At first glance, black appears to be the colour tying the entire H&M Autumn/Winter 2013 collection together. But look closer and a richer palette begins to emerge.
Creams, camels, khakis and deep blacks are punctuated with opulent touches of gold. Sequins, chains, faux fur, snakeskin and mohair add texture and drama. The overall effect feels almost Parisian in spirit, a fitting statement for H&M’s return to the Paris Fashion Week runway after an eight-year absence from the French capital.
The show itself reflected the brand’s evolving vision. Increasingly, H&M appears intent on elevating the perception of fast fashion, shifting away from a purely commercial narrative toward one that emphasises design and styling.
It certainly helped that the runway featured some of the most recognisable faces in fashion, including Cara Delevingne, Lindsey Wixson, Joan Smalls and Arizona Muse. Set against an English interior complete with bookcases and draped curtains, the presentation carried a quiet sense of grandeur.
Ultimately, the collection is about the playful possibilities of dressing up. As Sofie Johansson, H&M’s Head of Design, explains, the season offers “all the key pieces for autumn, designed to be mixed together to become your own.”
To take a closer look, we visited the H&M Singapore showroom for a preview of the Autumn/Winter 2013 collection.
Structured coats, rich textures and confident silhouettes create a wardrobe that feels both strong and expressive.
Though the menswear collection was not presented on the runway, it proves just as compelling.
The season draws heavily from traditional English heritage dressing. Think Melton wool peacoats with large lapels, transformable parkas and lace-up Chelsea boots, finished with details such as leather-trimmed umbrellas.
Utilitarian references appear throughout, alongside playful touches like slim-fit shirts printed with dogs and autumn leaves.
According to Andreas Löwenstam, H&M’s Head of Menswear Design, the collection brings together “different elements of masculine dressing to create a unified wardrobe for autumn.”
Whether womenswear or menswear, the H&M Autumn/Winter 2013 collection offers something for every fashion enthusiast when it arrives in stores and online on 5 September 2013.
And we, for one, cannot wait. ✨
