What’s happening on a macro level?

I love writing about fashion on the macro level… This zoomed out perspective gives an interesting angle that goes beyond what is sold on a shelf or pictured in an influencers feed. Rather, it’s introspective, and reflects what is happening within ourselves and within our society. I always say fashion is often the first image of the past our brain will conjure. What comes to mind when asked to picture the culture that defined the 50’s, 60’, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s 00’s? How much of the image you pictured was based on the fashion of the times? Yet, we often struggle to imagine how our own generation will be remembered back on. This, is why I like to have my finger on the pulse and love studying and reflecting on what is happening in fashion and analyzing the meaning behind it all. I also love the satisfaction of being right and seeing my predictions come alive.

Historical Escapism

When I first started watching the fall 2025 runway shows it was so easy to pinpoint some micro trends that we were going to be able to appreciate. I noticed the aesthetics, texture, styles, cuts, were all easy to identify. However, it was difficult to put my finger on the pulse of what was happening on a macro level with fashion. What a first, appeared as chaos, later became the theme. It seemed everyone was traveling to different points in history and drawing from different aspects of historical fashion. We saw Helsa and YSL finding inspiration in a lot of 70s styles, with power suits and those bold rich jewel tone colors. The way we saw Dior channel the 1800s with their lace and Tudor style dresses. How we saw Alice and Olivia design Shakespearean looks with the way that she used ruffled blouses, lace, and draping duster cardigans. This time capsule of trends is interesting as it seems to mirror how many designers are returning to what originally defined them.

Return to Craft

2025 has been a true shake up in the fashion world. First, Chanel announced in December that they would be poaching Matthew Blazy from Bottega Venetta for their new creative director position. Versace made the move to hire their new creative director from the ranks of Miu Miu. As much as it pains me to string these words together…. Gucci is now in the evil clutches of Demna. IYKYK. If you don’t, Demna was the creative director of Balenciaga and was behind the infamous, creepy as hell, campaign that appeared to depict very young children wearing what could only be described as BDSM type clothing and holding little teddy bears also in similar attire. People were appalled and of course Balenciaga deflected blame to the photography firm and kept Demna. Seems the rest of the world forgot but I certainly haven’t. RIP Gucci.

In better news, Jonathon Anderson from Loewe announced he would heading to Dior. I screamed in excitement as I love Anderson and his whimsical flair. This was a big shake up, as Dior is a major paris fashion house. While Dior has been struggling to find a voice under current director Gracia, Loewe couldn’t be hotter. Jonathon Anderson basically took Loewe from a relatively small niche brand and within a short time has truly turned it into an iconic symbol, its signature logo almost as recognizable as Chanel’s interlocking C’s. Dior gave us a little whiplash with the announcement though. At first, rumors said he would take over the struggling women’s wear line. Then, they announced he would only be doing menswear, leaving the womenswear with Maria Gracia. Everyone was so vocally disappointed that Dior ultimately gave him not only the womenswear line but the home line as well. Anderson is the first solo creative director of all three lines since Christian Dior himself. I’m really excited to see where he takes the brand because the recent collections have been disappointing. We also have new directors at Maison Margiela, Balenciaga, and Celine.

This much change so rapidly in the fashion world is truly unprecedented. It’s been a wild ride, even THE Anna Wintour announced her retirement from her role as editor in chief of Vogue Magazine, a position she held since 1988! Don’t get me started on how she handed Vogue to a Nepo Baby though…. I’ll go off on a tangent. The main point of highlighting these changes is because I think it all points to this “return to craft” that we are seeing from designers. Chanel is Chanel. When Chanel hires Blazy from Bottega they do not want him to turn Chanel into Bottega. They want to know where Blazy can take Chanel and that has to start with a baseline. I think the early collections will stay very true to the brands original style and what they’re known for. Burberry with their signature plaid, Chanel with their tweed jackets, or Bottega’s woven leather, and Hermes’ unmatched craftsmanship.

Pendulum swings back

The final macro trend I noticed was how the fashion pendulum is beginning to shift again. Fashion is a pendulum and it swings from left to right and back again, just like culture, just like politics, just like the pendulum on the clock, forever ticking. I’ve never seen a collection embody this as much as the A/W 25 season did. Maybe it’s because I’m older and have witnessed the full swing of pendulum and can finally understand it. I grew up in early 2000’s, spent my 20’s watching the world shift left, and now in my 30’s watching it shift right again. This is something you’ll really see evident throughout the micro trends of 2025.

Micro trends

Colors

Mocha

Mocha was the 2025 Pantone color of the year and I wrote about it in spring as well. Buckle up, mocha mousse is here to stay. Mocha will come in every shade from the true mocha mousse, tan, camel, but mostly for fall we will see a deep, rich, chocolatey brown. It will be the staple, the anchor, the color that goes with everything. As cliché as it sounds brown will be the new black.

