Avant-Garde Autumn & Trend Hate
In a world of artificial intelligence human-essence fatigue taking over, allow me to present to you something real. After flipping through several fashion articles and studying recent runway shows, I’m relieved to share that my cherry-red papercuts and blue-light headaches were well worth it. In other words, I have narrowed down my favorite fall fashion 2026 takes, and I’m sharing my notes!
”Trend Hate” has also been a topic dancing en pointe in the forefront of my mind, so I’m going to ignite some discourse on the matter.
Primary Besties: Red & Blue
While they don’t hold hands in RGB, they are meant to be together this fall season. A common theme I saw when studying the pages of my fashion magazines were the colors red and blue. Often paired together, but they are destined to stand alone this season as well. This is an important note, as it calls for the rewearability of our garb. We can wear the red dress with the blue statement scarf, or style them separately for completely different yet fashionably-valid looks this fall. Remember, raspberries and blueberries are sweet on their own, but when mixed together, they are entirely delicious!
Other color variations are set to be on trend that emulate the beautiful scenery autumn brings, so keep that in mind and don’t be afraid to be daring. Afterall, the leaves change colors too!
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Avant-Garde Realness:
Getting Weird with Proportions and Juxtaposition of Fabrics
My fall fashion forecast tells me it’s going to be a hot season–that is, for intrepid fashion silhouettes and juxtaposing fabrics. Expect fabric draping over itself in unpredictable and limitless manners, like ocean waves. Embrace the whimsy within this season's cocoon-like tailoring, exaggerated flowy bottoms, and low-slung waistlines layered with belts that look like they belong at least 4 inches north. Succumb to the overstimulation of fabric juxtaposition by mixing the smoothness of silk, the playfulness of beads, and the elegance of tweed. There are no limitations to this trend. Just trust the process, mix and match textiles, and go with the flow, literally!
Honorable mention for Avant-Garde Realness: Conversation Starters. Your personal prized possessions in your closet that you’ve deemed your “personality pieces”, or just something that speaks to your personal style in general. Whether that be a loud animal print piece, a unique oversized belt buckle, a funky hat, or whatever makes you feel like a piece of abstract art. A zebra would just be a horse without her stripes, and who would you be without your conversation starter? The possibilities are endless, and entirely up to you.
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No Imagination Needed
Less creative than the avant-garde trend but inevitably fashionable (and reasonably so) is what leaves little to the imagination… Meaning, our bodies are the trend! Thank you for your services, MET Gala 2026. Sheer fabric, silk lingerie, open lace, cut-outs, deep plunges, the list goes on—all while the clothes come off!
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This leads us directly into the next trend…
You’re So Art Deco
Fashion is cyclical, and the timing is anything but coincidental for the resurrection of Art Deco. Runways and fashion magazines alike are welcoming back slip dress silhouettes, sharp tuxedos, glamorous furs, and the overall appearance of indulgence. You may ask yourself, “in this economy?” I know, but strut with me. The roaring 20’s was a time of rebellion. Women retaliated against fashion norms by embracing immodesty and dressing more provocatively. They even cut their long, untouched hair to make a point to reframe what it means to be a woman. This was also a time of prohibition, bringing us speakeasy culture and normalizing questioning the law.
Women were literally just wearing long milk-made dresses in the CLUB and trad-wife culture is being praised… See where I’m going with this? Remember, fashion is political. That said, if you need me, I’ll be in a speakeasy twirling in my flapper-style drop waist dress (as soon as I get my greedy hands on one.)
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Mother Nature
Our forever muse, no matter the season. It is of no surprise that nature motifs and earthy tones continue to take reign in fall 2026’s trend list. Consider some section of your closet as your personal garden, and try on something loudly wild or understatedly down to earth. The trend is yours to interpret, and inspiration is all around you, so it’s kinda hard to mess this one up!
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That’s all of my trend-forecast favorites! I definitely noticed some more, but I’ll leave you to study those. In case they’re more your style, here are some hints: Funnel necklines, leather jackets (for autumn, groundbreaking, I know), Jacquard, matching sets, button ups, well-tailored suits, and edgy athleisure.
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Falling leaves crumple below,
leading us to fall and her fashion,
that we love so!
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Trend Hate
“Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every 6 months.” -Oscar Wilde.
I am seeing SO much trend hate online, which to an extent is totally understandable and inevitable, but I fear we are hurdling towards dark times of nonchalance and an overly-saturated “cool girl” market. I understand what could be the reasons for this hate, which is fast-fashion and the lack of originality, but what’s it to you if someone dares to find inspiration? As for the fast fashion aspect, trends are cyclical. Look at Art Deco coming back. If preserved and handed down correctly, your old trends can one day be archival fashion. There are also so many ways to interpret trends independently, which is kind of a fun fashion challenge if you think about it. Like, how can I add this trend to the formula of my personal style? The discourse I’m seeing online is ironically a trend on its own, which is, hate. Everyone wants to be different, and “cool”, and someone who doesn’t have to follow the trends… But if you and your online friends are dragging someone for being brave enough to be fashionable, then aren’t you participating in the trend of hate?
Below is a quote from Grace Coddington, writer, renown stylist, and former creative director of Vogue US:
“People keep saying fashion should be ‘authentic’ now, which is a word I mistrust. So is ‘cool’… When it’s just a buzzword rather than something you actually practice. When you have to announce authenticity, it usually isn’t.”
Advertently, to play the devil's advocate, here is a take from Tommy Ton, a columnist for Vogue, in his article “The Best Street Style Doesn’t Shout”:
”Now that we live under the influence of algorithms and celebrity and influencer culture, genuine style has become increasingly difficult to distinguish from mere visibility. True originality is quieter—and indefinitely more compelling.”
Just some food for thought!
Trends are telling of the times, which leads to making your mark in fashion history. I have a pair of pumps from the early 2000’s that I absolutely adore. They may have been tacky in 2020 (kind of ironic, no shade 2020), but Y2K is back and better than ever and I’m hosting that diva’s ghost within me every time I wear those heels and my matching velour track suit. So, I don’t care if you’re the last person to ever purchase tabby style shoes or the whimsical bioch who started the trend, if you like a trend and deem it worth your investment, indulge. (That is, unless you believe it could be a fad, which may be stepping into unreasonable fast fashion territory as fads are evanescent, but that’s a conversation for another blog.)
I think following trends is really important if you’re just getting into fashion. Just be mindful of your clothing investments and what could give them longevity (like fabric, rewearability, and ask yourself if this trend is actually a fad). For established fashionistas, I think it’s totally fine to follow trends if you are able to do it instinctively and in a way that makes it yours. It’s a special feeling to know you’re a part of something with your community, even if it’s just being an occasional trend follower. There would be no trendsetters without trends!
A general rule of thumb if you’re going through a mental crossfire when deciding to participate in a trend: Ask yourself, “How can I make this me?” If you genuinely can’t resonate with the trend, this one’s not for you. But odds are, if you like it enough to ask yourself, there’s probably a way you can rock that trend in a way that only YOU can! Find the balance in trends and your personal style if you so wish, but don’t participate in the trend of hate. It’s just not a good look on you!
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I hope you enjoyed this read. I had so much fun researching for this article and I hope you found a trend that fits you best, or found inspiration to start your own!
Brain in Heels out, don’t miss me too much xx.