Dead leaves but fresh outfits: Fashion trends to rock this fall

Deciding what to wear in the morning is already a feat — but factoring in the unpredictability of a Metro Vancouver fall is a whole other ballgame.

The day could start off rainy and windy and enter into late June territory before you’ve got time to down your third Tim Hortons pumpkin spice cold brew.

Transition seasons are a bit of a pain — fall particularly. But it’s also, arguably, the best time to unlock your inner fashionista. When else can you merge the laid-back elements of summer with the cozyness of winter? Autumn, baby!

While I haven’t sat front row at New York Fashion Week, I do know a thing or two as a professional mall-frequenter, Pinterest-scroller, and not-at-all-creepy people-watcher.

With my vast experience, I bring to you the cutest trends I’ve seen make their way onto our screens and streets.

Flannels

Flannel? For fall? Groundbreaking.

Before you go all Miranda Priestly on me, flannel shirts are actually making a comeback — whether it’s checkered, gingham, or another pattern. Instead of their typical lumberjack association, they’re returning with more oomph.

Flannels are stylishly paired with a T-shirt or tank underneath. They can be dressed up with leather pants or tied around the waist with a cute midi skirt.

The key is layering and arranging the piece in different ways. So, grab those flannels hidden at the back of your closet, play a little dress up, and see what you come up with.

Long tops

The pendulum of fashion swings, and she’s moved from cropped to long tops.

Long T-shirts are back, so if you have a loved one who shopped at Hollister in the late 2000s, that’s definitely a closet to raid.

To keep warm, opt for long or three-quarter-lengthed sleeves. If you have a long tank top, layer it under or over a long-sleeved shirt to make Bella Swan — and me — jelly of your outfit.

These tops can be loose or fitted. To be extra trendy, buy them in colourful horizontal-stripe patterns, such as brown and sky blue or pink and red.

Cropped jackets

It sounds silly that long tops and cropped jackets are simultaneously trendy, but they are.

The word “chic” is overused into oblivion online, but dare I say there’s something very chic about a cropped trench coat or barn jacket. Bonus points if you find a cropped jacket with a funnel-neck collar. Standard-length bomber jackets and cropped utility jackets are also great fall options.

The key is that the jacket should sit at or near your waist.

These shorter jackets are perfect for the in-between weather — it’s not bulky and winter-coded, yet suitable enough to keep you warm when it’s nippy out.

I have a love-hate relationship with the oversized “shacket” that was big in previous years, so I’m thrilled to see we’re embracing outerwear that’s durable and can be easily dressed up or down.

Pops of colour

It’s about time we bid farewell to millennial beige.

“A pop of red” feels cliché at this point, but it’s great to see that we’re not losing our whimsy to burnt oranges, muted browns, and rusted tones.

Autumnal colours can be paired well with a vibrant colour, whether it’s tomato red, light teal, or electric purple.

The formula is easy. Take a neutral outfit and add an item in a fun colour to elevate the outfit — like a bag, scarf, statement necklace, or shoes. And just like that, you’ve taken a basic fall outfit up several notches.