Purple

This trend will vary in tone. For everyday wear, and basic pieces I think we will see a lot of the eggplant hue. Something darker, autumnal, and sexy. This purple will dance along the edge of burgundy and maybe even dips its toe in the warmer waters. This position on the color wheel makes it something everyone can play around with. Purple at first can seem difficult to work with but it’s actually quite versatile in the way the it sits between warm and cool tones making it right for all skin shades.

I’m calling it now too, the statement color of fall, will be… Majestic Purple. This purple is of a regal variety, fit for the fashion queens who don to adorn themselves in the royal pigment. Purple has long throughout history been used to adorn the biggest power players and history makers, reserved for only the top of society. The first purple dye originated around 1500 BCE by the Phoenicians. The dye was extracted from the mucus of Murex Sea Snails. Tens of thousands were needed for even a small amount making it worth more in weight than gold. Only emperors and the highest elite could wear purple. What better way feel like royalty than to dress like one? Interestingly enough, purple was later used in the suffragette movement. The feminist movement was characterized in hues of white, purple, and green, which we will get to next.

Chartreuse

This is one that may not be right for everyone but there can be different ways to play with it. I would describe chartreuse as a darker, warm, lime tone. It’s vibrant but not bright. It is reminds me quite a bit of the gemstone peridot. I’ve already started to see this in stores and I really like it on a satin fabric but with my olive skin undertones it’s probably not one I will actually wear as it leans too close to the warmer yellow range. I would rather opt for something cooler, darker and more olive in color.

Jewel tones

I think there is no better representation of what I mean by Jewel tones than what we saw on the YSL AW 25/26 runway show. The 70’s/80’s power suiting with the pencil skirt draped in exquisite, rich jewel tones. Think citrine, garnet, emerald, peridot, sapphire blue, amber, ruby, amethyst, and lapis. Deep, rich, full, and BOLD. It’s a 70’s a 80’s color rivival. It’s finally a step away the from the neutrals and monochrome looks that have been popular for the last few seasons. The YSL looks just perfectly embody these beautiful colors in their power suiting, cinched with contrasting belts. Many fashion editors are predicting the end to “quite luxury” and a return to “Maximalism”. These colors might the first sign of this shift. I personally I don’t shy away from colors, and these tones are some of my favorites.

Prints and patterns

Leopard, Zebra, Cow, oh my!

I feel as though I have been writing about this for a while but it’s still HUGE. Leopard print is nothing earth shattering and is often recirculated every fall winter. But we are seeing animal prints trending in a way that is beyond seasonal patterns. The animal prints have been a mainstay on the runways going strong a few seasons now. They held strong on the resort shows and through spring summer of 2025 and exploded on the A/W catwalks. If you invested in this trend hold on to your pieces because you’ll still be wearing them this fall. Not just leopard but other fun prints like Cow, Zebra, snake, and even Dalmatian prints will be everywhere. I have a solid collection of leopard print items I accumulated over the years but recently invested in a couple fun new pieces I’m excited to style like a cow print denim micro mini skirt, a snake print purse from Micheal Kors with matching Antonio Melani snake sprint loafers, and a cute pair of cow print Bowling Sneakers. These fun prints are yet another nod to the return of maximalism in fashion.

Plaid

Plaid is another recirculated fall piece. There is just something so intrinsically fall about plaid. It’s practically a cliché. What’s interesting about it this fall is that we are seeing a transition from the plaid we saw in back in spring. Spring saw plaids coming in the form of ginghams and checks in softer washed out colors in lighter linen and cotton fabrics. We also saw tighter plaids in preppy, old money style plaid skirts which will definitely still be on trend into fall so don’t pack em up just yet. I think this is part of a larger Burberry rival. Remember Burberry? They’re famous for their nude plaid with the red stripe and perfectly executed trench coats. The brand was huge in the 2010 gossip girl era and has been making a comeback in the last few seasons. I swear I saw the Burberry plaid bikini everywhere this summer. Burberry Plaid will be THE print of fall 2025. This resurgence of Burberry plaid is part of the larger ‘return to craft’ movement of brands reclaiming their original signatures to anchor themselves in a turbulent market.

Polka Dots

The polka dots were everywhere in spring and will definitely continue into fall. But I see this one dying down soon.

