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These 5 Trends Will Be the Foundation of My Fall 2023 Wardrobe

When we think of trends, many of us think of styles that are fleeting—cool for a moment, but ultimately lacking in staying power (think: Barbiecore). The opposite is true for many of the trends I’ve spotted for fall ’23. In fact, a lot of what I’m adopting this season are items I believe I’ll be holding onto for quite some time (here’s looking at you, suede baguette). Read on for the top five trends I’m using to build my fall wardrobe.

wardrobe foundations 2023 dark denim
Raimonda Kulikauskiene/Getty Images

1. Dark-Wash Denim

While these light-wash AYR jeans will certainly remain a staple in my denim drawer, indigo has piqued my interest this fall. The color gives denim more of a trouser vibe than a classic blue-wash, and the super-deep hue also provides a posh lift to the utilitarian fabric that looks fabulous with tailored blazers, blouses and pointy-toed heels (as modeled above). Expect to see these ultra-rich washes in just about every silhouette, but especially wide-leg, flare and straight-leg cuts.

wardrobe foundations 2023 cropped jacket
Christian Vierig/Getty Images

2. Collarless Jackets

We’ve already declared ladylike cropped jackets one of the bigger trends for 2023, but I want to add a styling tip to that: Ladylike cropped jackets…worn as a top. Sure, these tailored (often tweed) numbers look great worn over a white tank or button-down, but I especially like the style on its own—sported as more of a cardigan, than a coat. I plan to wear mine with the previously mentioned dark (and light!) denim to make it feel unfussy. The three styles below are excellent takes on this silhouette.

wardrobe foundations 2023 cowboy lite
Nine West

3. Cowboy Lite

Cowboy boots have been an ongoing trend for years now, and while funky statement pairs were definitely a fun option for the Eras or Renaissance tours of the summer, for everyday wear I’m opting for what we call “cowboy lite.” This simplified variation has the feeling of a classic cowboy boot—like a curved silhouette at the top and a block heel—just with fewer details (e.g. little to no stitching, no contrasting panels). I like the options below from Nine West (all under $200!). When it comes to styling the rest of the look, I’ll lean into more elevated vibes with sleek wardrobe staples.

Shop Nine West Boots

wardrobe foundations 2023 minimalist handbags
Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images

4. Minimalist Handbags

I don’t know about you, but fall has me itching to downsize. My summer carryall feels entirely too schlep-y at this point. And although I’m all for the idea of toting our raffia bags well into winter (à la Jane Birkin), I still crave something that feels a bit more polished. Enter: a minimalistic handbag, complete with ’70s-inspired gold hardware. Whether you gravitate towards the on-trend baguette or a more practical crossbody, a bag like this can quickly become a wardrobe essential.

wardrobe foundations 2023 red
Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images

5. Something Red(ish)

I say “ish” because the red I love tends to lean more red-orange then true red. Pantone called out several shades of this color in its fall trend report and we’ve seen it reign supreme in the fall collections for Prada, Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. It also feels like a natural extension of the Tomato Girl Summer reds we saw all over everyone’s Insta feeds as of late. But PureWow’s Fashion Editor Abby Hepworth reinforces my color theory: “Much like last year’s Barbie pink moment, this trend is all about going big with large swaths of cherry, tomato or scarlet as opposed to more subtle hues like burgundy,” she says. My plan to incorporate is in the form of an cozy, oversized sweater. See below.


angela pares

VP, Design + Branded Content

Angela Pares is the VP of Design + Branded Content at Gallery Media Group, where she oversees the ideation and execution of sponsored content campaigns across PureWow, ONE37pm and the company’s social portfolio. Angela began her career in copywriting and fashion editorial before joining PureWow in 2012. Since then she has written and edited countless articles and helped produce some of GMG’s top performing content. She lives outside Boston with her husband and 2-year-old.