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Suede — you just need to say its name to conjure up its velvety soft and seductive nature. As such, you don’t need me to tell you that fall and winter is and forever will be the season of suede. It’s a time for indulging after all, whether that’s in holiday festivities or in cozy hibernation complete with pumpkin-spice-everything and a Gilmore Girls marathon. And what’s more indulgent than a material that you just can’t keep your hands off?
This year especially the tactile fabric is having a moment. It comes as the perfect tail end of Western, cowgirl summer and a culmination of the ‘70s boho revival dominating festival fashion. On the fall/winter 2024 runways, we saw plenty of designers leaning into these tried and tested waters. More excitingly though were the brands using the material in boundary-pushing ways. Ralph Lauren and Jacquemus pieced together floor-length suede gowns, Stouls and Bottega Veneta played with vibrant color, Miu Miu embellished its suede with gems, and Louis Vuitton offered head-to-toe, crocodile-textured suede suits.
The best thing about suede? It gets better with age, developing a unique patina, which means vintage stores and resell sites are packed with treasures just waiting to be discovered (for example, I have the most beautiful plum-purple, vintage suede jacket waiting for me in my eBay cart!). Of course, there are worries and concerns that come with suede, but all it takes is a little extra care and attention. Most importantly, preventing dust, dirt, stains, and sudden rain showers with a spray suitable for nubuck and suede, and by giving it a good brush. If you shop wisely and care for your suede, you’ll be treated with a timeless piece that can last you a lifetime (and can even be passed on to the next generation).
Keen to incorporate some of this feel-good fabric into your life? We’ve got you covered, with the best-of-the-best suede on the market right now, from your classic ‘70s fringe jackets, to all-out-there suede maxi skirts. Plus, our top tips for styling suede throughout fall and winter.
Suede fringe jackets
Thanks to the Western trend rearing its head again, fringe details are back on top. Compared to your classic black motos and basic bombers, a fringed jacket adds so much more flair and personality to your look. To avoid looking too much like you’re in costume, keep the rest of your outfit simple and streamlined — they’ll do wonders for the simple jeans and a t-shirt combination.
Suede bucket & hobo bags
Never underestimate the power of your accessories. For a more subtle, yet still practical, take on the suede trend, opt for a carry-all bag. Slouchy hobos and vintage-inspired bucket silhouettes are best.
Suede trench coats
I know what you’re thinking — for a fabric best kept dry, a suede trench coat seems like a contradiction. Here we’re using the term for any longer line jacket; they’re perfect for the early fall chill. Top tip: Buy a size bigger so you can layer underneath.
Suede sneakers
The soft, fuzzy texture of suede instantly gives sneakers a retro, lived-in feel — making them perfect for those of us who aren’t typically sneakerheads. Personally, I’ll be opting for a vintage palette of sepia brown, deep berry pink, glass bottle-green, and sunshine yellow to keep the nostalgic vibes going.
Suede skirts
From work to after-work drinks, a suede skirt is surprisingly versatile — it’s all about opting for the right shade. For example, darker hues sit more comfortably in the corporate world, whilst light, rustic browns sit pretty alongside casual faves like denim and graphic tees.
Suede ballet flats
So we’ve had woven ballet flats, studded ballet flats, and mesh ballet flats. Now it’s time for the ultimate early fall footwear: suede ballet flats. Best worn with dark wash denim and a chunky, cozy knit as summer fades.
Whether you like them short and slouchy or tall and just about hitting the hemline of your mini, you’ll be glad to know that suede boots are dominating this season. Especially suede cowboy boots, once again ushering in the Western trend into fall.
Suede pants
Forget corduroy. This fall it’s all about suede as a softer alternative to your usual denim. Don an oversized knit top to fully lean into the cozy vibes.
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“For a long time, if you were wearing a tennis necklace, somebody would ask, ‘Is that real or is that fake?’” says jewelry brand Dorsey‘s founder and CEO, Meg Strachan. “It’s basically like asking, ‘What can you afford, or what could the person who gave it to you afford?’”
