Local Style Bloggers Reveal Their Fave Fall 2016 Trends

We catch up with Vancouver's top fashionistas to get the inside scoop on this season's hottest looks

Vancouver fashionistas talk the hottest fall trends and share top tips for looking your most stylish this season

Orange is the New Black

Cara McLeay, A Fashion Love Affair

“Orange is one of those colours most people would say, ‘doesn’t suit me.’ But for fall/winter 2016/17, we saw a plethora of rich orange tones—from rust to toffee to terracotta to burnt—and whether you wear orange as an accent colour, or from head to toe, it adds just the right amount of spice to your outfit. Because there are so many orange tones that are trending this fall, there is truly a shade that will work with every skin tone. Orange is officially the new black!”

Fall Fashion Tip

“To make this dress and other dresses more wearable throughout the winter, layer a thin long-sleeved top underneath. Even if the dress is off the shoulder, the pop of another colour (white is my go-to, but you can do anything!) adds interest to your outfit and will keep you warmer on chillier days. It is all about layering in Vancouver.”

Cara is wearing: A vintage dress, Chanel bag

Denim for days

Kiara Schwartz, Tobruck Ave

“I’m so excited to get to share some of my favourite fall fashion items. I have decided to focus on my two favorite trends: denim and a perfect midi dress.

“The denim trend is timeless to me. It carries through each season in its own unique way. Summer is for shorts and skirts, fall is for dresses and denim jackets, and winter is for the perfect pair of denim jeans. This fabric is fantastically versatile.

“Onto the midi dress… I discovered this length this summer in the form of a ’90s vintage dress. The midi dress is the perfect piece to wear during the transition from summer to fall. I cannot wait to layer it with a leather jacket or a big comfy sweater. Layers are key for fall so I cannot wait until it does get chilly enough to add them to this midi-length dress.”

Fall Fashion Tip

“Play with layers. It’s chilly but not below zero! Add a leather jacket, layer a huge scarf or layer different knits over each other with skinny jeans and booties. Fall is all about texture play.”

Kiara is wearing: Aritzia dress, Montana Silver Haze hat

Accordion pleats

Randa Salloum

“For someone who is dedicated to wearing pants in the fall, I’m excited about a style that is on trend and not a pair of jeans. I opted for these accordion-pleated pants from Zara that are easy to wear for any body type and look great with a sandal, boot or even some Adidas.”

Fall Fashion Tip

“To survive the fall season in Vancouver, I suggest buying a good quality boot. This can be a flat Chelsea boot or a heeled style, but whichever you choose it will be your season staple.”

Randa is wearing: Zara sweater and pants, Steve Madden Stecy heels, Iza Jewelry ring, Ray-Ban sunglasses

Chic and classic silhouettes

Ally Gradley, Gumbloot Glam

“I am a big fan of timeless ladylike silhouettes, so metallics, pleats and midi-length skirts are my most-loved trends this fall. What I love most about all of these trends is that they easily translate to daily wear, unlike a lot of the other major trends this season which look fabulous on the runway but are a little ‘out there’ for my personal taste.

“And, as I am an expecting mother, my most-loved trends are baby-bump appropriate!

“My biggest tip for surviving fall in Vancouver is layer it! This outfit would look equally as cute with a chic black trench, and the bare legs and heels can easily be substituted for a pair of tights and boots as the weather gets chillier.”

FALL FASHION TIP

“Stay true to your own personal style! If you love it, then totally wear it!”

Ally is wearing: Joe Fresh skirt, Wolford top, Chanel bag, Polette sunglasses

Shirt dress and statement bag

Monika Hibbs

“I love the fall in Vancouver, but it is hard to find those transitional pieces to take you from cold mornings to warm afternoons! That is why I tend to gravitate towards a shirt dress because it is perfect for the change in temperature throughout the day. I love to pair this with some booties that will survive the rain and still look cute. A floppy felt hat is perfect to keep the rain off your hair, or the sun out of your eyes! It also ties the whole look together for me and really adds that autumn element to the outfit. Lastly I like to invest in a statement bag that I can style differently throughout the seasons.”

FALL FASHION TIP

“Throw on a cute hat so if it starts raining you don’t have to worry about your hair—and on that note a little anti-humidity spray.”

Monika is wearing: dress from Joe Fresh, hat from Aldo, booties from Nordstrom, Chanel bag

Blending menswear with your wear

Alexandra Grant, To Vogue or Bust

“I’m always so grateful to see menswear-inspired pieces crop up around this time of year because they’re my go-to fall trend: cozy, cool and stylish!

‘I’m also a layering fanatic so finding a luxe piece like this cashmere grandpa-esque cardigan is key, especially with an equally borrowed-from-the-boys piece like this oxford shirt.”

FALL FASHION TIP
“When incorporating menswear-inspired pieces, be sure to add some femme details (like a structured bag and red lip) to this look and you’re set!”

Alexandra is wearing: White + Warren cardigan, Peau de Loup shirt, Mavi jeans, Aritzia bag

’70s-style cropped pants

Jillian Lanksy, The August Diaries

“If you’ve read almost any of my posts, you know that I have a deep love for the ’70s and anything retro. They’ve been trending for the past couple of seasons and I’m thrilled that this season is no different.

“’70-style cropped pants have become somewhat of a staple of mine, and they were all over the last fall and winter runways. The perfect length is about an inch above your ankle, and they look great with flats, heels or boots.

“Here, I kept the look modern and warm with an oversized turtleneck.”

Fall Fashion Tip

“Layer up with a leather jacket, scarf and umbrella (it is Vancouver, after all!) as we move into colder weather.”

Jillian is wearing: RE/DONE jeans, Aritzia sweater, Jeffery Campell Boots, Ray-Ban sunglasses

Fitted knits and sweater vests

JEN TAM, HER WAISE CHOICE

“I wouldn’t consider myself to be very trend-driven, but I’ve personally been drawn toward longer, leaner sweaters this fall. The sweater vest in this slimmer cut has been a particular favourite. I’m wearing it now with a leather jacket or cardigan on top, and I’m looking forward to layering a fitted cashmere turtleneck underneath when the temperatures drop further.”

FALL FASHION TIP

“Curate a closet with coordinating pieces, whatever that means for you. For me, that’s meant keeping to a colour palette of similar hues that go well together. This has made layering and mixing and matching a breeze, and I’ve been able to create many different looks with a limited wardrobe. It’s been a goal of mine to build a closet with a smaller number of pieces, with things that I love well and wear all the time—this helps me do that.”

Jen is wearing: Aritzia sweater vest, ALLSAINTS leather jacket, Fidelity jeans, J. Crew bag, Bite Beauty Multistick lipstick, CLUSE watch

Bring back the bomber

SHARDAY ENGEL
“The bomber jacket is back (did it ever really go away?). It’s versatile enough to be paired with jeans and sneakers for day or with a form-fitting dress for evenings. Bombers are lightweight enough to pack away if the sun comes out, or pull out when Vancouver’s weather decides to be temperamental. Go for puffy and oversized in pale pink or baby blue, or embroidered floral in satin.”

FALL FASHION TIP
“Be prepared! Vancouver weather tends to switch quickly from chilly mornings to stunningly hot afternoons. I like to layer up a tee with a classic denim jacket and always have a big blanket scarf at the ready. And of course a sleek umbrella from Downpour Rain Company doesn’t hurt to have on hand!”

Sharday is wearing: Wilfred Free jacket, STYLENANDA shirt, J Brand jeans