry you through the most testing of dress codes. Admittedly, some people are reluctant to wear black in summer or the warmer months, however as we now enter autumn this is the perfect time to get your hands on one if you haven’t already.
This particular piece, for example, is timeless; with a simple and chic A-line silhouette, the waterfall ruffles on the sleeves add some interesting detail. You can pair this with any colour of accessories too to complete the look or just add some personality. The LBD is one of the most versatile and worthwhile investments you can make in your wardrobe, for any season, and this autumn is certainly not too soon to start.
Though we’ve only shown a few of our favourite frocks for autumn 2019, there are endless options out there for you to explore. But by choosing styles like these you can keep on top of the biggest and best trends from global fashion weeks and still stay age-appropriate. Summer might now be over, but it’s no reason to despair since autumn dressing has proved there’s still a lot of fun to be had.