Prior to the last decade, the purchase options for consumers looking to achieve the single-strand, all-stone look — popularized in the 1980s by American tennis player Chris Evert — were low-quality styles made of cubic zirconia for less than $100 or diamonds for upwards of ten or twenty thousand. After hearing the question more times than she cares to recall, Strachan opted for lab-grown stones instead, to capitalize on the space between those two poles, when launching Dorsey in 2019. Today, the jewelry brand’s Rivière white sapphire tennis necklaces start around $600 depending on metals and stone customization, while its corresponding bracelets start around $300. In 2023, Dorsey sold over 1.7 million lab-grown stones: “The introduction of lab-grown stones democratized people’s ability to wear beautiful jewelry.”
Since its launch, Dorsey has become known for tennis bracelets and necklaces worn by everyone from Taylor Swift and Bella Hadid to Emily Ratajkowski and Suki Waterhouse, but the brand’s offering is so much greater. “Being known as a Rivière necklace company is such a high compliment, and it’s something that we’re going to be expanding, but not in a radical way,” Strachan says.
The brand’s other signatures include vintage-inspired designs — like the Lucien, a pair of lever-back drop earrings with a white sapphire stone that borrow from the Art Deco era — are inspired by the memory of Strachan’s grandmother, Dorsey, whose essence the brand embodies. “I fell in love with jewelry because of her,” the founder explains.
According to Strachan, Dorsey was a collector with a generous spirit who found an eager recipient in her granddaughter. “The jewelry that my grandmother wore was just the kind of jewelry I’m always looking for: a big beautiful earring, a gorgeous archival-looking bracelet with different colored stones, really beautifully cut stones.” Her grandmother wasn’t handing down oodles of diamonds, sapphires, and rubies; her treasure trove featured more of the costume variety, which, Strachan notes, used to be more comparable to fine jewelry in terms of quality.
Strachan had the idea for Dorsey in 2017 while serving as Anine Bing’s chief marketing officer. In a Paris flea market, she found a pair of vintage earrings she liked. Upon picking them up, the back fell off. “I thought, ‘Why doesn’t somebody make more affordable pieces that are not high jewelry, but will last as long as we want them to?’” It would take two years before she pursued the idea in earnest.
While Strachan has always been obsessed with jewelry, she had no professional experience making it. But thanks to her work at direct-to-consumer and e-commerce companies like Girlfriend Collective, Goop, Bandier, and Re/Done, Strachan, who refers to herself as a “merchandiser” rather than a designer, understands how shoppers think and spend their money. “What I’ve started to notice over time is that a lot of founders of newer companies or companies that think about things differently tend to be outsiders to the industries that they go into,” she says of her untrained but critical eye. With no initial outside funding, she “maneuvered my way into the industry by cold calls and a couple of introductions through friends of friends.” She started with one purchase order of five units, working out of her home in Los Angeles after hours while still full-time at Girlfriend Collective and shortly after having a baby.
Today, the Kate necklace, a classic tennis-inspired style that has graced the necks of Hailey and Justin Bieber, has sold out well over 50 times. In total, Dorsey’s waitlist garnered over 35,000 names last year. But for Strachan, product doesn’t exist in a vacuum. The context in which it’s worn is her favorite part: “Jewelry is given meaning by whoever wears it.”
In ushering in the democratization and subsequent casual-ification of tennis necklaces and bracelets, she’s spawned, or at least capitalized on, a new way of buying and wearing jewelry. For proof, just take a look at her personal-style-oriented Substack What I Put On Today, which sees Strachan — who, on a typical day, wears jeans, a T-shirt, a blazer, and a lab-grown stone necklace — as her own brand’s ambassador. “There’s a way to get dressed up in just jewelry,” she says. But while she looks ahead to fall — “I like a Rivière necklace and a crew neck sweater” — it’s currently in the midst of New York August. And as thousands patronize the U.S. Open in their finest tennis white and corresponding accessories, many will don a tennis necklace. Our only question for them: “Is that Dorsey?”
Below, we caught up with Strachan to chat about searching for vintage inspiration, finding confidence, and all things tennis necklaces.
Dorsey’s pieces are vintage-inspired. What are you looking at to spark that inspiration today?
