If you go to school in any place that experiences all four seasons (from the blistering summer to the wrath of below-freezing winters), then your Autumn will most likely start off nice and warm, ending with a slightly chilly, crisp quality to the air. Fall can be a tricky season to shop for, with its pronounced weather change that all Northeasterners dread, signaling that winter is, indeed, coming (Game of Thrones joke anyone?).
Wouldn’t it be such a relief to start this new semester with all the wardrobe essentials you’ll need for the rest of the season? No need to go stress shopping on your random three-day break in the middle of October, when all you want to do is sleep and eat a home-cooked meal...I'm proud to present you with a straightforward guide to staying on trend for any occasion this fall, so you can nap and eat Mom's special brisket all you want.
Lulu's, $38.00
Ditch the skinny jeans (or any kind of jeans for that matter) and go for these boho chic babies.
I’ve been waiting for ages for jeans to go out of style as the norm for bottoms. Wide leg pants, usually made out of super stretchy, soft material, have hit the ground running as the new “it” pant. Though these have been in style for quite some time, it doesn’t look like their popularity is dying down anytime soon. With an endless array of patterns, rises, and materials, these pants are sure to please anyone, and they also make your butt look really good.
Dress down:
Forever 21, $17.80
Dress up:
O'Neill, $49.50
Free People, $139.99
Plaid is back and better than ever.
Plaid was all over the runways for Fall 2015, from Chanel to Vivienne Westwood. There was a lot of red-toned plaid, but I say, go for whatever pop of color you’re feeling in the moment. Think you look best in green? Try out a green plaid wool jacket. The point is that plaid looks warm and cozy, but differs from the black most people usually overdo once the fall cold front comes in. You may be reading this thinking, “Plaid is for lumberjacks, how can it be stylish?” I promise you, designers have hopped on this bandwagon with more style ideas than you can imagine. Check out some example below.
Dress up:
Forever 21, $17.90
Dress down:
Forever 21, $19.99
Zara, $69.90
Fringe, but not the kind your mom wore to Woodstock.
Fringe is a trend that is being resurrected from the dead and revamped by designers across the world. Goodbye suede fringe vests and boots, and hello, fringe feat. bold pattern and sharp lines. This trend can be amazing. However, when it comes to fringe, there is a thin line between looking chic and looking cheap. When overdone on a garment, fringe looks hand-cut (even if it isn’t), and you should stay away. While this kind of fringe makes for a great summer concert trend, festival season has passed and it’s time to move on. Fringe that still makes you look clean cut and sharp is where it’s at for fall. Remember, just because it’s expensive doesn’t mean it’s done well. With fringe, focus less on price and brand and more on cut and styling.
Dress up:
Asos, $44.79
Dress down:
Forever 21, $17.90
Kmart, $19.99
"When [you] walk in the spot...this is what [they’ll] see."
Just like LMFAO says, everybody will stop and stare at you with these babies on your feet. Chunky, platform statement shoes will have everyone thinking that you’re sexy and you know it. Alright, enough with the jokes. But really, these shoes are hot right now. You might think they’re not your style, but with so many different shoe types following this trend, it shouldn’t be hard to find something that fits your style. Like sneakers? Try platform sneakers! More of a boot person? Chunky platform boots were all over the runways this season! These shoes are a super cool way to add a bright pop of color to an otherwise dreary fall outfit. Shoes that are color-blocked or have only one block of bright color tend to work best for this trend.
Dress up:
Zara, $99
Dress down:
Asos, $19.95
Aritzia, $22
And last but not least, black leggings, because I love them and you should too.
Okay, so technically black leggings aren’t a “Fall 2015 trend,” but that’s because they’re timeless. So if you haven’t been on top of your leggings game, I suggest you get on that. Easy, slimming, and comfortable, you can dress up while feeling like you’re dressed down! It’s a win-win. That being said, with all the options available on the market, it can be a pain trying to figure out which leggings are right for you. Do you want to go with the most comfortable, or more chic and possibly less comfortable, or somewhere in between? Personally, I never really got the hype about expensive name-brand leggings. I’ve found multiple cheaper alternatives to Lululemons, and leggings that don’t pill, fade or expose your butt to the whole world. I know Lululemon recalled those leggings, but it will never cease being funny to me that people were paying almost $100 to basically walk around naked in public.
Dress down:
Aritzia, $30
Dress up:
Zara, $39.90
Okay, actually last and not least, some bonus tips for Fall 2015 accessory trends:
Forever 21, $5.90
Sunny-cold reflective sunglasses.
Bring the reflective trend with you into this new semester, because your friends will always thank you for being their own portable mirror. Kidding (kind of), but sunglasses are perfect for Fall because even when it gets cold, there are always those sunny cold days. I can’t think of a way to say this nicely so I’ll just say it: Ray Bans are [mostly] overrated. If you’re like me and would lose them within a month, sunglasses from Forever 21 are super affordable and can be super stylish as well.
Asos, $12.52
PATTERNED TIGHTS ARE BACK IN.
As you can see, I’m a little excited about patterned tights being in again. These were in style, then went out of style, and are making a comeback now in an awesome way. Great under shorts, skirts, dresses, or tee shirts that you like to pretend are dresses, cool tights are no longer just for six-year-olds. Super cutout-patterned tights are great for the beginning of Fall, while thicker patterned tights are great for the end of it. A name-brand might be tempting, but with tights (unless you know they are good quality and will last) you should be spending $15 max. You don’t want to be that person sitting in the corner at a party, too worried about ripping her new Yves Sant Laurent tights to dance with her friends. Feeling free, fun, and flirty--that’s what patterned tights are for!
