10 Wearable Fall Trends for Women Over 50

For some people, fall means pumpkin spice and cozy sweaters, but I live in Florida, where Halloween can be 90 degrees and fall style means wearing shorts in a darker color. So it’s not about cozy fall vibes for me. It’s about The September Issue. Growing up, Vogue’s September issue was required reading for me, and definitely more interesting in September than Algebra. I read it cover to cover like there was going to be a test.

I don’t read Vogue as much as I used to, but I still get that flurry of excitement when we get to start chatting about fall trends. I love summer, but fall fashion is just so fashion-y, you know? I mean the layers and the textures and the luxury. It’s magical.

For years, I did trend reports used by other stylists and attended NY Fashion Week so I could report on the trends firsthand. These days, I spend countless hours watching the runway shows and reading the trend reports, distilling all of that information into the trends that I believe will be the most relevant and the most wearable. And I’m sharing 10 of them in today’s video.

Overview of Trends

I’m reminded of Miranda Priestley in The Devil Wears Prada and that famous line: “Flowers? For spring? Groundbreaking.” As much as I love these fall trends, there is very little that is new for fall, and many of these trends are going to be items you already have in your closet.

The first trend is texture, from fluffy first to sparkly tinsel to feathers and fringe. These appeared on everything from coats and scarves to shoes, bags, and other accessories. 80s references, from sharp shoulders to wide collars to glam jewelry, also made a strong appearance, joined by retro, ladylike suits and shifts inspired by the Swans.

Shop all of the styles here.

Fluffy Coats

The bigger and fluffier, the better. These runway showstoppers are almost comically large, but by the time they end up at the stores, they are more moderately fluffy, fun, and wearable. They make a colorful and cozy addition to neutral fall outfits.

Shop all of these styles here.

Leopard & Cheetah

My favorite animal print, and one I never stop wearing, leopard is officially a trend for fall 2024, showing up on literally everything from coats and dresses to tights and accessories.

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Moto & Leather Jackets

Leather jackets, especially sharp-shouldered moto jackets, were a key trend for fall. Leather also showed up in head to toe outfits. Strong shoulders, motocross and racing details, color, and other unique details updated the look for this season.

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Green

Green reigned as arguably the shade of the season (alongside wine, brown, and red). It was especially notable in shades of chartreuse and olive, and showed up in head-to-toe outfits as well as mixed with other fall faves. Olive and wine make a fresh fall color combination.

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Ladylike

Retro-inspired suits, hats, shift dresses and slingbacks showed up on runways from Prada to Chanel, looking like they came straight out of the wardrobes of the Swans.

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Plaid & Menswear Patterns

The popularity of plaid never truly wanes, but this season it’s hotter than ever, with the print showing up on everything from ballgowns and maxi skirts to flannels and coats.

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Wraps & Scarves

Capes, ponchos, and oversize scarves add drama and warmth to fall outfits.

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Big Collars & High Necklines

Dramatic exaggerated necklines, including horizontal and stand-up collars and oversized turtlenecks, gave fall favorites a fresh new look.

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Full Skirts

Full, swingy skirts made a dramatic return on the runway after seasons of slinky slip skirts, and add a swishy femininity to fall looks.

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Cozy Knits

Thick cozy knitwear is nothing new for fall, but the scale and chunkiness of this season’s pieces make them special.

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What do you think of my picks for the most wearable fall trends. Which do you already own, and which will you consider investing in for fall? Let’s chat in the comments!