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Home • Fashion

5 Editor And Fashion Week-Approved Trends To Try For Fall

ESSENCE’s E-Commerce Editor put a number of fall trends to the test during New York Fashion Week, and these 5 are worth keeping on repeat.
ESSENCE Editor Picks: 5 Fashion Week Approved Trends To Try For Fall
By Jamila Stewart · Updated September 21, 2022

At the heart of New York Fashion Week are the talented roster of brands that come together to present their upcoming collections, but over time, the event has become one wherein fashion inspiration no longer comes solely from the runways, but from street style, too. For editors, the event-packed week presents an opportunity to try out fashion trends that may have been on the back burner, and a few of them have proven worthy of keeping on rotation throughout the fall.

It’s no secret that many of the fall trends cropping up across social media and street style take a page from the runways for inspiration, and many of us have been patiently awaiting the close of summer to put them to the test. While New York Fashion Week may have been the opportunity that presented itself for sartorial exploration, I made sure to keep to a similar rule of thumb I like to use when dressing or shopping on the daily — mixing and matching statement pieces with staples for an end result that feels both on trend, yet practical and versatile enough to reimagine throughout the seasons. Plus, when visiting New York City, no matter the location (though I try to keep as close to the city as possible opting for locations such as Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown and Hyatt Centric Midtown 5th Avenue this time around), dressing with comfort in mind whether, by way of roomy bottoms, oversized tops or lower heels is key.

Ahead, here are the 5 fall trends that get the editor stamp of approval after a New York Fashion Week trial run. Then, see where to shop some of the pieces to try out the looks on your own. 

1. Plaid, But Make It Grunge

ESSENCE Editor Picks: 5 Fashion Week Approved Trends To Try For Fall

Photographed at Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown

Academia always finds its way back to the forefront, especially in the fall, but it’s the updates that come with it season after season that makes the timeless trend worth trying out time and time again. This time around, academia holy grails such as plaid take on grungier, deconstructed elements such as distressed fabrics and hardware details. If you don’t want to go all out with a head-to-toe look, grab a statement piece such as an oversized blazer and style it with all black.

01
01 Sami Miro Vintage Open Seam Oversized Blazer
Available at Sami Miro Vintage
595 Shop Now
02
02 Good American Mesh Crop Tee
Available at Good American
70 Shop Now
03
03 Zara Skort
Available at Zara
40 Shop Now
04
04 H&M 2-pack 40 Denier Tights
Available at H&M
10 Shop Now
05
05 Steve Madden Priyanka Boot
Available at Steve Madden
150 Shop Now

2. All Sheer Everything

ESSENCE Editor Picks: 5 Fashion Week Approved Trends To Try For Fall

Photographed at Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown

From dresses to matching sets, skin-embracing, sensual sheer fabrics have dominated the runway for a few seasons now (think signature designs from on-the-rise brands such as KNWLS and Nensi Dojaka). Styling sheer dresses always leaves the question of what to wear underneath, so I find sheer pants, particularly a pair that comes complete with built-in shorts for coverage, to be the most wearable option. If you don’t have a matching set, all you need is a top with added sheer details in the same color to create a look that feels crisp and cohesive. 

01
01 Amy Shehab Noir Mesh Top
Available at Amy Shehab
51 Originally $85 Shop Now
02
02 Cult Naked Jungle Trousers
Available at Cult Naked
130 Shop Now
03
03 Jeffrey Campbell Shiner Slingback Rhinestone Pointed Toe Pump
Available at Nordstrom
180 Shop Now

3. Moto Moment

ESSENCE Editor Picks: 5 Fashion Week Approved Trends To Try For Fall

Photographed at Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown

Call it the Diesel effect, but biker jackets are the Y2K rockstar girlfriend-esque trend taking over for the fall, and it just feels wrong to not give the look a spin. What you need first — any one of the trendy biker jacket styles on the market (there are color-blocked options, smooth leather options, and more, but I love the distressed faux suede look that comes with this one from Urban Outfitters). Versatile as biker jackets are, you can virtually pair yours with anything, matching leather pants, jeans, a denim mini skirt, or to nail two trends of the season at once, a cargo skirt. Last, of course, a pair of wrap-around sunnies to hone in on the sporty vibes.

01
01 Gucci Oval Acetate Sunglasses
Available at MyTheresa
595 Shop Now
02
02 Urban Outfitters UO Pippa Faux Suede Seamed Jacket
Available at Urban Outfitters
40 Originally $99 Shop Now
03
03 Zara Cargo Skirt
Available at Zara
50 Shop Now
04
04 BCBG Leonor Mule Pump Heel
Available at BCBG
259 Shop Now

4. Maxis Over Minis

ESSENCE Editor Picks: 5 Fashion Week Approved Trends To Try For Fall

Photographed at Hyatt Centric Midtown 5th Avenue

Perhaps one of the most recent and popular examples of just how quickly the micro trend pendulum swings these days (thanks to TikTok) is the fact that maxi and midi skirts are now the beloved skirt trend, coming off the heels of a major mini skirt summer. Alas, it comes just in time for fall and there’s no shortage of nostalgic styles to try on the market. The silhouette is perfect for pairing with tall boots and balancing the top with an open-front cardigan.

01
01 Diesel Layered Ribbed Cardigan
Available at Farfetch
450 Shop Now
02
02 BDG Margot Denim Patchwork Maxi Skirt
Available at Urban Outfitters
89 Shop Now
03
03 Larroude Kate Boots
Available at Larroude
450 Shop Now

5. Baggy Blues

ESSENCE Editor Picks: 5 Fashion Week Approved Trends To Try For Fall

Photographed at Hyatt Centric Midtown 5th Avenue

Think of New York Fashion Week and flashy, over-the-top looks are bound to come to mind. You’re not wrong, but there are plenty of more relaxed trends to pull from that frankly are much more comfortable for trucking through the streets of the city. Baggy jeans are one you may not normally gravitate toward for events that call for dressing up, but they’re actually easy to transform into a fashion moment with an elevated basic top and sleek, comfy heels. 

01
01 Norma Kamali Shoulder Pad Long Sleeve Crew Top
Available at Shopbop
115 Shop Now
02
02 Good American Good ’90s Loose Jean
Available at Good American
155 Shop Now
03
03 Zara Kitten Heel Ankle Boots
Available at Zara
50 Shop Now
TOPICS:  fall fashion trends New York Fashion Week
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