Another fall season means brand new fall trends. The resurgence of old fads, experimental fabrics and staples from your grandma’s closet- fall fashion has never looked better. Learn all about the new raves from StyleCircle’s Editorial Team and their fall favourites!
JACOB MARION
Managing Editor of Print
Suede
Fall is almost here, so swap out your glossy patent and smooth pebbled leathers for soft suede. While leather jackets have long been a staple for cool-weather dressing, this year, add some more intriguing textures to your outfits by incorporating a suede version in classic rich browns or even black for an edgier look. As the weather gets colder, and we need an extra layer, fall and suede are the perfect pairing!
Don’t feel constricted to just clothing either, plenty of suede accessories are on the market this season. Even street style icons like Bella Hadid are adopting the look, recently spotted pairing a suede version of Coach’s viral Brooklyn shoulder bag with denim cutoffs and cowboy boots. If the Western vibes that suede is synonymous with aren’t your jam, there’s endless inspiration for how to rock the fuzzy leather on the runways of Paris and Milan. Suede looks appeared in the most recent collections of Prada and Miu Miu, the world’s two hottest brands according to Lyst’s Q4 2023 index.
Sarah Xu
Writer
The Imagination of a Barn Jacket
Originating in men’s fashion, Gorpcore has been a popular trend among city kids in recent years. You must have noticed one posing on a mountain in an Arc’teryx parka and highlighting the punchline “life is wild”; street “rappers” presenting their Carhartt pieces everywhere; a couple having their Columbia fleece jackets and AirPods Max matched; also, boyfriend hoodies or tighter Adidas track jackets on girls with parachute pants from Jaded London. “Gorpcore’s not fashion for the 1 in 7 billion, nor is it fashion for the one per cent,” Chen wrote back in 2017, “it’s live-good, do-good, feel-good fashion for the ones who care just a little too much.”
You might think the style has already been history, but it actually extends its expression to femininity, ambiguity, and ambition. A middle length, a soft but still-standing silhouette, hat, lapels, buttons and pockets for details, a water-repellent and faded fabric, or a low saturated tone are all options for an elegant barn jacket in 2024. The faded clay one from Prada SS 24 seems an initial point, which features distinct leather lapels as a highlight, sequenced metal buttons, and solid without deliberate shoulder pads. With a dashing fringe top, a tulle office skirt, and heels, the neutral item is addressed as a queen slogan. Similar to the more slim TOTEME country cotton jacket and the particular hunter-green treasure, are composing melodies with various female items: cardigans, lace skirts, pirate shorts, suit pants, leather boots or loafers.
Our beautiful ladies are obsessed with such a contradictory fashion poem. Not only a simple pursuit of sophistication but more about a personal reflection in telling the world, “Girls are able to do everything.”
Gabrielle Rogozynski
Writer
Not Your Grandpa’s Plaid
Saying that plaid is in for fall may be the equivalent of saying “florals for spring… groundbreaking!” Plaid has always been a wardrobe staple, but this fall, we are seeing some fresh takes on the well-known trend.
Many Canadians have a simple flannel button-up in their closet. This season, consider stepping out of your comfort zone with something a little different to refresh the classic print. Brands such as Damson Madder, Apres Studio, and Gap are reimagining plaid on more feminine silhouettes, including delicate details like smocking and bows. If you want to shop locally, Courage My Love, a vintage shop in Kensington Market, has been releasing reworked plaid shirts reminiscent of the viral Ganni blouse in limited drops.
Plaid dominated the fall 2024 runways, but what truly stood out was the mixing and matching of different plaids showcased in the Helmut Lang ready-to-wear collection. Another highlight was the playful mix of plaid paired with other bold patterns, as seen in Anna Sui’s collection, where a tartan skirt and vest were styled with argyle socks and a Fair-Isle sweater.
Ekaterina Gurevich
Writer
Sheer Fabrics!