My grandmother got dressed in jewelry first. I tend to do the same thing: If I’m going to go to a black tie event, I’m like, “This ring would go with what dress.” With Dorsey, I think… How is it [going to be] styled? Because jewelry needs the zhuzh of a sleeve or to be layered with a watch. Maybe your hair is pulled back, so you have a specific type of earring.
I’m [also] completely obsessed with personal style and how people wear things. I would happily sit on a bench in a park and watch people walk by and see how their coat fits them and how they wear their jeans. What type of earring do they wear? How do they stack their earrings? Jewelry is one of the most personal things. It looks like an afterthought, but when you start talking to people or noticing jewelry, what you tend to find, is that it’s very deliberate. So I’m inspired by everything. It’s movies, it’s a girl in a coffee shop and what’s on her wrist when she picks up her latte. I stop people all the time to ask them what they’re wearing.
Do you have any unexpected examples of things that inspired Dorsey’s pieces?
There is a movie called W.E. about Wallis Simpson, who was married to King Edward. I love this movie. When I saw it for the first time, I paused it multiple times to take pictures. The dresses and the jewelry and the parties are so decadent and beautiful.
And then I do the total opposite and I’ll think about surf culture: “If I’m going to go surfing, how are we bringing diamonds into that setting?” I go between totally different worlds.
Thanks to lab-grown diamonds, tennis necklaces have undergone democratization. You’re as likely to see one with a Met Gala red carpet look as a T-shirt and a pair of jeans. A fashion editor in New York will wear it and then my friend who’s a nurse in Dallas would wear it. Was that always the intention behind Dorsey?
The jewelry industry is elitist in a lot of ways.
When I first started the brand, if you were wearing a tennis bracelet, somebody would say, “Is that real or is that fake?” And it’s a really personal question. It’s basically like, “What can you afford or what could the person who gave it to you afford?” It’s this very polarizing piece of jewelry that used to be [only] available in cubic zirconium or in diamonds.
Because of the number of diamonds that a tennis necklace has, it’s one of the most expensive pieces of jewelry. I’ve gone into so many jewelry stores in my life, and felt so awkward trying something like that on. Universally, using lab-grown diamonds democratizes people wearing beautiful jewelry. It’s more accessible to a lot more people.
With Dorsey, we have customers who are buying their first piece of jewelry for $150, and they’ve saved up for it because they’ve been coveting it. And then we have customers who are more regular shoppers. We’ve wanted to create beautiful jewelry for people and more or less remove the aura around jewelry that can make people feel less than. Lab-grown achieves that.
When you have this process of democratization, it is such a fun thing to see how someone strips something, like a tennis necklace, of its context, and reimagines it.
Everyone wears everything so differently. With jewelry, it’s the most fun thing to see. People will stack things in different ways or they don’t stack things.
Dorsey is meant to surprise and delight and be the package you look forward to. Part of the reason why jewelry has done so well through the last five years is because, during the pandemic, we were all sitting in front of our screens, so we were wearing T-shirts and wanted to put something on that made us feel pulled together.
In a lot of ways, our style has become much more casual, so our jewelry has this casual background to play off of. We’re less dressed up than we used to be, so our jewelry is becoming more dressed up. I wear a beautiful big ring and a diamond bracelet with a flat. And also, you’re wearing it every day, so the investment is reasonable. And it’s a fun thing to collect.
Do you design for yourself or do you design for a “customer”?
We have designers on our team, but I’m not a jewelry designer. I merchandise. I think most about how [a piece] is going to be worn. The team and I are always thinking through how it will be worn or what it will be worn with or where [the customer wearing it is] going. Sometimes we design around a color or a concept. So in a sense, I definitely end up designing for myself, but we have so many people on the team now that have such great input that we [at the same time] end up designing for the Dorsey customer in terms of how and where we think people are going to wear it and what they’re going to be inspired by.
In reading past interviews of yours, confidence seemed to have this huge presence in your career path. How important is it in business? And how does it tie into having an idea that you truly believe in?
