10 Items That Officially Reached Cult Status This Fashion Month

street style cult buys
(Image credit: Who What Wear)

Fashion month only happens twice a year, but when it does, we can expect a fresh batch of street style pictures featuring the fashion insiders' take on the biggest runway trends and tips on how to wear them in real life. There are hundreds if not thousands of outfits to scroll through, and as inspiring as they are, the results can be overwhelming. This is precisely why we take a great deal of time and care filtering through the lot, bringing you concise edits of the trends as well as the key items that fashion editors, stylists, writers, buyers and influencers are actually choosing to buy and wear for the new season. 

The February fashion month shows are only halfway through, but there's already more than enough real-life outfit fodder for us to start deducing that certain brands and cult pieces are already clear frontrunners in the race to be spring's hottest items. What's interesting about this season's crop is the steady pace at which the items' popularity has been building throughout the year before this peak moment.

Insiders want their It buys to go the distance (just as you do too, I'm sure), so it figures that we're starting to find that flash-in-the-pan "must-haves" are less frequently spotted, and slower burns like last year's Alaïa ballet flats, Bottega Veneta's drop earrings and The Frankie Shop's timeless blazer are continuing to be worth both our wallets and wardrobes. So, should you be wondering which pieces will be joining them in the street style hall of fame for 2024, keep scrolling to see the six items that are genuinely reaching cult status this month. They're tried, tested and highly rated for a reason.

1. ALIGNE'S BUTTERMILK TAILORING

LONDON FASHION WEEK CULT ITEMS

(Image credit: Jonathan Daniel Pryce/WWD via Getty Image)

Style Notes: The London-based brand that started the trend for longline waistcoats and hourglass blazers has taken the look to the streets of fashion month, and the best-selling yellow colourway that went out of stock quicker than you can say "cult buy" is now back and available in black too.

london fashion week cult buys

(Image credit: Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

If you thought the buzz was dying down, think again. The blazer is just as hot on the street style circuit as the sleeveless Leo vest. Now to decide between getting the jacket, waistcoat, trousers or all three.

Shop Aligne Tailoring:

2. AEYDE MARY JANES

london fashion week cult items

(Image credit: @noorunisa)

Style Notes: We lost count of how many times we spotted buckled, Mary Jane ballet flats on the front row of LFW, but Aeyde's square-toed flats are easily our flat shoe of choice. Whether they're paired with jeans, dresses or the statement hosiery that has been everywhere since A/W '23, these ultra-cute, ultra-chic shoes are guaranteed to stick around until next spring too.

london fashion week cult buys

(Image credit: GeChristian Vierig/Getty Images))

There isn't just the iconic matte leather either; these perfect flats also come in patent, cream, nude, silver, green… the list goes on.

Shop Aeyde Uma Flats:

3. BOTTEGA VENETA ANDIAMO BAG

london street style cult buys

(Image credit: Christian Vierig/Getty Images)

Style Notes: We know that a great handbag is a sound investment because it goes with absolutely everything, but if you're stuck in a rut and rely on the same simple black bag to accompany your outfits, take note of Bottega's spin on the timeless classic. The woven Andiamo tote first made our list of the best cult buys last season, but after seeing it on the street style circuit again in 2024, it deserves to make the top five a second time for its sheer staying power alone.

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(Image credit: NICOLE M GOMES)

Whether you'd show it off with a T-shirt and jeans or dress it up with a satin slip dress, be prepared to act fast. Bottega bags don't stay in stock for long—its special brand of double-tap-worthy luxe appeals to just about everybody.

Shop Bottega Veneta Andiamo:

4. KHAITE'S BENNY BELT

london fashion week street style cult buys

(Image credit: Christian Vierig/Getty Images)

Style Notes: Ever since Katie Holmes stepped out in that Khaite Bra-digan almost five years ago, we've been obsessed with the brand and waited with bated breath to see what follow-up It piece it would deliver next. Whilst superfans will already know the Davis boots and crystal flats, 2024 undoubtedly belongs to the Benny belt, and celebs and street style stars alike are rushing to get their hands on the studded style that elevates even the simplest outfits. 

london fashion week cult buys

(Image credit: Christian Vierig/Getty Images)

With a simple skirt, jeans or trousers, this bold belt does all of the talking.

