10 Fall Trends to Watch in 2023

Although fall doesn’t officially begin until September 23rd, enthusiastic fashion fans are already overhauling their wardrobes to get ready for the style season ahead. From power colors to new silhouettes, there’s an endless amount of trends to discover and explore. Get ready to breathe new life into your wardrobe and have fun playing with these top 10 trends for fall.

No. 1 - RED

Red was all over the runway for fall 2023 as seen at Balmain, Bottega Veneta, Carolina Herrera, Fendi, Jason Wu, Christopher Kane, and countless other designer shows. There’s never been a better time to play with this bold power color, whether you opt for a structured blazer, red dress, or strappy shoe, this is a fun trend to kick off the season with.

If the color red feels too bold to add to your wardrobe, have fun with red lipstick, nail polish, handbags, and hair accessories.

Shown above: Alice + Olivia ‘Johanna’ Blazer available at Nordstrom

Shop Local:

Twist Front Dress - Nordstrom

Red Sweater - Purpose Boutique

Nomad Fanny Pack - Sway & Cake

Red Sunglasses - Prism

Red Nail Polish - Cura Co.

Jolene Lip Whip - Kari Gran

Checker Claw - Chunks

Red Circle Mini Bag - Tah

Veja Sneakers -Flora & Henri

No. 2 - Sheer indulgence

The sheer trend has dominated the fashion world for several years now and this season is no exception. From transparent tops to mesh bodysuits and even sheer blazers, there are fun and wearable ways for everyone to “dip a toe” into this trend. But don’t worry, if the thought of going sheer is too much, try a colorful sheer scrunchie or a beautiful pair of sheer socks instead.

Shown above: Lady Lux Layering Top by Free People from Zappos

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Sheer Button Shirt - Prism

Ruffle Top - Emry Boutique

Sassy Mesh Blouse - Pipe & Row

Sheer Lace Top - Foundation Seattle

Sheer Bomber Jacket - GSTQ via Nordstrom

No. 3 - pretty peplum

The peplum trend is a fun and flattering silhouette to try this season. Harper’s Bazaar described it as “an extension of a garment’s creation- rather than the focus of the entire look.” This season, you’ll see the peplum show up in blazers, dresses, outerwear, tank tops, and even in the hem of maxi skirts. A pretty peplum top paired with cargo pants and strappy heels would be a fun and easy way to play with the trend on date night or girls’ night out.

Shown above: ASTR Peplum Top available at Bloomingdales

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Peplum Top - Vixen Boutique

Peplum Top - Sam Edelman via Nordstrom

Bustier Peplum Tank - Anthropologie

Lace Peplum Top - Garmentory

No. 4 - classic white tee

The crisp and classic white tee is a must-have staple for fall. Although it feels like a no-brainer to include in a list of “top 10 trends”, the plain white tee is essential for fall because of its versatility. This season, style it with a varsity jacket, pair it with cargo pants, layer it under a camisole for a nod to the Y2K era, or keep it classic by layering it under a cozy quilted coat. This is not a precious trend, so have fun and get your money’s worth out of this strong staple. If you don’t have a classic white tee that is ready to go for the season ahead, NOW is the time to find one you love!

Shown Above: White V-Neck Tee by Frame

Shop Local:

Madewell White Tee - Nordstrom

Adine Shrunken Tee - Pipe & Row

The Baby Tee - September

V Neck Tee -Evereve

Easy Pocket Tee - Vixen Boutique

No. 5 - Modern prep

Nothing says “fall has arrived” more than plaid. It signals an official shift of the season and reminds me of crisp fall days and pumpkin spice lattes. From large-scale plaids on outerwear to micro-plaids on blazers (as shown above), there’s something fun for everyone this season when it comes to playful plaids. InStyle magazine even named it as one of the “18 Fall Fashion Trends You'll Want to Wear Right Now”.

