If you know me, even by way of social media, then I think you know that I love fashion. I love everything about it, even the outrageous, impractical designs that you see on the runway during fashion shows.  Although I probably wouldn’t wear some of those items, I can appreciate the artistry behind the creations.

I especially love fall fashion.  I like the change in fabrics to heavier, more textured fabrics, I like the color changes that we see from summer to fall, and I love layers.  There really is an art to layering pieces well.  So, when I say that I have thought long and hard about this post, believe me.  I have been watching top fashion houses since early August.  I have carefully studied London Fashion Week styles, along with Paris and New York, of course.  I have been visiting websites on the regular to see what is new and exciting, and it is especially thrilling to see repeating trends that stand out among all these sources.  With all the research and investigation I have been doing, I thought I would share ten of the fashion trends I’ve noted for women’s fashion for Fall, 2023.  Buckle up, buttercup!

 1)     Denim:  Denim will probably never go out of style, but the cut of jeans changes every year, sometimes every season.  This year, designers are leaning heavily into denim, and lots of it!  By that, I mean that jeans are fuller and wider than in recent years. Denim skirts are fuller and longer, although the denim mini skirt will still be around, the longer maxi skirt will be what we see most often for denim skirts.  Keeping with the idea of more denim, tops and bottoms worn together will not be out of the question.  I’m sure you’ve heard of the Canadian Tuxedo?  Denim up top and denim on the bottom, yep, we’ll be seeing that in many forms.  You’ll see denim button up dress shirts, denim vests, denim blazers, the oh-so-popular denim jacket is still in style, but there are alternatives such as denim shackets too. Denim will be everywhere this season, and not just in blue.  We’ll see it in lots of colors, and no color is really out of the question.

On my shopping list - A denim maxiskirt and wide leg denim jeans:

2)    Cargo pants:  At first I had mixed feelings about cargo pants.  While I personally like them, they can be hard to style.  I often don’t know what shoes to wear with them, and if you can’t get the shoes worked out, the rest of the look can be all wrong. 

I think the key is to keep it casual.  There really is no dressing up cargo pants, they are meant to be dressed down.  I think we picture army green pants when we think of cargo pants, and that is the classic way to go, but I think I like them in black. I think choosing black will allow me to wear these with loafers or sneakers.

On my shopping list:  Cargo pants from Old Navy

3)    Cowboy Boots:  If you don’t yet own cowboy boots then what are you waiting for?  They truly never go out of style!  A good pair of cowboy boots is one of the few things that will last your entire lifetime – you may need to have them resoled, but otherwise, they just get better and better.  Go with a classic color if you are buying your first pair, either black or brown.  If you are adding to your boot collection, anything goes!  I worked at a western wear store years ago, so I have quite the collection of boots and I love them all!  White or off-white boots are trending right now and would be a good addition to your wardrobe for year-round wear.

May I recommend this pair, prices start at only $30; available in 12 colors. I have these in “Bone PU” and love them!

4)    Elevated athleisure:  Covid made us fall in love with leggings and joggers, and they still have our hearts!  However, gone are the days of messy buns and sloppy sweats, we want to look put together and intentional, thus the “elevated” vibe.  Sets are so popular right now, for good reason.  For one, they come at a bargain when purchasing together, and two, there is no thought required to put together an outfit.  We love to wear elevated athleisure for travel too – comfy but put together, let’s go!

I’m eyeing this set for myself: 

5)    A pop of red:  We’ll be seeing subtle pops of red from now through Christmas.  I’m talking about a clutch or small crossbody bag, red heels, or red boots.  A little snippet of red is all that is needed to brighten up an otherwise simple look.

How I plan to add red to my wardrobe this fall - both items are available in red on Amazon:

6)    Cardigans:  a good sweater is a staple piece in any woman’s wardrobe.  This season, we are seeing cardigans everywhere.  I have still been seeing dusters – long lightweight sweaters that fall past the knee, but I think dusters are a little dated right now.  (I am saving mine however, because everything comes back around again if you hold onto them long enough!) Shorter cardigans, with the hem ending just past the waistline are the way to go this season to show off a great pant or maxi skirt.  I’m not talking about the classic, more fitted cardigans with pearl buttons that you would wear as a sweater set.  I prefer a slightly oversized chunkier knit that is not too bulky.  These will work best with the wider leg jeans, cargo pants, and maxi skirts.  A front tuck works well with a cardigan, or because of the shorter length, you can leave untucked. I looked for simple designs, no balloon sleeves, dolman sleeves, or crazy buttons, etc.

So far I have purchased this one in black and ivory and the price can’t be beat:

7)    Shoes:  Most years, the thing that I update first is my shoes.  If you have a broad wardrobe, updating your shoes for the season can go a long way in freshening up your entire wardrobe.  This year, we are seeing Mary Jane’s in all heel heights, and the same goes for a classic loafer.  Also, see number 3 above – cowboy boots or booties are a must have as well.

Here are the Mary Jane’s that I added this year:

Here are the loafers I added: 

8)    Barbie Pink:  For most of my life, I haven’t been one to purchase pink clothing.  I was a redhead for many years, and most shades of pink were not very flattering.  Now I have gone fully gray, with some blonde highlights, and I find that bright colors look really nice with my complexion.  Hot pink is one of those colors!  I also like the blush pink that is so popular now and I find it to almost be a neutral.  Of course the recent Barbie movie release renewed our love of all things pink.  Unlike number five above, a pop of red, we will see pink fashion from head to toe, not just little pops of it.  We’ll see lots of pink sweaters this season, both in solids and patterns, and we’ll see pink dresses, blazers, tweed jackets, shoes, bags, skirts, etc. 

Here are two pink items I am eyeing:

9)    Quiet luxury:  This may be my favorite of all the trends.  I have kind of always practiced this trend with my fashion choices.  I love the luxury products, but my budget does not, so I am always on the lookout for a good dupe, especially when it comes to handbags, shoes, and jewelry.  This year, even celebrities are leaning towards quiet luxury.  Here is what that looks like:

·      fashion without obvious branding

·      a minimalist approach to putting together an outfit – less is more

·      good quality pieces – good leather in bags and shoes; well made, tailored fabrics for tops and bottoms.  Stay away from anything cheap looking, even if you pay a little more.

·      Light colors, especially styled in monochrome. For instance, a lady dressed head to toe in winter white or beige

·      Leather or good quality faux leather statement pieces such as pants or skirt

·      A good quality overcoat

·      Minimal jewelry or small, dainty pieces

·      Well tailored, fitted clothing

10) Cropped length for tops, jackets, sweaters, etc.  I’m not talking about the showing your belly kind of cropped, just not longer than past your hips.  A basic jean jacket is the perfect example of the length that I want to convey here. For years, we wore our black leggings with longer tops, cardigans, blazers, etc. to cover our bottoms.  Now we have great new styles in jeans, slacks, and skirts, so let’s show off the full length of those styles by wearing a shorter length on our tops.  It’s all about balance!

I’ve been eyeing this jean jacket that will could potentially take care of two of the trends - number 1 - denim, and number 10 - cropped!

PRO TIP: If a trend feels classic, like you have seen it before even if it was a few years ago, (cowboy boots) this is where you may want spend a little more. The idea is that if it is a classic, you will keep it longer.

If it feels like it could be more of a social statement (such as Barbie pink) that could fade out quickly, don’t invest as much in these pieces.

What do you think?  I’m sure I have missed a trend or two, but these are the ones I see repeated, that I think can be easily duplicated by all women.  What will you be adding to your wardrobe this fall?  Comment below or email me at hello@kinshipandvine.com – I’d love to hear from you!

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