I think the lesson is doing things when you don’t have confidence, because most of this journey has been moments of no confidence. I saw a quote [by Alex Hormozi] while scrolling on Instagram that changed my life. It said, “You don’t become confident by shouting affirmations in the mirror, but by having a stack of undeniable proof that you are who you say you are.” You build confidence by doing the work and realizing as you’re doing it that you’re doing it, and that is a really difficult thing to do. It’s near-impossible. Everyone’s struggling with confidence and comparison, and comparison definitely is the thief of joy. It’s also the thief of good ideas, because you end up feeling like something’s already been done. The best story about Dorsey is that the first company I asked to create a Rivière necklace for me said, “This has already been done. Why would you do it again?” If I had listened, the company wouldn’t exist.
The other quote that was impactful to my life was from a woman [Jane Marczewski] that I saw on America’s Got Talent. She was dying of cancer, and she said, “Don’t you want to see what happens if you don’t give up?” And I was like, “Holy shit.” That was one of the most profound things I’d ever heard anyone say. It’s something that I’m going to tell my daughter.
And then I think you have to be okay with failure. My dad once asked me, “What are you afraid of?” I said, “I’m afraid of failing.” He asked if I could handle it if I failed, and I said “yes.” And he said, “Then you don’t have anything to be afraid of.” If you’re willing to walk the plank, you get to find out where you can go.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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If you used to love putting together first-day-of-school outfits, August will always bring the familiar excitement of starting something new. Now, whether or not our school days are behind us, our favorite brands’ fall collections are packed with the same new-season fun. The latest arrives in the form of Spanish brand Massimo Dutti’s Back to Office collection which, as the name suggests, comes chock-full of stylish suits, durable handbags, and shoes you can wear all day long.
Not only is the drop filled with workwear essentials (think: poplin shirts, tailored trousers, and leather loafers), but its campaign images come with loads of fall styling inspiration, too. From perfect layers for cooler commutes to hold-all handbags that eliminate any bag-lady energy, this collection has everything you need to bolster your fall work wardrobe. Looking for somewhere to start? Scroll on to find our top new-season picks from Massimo Dutti.
Massimo Dutti Fall Outerwear
A solid coat or jacket can be the anchor to any fall wardrobe. Shop longline coats, oversized blazers, and textured jackets in seasonal tones (browns, blacks, and beiges) and a variety of warm fabrics (leather, cotton, and wool). Layering up never looked better.
Massimo Dutti Fall Handbags
If you’re looking for the perfect work bag, look no further than Massimo Dutti’s Back to Work collection. Find styles in timeless shapes with loads of pockets and compartments for all your knick-knacks and work snacks. From extra-large tote bags with gorgeous detailing to cross-bodies that can double for work and play, there’s a style for everyone.
Massimo Dutti Fall Pants
Work pants don’t have to be limited to dark-colored straight-leg trousers. This collection has a wide range of bottom fits, from flared and wide-leg pants to oversized suit trousers and animal print co-ords. Trust us: a hard-working pair of bottoms will make dressing for the office ten times easier.
Massimo Dutti Fall Shirts
While a white button-down shirt is an office essential, this collection reminds us that work tops can be fun and playful, too. Base layers like polo shirts and sheer blouses can be great on-trend additions for less formal work environments, while details like ruffles, embroidery, and contrast stitching add a unique touch to a more classic uniform. Whether you’re working IRL or on video chat, you’ll be feeling extra stylish in these.
Massimo Dutti Fall Shoes
The switch from open-toed shoes to cold-weather kicks can be made easier with Massimo Dutti’s shoe collection. Shop a variety of sneakers, low heels, statement flats, and more — perfect for long work days and weekend ‘fits, too.
Whether you’re looking to bolster your work wardrobe with a new blazer or shirt dress, finally dip your toe into ballet flats trend, or find an outfit for an upcoming wedding, this collection is filled to the brim with a variety of styles. Standouts include a range of ruffled dresses and tops (i.e., one of the biggest trends at Copenhagen Fashion Week), holdall handbags in fall-approved hues, and a perfectly Western-inspired suede jacket. At this rate, Mango might be a one-stop shop this fall.
Ahead, scroll through 24 of our favorite Mango pieces for fall 2024.