Rugby stripes

Alright. Last spring I said this one was not for me…. So why do keep looking for these at the store? I have to say it’s grown on me. I think what really cinched the deal for me was seeing the one Paige Lorenze designed for her brand Dairy Boy. It. Is. DEVINE. She just styles it so effortlessly and yet makes it look SO CHIC. I’m not sure if I actually like it now or if I just have girl crush on Paige. Well I definitely have a girl crush on Paige and I’m pretty sure she could make a garbage bag look chic. So of course, naturally, now I need to buy one to see if it’s a look of if it’s just Paige. But I’ll definitely be getting mine from tjmaxx rather than dairy boy, as much as I love the brand. This isn’t worth an investment as this one is going to be very 2025. A shooting star, there and gone the next.

Materials, silhouettes, textures

Times are a changing

Silhouettes are always where the pendulum is most obvious. The early 2000s were all about shrinking the body with razor-thin jeans, camis barely grazing the ribcage, Hollywood actresses dipping under 100 pounds. Then came body positivity, oversized tailoring, and a cultural obsession with comfort.

The pendulum is shifting body ideals again. After toxic skinniness, then body positivity, the wellness industry (now $6.3 trillion) is nudging fashion back toward hourglass silhouettes and cinched waists. Expect lace, chiffon, ruffles, and belted tailoring to replace boxy oversized fits.

The new silhouette balances romance with power. Lace slip dresses layered under boxy leather jackets create tension between softness and structure. Wide-leg trousers remain, but they’re styled high-waisted and cinched. Skirts are cut slimmer, falling pencil-thin rather than ballooning. It’s as if designers are trying to find the middle ground: not drowning in fabric, not shrinking into it either.

Even denim highlights this with skinnies returning only when tucked into boots (a nod to equestrian sleekness), while straight and wide cuts are styled with belts to bring the eye back to the waist. Eveningwear pushes the extremes further: sweeping gowns with cinched bodices, or draped dresses that emphasize the hip curve.

Lace and Romance

Speaking of femininity…. Lace is having another big moment, but not in the delicate, bridal way you might expect. Instead, we’re seeing lace styled as a juxtaposition: romantic yet structured, soft but with edge. Think Dior’s late 1800s nods, layered under corset silhouettes, or Alice and Olivia’s Shakespearean draping that reads more stage costume than lingerie. Styled with tailored jackets, leather boots, or even denim, lace is a reminder that softness doesn’t have to mean fragility. One major way you’ll see it styled for street wear is almost as a a slip dress. Satin material with lace trim. We actually just saw this look on Hailey Bieber at Paris Fashion week for the spring 26 shows that just happened. She was sporting a cute butter yellow satin romper with lace trim. Pair something like this under a edgy piece like a biker jacket and with the juxtaposition it’s a whole vibe.

Suede

Where lace is soft, suede grounds it without overwhelming it. Suede is everywhere. Suede is sneaky this season though, it’s not the obvious trendsetter, but it’s woven into so many looks that you almost don’t notice until you realize it’s everywhere. Suede is being used for everything from jackets, suede purses, suede boots, suede sneakers, suede blazers, suede skirts, gloves, and even hats! I know because I have all of these items in my closet currently…. Except the gloves maybe…. We started seeing a lot suede start actually last fall. Last fall we saw a lot of western wear in clothing with the release of Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter. This autumn, the western influence is definitely still there. We are also seeing a lot of preppy, oxford vibes and suede just seamlessly works with both so it’s not going anywhere. Remember colors plays well with color. Texture plays well with texture. Suede is a texture, try pairing with leather for a contrasting sheen, satin, even lace or sheer.

Accessories

Shoes

Riding boots, loafers, bowling shoes, oh my! Fall 2025 will be all about the Loafers paired with some ruffle socks, slim sneakers (little ballerina sneakers), and riding boots. Uggs are always in. You’ll see the tall Uggs back on shelves but I would pass. They don’t hold up great over time and are going to be trendy only for a hot second. Rather I would opt for the Tasman or the Classic Micro, or Classic Mini. Riding boots are a fall staple. While last year they were a staple with skirts, this year, we will see skinny jeans tucked into them for that cute equestrian princess look. Bowling shoes were the fashion pendulum’s response to the oversized chunky dad sneakers that have been all the rage for the last few years. These new sneakers are sleek and thin and almost resemble a cross between ballerina slippers and sneakers like the Miu Miu Ayer’s.

Jewelry

If fashion is swinging back toward boldness, jewelry is leading the charge. Delicate, whisper-thin chains are out, and statement is back in. We’re seeing oversized cocktail rings in amethyst and garnet, chunky gold cuffs, and baroque pearl earrings that feel more Renaissance than dainty. There’s also a distinct nod to history here with Victorian lockets, suffragette-inspired purple-and-green stones, and heirloom-style brooches pinned on coats and blazers. Jewelry this fall isn’t shy; it’s a declaration. The vibe is: “Yes, I’m here, and yes, you noticed.” My personal prediction? We’ll see a resurgence of layered chokers and collar necklaces styled with high-neck lace blouses and blazers, for that perfect blend of romance and power. I do love a more dainty look for my own jewelry though, I don’t like having anything feel heavy.