Shop Local:

Plaid Sweater Vest - Purpose

SPK Field Shirt - Guillermo Bravo

Plaid Blazer- Nordstrom

Button Down Plaid Shirt - Faherty

Plaid Bucket Hat - Ganni

Plaid Skirt - Anthropologie

Joe Coat - Sezane

No. 6 - The bold shoulder

This just might be one of my favorite fashion trends of all time. It’s seasonless as far as I’m concerned because it’s a trend I personally wore all summer long. The New York Times reports, “According to data from Tagwalk, the fashion search engine, there was an almost 50 percent increase in bold shoulders during the recent fall ready-to-wear shows over last year,” so clearly, many other people are loving this trend, too. We saw bold shoulders all over New York Fashion Week at shows like Proenza Schouler, Max Mara, and Alberta Ferretti. This season you’ll see everything from unexpected shoulder details to puffy sleeves and full-on shoulder pads. Have fun, experiment, and express yourself.

Shown above: Luar RTW Fall 2023 via WWD

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Ulla Johnson Denim Jacket- ShopBop

Puff Sleeve Dress - Evereve

Frame Denim Shirt - Nordstrom

Frame Stretch Cotton Utility Pant - Nordstrom

Puff Sleeve Trench Coat - Anthropologie

Puff Sleeve Top - Sprig

No. 7 - Metallic Moments

The metallic trend has always pushed the envelope when it comes to traditional fashion trends, which is why it feels particularly fun and rebellious this season. Designers including Valentino, Fendi, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Balenciaga all featured it on the runway.

Whether you prefer silver or gold, this season’s metallic obsessions can be channeled into shimmery handbags, eye-catching boots, gilded dresses, luxe jackets, and even festive eye make-up for a night on the town. With so many amazing metallic options at your fingertips this season, you’ll have endless styling options depending on the occasion and of course, your mood.

Shop Local:

Metallic Dress - Nordstrom

Metallic Ankle Boot - FRANKIE4 at Nordstrom

Metallic Cuff - Commonform Jewelry

Metallic Nail Polish - Flora & Henri

Metallic Trouser Pant - Flora & Henri

Metallic Maxi Skirt - Bloomingdales

Ballet Slippers - Clare V.

No. 8 - perfectly pleated

When designer Issey Miyake launched his Pleats Please line in 1993, he transformed traditional pleated garments into timeless, wearable classics that were not only beautiful but also wrinkle-resistant and easy to wear. Today, nearly 30 years on, fashion fans are still in love with the pleats and they’re back in a big way for fall. A pleated maxi skirt can go from desk to date night with a leather jacket and pair of heels, while a pleated dress can go from summer vacation to sales meeting by adding a belt and blazer. The best part? This fabric is great for travel, too.

Shown above: A pleated maxi skirt paired with a black tee and easy leather jacket + a pleated maxi skirt paired with a silk blouse.

Shop Local:

Printed Pleated Dress - Bloomingdales

Pleated Dress - Sam Edelman at Nordstrom

Asymmetrical Pleated Skirt - Mango

Pleated Tee - Prism

Pleated Cut-Out Dress - Bloomingdales

No. 9 - denim for dayS

If you haven’t already settled back in to wearing “hard pants” post-pandemic, you’ll definitely get back into your groove this season. Denim is back in a big way and all the pieces you’ve collected over the past few years will soon come into play as you remix them into creative new outfits. This season, anything goes from denim blazers to maxi skirts, wide leg jeans, denim handbags, denim boots, and even bucket hats.

Shop Local:
Denim Dress - NordstroDenim Skirt - Sézane

Wide Leg Denim Pant - Purpose

Denim Shirt - Pipe & Row

Maxi Denim Skirt - Prism

No. 10 - Noteworthy knits

In Seattle, it’s sweater season year-round, which means you never have to pack up your cozy knits because the local secret to style is all about creative layering. From luxury sustainable knitwear from Sskein to delicate cashmere sweaters from Paychi Kuh, this season is all about gorgeous knits that pair great with denim and brighten up dreary days.

Shown above: J. Crew Cable Knit Sweater

Shop Local

Crew Neck Pullover - Sskein

Cashmere Sweater - Paychi Guh

Cropped Cashmere Sweater - Reformation

Merino Half Zip - Everlane

Puff Sleeve Cardigan - Sézane

The Bottom Line

There’s no shortage of trends to experiment with this season and the key is to have fun and personalize each look so that it’s uniquely you. Shop your closet first and see what outfits you can remix to play up seasonal trends. Then, if you need to shop to supplement what you have, please consider supporting the amazing local businesses in our community. Every dollar counts and local shop owners can’t wait to welcome you back into their stores. And finally, if you’re short on time and need help getting ready for fall, check out the convenient services offered locally by Styled Seattle.