As much as we like to think of summer as a time for dressing to excess, flaunting outfits full of bright shades and clashing patterns, when it comes down to it, most of our warm-weather outfits are primarily concerned with staying cool. Fall, however, is different. With chillier temperatures and decreasing humidity comes the ability to take more risks with our wardrobes, via strategic layering, non-traditional colors (think: anything but burgundy, mustard, and P.S.L.), and mismatching textures. When you no longer have to take sweat into account, a lot of sartorial doors are unlocked.
This fall is especially advantageous given the throng of workers and students returning to offices and IRL school, where many are expected to wear something other than sweats (even if it is a matching set). And with a forthcoming influx in outfit inspiration coming from the streets outside of Fashion Month shows, there’s really no excuse not to do the most style-wise as we make the trek back to in-person life.
To aid in the creation of your fall fashion moodboard, we rounded up 23 outfits to consider ahead of the season’s impending arrival.
Whether you're returning to the office this fall or not, you should still be wearing a waistcoat with a blazer.It's a Croc girl fall.The Britney Spears red leather pants are back en vogue.We love a leather pant-corset combo.Workwear done right in 2021.The bigger the sleeves the better the sweater.For all those fall glamping plans.It's the gorpcore sneakers for us.Jazz up your jeans-blazer look by going for a longer, split-leg denim and adding a dainty heel.Never leave the house without a fire-y orange cardigan.Prepare to see a lot more sweater sets this fall — and not the kind your grandma wore.The 2021 version of the Canadian tuxedo.How to layer when fall weather hasn't technically arrived.A little precursor to witchy season.Little dress big boots!Khakis in the fall are anything but groundbreaking. Khakis in the fall, paired with a corset, however, are.Ever tried layering a slip dress over utility jeans? You should.Just the push you needed to buy squiggle-print pants.A slip with boots will never be a bad idea.This look is a lesson in making denim office-appropriate.Looking to explore a fall wardrobe that's not made up only of autumnal shades? Check out this look first.More fall color inspo!It just isn't fall unless you're wearing a waistcoat and loafers.
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In February, when fall ‘21 collections were presented — most often digitally with a few IRL exceptions — we had little idea of what the future would look like, in fashion or life in general. The U.S. was roughly two months into its vaccine rollout, with other countries following suit at varying paces. And yet we were still living by COVID’s rules, unsure of what the next week would hold, let alone the next six months, when said fall collections were to be released.
More than half a year later, with February’s collections arriving in stores by the truckload, we’re still no closer to transcending pandemic purgatory (despite a short-lived period of post-vaccine relief). Luckily, designers had the wherewithal to design clothing that could withstand whatever else 2021 threw at us.
The trends for fall included both sides of the sartorial spectrum, ranging from peak optimism — think: party attire from Y2K at Blumarine and Saint Laurent and sheer, cut-out catsuits at Mugler and LaQuan Smith — to stylish pessimism, which included Bubble Boy shapes at Louis Vuitton, JW Anderson, and Simone Rocha, as well as garments rooted in tranquility at Proenza Schouler and Bevza. Unsure of how shoppers would be feeling or dressing come fall, today’s top designers provided us with a little something for all of our COVID-era moods (of which there are a lot).
Shop six of fall’s top trends, below.
Didn’t you hear? Y2K is back — a point proven by labels like Blumarine, Saint Laurent, Versace, and ALYX, all of whom used their fall ‘21 collections as an opportunity to reminisce on old times and trends from the turn of the millennium. But it isn’t just Fashion Month headliners that are dipping their platform-adorned toes in styles from the early aughts. Rather, it appears that the entirety of the industry has gone back in time, bringing back trucker hats, whale tails, fuzzy fabrics, butterfly motifs, and more from the era.
After a year-plus of life sans vacation opportunities, we’re using this season to make up for lost time. Sure, sandy beaches are always welcome, but with the Delta variant looming, snow-capped mountains feel like a safer bet. After all, between the ultra-padded attire, neck gaiters, and helmets, not to mention the social distance devices formerly known as ski poles, the slopes could very well be the safest travel destination of all.
