Trend Alert: The Ultimate Fall Wardrobe Cheat Sheet

A guide to all the must-have runway trends to incorporate into your 2019 fall wardrobe. 

Thoughts + Sights | Vanessa Nardin Kruczaj

As ambiguous as trends may seem, they are calculated profit-optimizing strategies implemented by fashion houses and trickled down to fast fashion manufacturers to ensure consumers are continuously scrambling to their local mall to acquire the latest must-have pieces. The opportunity for consumers to feel fulfilled by their accepted physical existence in society and the fashion industry’s chance to revamp itself, fuels the impressionable nature of the trends that sweep through pages of magazines and appear in store fronts. While I often try to stay true to my sartorial conscience, dabbling in trends and experimenting with new ideas unleashes new possibilities for exploring one’s evolving fashion identities, while simultaneously recycling and refurbishing past runway designs. In the world of trends, where only the sky's the limit, let’s analyse this fall’s ultimate wardrobe cheat sheet.

Millennial Purple is the new Millennial Pink

With cooler temperatures usually comes cooler colour palettes for our fall wardrobes, so why not have some fun this season and embrace the millennial purple shade for winter’s new rich palette. Feel free to experiment along the colour spectrum from playful lavenders to vibrant plums, and don’t be afraid to mix and match shades. Whether worn head-to-toe as seen at Rodarte, Louis Vuitton, and Raf Simons or sprinkled throughout your accessories, the warm hue will likely liven your mood and add some dimension to your otherwise monochromatic fall style.

From left: Rodarte, Vogue; Louis Vuitton, Vogue; Raf Simons, Vogue

Time to Save the Day… and Don’t Forget your Cape

Seen throughout street style and on the catwalks by Valentino, Marc Jacobs, and Oscar De La Renta, a floor grazing cape is a key silhouette for this season. Personalize this look, with eye-catching colors and textures to add some drama and a polished charm. These heroic capes can also be accessorized with chunky belts and classic gold accents as styled at Victoria Beckham and Celine.

From left: Valentino, Vogue; Victoria Beckham, Vogue; Celine, Vogue

Feathers, Feathers, Feathers

The most touchable of textures, feathers, got a makeover this season, as seen draped on jacket collars at Versace, placed delicately along satin heels at Giambattista Valli, and adorned along hems at Prabal Gurung. The soft and playful material is reminiscent of the 30’s and 40’s, adding fluidity to the New York and Paris catwalks. For conscientious consumers, make note that an increasing number of brands are utilizing a variety of vegan feathery fabrics to create their flamboyant creations, promoting strong ethics and anti-animal cruelty ethos within the fashion industry. With this in mind, feel free to add a bit of texture this season with some of Hollywood’s golden era allure. 

From left: Versace, Sleek Magazine; Giambattista Valli, Vogue; Prabal Gurung, Vogue

It’s Hat Season

Where once stood knit beanies and colourful bucket hats is now occupied by sophisticated cloches, masculine fedoras, and printed newsboy caps. From statement fur textures at Tom Ford and House of Holland, to polished fedoras at Ami, a redefining approach to futuristic hat styling has swept across the runway and is making its way to your wardrobes.

From left: Tom Ford, Vogue; Ami, Vogue; House of Holland, Vogue

Put Some Prep in Your Step

“Prep” or “preppy” style has typically been associated with the youthful, opulent adapted uniforms of preparatory school boys and Ivy League attendees (ANCX). As the face of 1920’s fashion, the prep style signified the distinct upper class youth growing into adulthood and paying homage to conservatie traditions and adhering to workplace etiquette (ANCX). Today, such classics have been revamped with modern silhouettes and contrasting prints coupled with traditional colours to ensure a polished touch. From eclectic sweater vests paired with modern structured blazers as seen at Etro and Longchamp, to patent boots and distinct layering at Ami, the resurgence of prep provokes an appetite for affluence and refined elegance.

From left: Etro, Vogue; Ami, Vogue; Longchamp, Vogue

It’s All in the Chain Link

This fall season we are exploring the return of eye-catching, colourful jewellery and accessories after a long-winded overflow of “dainty” minimalism. Various iterations of chain link accents have become prominent components of the fall catwalks including Louis Vuitton, JW Anderson, and Tom Ford, featuring thick gold chokers and quirky charm bracelets. In fact, this chain link trend has even reconstructed the once dismissed eyeglass chain into a must-have accessory for any eyeglass owner. Thus, from handbags and eyewear to chunky necklaces and bangles, the chain link detail is providing a much needed edge to otherwise simplistic ensembles prancing the catwalk.

From left: Louis Vuitton, Vogue; JW Anderson, Shutterstock; Tom Ford, Vogue

Double Bagging

Exaggerated proportions have long been a fashion favourite and this season holds no reserve with the “it” bag, or should I say bags, being shrunk to the extreme and larger than life. From Tod’s structured silhouettes and Fendi’s patent textures to Chanel’s vibrant hues, it’s been proven two or three bags is always better than one. This trend may not last seasons, but who says you can’t have a little fun once in a while?

From left: Tod's, Fendi, Chanel

So We’re Really Making Patagonia a Thing?!?!

As the colder months approach, we often consider the grandpa fleece as a major fashion faux pas. The ultimate indication that when the temperature begins to drop, one has finally dismissed their sartorial commitment to their fall wardrobes. But lo and behold, where once stood the beloved city puffer, now as new competition as the forever turning-tables of the fashion industry have restyled the grandpa fleece to the extreme. From bright colours at Ashleys Williams and cropped silhouettes at Fendi to reconstructed necklines and hyper-layering at Sandy Liang, the “Patagonia effect” has emerged on the catwalk becoming unexpectedly cool.

From left: Ashley Williams, Vogue; Sandy Liang, Vogue; Fendi, Vogue