We translated runway looks from Chanel, Tory Burch, and more into wearable (and affordable) ones.
As the weather starts to change and we feel the brisk mornings of fall, our natural instincts kick in: It’s time to rediscover our favorite jeans, cardigans, and boots that have been locked away in the deep depths of our closets. (Running to the nearest coffee shop to grab a pumpkin spice latte is obviously next on our list.)
Maybe you’re not one to routinely clear your closet out for a new capsule wardrobe each season (here in NYC, we do it out of necessity because of the lack of clothing storage), but adding a new piece or two to your collection can help you fall back in love with the clothes you already have and help you stay in line with the season’s latest trends.
Designers debuted their fall and winter 2023 collections back in February, but it’s finally time to start incorporating a few runway trends into our real-life wardrobes. While some trends lean into avant-garde territory, you can easily take inspiration from them without feeling like you’re dressing for Halloween.
Luckily, Katie got the scoop on what the biggest trends are from an expert. She spoke with Freya Drohan, style expert and The Daily Front Row’s fashion director, about what we should think about bringing into our wardrobes this fall. Drohan also has the lowdown on how to achieve a tailored “Quiet Luxury” look without paying a luxury price tag.
From the seasonal update of Tomato Girl Summer to classic Mary Janes, we’re dissecting six other trendy updates to add to your autumn rotation. Not sure where to start? Here’s how we’re building our outfits based on the best fall fashion trends of 2023.
The Most Wearable Trends of Fall 2023
Old-School Mary Janes
What was once a schoolgirl staple is now high fashion, courtesy of designers like Tory Burch. Long gone are the days of patent leather tearing up your heels with blisters (and leaving you walking home with your shoes in your hands). Today’s options are more casual, can be paired with printed socks for an unexpected addition of pattern, and feel way more grown-up. Our style suggestion? We love wearing this trend with wide-leg jeans so that they peek out under your hem.
Seeing Red
Just like Taylor Swift, it seems that Fashion Week was in its red era. From blood-red trenches to tomato-hued clutches and bags, models strutted their stuff down the runway wearing the bold color. You can fully lean in by donning an all-red ensemble, but if you prefer a tamer look, add a pop of color with a vermillion chunky sweater. You don’t have to go pantless like this model at Ferragamo, though. Here are a few subtler ways to style the color.
Bold Shoulders
Remember the ’80s power suit? She’s back, baby! If you haven’t purged them from your wardrobe, break out your vintage, shoulder-padded blazer to copy the trend we saw at Miu Miu. To modernize the look, all you have to do is style it with a fitted dress or high-waisted pants. If you’re in the market for a new puff-sleeved number, try a denim jacket with bold shoulders, which is one of Katie’s go-to looks.
Skirting Around
We’re not prudes here, but with fall temperatures dropping, we’re embracing midi and maxi skirts and dresses again. Long, A-line skirts appeared in several shows this season, including Prada and Balmain, and we’re happy to add them to our wardrobes, too. As holiday festivities commence, try a glam, voluminous skirt that grazes your ankles, like this runway look spotted at Carolina Herrera. But keep an eye out for fabrics like cotton and denim for a more casual style that works for non-party events, too.
Crossbody Bags
First we saw impractical teeny-tiny bags, then larger-than-life totes took the fashion world by storm. Now, we’re swinging back around to a truly functional workhorse: the crossbody bag. And who knows bag trends better than Chanel? Thankfully, most of us already own a long-strapped purse we can repurpose, but if your collection is in need of an upgrade, going for a leather or neutral-colored bag ensures years of wear. Don’t worry though — we’ll never tire of our beloved belt bag.
Gothic Romance
Halloween is in the rearview mirror, but it looks like goth-inspired looks will be sticking around long after the holiday. We admit that it’s easy for this to look costumey, and we totally support you if you want to emulate a corpse bride à la Rodarte, but you can explore the trend with baby steps. Focus on moody fabrics like dark velvet to channel your inner Wednesday Addams, or you could go for dark lace and black maxi dresses if you prefer a sultry aesthetic more akin to Morticia.
