Fads And Fashion: Figuring Out What To Wear This Fall

It’s that time of year when the temperature begins to go down, the need to stay warm begins to surface, and you begin to reconsider your closet to determine if there are items you are missing or articles of clothing you no longer wish to wear. This year may be a little different for many of us. With daily expenses constantly going up and incomes remaining flat or even declining, few of us are likely to splurge on expensive fall fashion. But what’s interesting this year is that many experts and fashion sources have been scouring the “aisles” of Amazon for fashion suggestions at more consumer-friendly prices. Whether for convenience or cost-savings- or both- you may be able to keep up with fashion trends while keeping your costs low.

So, for example, let’s first consider the trends that are swirling in the air for fashionable older women this fall. Yahoo recently published a list of several “Fashion trends that older women will love.” Included among the items are clothes and accessories in this fall’s favorite color, purple (along with other jewel tones), funnel neck outerwear and jackets, and elevated fabrics and textures like suede and lace. Who What Wear also published a list of what the chicest over-50 women will wear this autumn, including suede pencil skirts, plaid shirts, and fashionable blazers, often double-breasted. Harper’s Bazaar even went so far as to create a list of “Hero Buys,” that is, expensive items worth investing in, including items with lace, dressing up with jewel tones, and again, blazers, often with striking silhouettes. 

In contrast, and yet often following similar trends, Elle magazine listed 26 Amazon fashion finds, many from labels you’ve likely heard of, including Gap, Levi’s, Madewell, and Rothy’s. Elle’s list also includes jewel-tone dresses and (fake) suede jackets. Cosmopolitan pegged its trends and recommendations to what’s available this fall on Amazon, including plaid prints, colored suede items, including fringe, and electric purple tops. Finally, if you’re looking for comfortable and yet polished items, Travel and Leisure (T & L) also points you in the direction of Amazon, which is described as “fresh fall fashion without the ‘fresh-out-of-money’ feeling. What does T & L recommend? On their list of Amazon fashion finds, you can grab wide-leg pants with lace trim, a funnel neck bomber jacket, a plaid trench coat, or even faux suede studded clogs. So, as you can see, fall fashion trends can be found at many price points this fall.

If you’re looking for a new source for fashion inspiration with an eye on what works for older women, you may want to check out A Well Styled Life, the website and social media platform of Jennifer Connolly. Connolly is a personal stylist and image consultant with an eye for practical advice on trends and the development of individual fashion style. With 38,000 + followers on Facebook, she’s likely doling out valuable guidance, including fall fashion trends that can work with your current wardrobe while mixing in a few reasonably priced additions.

And for a little bit of fun, you may want to check out the fall fashion finds recommended by a recent article in The Wall Street Journal, which suggests you take your fashion cues not from couture but rather from the looks that may have come out of your dad or spouse’s closet. Entitled “What to Wear in Chilly Weather, Inspired By Your Grandpa’s Closet,” the premise of the recommendations is “everything old is new again.” So rather than scour fashion articles and magazines, this fall you may want to raid your partner’s closet and grab some sweater vests, suede hats, plaid mufflers, or skinny ties to use as scarves. You’ll be able to look chic and nostalgic at the same time, and the costs may just be within this year’s budget plans. So happy closet shopping to you all!