Try on fall’s top fashion trends

Besides the deliciously cool, crisp air, the best part about fall is undoubtedly the new crop of fashion offerings—just think of the layering opportunities! This year, the autumn/winter runways have blessed us with an array of on-point trends and fresh, creative ideas for a much-needed wardrobe refresh. And you’ll find them all at Reitmans, a leading style destination that masterfully interprets the latest trends so you can start wearing them right away. This season’s direction is “Try on Anything,” an invitation to step outside your sartorial comfort zone and add some new silhouettes, colours and prints to your rotation. Plus, everyone can bring the trends to their OTDs because the brand’s must-have, affordable pieces are available in an (actually) inclusive range of sizes: 0 to 22 and XXS to 3X, plus petite, tall and regular versions.

Ahead, the top five fashion trends we’re watching, straight from the runways to your closet.

(Vegan) Leather Weather

When there’s a chill in the air that won’t snap by noon, you know it’s a good time to break out the leather. We’ve seen the perennial material make a sweeping switch to vegan versions and—good news!—it feels like the real thing: supple, soft, warm and so easy to wear. A glossy, puff-sleeve sheath dress is the cocktail-party outfit missing from our closets, while vegan leather skirts of the midi variety and wide-leg pants—the silhouette of the season—are prime for stylish workweek dressing.

The Buy

Vegan leather trousers, extra points if they’re straight leg. Perfect with a crisp white tee, gauzy blouse or sweater vest: swap them in wherever you’d naturally gravitate toward a standard black pant or jeans for a fresh twist in your regular rotation.

Check Mate

If we were to induct a new entrant into the ranks of wear-anywhere neutrals, we’d vote for checks. Seriously, have you ever seen a pattern that heightens a wider range of looks? Designers delivered a bevy of genius ideas for wearing checks in a fresh way this fall: macro-checked buckets hats, heavyweight shirt jackets for layering, even doubling up on two distinctive plaids for a pattern clash that just works.

The Buy

A menswear-inspired checked overcoat for fall and beyond. Having a slightly oversized, goes-with-everything statement coat hanging in your closet—no matter what you’re wearing underneath—means you never have to compromise on your overall look for the sake of warmth. And a plaid shacket is a fall essential that can be worn over dresses, with denim or as a coat-substitute on warmer days.

Lots of Lace

Overtly feminine design elements are abundant this fall, but delicate lace detailing is really catching our attention. Slinky slip dresses and gauzy skirts trimmed in lace are beautiful and made for party season (add tights to more closely hit the practicality mark for our climate). And try a lacy bralette for layering. Underwear as outerwear seems counterintuitive as the weather cools, but when it’s, say, peeking out of an oversized white blouse or complementing an off-the-shoulder sweater, it brings some textural interest to an otherwise covered-up season.

The Buy

A trove of lingerie-inspired tops take this trend to a wearable place—especially with a black cami or bra underneath. An all-over lace mock-neck top in black (natch) is an outfit-making, moody layering piece, while a lacy slip-style top pairs impeccably with a cropped cardigan.

Tangerine Dream

A kaleidoscope of bright, bold, decidedly un-autumn-like colours hit the runways for fall and of the bunch, orange won out as the season-bridging pigment we could fully get behind. Warm shades of sherbet, papaya and apricot make for a welcome break from the expected darker palettes, especially when it was set as the main focus of a look. Think tangy knitwear worn with crisp white jeans, or bright coral as a contrasting salve to the omnipresence of heavier leather—it’s the coolest way to draw out the juiciness of the hue.

The Buy

A sunset-hued mock neck sweater in a chunky texture. Think of any bottom in your closet—a structured suede miniskirt, straight-leg jeans, a slip dress, you name it—and there’s a perfect match for this seasonal staple drenched in cool colour.

Knit Fits

It’s not winter without knitwear—could you imagine five months of low temps without a hearty stack of sweaters? This season’s crop of knits are so good, you’ll be elated about the arrival of cooler weather. Colour-blocked pullovers and roomy cable-knit cardigans are cozy, cheery and highly wearable but it’s the super-soft two-piece sets—ideal for a fashion-forward monochromatic outfit—that have us counting down the days until first frost.

The Buy

A neutral knit. You’ll wear it everywhere, we mean it. Coffee and cream hues lend a minimalist vibe to your next brunch outfit (pair them with a chunky necklace for a cool-meets-casual look). If your look requires a little more elegance, coordinate it with a pleated trousers and a classic trench.