The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is over, but it clearly got us all in the mood for fall fashion because I keep getting questions about the latest fall fashion trends. Everyone wants to know what’s in and what’s out, as we assess our closets and determine what stays and what goes and what we may want to add in preparation for the fall season.
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I feel like this fall, we’re seeing a lot of the same trends that we saw last year, but we are leaning into the ones that were on the fringe last season. There’s a lot of crossover from last season’s fall fashion trends list, but some were hard to find in the mainstream stores this early last fall, and I’m seeing those everywhere now. And of course, there are a few fresh new trends as well… Ahem, leopard.
Fall Fashion Trends: What’s IN For 2024
As always, I have to make a few disclaimers when discussions fashion trends. First of all, I’m looking at mainstream stores where the everyday women who read this blog tend to shop. Depending on where you live, you may feel like some of these are already on their way out, or you may not see anyone wearing them yet, but they’re all prevalent in the mainstream retail stores such as Evereve, LOFT, Anthropologie, etc.
Of course, just because something is “having a moment” doesn’t mean you have to wear it. This is just information to do with as you will. Stylish women know what’s trending, and then selectively choose to incorporate into their wardrobes the ones that best align with their personal style, body type, lifestyle, etc.
Finally, this is not meant to be an exhaustive list of fall trends. Plenty of items that I don’t list here are still current, but these are the ones that stand out to me so far, and the ones that most resonate with my style preferences.
At the end of the day, you should wear what you love, no matter what the “trend reports” say. But if you enjoy knowing what is current, here are 12 wearable 2024 fall fashion trends for the everyday woman.
#1. Wide Leg Jeans
photo credit: Anthropologie
I mean, you knew I had to start here, didn’t you?? Yes, my friends, wide leg silhouettes continue to dominate the denim departments at my favorite retailers, and I’m slowly starting to see more everyday women embracing them. I’m also noticing more full length styles arriving on the scene for fall, and I’m very happy about that because I find them much easier to style with boots and other closed toe shoes. Plus, they’re elongating and flattering on most women.
We will discuss more denim trends later this week, but if you aren’t a fan of wide leg jeans, pretty much anything goes right now. Looking current is more about how you style your jeans than what style of jeans you wear.
#2. Cropped Jackets
photo credit: Neiman Marcus
Outfit completing jackets are essential to my fall wardrobe, and this year cropped jackets are making a comeback, probably because they pair so well with wide leg and high rise denim styles. I also like how they look with flares and straight leg jeans. I’m seeing everything from twill to wool blends, and denim is around too.
#3. Skirts
photo credit: Evereve
After being on the back burner for quite a few years, skirts are back as an important wardrobe category for fall 2024. I’m seeing lots of denim skirts in all lengths, but the long straight styles are everywhere. The satiny bias-cut skirts are still around, and pleated skirts are gaining traction. Mini skirts are popular too.
You can wear your skirts with everything from knee boots to sneakers, and from to pointy toe slingbacks to squared-off Mary Janes; and they can be worn for both dressy and casual purposes.
#4. Vests
photo credit: Evereve
Vests came in strong for spring, but they were a little hard to find and the good ones sold out fast. This fall, they’re everywhere. I’m seeing a lot of suit vests, like the one shown above, and sweater vests are still going strong too.
Wear your vests now as stand-alone tops, and layer them over a tank or tee this fall. As far as what to pair with them, I’m seeing a lot of vests (both sweater vests and suit vests) worn with denim skirts, as shown above. They also look great with jeans, or you can wear them with trousers (matching, or not) for a suiting look for work or dinners out.
#5. Breton Stripes
photo credit: Gap Factory
Stripes are still going strong into fall, especially Breton stripes. This is such an easy way to add a current piece to your existing wardrobe, and there are lots of options for different widths and placement to flatter any body type.
#6. Pop of Red
photo credit: Evereve
We’ll talk more about color trends later this week, but red is dominating all of the trend lists. While you can find plenty of red tops and dresses, I feel like it’s more relevant to incorporate a red accessory as a pop of color. Try a red sneaker, a red Mary Jane (as shown above), a red sling bag, a red belt, or even a red ball cap.
#7. Trousers
photo credit: LOFT
Relaxed trousers still going strong this season, and the most fashion-forward way to wear them is with sneakers for that chic element of juxtaposition, but this is also good news for those who need work wear. There are so many good non-denim options out right now.
If you don’t like the relaxed silhouettes, you can find straight and flared styles, as well. The LOFT Sutton Flares that I styled last spring are back for fall in a subtle brown and black checked pattern.
#8. Ladylike Shoes
photo credit: Evereve
Pointed toe flats and kitten heels, especially slingback styles, are big again this season, as are Mary Janes and ballet flats. Wear them with jeans for a chic element of juxtaposition, or pair them with skirts or dresses to lean into the “era of elegance” that is gaining momentum.
#9. Textured Knitwear
photo credit: Nordstrom
I haven’t seen this cited in any of the trend lists I read, but I noticed as I was perusing all of my favorite retailers, that there’s a lot more texture and pattern in knitwear. The trend pendulum is definitely swinging back to more interesting details and less minimalistic styles.
