A cinnamon-scented candle glows on your nightstand, its flame dancing as a crisp breeze blows through the open window.
It’s the dream fall day, and you need an outfit to match.
Fall fashion in 2023 includes earthy tones, preppy staples and no-nonsense hairstyles — stereotypical, autumnal trends practically torn from the pages of a Ralph Lauren magazine. After summer’s unpredictability and hellish heat, these typical trends are the sort of stability the coming season needs, allowing us to cool off, regroup and nest before the coming winter.
Check out these trends that provide an opportunity to play within the predictable, keeping clothes fresh without veering away from the season’s classic, dark academic spirit:
Cherry on Top
While the hot pinks of Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” dominated summer 2023, this fall belongs to red, pink’s sexier and more elegant older sister. While darker hues like burgundy have peppered past seasons, this year’s red is lighter and louder, more of a cherry hue.
Red dominated 2023’s Fashion Week in London and New York City — designers like Tory Burch and Gabriela Hearst featured flashes of cherry red in kitten heels and trench coats. Trend forecasters on social media predict red will appear prominently in accessories like purses, boots and jackets — so if you bought the “Red (Taylor’s Version)” scarf, you should definitely pull it out of storage. To blend in with the fashionistas this coming fall, I will be reaching for red leather boots, nail polish and a shoulder bag.
Straight outta the Hillternship
Don’t leave the clothes you bought for your summer internship behind. As the weather gets chillier, you may begin to see workplace staples like blazers, pencil skirts and button-ups, with fresh, untraditional twists. Miu Miu’s Fall/Winter runway show featured a polka-dotted pencil skirt and visible underwear, while Versace’s models donned cinched-waist blazers. In taking the trend from the runway to the streets, retailers like Reformation have made slim blazers that button at the waist and slitted maxi skirts.
To repurpose summer internship clothes, try pairing a half-buttoned white blouse with loose jeans for a more casual classroom look. When the fall’s early morning chill arrives, incorporate a blazer rather than a denim jacket or a sweatshirt into your fit to stay warm. If you opted for a summer of relaxation, travel or a whole host of enriching activities besides an internship, GW Pop Thrift generally has a robust collection of workwear, allowing you to embrace the trend in an environmentally conscious way by picking up pieces at their next thrifting event.
Mix and Match Earrings
If you are looking to shimmer this upcoming fall, revitalize your current earrings by mixing and matching your sets. Runway analysts deemed asymmetry a major jewelry trend at Fall/Winter 2023 shows.
Designers varied in their approach to mismatched earrings, with Tory Burch pairing a safety pin with blue gems and Gucci opting for various forms of dripping pearl earrings. When looking at your jewelry box, you can start small by pairing different shapes or stealing a page from the runway and mixing different lengths. Pairing simple, circular gold studs with a glistening cascade of stars will catch everyone’s attention at a party.
Best of all, the mismatched nature of this trend allows you to show off contrasting facets of your personality. Demonstrate a softer, more romantic side with heart-shaped earrings, and remind everyone you still have a sharp stinger by wearing bee studs.
Sunny Fall Days
If you’re not ready to part with sunny summer days, you can thank designers like Gucci, Saint Laurent and Stella McCartney for bringing both bold bright and soft yellow tones into the fall. Gucci’s Milan Fashion Week runway show featured a bright yellow fur coat, whereas Stella McCartney highlighted a buttery hue and Saint Laurent opted for sun-inspired earrings.
Buttery yellows allow for a more interesting alternative to a crisp white. A brighter yellow spotlights you against golden and red fall leaves. If you want to take advantage of the Mount Vernon Campus’ foliage to take basic fall photos, wear a striped yellow sweater to stand out against the crimson background.
Yellow’s emerging autumnal popularity provides the perfect excuse to invest in an Andie Anderson, “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days”-inspired yellow gown. You will be the belle of the ball at any sorority, fraternity or student organization formal at the finale of the fall semester.
The Kim Kardashian Bob
Earlier in August, Kim Kardashian debuted a new haircut in a Skims advertisement: a blunt bob. From the Flappers’ haircut of the 1920s to the 2000s French film “Amélie,” there are few haircuts more chic and recognizable than a bob.
While online commenters compared Kim’s cut to Lord Farquaad of “Shrek” and Johnny Depp’s Willy Wonka, the reality star underscored the bob’s addictively refreshing appeal. Even though it may not perfectly flatter everyone’s face shape, a big chop embodies a fresh start.
As you start new classes and meet new professors, a big haircut is a physical reminder of new or changing intentions. Align yourself with fashion and historical icons this fall and commit to the bob.
