Fashion can be a really fun and freeing way of expressing your individuality. Although social distancing has dampened the desire to dress up for some, it can also serve as the perfect time to take fashion risks and push yourself out of your comfort zone.
Here are seven looks on a budget (one for each day of the week) to help get you stylistically inspired this unique fashion season.
The Look: Plaid Schoolgirl
Plaid is the quintessential pattern of fall, so of course outfit number one takes this print to the max. Take inspiration from a traditional school uniform by adding some personal touches to matching separates like the cute plaid set pictured above.
Pick one colour from the plaid (in my case, I chose black) and match all of your accessories to it. Adding an oversized blazer, sock boots, and a small purse gives a bit of edge and maturity to an otherwise girl-next-door look.
If you really want to lean into the schoolgirl look, put your hair in a high ponytail with a matching scrunchie. Now you’re all set to hit the (virtual) books!
Pieces
Top: Hollister Co.
Skirt: Hollister Co.
Blazer: Winner’s
Purse: Coach
Boots: Zara
The Look: Patterned Pretty
Pattern mixing—taking two otherwise clashing prints and making them work together—can be a bit daunting if you haven’t tried it before. An easy way to dip your toe into the world of pattern mixing is to start with a monochrome colour scheme as a base.
For the second outfit, I chose a brown colour scheme. All of the prints (the floral scarf I tied around my hair as a headband, the freckled wool tie-up pants, and the snakeskin boots) blend together in the outfit because they all incorporate different shades and tones of brown.
To avoid going into pattern overload, try to include a neutral garment to break up the clashing—just like I did with my tan turtleneck top.
Pieces
Scarf/Headband: H&M
Top: Zara
Pants: RW&CO
Boots: Aldo
Rings: Pandora
The Look: Witchy Teacher
Dresses can still be worn in fall, but layering becomes extra important! For this third look, I layered a white button-up shirt underneath a gray v-neck bodycon dress.
Not only will layering the shirt keep you warm, but the open collar over the dress also creates a bit of dimension by contrasting the bodycon fit. To avoid the layers bunching up around your torso, I’d recommend trying a thick belt (elastic—if you can find it) to cinch in your waist.
Adding personal accessories will take this look from drab to fab. For my look, I chose square-toed leather boots, thrifted chunky earrings, and a classic silk scarf headband. The different shapes and textures of the accessories inject some fun into an otherwise tame look.
Pieces
Scarf’/Headband: H&M
Top: Hollister Co.
Dress: Joe Fresh
Belt: Thrifted
Boots: Thrifted
Earrings: Thrifted
The Look: Pumpkin Chic
October is the time to wear orange and black together, but wearing the combo in an everyday scenario can look a bit like a costume. Here’s how to avoid looking like a pumpkin while maintaining the spirit of the season! (Hint: fabric and colour are going to be your new best friends.)
If you’re going to be wearing an orange and black combo, mix fabric textures to create more visual interest. In my outfit, I paired a leather jacket with cargo pants, a silk cami, and faux snakeskin boots. Wearing an outfit with fabrics that all have the same finish (all-cotton, all -polyester, et cetera) will dull down the look and make it look more like a costume.
When selecting your spooky garments, also be mindful of the colours you’re choosing. Opting for tints or tones of orange will look a bit more relaxed for casual wear than a bright hue. It’s also good to break up the spooky colours with a neutral base, just like with the brown jacket and boots in the outfit pictured above.
Pieces
Jacket: Danier Leather, thrifted
Top: Aritizia
Pants: Garage
Boots: Aldo
The Look: Corn Influencer
Nothing says ‘fall’ quite like scrolling through a million corn maze pictures on Instagram. This outfit is perfect for capturing that natural, corn-field feeling, while still being cute enough to post on the gram.
Pair a soft chunky sweater with a long flowy skirt for a comfy and easy-to-walk-in look. Add a matching tote bag, low block heels (don’t want to slip in the mud!), and some layered jewellery to mix dainty refinement with the natural vibes.
For this look, the devil is in the details. Try to find a sweater with sweet detailing, such as the knit pattern woven into the white sweater pictured above. This subtle pattern will create visual variety in your outfit—especially if the skirt also has a subtle pattern like the pleated skirt above.
Pieces
Sweater: Thrifted
Skirt: Thrifted
Purse: Matt & Nat
Shoes: Taxi
The Look: That ’70s Show, But Make It Fall
Sometimes it’s fun to take fashion inspo from the stylings of a certain decade. With this outfit, I channeled my inner That ’70s Show character by layering collars, jewellery, and incorporating a funky patterned blouse.
To recreate this look, start with a pair of well-fitting jeans, tuck in a patterned blouse (the more unique the colours, the better), layer a leather jacket on top, slip on some neutral mules, and you’re all set!
For a bit more personality, match a small purse to one of the colours in the blouse and layer some necklaces to bring the focus of the busy look to your face. (Bonus points if you use a complementary colour scheme like this outfit does!)
Pieces
Jacket: Danier Leather, thrifted
Top: Zara
Pants: Hollister Co.
Shoes: Toms
Purse: Roots
Necklaces: Pandora
The Look: Time Isn’t Real
It’s easy to get caught up in fall patterns and colour schemes, but the truth is this season is a weird one. If you’ve ever wanted to press your fashion limits or let go of the stylistic rules, now is the time!
For this look, I disregarded the traditional ideals of a fall colour scheme and opted for a pastel look—complete with neck tie, pearl purse, pink loafers, pearl-buttoned sweater, and tie-up jeans.
Fashion rules can be fun, but the real beauty is in expressing your own individual style. If you manage to get dressed at all during the pandemic, I’d say that’s a win.
Happy styling!
Pieces
Sweater: Aritzia
Pants: Hollister Co.
Shoes: Aldo
Purse: Thrifted
Scarf: H&M
Featured images by Evan Seryck.