At least designers seem to think so. For fall, the likes of Miu Miu, Chanel, Thom Browne, Givenchy, and more worked chalet style into their collections, including quilted materials, furry accessories, and Moon Boot-like footwear. *Buys ticket to Aspen.*
We said movies influenced fashion in lockdown, but this is a step above the rest. For fall, designers like Nicolas Ghesquière at Louis Vuitton, Simone Rocha, and Jonathan Anderson at JW Anderson looked to take inspiration from the 2001 flick Bubble Boy — which is aptly about a boy (Jake Gyllenhaal) who spends his teenage life in a bubble to avoid getting sick (same) — sending bubble-shaped silhouettes down the runways. Any way to avoid getting too close, right?
It’s official: despite a great deal of resistance from millennials who lived through the trend two decades ago, low-rise jeans are back. Count the runway sightings. Found at R13, Balenciaga, Maryam Nassir Zadeh, Our Legacy, and more shows during Fashion Month, the heavily debated denim silhouette is now arriving at stores near you. Whether or not the masses will welcome back the style in the same way the runways have, however, is still TBD.
After months of doing nothing but rewatching shows from the early aughts, when parties were prevalent and going-out clothes were plentiful, we’ve all but forgotten the subtle sartorial annoyances that once plagued us. Case in point: catsuits, the one-piece garments that, pre-pandemic, we avoided because of how difficult they are to take off. Now, though, we’d give anything to have our biggest problem be wiggling back into a bodysuit in a pint-sized bathroom stall at the club.
On the opposite end of the sartorial spectrum from Y2K’s array of sequin party looks and butterfly belt buckles is a more tranquil style of dress, one that warms your soul and weighs down your eyelids as opposed to quickening your heart rate and boosting serotonin. Labels like Lemaire, Proenza Schouler, Bevza, and Gabriela Hearst approached their fall collections with this more soothing approach in mind, opting for soft, cozy fabrics — in the form of knit hoods, sweater dresses, and coats — over rigid denim or leather, and calming, monochrome color palettes, like chocolate browns and warm, fluffy oatmeals.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
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To quote The September Issue, the documentary that follows the makings of Vogue's biggest issue of the year, September is the January of fashion. It’s Fashion Month, a time when, even amid the pandemic, the industry celebrates the talent and innovation it prides itself on.
For the Refinery29 team, it’s going to be a busy month. When New York Fashion Week arrives there will be tons of (in-person) shows, as well as digital releases, and many outfits to be planned. Later in the month, designers will take over London, Milan, and Paris.
Yet, fashion celebrations are also popping up in the art world, with the unveiling of the first part of Costume Institute’s "In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion" exhibit, which will follow the much-anticipated Met Gala red carpet, as well as the ballet debut of designers Christopher John Rogers and Esteban Cortázar at this year’s New York City Ballet fall gala.
Ahead, some of the fashion events and releases that our team is looking forward to this month.
Dior Exhibit At The Brooklyn Museum
"In addition to the Costume Institute’s 'In America: A Lexicon of Fashion,' New York will be home to another fashion showcase this fall: 'Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams' that will take residence at the Brooklyn Museum. Opening on September 10, the exhibit will explore the history of the iconic French house — through garments, photographs, archival videos, sketches, and more — as helmed by Christian Dior and his various successors like Yves Saint Laurent, Raf Simons, and Maria Grazia Chiuri." — Irina Grechko, Fashion Director
LaQuan Smith Takes Over The Empire State Building
“On September 9, New York designer LaQuan Smith will hold his spring '21 show at the Empire State Building, a feat that has never been done in all the 90 years that the landmark has been around. According to Vogue, Smith is shutting down the entire building, with plans to utilize every floor from the lobby to the observation deck. 'I have the most vivid memories of being in grade school and going on field trips with my classmates to the Empire State Building,' Smith told the publication. "I remember being in awe of its magnitude, so it’s really amazing all these years later to be showing my collection there.” Suffice to say, attendees will be in awe, too.” — Eliza Huber, Fashion Writer
Glitter Party
“I’ve been a fan of Miu Miu’s glittery shoes since fall '11 when the house debuted its now-famous sparkly boots that were consequently spotted on every influencer and editor in town. Now, I finally got my hands on my very own pair of Miu Miu glitter sandals, thanks to a special birthday present and The RealReal’s extensive selection of luxury resale items. Come New York Fashion Week, I’ll parade in the daylight in the footwear equivalent of a disco ball.” — FSS
Slipping Into Fall
