Weekend Edition #21: Back from the future to talk fall fashion

Back from the future to talk fall fashion

Hello!

Thank you all for your continued support and for sharing this newsletter. There were a lot of new readers last week, and every one of you means so much to me. As always, if you’d like to forward this to a friend who might enjoy it, all my posts are currently free to all subscribers. Thank you!

Now, let’s get to it. I just got back from the future, meaning Amsterdam, where the time was eight hours ahead of my family and really confused me as I tried to multi-task and schedule all the back-to-school events and meetings for the upcoming weeks. If I show up eight hours early to something in September, that’s why.

I was also working on the Fall 2025 collections, meaning what you find in stores come August, September, and October next year. It’s always a trip imagining what life will be like more than twelve months from now (especially as we are knee-deep in election season) and what we’ll all want to wear. However, due to six-month production lead times, slow transit times across the oceans caused by myriad geo-political issues, and the time it takes to create marketing campaigns and sell the product to our key accounts around the globe, we need to work a year out.

Shall I share some secrets from Fall 2025? There are tons of fun developments in functional yet fashionable dressing: co-ordinated sets with a return to tailoring, but in comfortable and wearable fabrics (not quite suiting and not quite separates), outerwear that can withstand the elements like coats with built-in scarves (thanks Phoebe Philo) and technological advancements in rain/storm protection, and lots of lightweight layering pieces for our changing climates. I think we’re all going to be interested in - and hopefully willing to invest in - a lot more natural fibers and yarns (soft and structured cotton, year-round linen for hot climates, lambswool, cashmere blends) after the avalanche of polyester and other petroleum-based fabrics that has taken over fashion. There’s also an emphasis on an oversized slouchy, cocoon-like silhouette, maybe to wrap us all up and imply that all will be ok.

But that’s 2025. What about 2024 trends??

At this point, you may be asking: why? Why should we care about trends? You absolutely shouldn’t, unless seeing and wearing clothes in a fresh way excites you. If it does, come talk trends with me. If it doesn’t, maybe stick around out of curiosity. Or check back next week!

I was recently listening to an interview with Dr. Ellen Langer, a legendary professor of psychology at Harvard who has pioneered research encompassing the illusion of control, mindful aging, stress, decision-making, and health.¹ She believes our mind and body are one and our thoughts can help keep us healthy. She teaches three core tenets:

1. Life is uncertain. The only thing we can know is that we don’t know. Once we accept that, stress and anxiety will decrease and health will improve.

2. Notice things. Be curious. Our neurons will fire, helping our brains learn and grow. What we pay attention to will influence where our mind goes. We can make experiences that shape our brains for the better.²

3. Don’t dwell on decisions. There is no such thing as the right decision because we don’t know what will happen. Make the decision right for you.

The back-to-school season always feels like the start of the new year (even though I am long out of school). For me, the uncertainty is always slightly terrifying but very exciting. (I’m trying to embrace Dr. Langer’s philosophy and let go of the terrifying part.) Back when I was a student, I eagerly anticipated new classes, new books, new experiences, and maybe some new friends. A new me? My new back-to-school outfits let me imagine how I might evolve in the new school year. They were an outlet and expression for my dreams. Now, as a grown-up with kids (how did that happen??), rethinking how I get dressed is how I notice the new things around me. And that brings me enjoyment and growth.

Here we go.

Fall mood

First up: denim. Because if back-to-school makes me think of anything besides Lisa Frank folders and Trapper Keepers, it’s jeans. Anything goes in denim these days. It’s so much fun. I’m still loving a wide-leg fit just because after so many years of skinny, it feels new to my eye and lets me play with new outfit proportions. I also love the barrel shape, it’s surprisingly flattering. Check out Everlane for inexpensive-ish options to test out. I remember buying my first pair of skinny jeans - grey from Topshop in London - in 2006 when I interned at British Vogue (my childhood babysitter was the art director. Does that count as networking lol?). I was so nervous but excited to wear them back in Charlottesville in the fall. They felt literally foreign on a campus full of bootcuts and floral dresses; wearing them made me feel wordly and sophisticated. The memory is so fresh it seems like it could be yesterday.  Ah, the power of clothes. If you still love your skinny jeans, great! They’re back, too. As is mid-rise denim if you are over high-rise and are never going back to low-rise (I’m intrigued by the low-rise baggy fit, but haven’t taken the dive, lol, yet).

Some of my saved faved denim inspiration images for fall

Moving onto sweaters. Sweaters in all forms have become an important outfitting element for all seasons: thin lightweight shells and mock necks, oversized chunky knits, sweater sets (pants and skirts with matching tops), and dresses. (Side note, I think the reason we’re seeing such an explosion of sweater dressing is that sweaters have the lowest minimum order requirements in the industry. Generally, you only need to make 300 pieces of a sweater style versus 1200 - 2000 pieces of a t-shirt or woven shirt. That gives brands a lot more room to play in sweaters, trying out new shapes and ideas, with minimal investment and inventory risk.) I approve.

Let’s talk travel tailoring: get yourself a zip dress (maybe better for daily commuting than long haul flights), a seamed kick flare pant, and an oversized hoodie or blazer or lady jacket in a jersey or sweater knit. I just flew back and forth from the mountain west to Amsterdam in ME + EM seamed sweatpants. ME + EM is a British brand that just opened its first stores in New York City on Madison Avenue and Mercer Street. I love their modern approach to workwear and casual dressing. They were comfy and looked more tailored than my usual leggings. I like to wear a denim jacket or soft blazer and pack a sweatshirt in my carry-on tote to change into on the plane, along with my thick comfy socks. (The sweatshirt also comes in handy if you spill an entire bottle of water on yourself. You can mop it up and switch back to the denim jacket. Unfortunately speaking from experience on that one.)

I’m also very into the Miu Miu girl (as it appears many people are, their business is on fire), she feels very back-to-school a la Gossip Girl but way more irreverent. I’m shopping for a little shift dress to wear sleeveless now and layered over cute button-downs or mocknecks with tights when it gets cooler.

The Row has reintroduced the early 2000s dress-over-jeans look, and while I’m not fully on board yet, I do like reinterpreting it with a longer oversized button-down worn with a cropped wool sweater over it and a pair of straight-leg jeans. If you can handle it, try a slinky skirt or dress over a long pant or flare that puddles at your ankle. Let me know if you try!

The Row Girl and The Miu Miu Girl

Other key trends that some of my favorite fashion writers have already tackled are the return of suede and the many options available in the field jacket category, c/o

Sarah Shapiro

.

jennifer cook

wrote about how wine is flooding the market, as in the color not the liquid, while

Becky Malinsky

recast the striped tee perfectly for the upcoming season.

I’d love to hear what’s on your back-to-school shopping list or how you’re shopping your closet this fall. Share in the comments, and we’ll chat!

Have a wonderful weekend.

x Lindsay

1. https://lewishowes.com/podcast/harvard-psychology-prof-stress-is-the-1-cause-of-disease-do-this-to-heal-dr-ellen-langer/

2. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_grow_the_good_in_your_brain