Getting Beyond Beige

By Annabelle Critz

Now that the weather is brisker, it's time to start shopping for fall clothes. While autumn has always been a much-needed break from the summer heat, I find myself somewhat uninspired by the clothing options. I’m not sure about others, but I have certainly reached a fashion wall when it comes to the fall. 

While the fashion world has done a remarkable job re-marketing itself more diversely, that diversification hasn't translated into fall clothing. I blame the color palate; there is only so much one can do with maroon, brown, beige, and (gasp!) orange. We have the same color chart, year after year. At least a 'new color' announces itself for spring; accordingly, we add it to our wardrobes. For an example, think Millennial pink, which took the world by storm in 2016. 

Photo Credits of @goodnightmacaroon [Instagram]

These colors, while beautiful in their own right, aren’t anything new. On the other hand, we have seen the re-emersion of bright colors made into everyday wear over the past couple of years, mostly driven by black-owned fashion lines. But I wonder where these designers go come autumn — somehow, those same bright reds and neons are completely forgotten in the cold weather. For instance, Rhianna’s Savage X Fenty Lingerie 2020 show was a more muted version of her expressly colorful 2019 show. She had a few colorful numbers — her signature bold reds and light greens — but other than that, the show was more nude-focused. 

Fall isn’t alone on the track towards nude colors. Over the past several seasons, nudes have been a wardrobe staple. I like to credit the Kardashians for the standardization of our wardrobes; when Yeezy dropped its first clothing line in 2015, Kim Kardashian wore almost exclusively Yeezy for weeks after. Every time a new line would drop, that's all Kim would wear. Given the Kardashians’ enormous influence, now acknowledged as the Kardashian effect, I am not surprised that our wardrobes have come to reflect theirs — minus the dozens of Birkin bags, of course. 

What I am most surprised about this year is the re-emergence of animal print. Snake print was a given — Kim Kardashian wore several snake print skirts back in 2019, and many of her quarantine shoots have also featured the print. Cheetah print has also become a casual wardrobe staple the past two years, and is no longer as ostentatious. Perhaps the most shocking of them all to me is the addition of cow print; I love to see it on a baguette bag, but I’m not so sure about the cow print puffer jacket I saw the other day. Other than animal prints, I have noticed a general decline in the use of patterns, and the patterns people use have become simpler. It seems the modern closet is built up of exchangeable basics.

Fall fashion does have many redeemable qualities; in my opinion, coats are at least half of them. While living abroad in London I had the pleasure of seeing other countries’ takes on fall fashion,. There is a significant difference between that and American fashion: the coat lengths. It would be delightful for more Americans to find coats of varying lengths, colors, and textures. Outerwear is certainly more of an investment than your average top, but good quality coats can last for decades if taken care of, and they will completely elevate your outfit. 

Photo Credits of @leoniehanne [Instagram]

Of all the things about fall fashion, what gets me most excited are the textures. I may dress rather boringly, but at least I always bring a fun texture to the mix. Fall does a great job of incorporating cashmere, shearling, knits, and leather with the last remaining summer staples like silks. Fall fashion is especially creative in its early days, where people are forced to layer their summer clothes into something warmer. I love the shirt-under-dress style, but that's certainly not new; I have pictures of myself as a 5-year-old rocking this look. But I cannot deny the sleekness of a short dress, tall boots, and a long coat: think Andrea Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada. While fall rarely seems to give birth to anything new, it does, on its best day, bring about daily elegance that is often forgotten in the heat of summer.

I grew up in the South — Atlanta, to be precise — and it will still hit 90 degrees until the end of September. After a while, there are only so many ways you can dress shorts up or down, and by the fifth month of summer you're out of tank tops. Come fall, I’m chomping at the bit to wear blazers and closed-toed shoes. During the summer months, I miss just how easy it is to look classically elegant in a long coat, how a turtleneck makes one look seamlessly French. With the return of fall comes the sleekness of A-line cuts and the lengthening effects of tall boots. Perhaps that is the beauty of fall; it doesn’t require many pieces, but it allows for the subtlety I certainly crave after a long hot summer.