#10. Brown Footwear & Accessories
photo credit: Evereve
Shades of brown, and especially rich chocolatey tones are taking over in the footwear sphere this season. I noticed this last year, but it’s really coming in strong for fall 2024, and I’m all about it. After years of wearing so much taupe and light beige, I feel like these deeper, warmer tones are really fresh and fun. They also pair nicely with the darker denim washes that are coming back this season.
#11. Leopard Print
photo credit: Evereve
Yep, leopard was gone for all of a minute, and it’s back. I simply can’t ignore it. It is on just about every 2024 Fall Trends list I’ve seen, and all of the major retailers are carrying leopard prints in some iteration or another.
Now, you may be thinking: Leopard was never gone. It’s a classic.
Well, yes, leopard a classic print that is always out there, but it was having such a major moment a few years ago that it suddenly all but disappeared from the major mainstream retailers. That’s usually how it goes when a style is suddenly everywhere all at once. And as with most trends, when it is re-introduced, it looks a little bit different than it did the last time it was having a moment.
Leopard prints this time around look slightly more sophisticated to my eye, a little more abstract and elegant. So if you have leopard print pieces in your closet, and you’re wondering if they look current or not, the best advice I’ve heard is to compare them to what you’re seeing in the stores that best represent your personal style.
I pretty much gave all of my animal prints away, even my beloved ATM cheetah tee that I kept for quite a few seasons, so I’m starting from scratch in that department. I don’t plan to buy a ton of leopard this season, but I might add one or two carefully chosen pieces to my fall wardrobe.
Final Thoughts on What’s IN for Fall 2024
There are definitely more 2024 fall fashion trends, but these are some of the most prominent ones that I’ve noticed so far. I will dive deeper into more shoe trends, color trends, denim trends, and accessory trends in subsequent posts.
Just remember, trends are just that. They come and go, and some stick around longer than others. If it’s not your style, just skip it. Not sure? Test it with something less expensive before you commit to a higher priced item. But if any of those trends feel like your style, you might want to lean into those a bit more over the next few months.
Fall Fashion Trends: What’s OUT For 2024
I almost deleted this section this year because the trend cycles are moving so quickly, nothing is really “out” exactly. Rather, certain styles may look tired to some of us, or they may not be as prevalent in stores. So just like “What’s IN for 2024”, this list should be taken with a grain of salt.
No one is telling you not to wear your favorite low shaft taupe ankle boots with the cut-outs on the side. You do you. But if you want to know some of the styles that are taking a backseat to the top trends right now, I feel like this is a pretty good place to start.
circa 2018
#1. taupe shoes and boots // It’s not that you aren’t seeing any of these options, and they don’t necessarily look dated, but the deeper browns and warmer tones are more on trend right now. They’re also an easy way to update your footwear because you can find almost any style of shoe in brown right now.
#2. low shaft booties // They worked well with the ankle-length skinny jeans that dominated the fashion scene for so many years that we got used to thinking of lower shaft booties (3″ or 4″ shaft) as the default, but they’re really not as classic as the ankle boots with the more traditional 5″ or 6″ shafts. And now that wide legs and flares are predominant, we’re seeing the return of higher shaft ankle boots.
#3. jeggings // You may be hearing the buzz that low rise skinny jeans are coming back, but they are very much on the fringe right now, and whether they make it back into the mainstream remains to be seen. If you do wear skinny jeans, a modern way to wear them is with a higher rise and with more of a slim straight cigarette leg, not the skin-tight legging style (jeggings) that we were wearing with long tunics and low-shaft ankle boots in 2010s.
#4. tunic tops // Tunic tops went the way of the skinny jean, probably because they pair so well. This look wasn’t flattering on most of us, so I’m more than happy for this one to stay a thing of the past, although I’m sure it will eventually come around again in some way, shape, or form.
#5. long cardigans // Long cardigans aren’t fashion-forward right now, but sometimes they just make sense. Like any other classic style that isn’t exactly trending at the moment, if you love them, wear them with modern pieces.
#6. moto jackets // I’ll probably get some flack for this one, but while moto jackets are something of a classic, they’re looking tired to me at the moment. I also noticed that the iconic AllSaints Dalby was part of the #NSale this year, and it usually sells out lickety-split, but it was fully stocked all the way through the sale. A more current alternative is a bomber jacket or a boxy cropped jacket.
#7. shackets // I still see some shackets around, but most are not the big oversized ones that were all the rage a few years back. The boxy, cropped shirt jackets such as this KUT from the Kloth Zinnia look more current to my eye.
#8. leggings as pants // They should have never been a thing, in my humble opinion, but they really aren’t something I see right now, unless they’re worn as athleisure. Of course, the teenagers still wear them, but this blog is geared to grown-up women who want to look polished and put together. If that is you, I would save my leggings for the gym. Or, if you want to wear them out and about, top them off which a chic trench or wool car coat. A more current look would be a pair of quality ponte pants.
And that’s a wrap! I’d love to hear your thoughts. Just remember that trends exist on a spectrum, and it’s totally okay to wear a variety of styles and phase them in and out of your closet as your budget allows. You don’t have to stop wearing any of the things on this list, and you may still see them in stores. I just wouldn’t recommend investing in more of these this season, unless it’s something that uniquely defines your personal style.