Fall has always been a perfect season for layering, which brings ample opportunities for fashionistas to show off every aspect of their outfits without compromising their body temperature. Carolina Herrera and Michael Kors showed off their sheer looks in spring of 2024, and the trend hasn’t stopped yet, with TTSWTRS kicking off their A/W 24 season with a collection of neutral-toned sheer bodysuits, and brands like Natan soon following up with sheer outfits or accents. Sheer fabrics offer the illusion of coverage while still highlighting or showing off parts of the body. While the zones most in focus for S/S 24 were the upper stomach and collarbones as seen in the Courreges show, the zeitgeist has shifted more to the upper thigh or navel, with many looks offering full coverage above the hips, and something short and flirty below them. The outfits that do not have full coverage still tend to conceal the upper body, but sit just above the hips to show off the navel, often paired with low-rise denim or skirts. Perhaps a further shift in the upcoming S/S 25 season will bring about another change in style, and highlight other zones of the body. Whether it is a simple mesh bodysuit or an intricate lace shirt, sheer fabrics is a trend that is sticking for fall 2024!
Lama Alshami
Writer
Bag Charms
Glamorize to your heart’s content!
Gone are the days of boring, sterile and flavourless minimalism. This fall, everyone will be decking out their bags with keychains, amulets and accessories. Maximalism is making a vibrant comeback, encouraging self-expression and celebrating all things bold. As the cooler weather sets in, your body is not the only thing that should be dressed to the nines—your bags deserve some personality too.
While bag charms have a long history, the modern trend we know today originates from the fashion icon, actress and singer Jane Birkin. Adorning her bag with ribbons, keychains and jewellery, she pioneered the transformation of designer bags into a personal statement.
Whether through crochet keychains or jingling bracelets, the options for customization are endless. This phenomenon was a global hit at fashion weeks in Copenhagen, New York, and most recently, London. Stuffed animals like Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse, mini bags attached to larger bags, and even an “I Love New York” mug were recently seen strutting down the catwalk. There are no limits to what you can add to your bag.
Fashion is all about experimentation, so take this chance to add your own flair. It’s time that we all “Jane Birkinify” our bags!
Michael Karant
Fashion Editor
Winter Mocs and Boat Shoes
With loafers being such a loved footwear choice in the past few years of the fashion zeitgeist, it is natural that when the weather gets colder and they become more impractical that people will seek a replacement. This year, thick luggy boat shoes and moc toed boots are their replacement.
Loafers, at least penny loafers, which are the most trendy type of loafer on right now, already use a moccasin construction. However, with their thin soles and leather uppers, they really aren’t the best choice in winter. With this loafer craze, boat shoes have had a slight resurgence. Because they’re very similar in appearance, they’ve finally broken the shackles of being associated with frat bros for so many years. As winter comes and our outfit’s silhouettes get bulkier, the loafer will have to give way for a familiar yet heftier version of itself.
Shoes like Red Wing’s moc toe boots, Timberlands lug boat shoes, and Paraboot Michaels are the ideal replacement for the beloved loafer. They possess many of the same aesthetic and material qualities while being more ready to tackle rain and thicker socks. Their increased bulkiness is also in perfect complement to the wonderful thick fabrics like wool or corduroy that people love to display in their fall fits.
Erika Haxton
Culture Editor
How To Dress Like A Gilmore
The Gilmore Girls’ vintage style never seems to fade from fall wardrobes. From Rory’s chunky knit sweater to Lorelai’s perfectly tailored blazers, the Gilmore women deliver all the essentials for the fall season. Each September, the 90’s show Gilmore Girls resurges in popularity as shoppers frantically assemble their fall staples.
Rory Gilmore epitomizes all the essentials for an immaculate fall wardrobe. Her casual outfits align with her hard-working nature and embrace her academic spirit. Known for her preppy, dark academia style, it appeals to viewers as it symbolizes the smart and studious individual.
Rory’s simplistic style includes pieces like her iconic chunky cable knit sweater found in the first episode of Gilmore Girls, “Pilot.” This garment casts just the right balance of comfort and sophistication. Its oversized silhouette paired with Rory Gilmore’s signature, low-rise jeans, serves as the perfect outfit for breakfast at Luke’s and a great day of reading at the library.