Mango Fall Dresses
If there’s one thing you can always count on Mango for, it’s a work dress. Nail your office wardrobe like it’s the first day of school with a cinched shirt dress or mini frock with a chic lapel. If you’re looking for party dresses for your next girls’ night or more formal occasions like weddings, Mango’s new collection has a variety of sheer maxi dresses, fitted gowns and printed minis.
Mango Fall Outerwear
Fall is made better by comfy coats and jackets, and Mango’s new outerwear is as trendy as it gets. Get ahead of the transitional season with a classic trench coat (Mango has loads of styles) or top off your fall and late-summer outfits with a cropped suede jacket that goes with everything. Other options include faux leathers, ’60-inspired tweeds, and sophisticated blazers and suit jackets. Anyone else excited to layer up?
Mango Fall Bottoms
Just because the temperatures are dropping doesn’t mean we have to say goodbye to skirts and shorts just yet. Mango’s fall collection is packed with trendy Bermuda shorts and jorts, as well as mini and maxi skirts that’ll pair well with boots or tights all season long. While you’re there, have a look at the brand’s denim selection from straight and barrel legs, to flared and slouchy fits.
Mango Fall Tops
The brand’s fall collection looks toward a free-spirited fall with flowy, printed blouses and slinky, knit tops. Similar to their collection of dresses, Mango’s tops are made to go from the office to the bar, and be worn on weekends, too. There’s also a great selection of matching sets to make getting dressed this fall that much easier.
Mango Fall Shoes
While there isn’t an essential fall shoe, it can be fun to venture away from your typical knee-high boots and sneakers. This season, pair heeled slingbacks or leather sandals with your oversized denim, and your dresses with ballet flats or chunky loafers.
Mango Fall Accessories
From jewellery and handbags to trendy sunglasses, Mango’s accessories are the stars of the show this season. Nab a statement handbag in a bright red hue, or an out-there snake print. Plus, their chunky hoops, chain necklaces and rings are perfectly stackable (and come at stackable prices, too).
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After months of flaunting skin in summer’s flowy, airy, and barely-there dress styles, fall is swiftly approaching, bringing with it the joy of slipping into something a little more substantial. The new season offers a playful mix of polish and edge that’ll have you trading in your sundresses faster than you can say “pumpkin spice.” Whether you’re ready to channel some nostalgic femininity or go bold with ultra-refined silhouettes, the best fall 2024 dress trends are here to banish wardrobe boredom.
Take the “very demure, very mindful” trend that’s been blowing up your social media feeds. On one end, it’s bows, ruffles, and puff sleeves galore — a girlhood dream. Plus, bubble skirts that’ll make you feel like you’re living your best 2010s fantasy. But don’t let all the sweetness fool you—there’s a grown-up side to the movement, too. High necklines, full skirts, and elongated hemlines are serving up some serious sophistication, proving that “demure” doesn’t have to mean “dull.”
But wait, there’s more! Fall is bringing a variety of textures and shapes that redefine what it means to dress up in 2024. Whether you’re emboldened to unabashedly display what’s underneath or prefer to tease just a little skin, sheer fabrics dominated the runways from New York to Paris. Similarly, rich red hues, from siren shades to deep jewel tones, commanded attention in every material imaginable, from second-skin silk to ruched weighty knits and sequins.
Leather, a seasonal staple, is seeing a refresh with artful, feminine designs, while chunky knit dresses offer a more striking yet effortlessly cool approach to sweater weather. And let’s not forget the prominence of asymmetry. One-shoulder dresses make a triumphant comeback while hip-emphasizing details give classic silhouettes a distinctive twist. Bottom line: Fall dresses are a moment, and they’re here to ensure your looks are anything but basic.
2024 Fall Dress Trend: Sheer Perfection
This season, if it’s see-through, it’s in. From full-on mesh looks to peek-a-boo pieces and strategically opaque moments, sheer dresses are ruling the runways. Whether you’re baring it all or just giving a glimpse, this fall 2024 trend is your ticket to embracing transparency.
2024 Fall Dress Trend: Living In A Bubble (Skirt)
If your ultimate school dance dress featured a bubble hem, you might be surprised to hear that the look is back. And yet, somehow, new forms are utterly irresistible and nothing like the relics of the 2010s. These bouncy shapes are perfect for those who love a bit of drama in their wardrobe. Keep it simple, with a tank or strapless dress with a subtle bubble skirt, or go all-out with a voluminous mini to make your look pop.
