Some styles we can count on boomeranging back every fall: wide-brimmed hats, chunky knits, and leather booties. But, the runways have also introduced a goldmine of fun, new styles — from silk dresses to feathered accessories.
Ready to take a style dare? We asked stylists to interpret the runways for us, matching the best of fall 2019’s trends with style types. Here’s how to mix in some of the season’s best trends with your tried and true fall wardrobe.
If your style is minimalistic…
You embrace a streamlined style. You’re drawn to solids and your wardrobe is filled with high-quality outfit building blocks, often in neutral colors.
Trend to try: A slip dress, either solid or printed, suggests Victoria Sanchez-Lincoln, a fashion director, creative consultant, and stylist based in New York City. Satin and silk dresses look elevated, but they are easy to wear and comfortable. “You’ll feel like you’re wearing pajamas,” she says.
How to nail this trend: The key to making this trend more flattering, no matter your body type, is to layer your look, Sanchez-Lincoln says. You can do this a few different ways: Layer a long sweater over the dress; throw a blazer on top, but roll up the sleeves or cinch them for a cool look; pull over a sweater or cardigan and belt it with a thin belt; or layer a very thin turtleneck underneath. You can dress this look up with heels or play it down with sneakers, flats, or ankle booties.
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Our picks: The Bias Slip Dress ($120, Anthropologie) comes in tones that are unexpected for fall, like raspberry or coral, but would look beautiful color-blocked with autumnal tones. For layering, Sanchez-Lincoln recommends this soft and stretchy animal print turtleneck ($68, Aritza) or a ribbed duster ($99, White House Black Market).
Designer you’ll love: Krisa is a well-curated Los Angeles brand with high-end closet staples made for remixing.
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If your style is professional…
Monday to Friday, you have a dress code and much of your closet is filled with professional workwear. But, that doesn’t mean you’re relegated to black, gray, or navy pencil skirts or trousers.
Trend to try: Call in some leather, suggests Jasmine Snow, a former fashion editor and an on-air style expert who is the owner of The Black Bib, a fashion and retail site. “Head-to-toe leather is a huge fall trend, but it may be a little too much for the office,” Snow says. “Instead you can incorporate the trend into a workwear outfit with a chic mid-length leather skirt.”
How to nail it: Go with a warmer tan or brown leather, Snow suggests. Save the black leather for a night out. “If you invest in a great leather skirt you can mix and match it with everything from a beautiful blouse, classic white button down, or even a T-shirt on weekends,” she says. “It’s the perfect closet staple that you can use over and over again.”
Our pick: Snow points to this faux leather highlander skirt from A.W.A.K.E. Mode ($475, Shopbop) as an example. For a more affordable option, we like this Mariska Faux Leather Midi (Anthropologie, $130).
Designer you’ll love: Modern and tailored for the workplace, New York City-based Of Mercer has stylish HR-approved pieces that always look polished.
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If your style is bohemian…
Loose-flowing silhouettes, global-inspired patterns, and a relaxed aesthetic define your wardrobe. Your favorite jewelry is probably a souvenir from a far-off destination and you can effortlessly pull off the wide-brimmed hat look and pattern mix like a pro.
Trend to try: Florals, but make them fall-appropriate, and try them on a blouse or maxi dress, suggests personal stylist Elysha Lenkin.
How to nail it: For fall, gravitate toward darker florals, suggests Lenkin. “Choose a pattern that has a dark tone, like black, charcoal, or navy, in the background,” she says. Dresses pair easily with ankle booties and bold hoops.
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Our picks: Velvet and dark florals, with a pop of cobalt, meld beautifully on this Audra wrap dress (Hutch, $380). Or, Lenkin points to this versatile leopard floral midi dress (Madewell, $138). Also, our bets are on the boho-chic types to give the feather trend a try, like these Loeffler Randall slingback mules ($395, Saks Fifth Avenue).
Designer you’ll love: Ulla Johnson, whose worldly travels are a muse for her artisan collections, which include custom prints and intricate embroidery.
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If your style is classic…
Your fashion superpower is picking timeless looks, and it makes sense to invest in high-quality pieces because what you own stays in style.
