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As the chill of fall and winter settles in, it’s time to refresh your wardrobe with the season’s hottest fashion trends. Whether you’re a fan of embellished denim, luxurious leather, or chic denim accessories, this forecast has something for everyone. From glammed-up classics to bold new statements, here’s a detailed breakdown of what’s making waves in the fashion world for Fall/Winter.

Dolled-Up DENIM: Glamour Meets Comfort

The workhorse of your wardrobe just morphed into a show pony. Denim is still a mainstay, but with the addition of pearls, rhinestones, crystals and metallic fringe, it’s gone playfully glam. 

Veronica Beard

For those who love a little shine, coated jeans—overlaid with a thick layer of wax to give them an eye-catching sheen— are also having their star turn, in a range of colors and metallics, as well as more traditional denim hues. Whether ornamented or unadorned, this season’s jeans are going wide of the mark, and longer too: Legs are broadening, often straight from the hip rather than flaring below the knee, and sometimes puddling around the ankles— a trend you’ll see in trousers overall. For those who love comfort with a dose of glam, these jeans are your go-to this season.

Leather OR NOT: The Must-Have Material

Whether you go for the real thing or its vegan alternative, leather is the material of the moment. You can’t go wrong with a good leather jacket, and there are plenty from which to choose, from tailored blazers to inventive takes on the classic biker jacket. But when it comes to leather (or pleather), the piece you’ll want most for fall/winter is a skirt (or, even better, several of them). We’re seeing lots of minis—a nod to the continuing popularity of last season’s mod influence—as well as longer skirts, rendered super sexy via ultra-slim silhouettes, ruching and come-hither zippers.

Zimmermann

And while we have no quibble with basic black, it’s hard to resist this season’s cheeky colors: Think Zimmermann’s full-length leather dress in deep burgundy, Proenza Schouler’s gold leather confection of a slip dress (yes, leather is increasingly appearing in evening and cocktail wear), L’Agence’s fuchsia biker jacket with matching faux-fur trim or A.L.C.’s vegan leather skirt in gunmetal gray. Designers are playing with texture as well, embossing leather to mimic alligator (like Christian Louboutin’s embossed-alligator stilettos), snakeskin, ostrich and other exotic hides, or creating embossed pebbling and patterns (as in Retrofête’s grape patterned-leather maxi skirt).

And a Little JEAN ON THE SIDE: Denim Accessories

Christian Louboutin

Adjacent to the glam denim trend are denim accessories, most notably bags and shoes, and we must say, they’re pretty fabulous. On the runways, jean bags slouched from shoulders—yes, the shoulder bag is back in a big way—or nestled in palms, in every imaginable iteration from totes to clutches. Rag & Bone, for one, featured a leather-trimmed denim bucket, and Christian Louboutin showed a full denim line, including a mini tote, a crossbody, a wallet on a chain and an elegant clutch (with detachable chain) that’s fit for cocktails and beyond. Shoes, too, are looking good in jeans, and there seems to be no footwear style that isn’t ready for denim. CL, for instance, is offering up toile denim stiletto-heeled boots, saucy denim mules and well behaved blue-jean Mary Janes. For the well-heeled denim-lover, stilettos are still standing tall, but wider, chunkier heels—of all heights—are making definite inroads, as they are with footwear across the board.

How to Incorporate These Trends

Ready to incorporate these trends into your wardrobe? Here’s how to get started:

• Dolled-Up Denim: Look for embellished or coated jeans in wide-legged or straight cuts for a glam yet relaxed look. Pair them with simple tops to let the jeans shine.
• Leather Skirts: Opt for bold colors or textures to make a statement. A leather skirt in a fun hue can be the centerpiece of your outfit.
• Denim Accessories: Elevate your basics with a denim bag or shoes. A denim tote or clutch can add just the right amount of casual chic to any outfit.

Whether you’re dressing up or staying cozy, this season’s fashion trends offer a mix of playful glamour and everyday comfort. Don’t be afraid to experiment with bold textures, colors, and silhouettes—fall/winter fashion is all about embracing the unexpected.