"I don’t know about you, but there are times when even I, an industry professional, start to become overwhelmed by the constant stream of newness that’s happening in fashion. One minute leopard is in, the next it’s not—but if you’re me or Jenna Lyons, it’s always in—making it incredibly difficult to keep up. And not only is it difficult to keep up, it’s expensive. Rather than making staying on trend your singular focus, save yourself some time (and money) by re-shifting your focus to identifying the trends that will most seamlessly fit into your pre-existing wardrobe.
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These days, it’s hard to avoid living chronically online—and even harder to avoid shopping the internet’s seemingly unending, irresistible list of must-haves. Trust me: As someone who reports on trends for a living, I’ve found myself in one too many compromising positions (that is, my finger on the checkout button knowing that I’ve already met my monthly clothing allowance.) But wanting to shop consciously doesn’t mean prohibiting yourself from exploring new trends, and that doesn’t mean a trip to Zara, either. With a pinch of newness, a dash of resourcefulness, and a smidgen of creativity, you’ll find that the recipe for testing out trends is easier (and more affordable) than ever.
These are the easiest trends to incorporate into your existing fall wardrobe, plus the steps to take before investing in anything new for the season.
Questions to Ask Before You Buy Something New
Identify the Trends That Work for You
First things first, consider your personal style. For as many new internet fads as we’re privy too, it can be hard not to get swept up in the noise and forget about what makes you, you. Pay attention to the items that you truly love–not just what you feel like you should love–because at the end of the day, it’s you who has to wear it, not the person who recommended it. If the internet is pushing boho but your wardrobe is serving minimalism, then you should opt for a trend that more closely aligns to your style (think: this season’s prep school trend).
Gather Inspiration
Before any big seasonal shift, I like to collect a healthy arsenal of style inspo—whether through Pinterest, Instagram, or the latest edition of Vogue. I find that it helps me to enter the buying season with a clear style vision, and therefore provides direction on where I invest in something new, if at all.
Shop Your Closet
Chances are, you probably don’t own the exact items in the inspiration pictures you have saved, and that’s OK. What I love about discovering fashion inspiration is the challenge that comes afterward: How can I make this work with what I already have? Let’s say you want to replicate an outfit that features a burgundy trench coat, but you don’t own one and aren’t looking to purchase one. Take your tan trench and add a wine-colored sweater underneath instead. Sometimes, you don’t need to buy brand new in order to feel brand new.
Try a Rental Service
More often than not, my outfit is entirely rented—yes, even my bag. When I want to stick to a budget without sacrificing my style, I usually turn to clothing rental services like Nuuly and Rent The Runway for access to the season’s latest trends. The result? Peak style with a bit of cash to spare. Plus, renting instead of buying usually scratches my itch for wanting to purchase said item in the first place. (Meaning I’m not stuck with a bunch of clothes I’ll likely never wear with money I likely don’t need to spend.)
8 Affordable Trends to Try This Fall
Fitted Blazers
Rather than the heavily oversized blazers we’ve seen over the past few years, this season’s street style is seeing a resurgence of waist-cinching, fitted blazers. Although I think snagging a corseted blazer is well worth the investment, it unfortunately does come at the cost of being less versatile (in addition to the actual price you’ll pay for a new blazer). If you can’t spare the petty cash, take any blazer—no matter the shape or color—and create the nipped-in look by adding a statement belt to the waist.
Suede Accessories
While suede is undoubtedly one of the season’s biggest trends, it’s nothing new, which means the chances of finding a pre-loved suede piece of your own are at an all-time high. Maybe you already own a suede item or two—if so, give your old pieces a facelift this fall by styling them with a trending print (leopard) or color (burgundy). Though I probably won’t be able to afford Alexa Chung’s new Madewell collab, there are still plenty of affordable footwear and accessory pieces to choose from.
Cuffed Bracelets
Of course, any article of jewelry is a great, affordable first place to begin when updating your closet. So whether you shop secondhand, scour your mom’s heirlooms, or reach for something new, jewelry—like this season’s trending cuff bracelet—is always your safest bet for staying style-relevant on a budget. And it isn’t just that contemporary brands have made this category more accessibly priced, adding statement jewelry to any look can completely change the trajectory of your outfit without having to purchase a whole new wardrobe.
Double Denim
This season’s runways experienced a rare shift into more wearable designs, with denim at the forefront. As designers worked to set an updated precedent of sporting more denim-forward ensembles, fashion show-goers and at-home consumers rejoiced. Since you already likely own a denim jacket and pair of jeans, now is the time to style them together.
Animal Print
If you’ve been online for even a millisecond of time recently, then I can say with certainty that you’ve seen a spot of leopard in your feed. If you do have leopard in your closet, now is the time to break it back out. But in the meantime, let us not forget about zebra, which is burgeoning in popularity as the crisp temps grow cooler. Regardless of which print you choose as your fall spirit animal, my advice remains the same: Style it the same way you would a neutral.
Shades of Burgundy
Thanks be to whoever modeled the season’s it-color after my favorite drink: a glass of pinot noir. Last year, being the ahead-of-the-trend-curve girl that I am, I was interested in purchasing a burgundy leather trench—but being fresh out of cash, opted for a wine-colored bag instead. Much to my surprise, the burgundy bag helped to transform countless fall and winter looks. This season, if you aren’t interested in spending the big bucks, brands are offering a wide assortment of pinot-inspired products in a variety of entry-level prices.
Mary Janes
Although their website’s homepage claims “we’re still here,” I miss Payless. (Not necessarily for their shoes, but for their incredibly affordable prices.) In the fashion world, it seems that inflation has hit the footwear category the hardest, but thanks to a few price-conscious brands like Sam Edelman, Steve Madden, and Dolce Vita, hope is not lost. When it comes to this season’s Mary Janes, you don’t need to fork over more than $100.
Barn Jackets
To whoever managed to snag the viral Old Navy barn jacket in their size, congratulations. The Carhartt dupe that set the internet ablaze last month showed consumers that sporting the season’s top jacket trend was more economical than anyone originally thought. What was once a dominated silhouette by functional brands like Filson and Barbour has now been adopted by just about every designer, including budget-friendly ones.
Tinsley Crisp, Fashion & Beauty Staff Writer
Tinsley Crisp is a Fashion & Beauty Staff Writer at The Everygirl and specializes in reporting on the season’s latest trends and hottest products. As a New York City-based stylist, she’s committed to injecting joy into the art of getting dressed and delivering attainable yet aspirational content to our readers.