NYC's Style Set Is Betting Big on These 11 Fall Fashion Trends

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All around the world, people love, live, and breathe fashion; it has no boundaries. But there are specific cities that are known for being fashion hubs. It’s impossible to deny the influence of the street style scene in Paris, Hong Kong, and Copenhagen, but New York City’s fashion set has always been at the forefront of trends. Just look at the receipts: the championing of the Bushwick Birkin before it was a global phenomenon or the plethora of emerging fashion brands that call NYC home. Love it or hate it, if a trend can make it in this city, it can make it anywhere. So since we want to know which fall trends are worth adopting, we have to take it to the streets and pick the minds and mood boards of New York’s most fashionable residents. Ahead, 18 stylish women share which NYC fall fashion trends they’re backing and skipping this season.

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(Image credit: @telshaanderson; Courtesy of Balmain; Courtesy of Salvatore Ferragamo)

WHO: Telsha Anderson, Founder of T.A. New York

Skip: Massive Totes 

Adopt: Saturated Shades

Which fall trend are you most excited to adopt for 2021? And which will you skip?

I’m most excited about saturation! It's about time we brought some color back into our closets, and there are incredible designers that are making bold statements and showcasing the proper way to do it.

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(Image credit: @jessicaminkoff; Courtesy of Chanel; Courtesy of Marni)

WHO: Jessica Minkoff, Stylist

Adopt: Metallics 

Skip:20s-inspired Pieces

Which fall trend are you most excited to adopt for 2021? And which will you skip? 

Ever since I saw Saint Laurent’s F/W 21 show, I have been excited to incorporate metallics into my wardrobe. I loved how Anthony Vaccarello showed high-shine bodysuits with miniskirts for an unexpected twist on a more traditional look.

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(Image credit: @sasha.mei; Courtesy of By Malene Birger; Courtesy of The Row)

WHO: Sasha Mei, Model

Skip: Slope Style

Adopt: Tonal Tailoring

Which fall trend are you most excited to adopt for 2021? And which will you skip?

I’m ready to adopt tailored suits. This summer, I embraced colorful and "girly” pieces (read: minidresses and sandals, as NYC is hot), and I’m now ready to transition into something more sophisticated and structured as the weather hopefully cools down a little bit.

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(Image credit: @indiepeacock; Courtesy of Eckhaus Latta; Courtesy of K Krizia)

WHO: Niharika Chandrasekar, Digital Creator

Skip: Leopard print

Adopt: Gen Z

Which fall trend are you most excited to adopt for 2021? And which will you skip?

I am super excited about how the Gen Z and maximalism trends will continue and thrive in the fall. Now that layers and outerwear are in the mix, I can’t wait to see more inventive colors and patterns used to create fabulous fall looks.

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(Image credit: @fashionismyfortee; Courtesy of Vaquera; Courtesy of Chanel)

WHO: Gergana Ivanova, Founder of Gergana Ivanova

Skip: Accordion Pleats

Adopt: Cropped Jackets

Which fall trend are you most excited to adopt for 2021? And which will you skip?

I've been loving cropped jackets. I know it will be a massive trend for this fall, and it's something I've had in my closet. I love an oversize cropped blazer or leather jacket; both are very versatile pieces that you can dress up or down depending on the occasion.

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(Image credit: @heleneisfor; Courtesy of Lemaire; Courtesy of Alberta Ferretti)

WHO: Hélène Heath, Digital Creator

Skip: Gen Z–Inspired 

Adopt: Tonal Tailoring

Which fall trend are you most excited to adopt for 2021? And which will you skip?

It’s tonal tailoring for me all day long. I’m very into layering similar solid hues. My style motto is "When in doubt, go monochromatic,” so I’m thrilled to see that wearing one color from head to toe (preferably in sharp, elevated silhouettes) is having a moment.

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(Image credit: @thelanguageofyolande; Courtesy of Emilio Pucci; Courtesy of Acne Studios)

WHO: Yolande Macon, Digital Creator

Skip: Low-Rise Denim

Adopt: Unique Color Stories 

Which fall trend are you most excited to adopt for 2021? And which will you skip?

Since my style is very colorful, I’m excited to explore the unique color pairings focusing on the new saturated colors this fall. I can’t wait to style the deep, rich purples I’ve seen on the runways.

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(Image credit: @looseunicorns; Courtesy of Stella McCartney; Courtesy of Maryam Nassir Zadeh)

WHO: Maria Beltre, Founder of Could Be Maria

Skip: More Is More 

Adopt: Coat-Like Blazers

Which fall trend are you most excited to adopt for 2021? And which will you skip?

For this fall, I’m trying the tonal-colored suits and the coat-like blazers. I’m going to be on my grown-business-lady vibe—you feel me? I want to look like I’m on my way to the office even though I work from home most of the time.

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(Image credit: @goodwoodx; Courtesy of Kim Shui; Courtesy of Anna Sui)

WHO: Sophie Wood, Content Creator

Skip: Leopard Print

Adopt: Gen Z

Which fall trend are you most excited to adopt for 2021? And which will you skip?

I’m most excited about the rise of Gen Z style in the fashion space! The juxtaposition between millennial and Gen Z fashion is striking, and I think their new take on fashion is refreshing, unapologetic, and loud. Feels fitting as we tread toward 2022.