Trend to try: Leopard print is a classic fall print that has shown up in a big way this season, says Sanchez-Lincoln.
How to nail it: Either go bold and wear a leopard print dress, Sanchez-Lincoln suggests, or just dabble with the trend by wearing a leopard accessory with your favorite LBD. Her preferred way to wear leopard, though, is with the print on a blouse. Wear it on the weekend with jeans and flats or to work with black trousers and pump heels, she suggests.
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Our picks: Perfect for the office or weekend, Sanchez-Lincoln points to this spotted bow neck blouse (Ann Taylor, $89.50). Or, she says, try the print on your outerwear, like with this coat (Ann Taylor, $248), or accessorize with a top-knot headband (Zappos, $18).
Designer you’ll love: Yes, she’s known for her iconic wrap dresses, but Diane Von Furstenberg‘s interpretations of the latest trends have staying power.
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If your style is chic…
On trend, but willing to take some fashion dares, those with a chic sense of style expertly mix fabrics and rely on of-the-moment accessories to be the pièce de résistance of their outfits.
Trend to try: Metallics, but in small doses, Sanchez-Lincoln says.
How to nail it: “Be strategic; the metallic trend can look very chic or very cheap,” she cautions. “The key is to incorporate metallic in a sophisticated way.” For example, if you go with a bold gold top, balance it out with a pair of black velvet fitted pants, she says. You can also look for metallic in a fabric like jacquard or brocade.
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Our picks: Combining two trends in one, Sanchez-Lincoln points to this metallic leopard dress from Rebecca Taylor, on-trend for fall (Bloomingdale’s, $495). Or, accessorize with a pair of gold rings (Baublebar, $48).
Designer you’ll love: Rebecca Taylor is the master of putting cool twists on feminine styles and experiments with textures. Her luxe dresses this fall range from colorful snake print silks to velvet dotted jacquard dresses.
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If your style is vintage…
You love “when everything that’s old becomes new again,” whether that’s the small beaded purses inspired by the ‘20s or the colorful prints reminiscent of the mod era.
How to nail it: This fall’s vintage-inspired trends run the gamut from voluminous sleeves with a renaissance flair to whimsical prints, says Sanchez-Lincoln. Also, look for tailoring details like peplum, shirring, and pleating, she says.
Our pick: Try a modern interpretation of peplum with this Vince Camuto ditsy floral wrap top (Macy’s, $99) or embrace the ruched sleeves and bright colors on this Parker flare dress (Saks Fifth Avenue, $418).
Designer you’ll love: Part glam, part rock n’ roll, Temperley London‘s designs often look like they’ve been inspired by the greatest hits of another decade.
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If your style is preppy…
The modern prep style goes beyond plaids and herringbone (though, those beloved prints are workhorses in your wardrobe). Preppy styles today, especially those seen on the runways, dial up some bolder colors and mix in unexpected prints.
Trend to try: Ruffles are everywhere this fall. A fun way to test-drive this trend is with a ruffled hemline, says Bethany Sharp, owner of Lady Jetset, a designer clothing rental company that curates wardrobes for traveling women.
How to nail it: “A cerulean blue color palette is making a lavish appearance for fall ‘19,” Sharp says. Mix the color with gold hoop earrings and cute ivory ankle booties.
Our pick: For a classic prep look with a right-now twist, try this plaid ruffled and ruched dress from designer Tanya Taylor (Neiman Marcus, $465). Or, Sharp points to the MSGM “peacock” blue drop waist with ruffles (Shopbop, $505).
Designer you’ll love: Vince. is a goldmine of cozy knits, plaid coats, and luxe leather.
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Brittany Anas is a freelance writer who specializes in health, fitness, and travel writing. She also contributes to Men’s Journal, Women’s Health, Trip Savvy, Simplemost, Orbitz, and Eat This, Not That! She spent a decade working at daily newspapers, including The Denver Post and the Daily Camera in Boulder, Colorado, and she is a former federal background investigator. In her free time, Brittany enjoys hiking with her gremlin-pot belly pig mix that the rescue described as a “Boston Terrier” and coaching youth basketball. She also works with domestic abuse survivors, helping them regain financial stability through career coaching. Follower her on Twitter and Instagram.