Shop Khaite Benny Belt:

5. POLÈNE NUMERO NEUF BAG

london fashion week cult buys

(Image credit: @noorunisa)

Style Notes: It just wouldn't be fashion week without the appearance of at least one underground-famous buy, and this season is the turn of Polène, whose chic Numero Neuf bag has been a staple in the wardrobes of influencers and editors since the brand first landed in 2016.

london fashion week cult buy

(Image credit: @maxineeggenberger)

As the second bag on our list goes to prove, it might be time to shelve your micro mini top-handles in favour of something a little roomier; just ask Who What Wear UK deputy editor Maxine Eggenberger, pictured with hers above.  

Shop Polène Numero Neuf:

6. LOEWE ANAGRAM JUMPER

nyfw cult buys

(Image credit: The Style Stalker)

Style Notes: If the Copenhagen and NY crowds weren't in wide-leg trousers and blazers this month, you can bet they were in oversized knits. Loewe's anagram sweater might not be new, but it has always added a dose of cool to any look it touches. And if there was any way to up the credentials of the beloved knit, it's pairing it with a miniskirt and tights.

copenhagen fashion week cult buys

(Image credit: Edward Berthelot/Getty Images))

Shop Loewe Anagram Jumper:

7. DIESEL MOTOCROSS LEATHER JACKETS

fashion month cult buys

(Image credit: The Style Stalker)

Style Notes: No-one could ever accuse the Milanese style set of being wallflowers, and this season they were changing gears and swapping oversized tailoring for moto-biker jackets. Diesel has been enjoying a renaissance as of late (thanks to TikTok's infatuation with Y2K styling), and this time around it's been adopted by a new wave of uber-cool, experimental dressers who are pairing the brands iconic denim with collarless jackets with go-faster stripes and zips.

fashion month cult buys

(Image credit: The Style Stalker)

Shop Diesel Leather Jackets:

8. Jersey Headbands

fashion month trends: headbands

(Image credit: The Style Stalker)

Style Notes: Less of a brand specific item but a key trend nonetheless, the 90s called and jersey headbands are back, and London, Milan and New York showgoers are inclined to agree. This simple styling tweak popped enough times during fashion month that we dedicated an entire story to it, and there's no arguing with a trend that costs less than a tenner, but the results look supremely expensive.

fashion month trends: headbands

(Image credit: The Style Stalker)

Shop Jersey Headbands:

9. Gucci Platform Horsebit Loafers

fashion month cult buys

(Image credit: The Style Stalker)

Style Notes: What happens when you take an existing cult classic buy (the Gucci horsebit loafer) and turn the volume up to 100? The Gucci horsebit platform of course, and from the moment we saw these teetering shoes tip-toe their way down the runway in Sabato De Sarno's debut collection, we knew we would be seeing much more of them, we just hadn't expected it so soon. Those tired of ballet flats will love these larger than life loafers almost as much as the Milanese, just be sure to watch your step.

fashion month cult buys

(Image credit: The Style Stalker)

Shop Gucci Horsebit Platform Loafers:

10. Dior Lady Dior Handbag

paris fashion week cult items

(Image credit: The Style Stalker)

Style Notes: And last, but not least, the return of a certified classic. Dior's Lady Dior deserves a spot in the handbag hall of fame its chic timelessness, and if you were to spot any It bag on the streets of Paris this fashion week, the chances are, it's this boxy, Dior mini. Not only does it come in several sizes, it comes in several colours too, so there's a Lady for every outfit, what else could you expect from a handbag designed with fashion icon Diana, Princess of Wales in mind?

paris fashion week cult items

(Image credit: The Style Stalker)

Shop DIor Lady Dior Handbag:

Fashion Editor

Remy Farrell is a London-based shopping editor with nearly 10 years of editorial experience covering fashion, beauty and lifestyle. After graduating with a journalism degree and working on the editorial and fashion teams for titles such as Grazia, Elle, Cosmopolitan and British Vogue, she moved into the luxury e-commerce sector, working as fashion assistant at TheOutnet.com styling for the social media channels and helping to develop the collections for the in-house brand Iris & Ink. After expanding an assisting and styling portfolio that includes shooting talent such as Gigi Hadid, Victoria Beckham and Miquita Oliver, she also branched out into beauty, creating tried-and-tested reviews and diverse beauty content.

In her role as shopping editor at Who What Wear, Remy is interested in discovering new and exciting brands to share with the Who What Wear readership and particularly loves uncovering hidden gems at affordable prices to make shopping accessible to everyone.

Born and raised in Sheffield, Yorkshire, Remy moved to London in 2014 and lives in the Docklands with her partner and pug Billie.