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(Image credit: @trulyaria; Courtesy of Simone Rocha; Courtesy of Toga)

WHO: Arianna Quinn, YSL PR Intern

Skip: Patchwork

Adopt: Dress Coats

Which fall trend are you most excited to adopt for 2021? And which will you skip?

I'm most excited about the dress-coat trend we saw on the runways of Isabel Marant and Tom Ford. It's an effortless way to make a big statement, especially walking down the streets of NYC. And as an outerwear lover, I always look for oversize silhouettes to maximize layering and proportion play to make my outfits more exciting.

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(Image credit: @michellesalem; Courtesy of Max Mara; Courtesy of Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini)

WHO: Michelle Salem, Content Creator

Skip: Massive Totes

Adopt: Tonal Tailoring

Which fall trend are you most excited to adopt for 2021? And which will you skip?

Tonal tailoring, hands down. Nothing saves time like matching separates, and there are guaranteed bonus points at the office for wearing suiting.

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(Image credit: @beanieboamah; Courtesy of Maryam Nassir Zadeh; Courtesy of David Koma)

WHO: Abena Boamah-Acheampong Founder of Hanahana Beauty

Skip: Faux Fur

Adopt: Knee-High Boots

Which fall trend are you most excited to adopt for 2021? And which will you skip?

I’m ecstatic about knee-high boots! I love to wear boots once fall hits, and this trend is the perfect NYC staple.

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(Image credit: @niki_inthecity; Courtesy of Emilia Wickstead; Courtesy of Daniel Shea for Proenza Schouler)

WHO: Niki Mallikarachi, Digital Creator

Skip: Low-Rise Denim

Adopt: Tonal Tailoring

Which fall trend are you most excited to adopt for 2021? And which will you skip?

I am excited to try out the tonal tailoring trend for fall. I think suit separates are staples that can be worn for many seasons to come. Plus, I love how put together a monochrome structured outfit makes me feel. Additionally, finding vintage versions of this trend can be a great way to make it sustainable and unique.

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(Image credit: @nayelizabethh; Courtesy of Ottolinger; Courtesy of Vetements)

WHO: Naomi Parris, Fashion Blogger

Skip: Rogue Flowers

Adopt: Shiny Finish

Which fall trend are you most excited to adopt for 2021? And which will you skip?

There are so many trends this season that are, in my opinion, fall classics! But my favorite is anything with a shiny finish. One of my mottos for my style is going big or home, and I love trends that exude that idea.

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(Image credit: @tammytmai; Courtesy of Petar Petrov; Courtesy of Ami)

WHO: Tammy Mai, Digital Creator

Skip: Logo Love

Adopt: Tonal Tailoring 

Which fall trend are you most excited to adopt for 2021? And which will you skip?

Although I like mixing vibrant colors here and there, there's nothing that pulls my attention more than a monotone or tonally complementing outfit—especially when it’s tailored. I’m excited to play various pieces this fall to create a tailored, monochrome look.

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(Image credit: @aishafarida; Courtesy of Melitta Baumeister; Courtesy of Thebe Magugu)

WHO: Aïsha Farida, Digital Creator

Skip: Low-Rise Denim

Adopt: Saturated Colors

Which fall trend are you most excited to adopt for 2021? And which will you skip?

I feel like 2021 has been the year of color for me, and I'm looking forward to transitioning that into the cooler months. Colorful, saturated pieces do brighten my mood, and I find that they do the same for others. I'm not sure what that will look like for me, but a colorful leather coat for fall sounds super fun!

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(Image credit: @laurareilly___; Courtesy of Self Portrait; Courtesy of Vaquera)

WHO: Laura Reilly, Editor

Skip: Logo Love

Adopt: Lace

Which fall trend are you most excited to adopt for 2021? And which will you skip?

I love the concept of lace as a fall texture when it's usually seen as so spring and so delicate. I'm interested in lace as it was used in '80s ice skating costumes and chick band hair metal catsuits with a bit of Gunne Sax thrown in for good measure. Like the performance of post-post-post-modern lace.

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(Image credit: @gabbywhiten; Courtesy of Tory Burch; Courtesy of Roksanda)

WHO: Gabby Whiten, Digital Creator

Skip: Low-Rise Jeans

Adopt: Tonal Tailoring

Which fall trend are you most excited to adopt for 2021? And which will you skip?

I’m most excited about tonal tailoring for fall because it’s still warm enough to use outerwear as a layering piece. I’ve been vibing with monotone looks and am eager to transition that into my fall wardrobe. I can’t wait to combine tonal tailoring with stunning cable-knit sweaters, too!

Next: These Are the 10 Biggest Trends for Fall 2021, Period

Jasmine Fox-Suliaman
Editor

Jasmine Fox-Suliaman is a fashion editor living in New York City. What began as a hobby (blogging on Tumblr) transformed into a career dedicated to storytelling through various forms of digital media. She started her career at the print publication 303 Magazine, where she wrote stories, helped produce photo shoots, and planned Denver Fashion Week. After moving to Los Angeles, she worked as MyDomaine's social media editor until she was promoted to work across all of Clique's publications (MyDomaine, Byrdie, and Who What Wear) as the community manager. Over the past few years, Jasmine has worked on Who What Wear's editorial team, using her extensive background to champion rising BIPOC designers, weigh in on viral trends, and profile stars such as Janet Mock and Victoria Monét. She is especially interested in exploring how art, fashion, and pop culture intersect online and IRL.