8 Fall Trends I'm Eliminating From My Closet and Their 2024 Replacements

While the warmer months tend to be a fan favorite, this editor can't wait to start breaking out fall staples like leather jackets, ankle boots, and all the denim. Simply put, it's my favorite time of year to get dressed. Yes, I might be early with shopping for the new season, but I like to think of it as planning ahead. While I sit here and daydream about the dipping temperatures and layering possibilities to come, I'm also examining my fall wardrobe and doing a good bit of gutting.

The staples I used to wear between the months of September and November could definitely use an update, so to bring my fall wardrobe into the present day, I'm taking stock of what's in my closet and removing eight outdated fall fashion trends that no longer feel like the freshest options. Items like platform loafers that I wore religiously in seasons past are getting the boot, and I have my eye on a few 2024 updates that will make all my fall looks feel truer to where my style is at today.

With that, keep reading to see the trends I'll be relying upon over the next few months and, consequently, the older ones I'm cutting out for good.

Cutting: Oversize Blazers

Adding: Hourglass Jackets

@sylviemus_ wearing an hourglass blazer, white flared trousers, and Manolo Blahnik Maysale mules.

(Image credit: @sylviemus_)

Right now, hourglass jackets are replacing my previous affinity for oversize blazers. I love the elegant feel they lend every look and have been shopping exclusively for styles with nipped-in waists this year instead of anything too boxy.

Cutting: Puddle Jeans

Adding: Cuffed Jeans

@anoukyve wearing a navy cardigan, cuffed Citizens of Humanity jeans, and kitten heel slingback pumps.

(Image credit: @anoukyve for @citizensofhumanity)

I've broadcasted my love for the puddle-hem look with jeans and trousers in the past, and while I won't be ousting all my XL denim, I'm removing the excess pairs to make room for a pair or two that note this year's wide-cuff hem. I'm still very much a fan of relaxed, wide-leg jeans but love the bit of polish the cuffed detail brings.

Cutting: Chelsea Boots

Adding: Court Shoes

@sandrashehab wearing a blazer, button-down shirt, straight-leg jeans, and court shoes in New York

(Image credit: @sandrashehab)

Chunky loafers and I had a good run. I wore pairs with cushy lug soles almost exclusively over the past few fall seasons, and while they're certainly comfortable, I'm refocusing on a more classic alt: court shoes. Part of the reason why my fall wardrobe is feeling dull has to do with how many trends I bought into, so this season, I'm looking to timeless, elegant staples like these glove-like flats that boast longevity.

Cutting: Leather Blazers

Adding: Distressed Leather Jackets

Livv Perez wearing a distressed leather jacket, maxi skirt, and white Loro Piana Rebecca flats.

(Image credit: @livvperez)

Leather jackets are a fall staple that's nonnegotiable for me. I'm not feeling quite as excited about leather blazers as I once was, so to fill their role, I'm looking to vintage-inspired and distressed silhouettes like the ones Prada and Saint Laurent are offering this season. While the designer iterations are pinned to my mood board, I'll be looking to re-create the look with affordable and secondhand options like the ones I pulled below.

Cutting: Pleated Miniskirts

Adding: Full Skirts

@daniellejunadi wearing a black collarless jacket, white full skirt, and black boots.

(Image credit: @daniellejinadu)

Full skirts have been trending all year long, and this season, I'm ready to prioritize them over any other skirt style. In years prior, I definitely dabbled in the pleated-miniskirt trend, but given that I haven't touched mine in well over a year, it's about time I rid my closet of them to make room for these voluminous midi styles that pair well with flats, boots, sneakers, and mules.

Cutting: Knit Dresses

Adding: Defined-Waist Dresses

Elsa Hosk wearing a Helsa boatneck midi dress.

(Image credit: @hoskelsa)

Another fall item I'm guilty of collecting is drop-waist dresses. Already this year, I've worn this style more times than I can possibly recount (I've kept them in frequent rotation throughout the summer), so I'm taking it as a sign to double down on the style for fall and am eyeing a few autumn-friendly versions.

Cutting: Pillow Bags

Adding: Vanity-Case Bags

@brittanybathgate wearing a black midi dress, mules, and a Savette pochette bag.

(Image credit: @brittanybathgate)

In the interest of moving my entire wardrobe from an overly trendy place to a more elegant one, I've slowly been cycling out items that no longer feel like "me." For handbags, I'm swooning hard over vanity-case bags that lend such an aura of retro glamour with their structured, top-handle shape. Celebs like Sofia Richie Grainge and Gigi Hadid are fans of the Loro Piana L19 bag, and now, I'm convinced I need one too. Sorry to pillow bags, but I'm preferring a more subdued vibe lately.

Cutting: Wide-Leg Pants

Adding: Cigarette Trousers

Anna LaPlaca wearing a Banana Republic leather jacket, Lafayette 148 cigarette trousers, point-toe kitten heels, and a Saint Laurent Manhattan bag.

(Image credit: @anna__laplaca)

I'll be honest. I never thought I'd see the day that I reached for skinny pants again, but this season's swath of runway inspiration is too good to deny, especially one F/W 24 Altuzarra look that pairs them with almond-toe pumps—so chic. I've been wearing my Lafayette 148 Gramercy Pants on repeat, and I'm even going so far as to say that I'll be prioritizing the slim-leg silhouette over wide-leg trousers this fall.

This story was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

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Senior Editor

Anna is an editor on the fashion team at Who What Wear and has been at the company for over five years, having begun her career in the Los Angeles office before relocating to New York, where she's currently based. Having always been passionate about pursuing a career in fashion, she built up her experience interning at the likes of Michael Kors, A.L.C., and College Fashionista before joining the team as a post-graduate assistant editor. Anna has penned a number of interviews with Who What Wear's cover stars over the years, including A-listers Megan Fox, Issa Rae, and Emma Chamberlain. She's earned a reputation for scouting new and emerging brands from across the globe and championing them to our audience of millions. While fashion is her main wheelhouse, Anna led the launch of WWW Travels last year, a new lifestyle vertical that highlights all things travel through a fashion-person lens. She is passionate about shopping vintage, whether it be at a favorite local outpost or an on-the-road discovery, and has amassed a wardrobe full of unique finds. When she's not writing, you can find her shooting street imagery on her film camera, attempting to learn a fourth or fifth language, or planning her next trip across the globe.