"While slip season may be coming to an end, after seeing Zoë Kravitz in this electric blue dress, I am reconsidering my fall shopping wishlist. Designed by Araks, the silk georgette style comes in several different colors. I am eyeing the hot pink hue, which I could see myself styling with a leather jacket and lug-sole loafers once temperatures near fall territory." — IG
“This month, the New York City Ballet is celebrating its new season with the fall fashion gala. Hosted by the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker and Laverne Cox, the gala includes a show featuring ballet premieres by choreographers Sidra Bell and Andrea Miller, alongside costumes by Christopher John Rogers and Esteban Cortázar. If there was a night tailor-made for me, it’s this one.” — Frances Solá-Santiago, Fashion Writer
Target’s Coming For Our Wallets
“Target's latest designer collaboration is coming in September — and trust me, it's worth waking up early for. The collection follows last year’s Designer Dress collab that included partnerships with Christopher John Rogers, Alexis, and Rixo. This time around, the partnership will include separates and accessories from Rachel Comey, Sandy Liang, Nili Lotan, and Victor Glemaud and be available in sizes XXS to 4X. I suggest planning ahead and checking out the lookbook when it launches next week, so you'll be ready to hit ‘add to cart' when the collection finally drops.” — EH
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PM6N98 Film Still / Publicity Still from Gilmore Girls Alexis Bledel 2001 Photo credit: Frank Ockenfels File Reference # 30847947THA For Editorial Use Only – All Rights Reserved
When I think back to my private school days in the suburbs of Chicago, it isn’t the assignments or even my teachers that I remember so much as my uniform: a red-and-navy plaid jumper that was only slightly more exciting than the pieces I was authorized to wear with it. Five days a week, for six long years, I wore the same outfit with either ballet flats or penny loafers — only black or navy — and a polo or Oxford-style shirt. Even my stockings — black, navy, or white knee socks or tights — were not of my choosing.
In sixth grade, I transferred to public school, shedding my uniform in the process and eventually making a career out of dressing for myself.
The only source of solace I had throughout my elementary school years, though, came in the form of Rory Gilmore, a fellow uniform-wearer however fictitious. The youngest Gilmore Girl wore a real school uniform, like I did, as opposed to the bespoke versions spotted on the Blair Waldorfs and Serena van der Woodsens of New York City’s upper crust. In my busted-up ballet flats, I couldn’t relate to the sorts of uniforms worn by the televised student body, which often included colorful statement handbags and tights, as well as designer belts, padded headbands, and layered-on jewelry. Hell, I wasn’t even allowed to wear nail polish (or say hell), let alone insert a pussy-bow blouse in place of my polo.
Rory’s Chilton uniform was slightly different, enough to offer me a sense of hope. By my count, the 2003 valedictorian had a total of eight top options throughout her three illustrious years at the East Coast establishment, including one button-down shirt, two vests — one navy and one gray — three sweaters — a navy and a gray cardigan and a navy pullover — a blazer, and a peacoat. Though six more than I had, the restrictive color palette and lack of eye-catching accessories was in sync with the constraints of my elementary-school ensemble. On the bottom, she always wore the same blue plaid skirt, which, apart from color, was a near-exact replica of the style I would have worn had I remained at my private school past the fifth grade. (In the sixth grade, our plaid jumpers were replaced with equally plaid skirts.) Though her black-and-white Oxford shoes would have likely led to a citation in my day, they were still a far cry from Serena’s Stuart Weitzman thigh-highs.
Which is not to say that I didn’t enjoy the “uniforms” (can we really refer to them thus?) featured on Gossip Girl. In fact, I loved them. As a longtime fan of both the books and the original TV series, I often daydreamed about wearing a loose tie with an untucked button-down shirt. I thought long and hard about carrying my books in a leather shoulder bag as opposed to a dweeby backpack and accessorizing with jewel-tone tights and earrings that weren’t simple gold balls (the only kind we were allowed to wear). Despite being permitted to wear whatever I wanted (within reason — my affinity for short shorts was denied by both my parents and the administration) in high school, I often found myself dressing with Serena and Blair in mind, switching off between the boho and prep valances. I had a lot of missed opportunities to make up for, and wasn’t ready for Rory’s more understated sense of style.
But during those years when I didn’t have a choice in how I dressed, back when I had no choice but to relinquish any style autonomy despite my growing interest in fashion, fantasizing about clothes that were off-limits felt like a waste of time. Instead, it was Rory’s finite sartorial options that kept me zipping up my jumper and slipping on my loafers every morning. Her rotating selection of mundane cardigans and blazers furnished me with an odd sense of solace. I wasn’t in this alone.
