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A barn during fall
A barn during fall
Original photo by Leah Plummer
U Conn | Style > Fashion

Fall Fashion: Concepts That Are Continually Loved

Layna Holmes Student Contributor, University of Connecticut
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Conn chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

Fall is one of the most loved seasons for its activities, smells, beautiful scenery, and fashion. It combines comfort, warmth, and the endless opportunity for creating the perfect outfit. From apple picking and pumpkin patch visits to Thanksgiving gatherings and everyday outings, autumn provides the perfect occasions to create both stylish and practical outfits. Fall fashion is so prominent because of its ability to blend seasonal colors, timeless patterns, unique clothing items, and fun accessories. By understanding some key elements of fall fashion, you can create your own unique outfits that capture the season and express your own personal style.

Color Palette

The foundation of every outfit is a color palette. Starting with a solid color palette will help you to build an outfit that will fit with a particular vibe. I think we can all agree on the basic colors everyone associates with fall. Using these colors in your outfits can elevate your look, and reinforce the idea that the outfit is the perfect representation of the season. The vibrant colors are some of my favorites to incorporate into an outfit, and probably the first colors you think of when you hear “fall”: bright oranges that we may describe as a shade of pumpkin, or lively reds that we may connect to the changing leaves. These colors are perfect for a pop that is easily seen in fall fashion. There are also many muted colors that allow for an earthy feel to an outfit. Cool greens and deep blues are great base colors for an outfit if you’re not a fan of intense shades. Another great alternative is to use darker, softer shades of orange, burgundy, and even yellow. This creates a middle ground that embraces bright color concepts while still providing a softer overall look. Using this technique is one of my personal favorites because it allows me to still showcase some of those classic fall colors while feeling comfortable in my outfit. These shades are all great options when paired with neutral colors. Neutral colors, including creams, beiges, and browns, are amazing for leveling out an outfit. Achromatic hues are essential for contrasting some of the more colorful features in your fall outfit.

Patterns

Patterns are a distinct part of fall clothing. The most profound pattern associated with fall, in my opinion, has to be plaid. Plaid is a great pattern because it allows for the incorporation of so many colors into one article of clothing. This makes creating the rest of an outfit significantly easier. A pattern like plaid that stands out is the focal point of an outfit. All other pieces compliment the singular plaid part. A similar, yet more simple pattern, is gingham. This allows for an outfit to be elevated by a pattern, while only integrating three colors: the base color, the line color, and the color created when they intersect. This is a great pattern to start with, because it gives direction, while not overwhelming the outfit with color. An even simpler pattern that is great for fall is checkers. This only involves two solid colors. Using a checkered pattern can enhance an outfit, while still maintaining an overall simplicity. Patterns are such a fun factor to include for this season to amplify your outfit.

Clothing ITEMS

Clothing items themselves are arguably the entire purpose of an outfit. Autumn is the prime time to combine both summer and winter staples into one look. Because the weather is fairly neutral, layering is essential to every fall outfit. Layering cardigans and jackets over fun shirts, or even tights with skirts is a key way to uplift an outfit. Cardigans are extremely popular right now and a great way to keep warm while still encompassing the fall vibe. Colorful or patterned jackets are another really good way to elevate an outfit while keeping it practical. These two options are a fall outfit must! A classic denim skirt is an item most people own. Denim skirts are a plain yet effective aspect to an outfit. They are a perfect base to any outfit because let’s be real, they can go with anything. It’s also so simple to spice them up by adding a belt, waist scarf, or even fun tights. The best part of a fall outfit are oversized sweaters. They’re definitely my favorite part because they’re not only cute, but extremely comfortable. An oversized sweater encapsulates the coziness of any fall day while creating a fashionable outfit.

Accessories

Accessories are an excellent final touch to all outfits. During the fall season, there are many accessories that magnify a look. One of these accessories is shoes. The most prominent are boots. There are a few different types of boots that come to mind. We have chunky UGG-style shoes, and we have knee-high leather boots, for example. Both of these options are great for enhancing an outfit; it just depends on what look you are going for. In addition to shoes, socks are terrific at adding an extra layer to any outfit. The classic fall sock would have to be a thick knitted one. They can work for both shoe options as well. If you go for a chunky ankle height UGG, scrunching them is key, but if you want to wear a taller boot, having them slightly peak out of the top works great. Scarves are another key staple in fall accessories, being both practical and cute. Plain scarves can dress up an already extravagant outfit, and a patterned scarf is perfect for a simpler outfit. Scarves are the perfect addition for the later fall months because they provide warmth while being a trendy addition to any outfit. Accessories are not the base of an outfit, yet they are still an important factor. With good execution of accessories, an outfit can go from good to great.

Wrapping it up

Fall fashion offers a balance between the classic seasonal elements and personal style. Its wide array of rich color palettes, amazing patterns, cozy layers, and statement accessories contributes to the charm. Fall clothing is extremely versatile because it blends comfort and fashion. Whether you are dressed for festive seasonal activities or simply elevating your everyday wardrobe, these concepts can help to create a look that is unique, trendy, and timeless. Fall’s ability to embrace and define so many features of fashion make this season a fan favorite year after year.

Layna Holmes

U Conn '29

Layna is a sophomore English and Communication double major at the University of Connecticut. She is a student in UConn's Honors College and a Chapter Member for Her Campus UConn! Layna enjoys writing about literature, entertainment, music, and trends and she is excited to show her love for these things through journalism with HC.

If she is not in class or writing articles, she is most likely reading a good book, watching a Gen Z sitcom, or hanging with friends. You can often find her studying around campus, listening to Ethel Cain, or taking a quick nap!