This season’s trends offer an embellished shift from minimalism.
Wondering what to expect from fashion this fall? Think bold. Fashion houses inserted a new energy into the designs that came down the fall/ winter 2025 runways, cranking up the volume from last year’s quiet luxury and minimalism and giving us a far more attention-grabbing aesthetic. Opulence replaces simplicity with jolts of color, a heavy dose of leopard print and next-level layering in both apparel and accessories playing key roles in the styles of the season.
But perhaps the biggest star of the season: texture. From over-the-top displays of lace and fur to embellished fabrics, unconventional pleating, edgy ruffles and buttery leather, texture is having a major moment this fall.
To get ready for what’s bound to be an attention-grabbing season, we tapped two local fashion tastemakers to find out what they are most excited for when it comes to fall’s trends.
MONICA AWE-ETUK
If Awe-Etuk’s style had to be described in one word, it would be chic. Although she has a penchant for classic pieces, she styles them with a modern twist and an elevated eye, making her looks striking but with just enough approachability that anyone can aspire to her fashion choices. When it comes to fall’s runways, she says, “I’ve always been a layering girl, so I love that we’ve moved away from quiet luxury and everyone looking the same, and we’re seeing layers and bolder fashion statements.” Another thing exciting Awe-Etuk is color. “I’m a fan of color, and I always look to color first when I’m styling an outfit because it easily pulls the entire thing together,” she says. In fact, color has Awe-Etuk finally convinced to go all-in with a fashion staple she’s long been wary of. “I actually never used to be a leopard girlie, but it stands the test of time, and it’s a huge trend for fall that I’m excited about now,” she says. “The color combination of black and brown is not only what makes leopard such a great neutral because it’s two colors that people gravitate to and are easy to incorporate into every wardrobe, but you can also use it in as loud or quiet of a way as you want, which is what makes it so relevant this season.”
@awedbymoni
JESS CATHELL
Cathell is known for making fashion accessible to all women by translating fashion trends from runway inspiration to real world pieces that are easy to pair and wear. Cathell herself loves classic, tailored pieces and leans toward elegant staples. For fall, she is looking forward to added drama, particularly when it comes to coats. “I love a long coat. I like the hem to be as long or longer than the skirt or dress that you’re wearing because that really elevates any look, whether you’re pairing it with heels or sneakers. Last year, I could never find any that were long enough, but we saw long, dramatic coats on the runways of [fashion brands] Khaite and The Row, so I’m thrilled.” Cathell is also excited to see polka dots grace the fall runways. “It’s such a classic print, but we’re going to see more variation in the colorways and the size of the dot, which means it’s easier to find the perfect polka dot for your frame,” she says. Another trend she’s looking forward to is embellished fabrics. “It’s almost a kind of permanent jewelry when you have beading and accents all over the garment, and with that, you don’t have to add as much jewelry because it’s already accessorized.”
@j.cathell
