Fashion Stopped Taking Itself So Seriously

5 Fall 2026 Trends I’m Actually Into

Every fall I read the trend reports and think the same thing: who is actually wearing this?

And I don't mean that in a bitter way. I love this stuff. Give me a runway recap and a coffee and I'm happy. But there's always been a gap between what's walking down a runway and what I'm realistically putting on before work on a Tuesday morning.

This year feels different.

Not because Fall 2026 gave us one huge new silhouette or suddenly reinvented the sweater.

It's because fashion seems to be having fun again.

After years of quiet luxury, barely-there accessories, neutrals, and outfits designed to look expensive without looking like you tried, we're getting color. Texture. Romance. Big details. Things that exist purely because they're pretty.

Some of it is slightly ridiculous.

And honestly? I kind of love that.

But First, My Trend Test

If you read last week's Aritzia post, you already know I have a rule when I'm shopping.

Before anything comes home with me, I ask:

Will I still want this in a year?

That's it.

If the answer is no, it's probably not a wardrobe piece. It's a mood.

And moods are how you end up staring at a closet full of things you wore four times wondering why you have nothing to wear.

So I'm not going to tell you that you need any of these Fall 2026 trends.

You don't.

Instead, these are the trends I think are interesting, the ones I can see translating into real life, and how I'd actually wear them without feeling like I'm dressed for Fashion Week.

Let's get into it.

Fashion Is Getting a Little Unserious

This isn't technically one trend.

It's the thing connecting almost all of them.

We're seeing oversized details, decorative accessories, unexpected proportions, color combinations, texture, and pieces that don't necessarily have a practical purpose.

And that's exactly why they're fun.

For years, everything had to feel effortless and understated.

Now?

Put the belt over the sweater.

Add the oversized bow.

Wear the earrings that are probably a little too much.

Not every part of an outfit has to justify its existence.

How I'm Wearing It

I'm definitely not going maximalist from head to toe.

But I love the idea of letting one thing be unnecessary.

A statement earring with an otherwise simple outfit. A belt that isn't technically holding anything up. A scarf tied onto a bag just because I like it there.

One little detail can make an outfit feel like you actually styled it instead of simply putting clothes on.

And I'm very into that.

Romantic Details Are Back

Lace.

Ruffles.

Poet sleeves.

Sheer details.

Basically, we're getting a little romance back in our closets.

The important distinction here is that I don't think the wearable version looks like a costume.

The outfits I love balance something romantic with something structured or relaxed.

Think:

Lace camisole + blazer + trousers.

Or:

Romantic blouse + relaxed denim.

It's the contrast that makes it work.

How I'm Wearing It

For work, I'd do a lace-trim camisole underneath a really clean single-breasted blazer with wide-leg trousers.

You get the texture and femininity without the entire outfit becoming overly sweet.

That's probably my biggest rule with this trend:

One romantic piece at a time.

If we're doing lace and ruffles and bows?

We've lost me.

Purple Is Having a Moment

Okay, this one surprised me.

Purple—from rich royal purple and violet to deep aubergine—is showing up everywhere for Fall 2026.

And while I'm not about to replace my entire neutral wardrobe with purple, I actually understand the appeal.

Especially aubergine.

It's rich enough to feel like a fall neutral and works surprisingly well alongside colors most of us already own:

Black.

Chocolate brown.

Cream.

Camel.

Denim.

You don't have to build an entirely new color palette around it.

How I'd Wear It

If you're not already a purple person, I would not start with purple pants.

Start small.

A bag.

A flat.

A scarf.

Maybe a beautiful knit.

Let it be the interesting thing in an otherwise familiar outfit.

That's the easiest way to test a color trend without suddenly owning six pieces you won't want next year.

The Tiny Scarf Is Back

This might be the easiest trend on the entire list.

A small silk or cotton scarf tied loosely around your neck, tucked underneath a blazer, or knotted around the handle of your bag.

That's it.

And somehow your white tee and jeans suddenly look like an outfit.

This is exactly the kind of trend I love because it doesn't require rebuilding your closet.

You're taking pieces you already own and making them feel different.

The One Rule

Pick one place.

Around your neck.

On your bag.

Under your blazer.

Not all three.

We want I casually thought of this while getting dressed, not my scarf collection escaped.

This is probably the Fall 2026 trend I'd recommend trying first because the commitment level is basically zero.

Practical Outerwear Is Finally Stylish

Now we're speaking my language.

Living somewhere that gets actually cold changes your relationship with fall fashion.

There comes a point where I don't care how beautiful a coat looks if I'm freezing underneath it.

And Fall 2026 seems to understand that.

We're seeing technical outerwear that still feels intentional—funnel collars, sporty zip fronts, weather-resistant fabrics, oversized shapes, and pieces that look equally appropriate walking through a city as they do dealing with actual weather.

How I'm Wearing It

This is where I'm willing to invest.

I want outerwear that works with my wardrobe instead of covering it up and ruining the whole outfit.

Give me a great funnel-neck jacket with trousers and a knit.

Or a slightly oversized technical coat over denim and a pointed flat.

Practical doesn't have to mean boring anymore.

And in Montana?

I'll happily take a trend that's actually useful.

Okay, But What Am I Skipping?

This might be my favorite part of trend season.

Because just because something is "in" doesn't mean it needs to be in your closet.

There are always trends I appreciate on someone else and have absolutely no desire to wear myself.

Low Rise

Yes, it's back.

No, I'm not emotionally prepared to revisit 2003.

The newer versions are definitely more sophisticated—draping, asymmetric waistbands, better tailoring—but I know myself.

If I'm going to spend the entire day wondering where my waistband is, we're not doing it.

Lingerie as Clothing

Beautiful on the runway.

Beautiful on other women.

Beautiful on a red carpet.

But for my everyday life?

I want the lingerie to remain underneath the clothing.

I'm happy borrowing the lace and satin details from this trend without committing to the whole thing.

Anything That Requires Constant Adjusting

This is less of a specific trend and more of my permanent fashion boundary.

If I have to pull it up, pull it down, reposition it, check it every time I stand up, or strategically avoid sitting?

It's staying at the store.

I don't care how good it looks in the fitting room.

I want clothes that let me forget about my clothes.

Final Thoughts

None of this is a rulebook.

Trends aren't obligations, and skipping one doesn't mean you don't "get" fashion.

Actually, I think knowing what you're not going to wear is a huge part of developing personal style.

But I am happy fashion feels a little less serious again.

For a while, it seemed like the goal was to make everything quieter. More neutral. More understated. More "if you know, you know."

Fall 2026 feels like permission to have an opinion again.

Wear the purple.

Tie the scarf.

Add the completely unnecessary earring.

Or look at all of it and say, no thank you.

Either way, I'd rather see someone wear something because they genuinely love it than buy another beige sweater because the internet told them it was timeless.

That's personal style.

And that's always going to outlast a trend.