While we’re all about trans-seasonal dressing here at With Mads, there are always trends each season that we can use to inspire how we style things, rather than dictating items we should be buying and adding to our wardrobe. When I think about Fall 2024 fashion trends I think about mixing textures and juxtaposing unlike items. I think about rich pops of color and easy styling. Let’s dive in.
Oh Fall, you beautiful season. The season of layering, the coming of sweater weather.
I think for most of us Fall is a season where we can be more artistic with our styling. Because we can start to layer in Fall it brings in so many possibilities, and one of the most fun is being able to add layers to your favorite outfits, even the ones you donned in the summer. Think about adding a button up under a blazer but leaving it open with the t-shirt you wore this summer underneath. Or adding a neck scarf for some dimension and pattern pop.
Think about a plaid blazer over a stripped sweater. Think about a chunk or pointed toe boot under a wide leg pant. And the jackets. Good lord the jackets. A wide stiff collard coat over that blazer, or over a lightweight jacket. Just thinking about these combos makes me feel warm and fuzzy. Almost like I need a PSL except I just can’t do PSLs, especially not the ones from Starbucks. Don’t come for me, I’m a Seattleite through and through, and Starbies stopped being cool when it went mainstream, the beans went burnt, and they started adding bizarre chemicals to their PSLs.
Anywhosiville, fall is a delight. It’s the season that brings warmth and comfort, and I love being able to play with the textures and hues.
I grabbed this chiffon dress from The Refind Closet and thought it was the perfect transitional fall piece. It has the fun of a short dress, but with the tone, color, and checkered print it feels like it’s nodding to fall.
Fall tips
So here are my favorite combos and tips for fall. My tip is always to try things on at home and play around with what feels good. An outfit should never feel stiff or uncomfortable. It should feel like you and feel like something you want to spend the day in.
- Layer up. Use vests, blazers, and cardigans to add a bit of warmth but also interest to a look.
- Play with textures. Mix and match fabrics like tweed, leather, and velvet for depth. One of my goals for fall is to play more with textures but also prints…
- Prints! I am going full Carrie Bradshaw this fall and starting to come up with ways of mixing prints, then taking it up a notch and mixing colors with prints as well. It’s one thing to pair a black and white stripped shirt with a black houndstooth jacket, it’s another entire to mix a multi-colored plaid blazer with a blue polka dot shirt. But I am so ready for the challenge.
Fall trends
When it comes to the actual trends I’m seeing I think we have an incredible season ahead of us. And honestly I recommend starting to incorporate these items in your wardrobe now, even as the season is transitioning. So many of the Fall 2024 trends feel really attainable, which is so fabulous. Keep in mind these trends can be worn in so many different ways. Colors can come in full on fits or in little pops of color, layers can come from accessories, textures and prints can be combined or isolated as standout pieces in your look. The world is your oyster cutie pie.
- Burgundy. She’s the color folks. I’m not really seeing full on burgundy looks, but I’m seeing pops of burgundy in handbags (I just scored a beautiful Chanel in burgundy from The Refind), in sweaters, and even in nail polish. It feels a bit more attainable than the bright red colors we saw last fall.
- Green. You can try a green button up like this one from The Frankie Shop, or an army green bag. This color is a great transitional color into wearing colors if you’re a more neutral girlie.
- Suede. Oh you beautiful fabric (I count it as a texture too). I love the feeling of suede, and I love the way it brings a look.
- Long boots (and cowboy boots): no this does not mean booties. If you’re a Morgan Stewart stan you know that we don’t do heeled booties unless they’re under a full leg pant here they do nothing for your ankles. The point is you don’t want to show your ankles it cuts them off.
- Cargo jackets
- Mixed of oversized and slim. Some people say the skinny jean is back. I say we can do better. Instead of a skinny jean think slim boot cut or straight leg jeans, or tights. I love a good oversized/snug juxstaposition so if you’re throwing on an oversized blazer you can pair it with a slim pant. Some people are saying do a more slim blazer, and while I can’t agree with a tight blazer look, I can say at least keep some of it oversized, like the shoulders.
- Soft bags. I love a soft bag, the way it looks but also the comfort over the shoulder is so fantastic when you’re running around and need your bag to work for you. For those of us bag lovers we have bags that serve specific occasions. You have your going out bags that are meant to be an accessory and might not be the most practical, and then on the other end of the spectrum you have your catch-all Marry Poppins bags that you just need to carry all your shit and actually stay on your arm. That is what a slouchy bag will do for you. Size doesn’t matter here as much. I’m seeing oversized bag still and smaller shoulder bags, but try out something that has a soft material or has the look of something that is slouchy on the shoulder.
- Polka dots. Whether you love them or hate them this can be a fun one to experiment with. It can be a blouse (see the next trend) or it can be a small accessory. The class black and white setting of this print can be a pop of something under a blazer, but left unbuttoned with a crisp white t-shirt underneath. I would say try it, but it’s ok if it’s not for you.
- Interesting blouse. While a classic blouse can be great try and find one that has some interesting dimension, it can be something like the Ganni oversized collar, or cropped length, but adding in an interesting blouse can be fun for going out or mixing with casual pants and sneakers.
- Leopard print. Some say leopard print is a neutral, I say she’s meant to be mixed and will give you a sense of fun. You can do a full on leopard top with slim jeans and a great bootie (styled appropriately as noted above).
No matter how you play with your outfits this Fall season, I hope you have some fun with it. Don’t take yourself too seriously, and please don’t dress for anyone else. Something a lot of my clients tell me is they can’t wear something until their body is a certain way, like somehow being a specific weight will allow them to wear the things they really want to. THIS SIMPLY ISN’T TRUE! Trust me, as someone who has had weight fluctuations her whole adult life and who is recently postpartum after gaining 85 pounds, I know how the thought can occur, but let’s correct it.
I’m not the first to say this but you are meant to wear clothes, they are not meant to wear you. Your body should never be expected to fit into something, it’s the other way around. And if you need help working through this or finding ideas, just send me a message, I got you.
