AW19 key item: Boilersuits

Last month, luxury search engine Lyst made a bold statement. It said boilersuits were the “trend of the season”. That callout was based on the fact that searches for boilersuits were up 81% year-on-year as of mid-March, with the most wanted colours being cream and denim.

That’s a big shift in consumer thinking in a short period of time because, while jumpsuits have taken their place as an on-going key item in the past decade, the silky, evening-oriented, clearly feminine pieces that dominate the one-piece sales charts have no part to play in this latest trend.

But with consumers already buying into more overtly masculine looks, designers responded for the AW19 collection with a variety of pieces that strongly channelled masculine styling, even if a few feminine flourishes (a softer, more fluid material, a tighter belt that emphasised the waist) helped to rein-in the rampant masculinity.

Key materials were denim, heavy cotton twills, functional synthetics, or cosy quilts, with softer chambrays or jerseys coming in finishes that made them look heavier and more ‘raw’ than they actually were. This trend is certainly no place for silkiness or embellishment.

But that doesn’t mean traditionally feminine accessories are a big no-no. The season’s statement belt is key (and many boiler suits already come with a self-belt). And footwear-wise, the sky’s the limit. These pieces can work as well with autumn’s kitten heels, platform ankle boots as with the season’s biker and hiking boots.

Boilersuits: Ferragamo, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Stella McCartney