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With the change of seasons comes an onslaught of headlines, all telling us what to wear and how to wear it. I’m here to share my insights on autumnal outerwear and break down some fall fashion facts. Why listen to me? I grew up watching ‘90s runways on YouTube, and trying on all my mom’s clothes to integrate the different looks into my own daily dress-up routine.
Fashion becomes a hot commodity in the fall for a few reasons. First, we have the reintroduction of student populations across the country, adding new people to the city streets. Additionally, our generation is freer with fashion than ever before, and more willing to try new things because of our easy access to archives and inspiration online. Anyone can access thousands of runways and photoshoots to find ideas and looks.
We’re also seeing a conscious effort to practice sustainable fashion in those of us who are truly dedicated to dressing well—not only are secondhand clothes classic and well-made, but thrifting can be a great way to find affordable options in a wide range of styles, which is another reason why it’s become more popular.
As the weather changes, it gets easier to put together fresh outfits by layering old pieces. While this may seem like a common concept, fast fashion permeates our society and creates consumer fads that last mere weeks called ‘microtrends.’ Despite these constant microtrends that plague our society, vintage and secondhand clothing remain effortlessly chic, and sourcing timeless pieces ensures our seasonal closets stand the test of time.
Furthermore, in colder weather you need to make sure that your clothes aren’t just cute, but comfortable and warm. Turning to well-made vintage pieces is a good way to ensure that you’re getting something that will continue to be worn well into the future.
“Natural fibers are the way to go [for everything],” Avery MacGuinness, a Delaware Technical School student majoring in marketing and fashion design, says. “Vintage, baby!”
A large piece of personal style is our presence in the online world. Maddie Cohen, a student at New York University, observes that the internet is very relevant in fashion even if we don’t want to acknowledge it. People like to pretend that they’re unique and in control of their own creative energy, but it’s impossible to exist without the internet in today’s world.
“Microtrends are sneaky,” Cohen says. “Simple things are becoming hot commodities, like polka dots.” Finding a way to stay unique and keep your closet manageable is difficult when oversaturation makes classic things feel obsolete.
While microtrends and TikTok fads are inevitable, people are becoming a little bit more resilient. There has been an uprising of individuals ignoring trends that they know won’t last, or subtly implementing truly interesting trends into their wardrobe without fanfare.
After years of fast-moving fashion trends, I have become better at acknowledging the unnecessariness of following every trend. Some things aren’t for everyone, and just because it’s appealing right now doesn’t mean it has to become part of my wardrobe. That’s why, this fall, I’m being very intentional with my shopping and actively avoiding the fast fashion traps.
It’s important to work on wearing what makes you feel good, not just what everyone else is wearing.
There is a positive to our constant online exposure, and it’s the introduction of new fashion elements that we wouldn’t have previously thought of. Lace is something that I’ve always loved, but seeing it overused online didn’t take my love away from it. Instead, it made me more intentional about how I interact with lace.
MacGuinness will observe this phenomenon by reimagining sweaters—a fall classic—this season. She believes “we need to experiment more with our knitwear [by adopting] interesting, intricate sweaters [or] colorblocking.” Little things like this are a great way to remain in style in autumn without making things too complicated.
Cohen makes similar remarks on an unprecedented phenomenon happening in New York City. “We’re getting more grungy as the seasons change, but not in a traditional way,” she says, “More like a version where ‘clean girl’ meets ‘opium’.”
In one of the fashion hubs of the world, seasonal changes combine everyone’s eclectic styles into one amalgamation. Even five years ago, the words “clean girl” and “opium” wouldn’t have meant much to us in terms of clothing. Now, they are definite descriptions that characterize someone’s entire wardrobe with a single word.
Cohen’s observation reflects my point: people feel more free to experiment now. We are able to take elements of different trends and styles that we like and put them together to reflect who we are as a person. This pumpkin spice season, I encourage you to take the time to evaluate your seasonal pieces and see what truly brings you joy. What’s something you’ve been wearing for years that you are excited to break out of the closet? What’s something you’ve been wanting to try out for a while? Give it a go, and remember that even simple things can spice up an outfit.