2024 Fall Dress Trend: Very Demure, Very Mindful
For those who prefer a more buttoned-up look, fall has you covered — literally. Dresses with high necklines, full skirts, fluid pleats, and satin fabrics are bringing a ladylike elegance that’s anything but stuffy. These sleek sheaths are perfect for when you want to look put-together and refined without trying too hard.
2024 Fall Dress Trend: Very Cutesy
Embrace your inner girly girl with ruffles, bows, delicate trims, and puff sleeves. This trend is all about that sweet youthful, vibe — but don’t worry, it’s elevated enough to keep you from looking like you raided your childhood closet. Full skirts are the cherry on top, making these dresses must-haves for anyone who loves a good twirl.
2024 Fall Dress Trend: From The Neck Up
Turtleneck-style necklines aren’t exactly new, but this season they’re taking on a fresh significance as part of the demure movement—and they’re perfectly timed for the colder months ahead. From body-skimming styles that exude quiet sophistication to drapey silhouettes that are ready for a night out, these high necklines add an extra layer of elegance while keeping you cozy in the colder months.
2024 Fall Dress Trend: Laced With Modernity
If lace gives you a suffocating, doily-adjacent feeling, we get it. But this season, the look is shedding its old-fashioned image with renewed touches that are anything but stuffy, instead offering an edgy-meets-elegant sensibility. Whether it’s trimming a sleek slip dress, accentuating sheer layers, or turning a sheath into a statement piece, this isn’t your grandma’s lace — it’s an ethereal, alluring look that feels totally of the moment.
2024 Fall Dress Trend: Drape Oneself
Similar to this season’s jackets, draped dresses are taking center stage this season, and who wouldn’t want to channel the statuesque elegance of Venus in her flowing tunic? Whether you’re heading to a formal event or simply want to embrace your inner goddess in everyday life, these liquid-like, perfectly draped silhouettes are all about effortless grace and sophistication.
2024 Fall Dress Trend: In The Red
Red is undeniably the color of the season, with shades ranging from deep crimsons to fiery scarlets. And if there’s one way to fully embrace this trend, it’s with a striking dress. The best of the bunch are bold, vibrant, and fully demand attention, whether it’s a second-skin maxi, a sumptuous knit, or a draped design.
2024 Fall Dress Trend: Good (Leather) Form
Stepping away from its edgy roots and embracing more feminine, artful silhouettes, leather takes on new life for fall. This season is all about showcasing the material’s softer side without sacrificing its cool factor, whether it’s a waist-accentuating shirt dress, an asymmetrical-cut strapless midi, or a full-skirted silhouette.
2024 Fall Dress Trend: Heavy Knitter
Knit dresses are bolder and better than ever, with chunky, oversized styles leading the charge. This heavier-handed approach celebrates the craft while looking effortlessly cool. Think of reimagined cable knit, exaggerated classic shapes, and captivating embellishments.
2024 Fall Dress Trend: Give Them The Shoulder
Another throwback returning to the spotlight: the one-shoulder dress. New versions of this asymmetric silhouette range from sharp and sleek to beautifully draped, with fabrics like satin, sheer tulle, and ribbed knits adding the right amount of allure to any outfit. Reach for this style for everything from dinners to formal nights out—we’re especially loving exaggerated takes with extra-long sleeves and fluid tailoring.
2024 Fall Dress Trend: Hip, Hip, Hooray
Designers are putting the spotlight on hips this season, with knotted, draped, and ruched details that celebrate the curves. These dresses, which range from frocks with hip fastenings to dramatic gowns with train-like detailing, are giving classic silhouettes a modern twist.
2024 Fall Dress Trend: Sexy Is The New Black
The wardrobe-essential black dress gets a sultry upgrade for fall 2024, with spliced designs, plunging necklines, thigh-high slits, and daring cutouts redefining this wardrobe classic. If you’re looking to turn heads on your next night out, these LBDs are your new go-to.
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