Belts

This is part of the focus we’re seeing on the embracement of femininity and defining the waist. Belts are on everything. Multiple belts in many cases. I’m NOT about to wear multiple belts or look like a matrix character. Please don’t do this. Let’s all just wear one belt. While the multiple belts is definite no from me, regular belting is a yes. There will be a bigger influence in the waist, with belts used to cinch items that otherwise might feel boxy like a blazer or long line coat. You see robe style longline coats with tie waists. Trench coats with the waist cinched. You’ll see high waisted skinny jeans again (*WITH BOOTS*).

Draping

Another carryover trend from last fall is draping. A perfect example of this is the Toteme Scarf Jacket. It’s coats with built in scarfs. This look is so easy to recreate though without investing in a new coat. Just find a plain, solid color scarf that matches in color with your coats and…. bam 💥 look achieved.

Viral Trends Alert

I think there are a few viral trends that will mark Fall 2025. There are always a few trends/ items that you can’t help but see everywhere and on everyone. It will flood your Pinterest feed like the Steve Weitzman Highland boots of 2016, or the Toteme Wool Fringe scarf Jacket of 2022, or the Mongolian fur coats of last fall. Here are my official predictions for fall 2025.

The Ralph Lauren Teddy Bear sweater ($155). – These are ICONIC. these sweaters actually debuted back in 1991 so they’ve been around for quite a while. Despite have been charming us for the last few decades the sweaters have been growing in popularity over the last couple Autumn/Winters and will explode in popularity. Imagine this sweater with a cute pair of skinny jeans w/ riding boots or even a plaid skirt with some knee-high socks, and a pair of Mary Jane’s. I think this rival won’t stop with sweater but I think we will see teddy bears everywhere from little sock decals, to pjs, coffee mugs, Stanley cups and all the like.

Are skinny Jeans back?

Yes, but hold your horses! Skinny jeans are back in a very “equestrian way”. Almost in a similar way as how they originally debuted in 2010-12 era. This is the sleek skinny jeans tucked into riding boots. Before people took it too far and started wearing them with everything. Jeans are all about shape and balance and ultimately you should wear what looks best on your body type. I find it’s best to have a variety of denim cuts because they serve different purposes. Skinny jeans can create a v shape on the body and this can be very harsh for many people as it will widen the middle section of your body putting emphasis on it being the widest part of you. Especially in fall when you probably also have a jacket or sweater on. This is how you end up looking like Gru from despicable me. Pairing skinny jeans with riding boots creates balance and length in your legs elongating your body (just be sure to keep the waist high).

Aesthetic

Day

The overall Fall 2025 look in the simplest of terms is countryside chic. It’s stepped out of a Ralph Lauren catalog from 1996 or straight from the English Nottingham countryside. Call it a “frazzled British woman” fall. Call it Mrs. Doubtfire chic. I wanna see you girls wearing your Nana’s kitchen wallpaper on your quilted barn jackets. I want corduroy with contrasting color and contrasting elbow patches. I want quilted barn jackets, wool longline coats, and cable knit sweaters. It’s Harvard, it’s Oxford, it’s a foggy English countryside morning.

Evening

The Furs are back baby!!! Furs will still be super popular this fall. They were on EVERY runway. I will obviously be sporting faux. I obviously don’t need to explain the case against using real fur, but faux has been getting some bad press lately as well. Let’s unpack that. The problems with faux fur are very real. Faux sheds microplastics over time as it looses fibers at a much higher rate than regular fabrics, it’s also costly and energy heavy to produce. Brands have come a long way with sustainability though, especially European brands. LVMH in partnership with Fendi, is exploring keratin-based fur grown in labs (protein fibers, no animal) to mimic real fur qualities without the cruelty or heavy petrochemicals. Coach has led the charge with sustainability in the US with a whole new line called Coachtopia. An innovative line where they use scraps and waste material from premium coach products and repurpose them into new purses and accessories.

Closing

When future generations conjure up Fall 2025, I don’t think they’ll see minimalism or whisper-quiet luxury. They’ll see jewel tones strutting down runways, equestrian boots stomping through city streets, lace dresses layered under leather trenches, and faux furs wrestling with the paradox of ethics and excess. This season isn’t about chasing a single aesthetic, it’s about living in the tension: between history and innovation, between craft and commerce, between sustainability and spectacle. That’s what makes it exciting. Fashion, at its core, is a mirror. And Fall 2025 is reflecting back exactly who we are right now – bold, conflicted, yet unafraid to be seen.