With Lorelai Gilmore’s individualistic style blending flashy colours with 2000’s business wear, her wardrobe is the perfect example of what to wear no matter the occasion. She knows how to rock a novelty t-shirt with business attire, and no one would even question it.
When thinking of Lorelai’s iconic outfits, the first one that comes to mind is her leather jacket with a long-sleeve turtleneck. This look is not only trendy but also comforting for a cool fall day. Paired with loose-fitting grey business pants and a classic pair of dark boots, you are ready for a day in Stars Hollow.
The show’s simple yet stylish pieces make it easy to bring their nostalgic looks to the present and add a twist to them. With timeless pieces like Lorelai’s chic jackets and Rory’s scholarly plaid skirts, you will be guaranteed a spot at Friday night dinner.
Aliyah Keshavjee
Writer
Colourful Tights, A Retro Classic
Tights are one of the easiest and most versatile ways to style mini skirts and dresses for cooler weather. As crisp autumn mornings and shorter days approach, a pair of tights is the perfect way to add much-needed colour to your day. Think rich olive green, sheer baby blue (à la Christina Ricci in Buffalo 66), shimmery red, pastel pink and ultraviolet. I love the retro and playful feel a pair of coloured tights brings to any outfit. The 2020s brought fall and winter minimalism, with simple plaids and tweeds in neutral colours for the quiet luxury, Gossip Girl aesthetic that was popular on social media. However, we’re seeing a lot of these patterns coming back as trend cycles shorten and come full circle. Originally, bold-coloured and loud patterned tights were a trend in the 1960s, with Twiggy as its foremother. This later informed the resurgence of tights in the 2010s Tumblr era, where Zooey Deschanel took over. The New Girl actress quickly became known for consistently styling tights in her outfits. Cerruti’s Fall 2010 show was full of models adorned in firetruck red tights, effectively marking their return in the new decade. I think bringing back this classic 1960s look is a great way to bring some vibrance back to our fall outfits that we lost post-pandemic. To complete this retro look, a pair of your favourite coloured tights pair perfectly with a Mary Jane, ballet flat, or kitten heel of your choice—bonus points if you style them with a classic plaid mini skirt (an iconic fall wardrobe staple).
Jennah Faruqui
Co-Managing Editor of Web
Draped in Controversy: The Dupatta’s Journey from South Asian Tradition to Claimed Scandinavian Chic
There has been much controversy amongst the South Asian community around those who have been wearing the dupatta as a classic staple to any South Asian outfit. Shalwar kameez’s and lehengas have become a trendy look, with many claiming Scandinavian or “very European” origin. The latest colonization of the dupatta, features a sheer fabric, usually made of chiffon, draped over the shoulders and styled with dresses. The misrepresentation of the dupatta and lack of cultural fashion reference incites the erasure of South Asian fashion while profiting from the heightening popularity of the trend at the price of South Asian identity. The fashion of traditional heritage is often seen as oriental, old-fashioned and of low class until it is adopted by white bodies, which inherently makes it trendy within the world of fashion and consumer culture.
Even through cultural appropriation, the trend is performing well. It has been taken as far as being featured with matching wedding dresses this Fall season. The dupatta is making its way into everyday wear, being featured as an accessory to an outfit along with mini dresses, blouses and going-out tops. The dupatta has turned into a versatile accessory to any outfit, while in South Asian fashion, it’s worn on the shoulders, draped in the back over each arm, or even tied around the waist. The versatility of the dupatta allows the wearer to individualize their style by putting their own twist into how they fashion it. The dupatta is not restricted by any means, it can be worn by anyone, no matter size or height, and it truly compliments all outfits.
South Asians are not upset about the dupatta becoming a trend; if anything, it’s time South Asian fashion got brought onto a world stage. However, the correct classification of where the trend originated and acknowledgment of historical culture, will allow South Asian beauty, history and culture to be celebrated within the Westernized high-end fashion sphere.
