Three Fall Styles We’re Seeing Everywhere

I love the leopard print, but I don’t think I like to pair with kitten heels… It kind of throws me off.

Got nervous the trend for the third look was going to say kitten heels are back. . . hard pass. I’m down for leopard print though.

In fifth grade (in the 90s), my best friend came to school wearing a short sleeve mock turtleneck striped sweater from The Limited Too. I had never been into fashion till then. Or, rather, I was very focused on buying clothes from the boys section up until that point. But I came home and announced to my parents that I HAD to go to The Limited Too and get this short sleeve mock neck number. My mom hates shopping, but my dad gamely agreed to take me to the mall, and bought me the sweater in two different colors.

It took me from fifth grade until my late 20s to feel comfortable seeking out clothes that I feel good about and owning my own style. In my early 30s, now I feel like my style continues to evolve but that I’m in the driver’s seat. It used to feel like I’d have to order a bunch of stuff and try so many things on and send most of it back and feel like I couldn’t anticipate what I’d feel good in. But now it’s different. A few weeks ago I ordered new pants for work, spent 20 minutes browsing and ordering, and feel great about what I bought.

I wish I could tell younger me that this clothing thing takes a while. It takes time and interest and effort and reflection. But it also makes me feel really good to dress how I want to dress, and to present myself to the world and to *me* in a way that fits how I imagine myself when I’m feeling at my best.

This is a long way of saying that, while I appreciate the function that short sleeve striped sweaters serve, I will not be partaking in a trend that carries a lot of emotional weight for me, and not all of it is comfortable emotion. That represents a time when I thought I had to imitate other people, rather than gathering ideas from others but making things my own.

I have a deep and abiding love of leopard print (actually all animal prints) that my husband doesn’t quite understand. My dream is to have a leopard print coat but I think that might be going too far. I do have zebra print flats which I think go with everything – they’re black and white stripe which is a neutral, right?

This winter I plan on fulfilling a decades long dream of owning a Ralph Lauren cable knit sweater. I bought a similar one (different company) on sale at the end of last winter as it was so FREAKING cold. Unfortunately I killed it in the spring by not following the washing instructions properly, so I need a new one.
But – I wish summer wouldn’t end. I’m not ready to be cold.

International reader here. Please explain when you guys call autumn “autumn” and when you call it “fall”? Fall is primarily a word for an embarrassing moment and not a season outside the US :)

I’ve always had such a strong aversion to ribbed fabric! It’s uncomfortable and looks/feels cheap to me. Corduroy on the other hand….

I have a midi leopard print pencil skirt (from three years back) that actually looks chic and sexy with other plain elements. My husband, who is not a fan of animal print, jokingly refers to it as my “New Jersey Mob wife” outfit. It just makes me even more determined to wear it! Normally I’m not a big animal print wearer, but the outfit makes me feel playful! Grrrr!

this fall/winter I plan to wear as many dresses and black jeans to work as possible! I am also all in on high waisted straight jeans. This is probably because of Alice Gao’s influence- we have very similar builds and I love her style :-)

If you can get your hands on them (they are currently sold out online) Uniqlo U high waisted straight jeans are pretty amazing- great shape & quality and only $39.90. The whole Uniqlo U collection is very 70s, and very affordable for what it is. (Uniqlo U is designed by Lemaire, who used to be the creative director of Hermes. As far as I can tell, the U garnments are of better quality than the average Uniqlo item.)

I used to love fashion but I am in this weird place where 1.) I don’t like any of this, or any of the “new” trends I see people wearing and 2.) I really have no idea what I like anymore! It’s jeans and t-shirts for me until I figure it out again one day

ALL LEOPARD PRINT EVERYTHING. <3

Oops/thank you: just bought those leopard print flats I have been lusting after :)

would love a round-up of fall dresses! fall is my favorite time to wear dresses styled with boots or mules and jackets!

Isabella looks so lovely!
Do readers have recommendations of where to buy great dresses for fall? What are people’s go-to shops?
I have been searching high & low for a dress to wear for upcoming engagement pictures in Boston, but I haven’t found anything I love. A lot of dresses are sleeveless, which seems too summery, and so many are polyester (which means they require hand washing–a big no-no for me). The maxi dress looks great on Isabella, but I fear the tiers would look odd on me.
Any other great options out there?

My question is where are all of Madewell’s long sleeved button downs? I usually buy at least 5 around this time every year and there are always dozens to choose from. This year they hardly have any. They’re literally all I wear from September to May. I check the site every day. Where are my plaids and stripes???

I’m loving the ’70s inspired clothing! I recently bought beige suede Vagabond boots that I need to figure out how to incorporate into my wardrobe. I’m used to dark footwear, so this is challenging.

Agree with other comments about fall: ideally, it’s crisp, sunny, and the colors are beautiful. In reality, it’s largely wet (Portland, OR here), cloudy, soggy, freezing. But snuggling on the couch under a blanket is definitely sweeter in the fall!

I love all of the outfits and I’ve been thinking of adding a little bit of print but always chicken out. I don’t know why! We are in spring in Australia but winter is clinging on for dear life. Those days when spring breaks through, though, are magic. The stripe t and jeans perfect for those days and everyone walks around with a happy bounce like “Yes! We made it!”. You could high five a stranger on those days.

That striped shirt reminds me of ones I wore in the ’90s to high school. Wish I’d kept those! But as for me, this fall I will be wearing anything that fits — currently 7 months pregnant and the options are narrowing themselves down by the week, it seems. I do love Nordstrom, such great customer service, but do wish they’d expand their maternity petites offerings!

I’m already sick of leopard print, but love seeing a flash of neon/bright colored eyeshadow across the lids with an otherwise simple outfit. It looks so chic to me.

Speaking of 70s inspiration, absolutely loving the fashion (particularly the coats!) in the new season of The Deuce. I woke up this morning thinking of Maggie gyllenhaal‘s outfits in the first episode, striking and so wearable.

70s inspired stuff is EVERYWHERE right now! I’m definitely feeling the stripes and velvet dresses for Fall! Also, I’ve never been a leopard print fan, although I make an exception for underwear haha