Cheryl Shops

When I was growing up in the '80s, polos and rugbys were everywhere...and I hated them. As a very individualistic child, they felt like trying to be something I wasn't. I still have an aversion to actual polos, but polo sweaters I can get behind. They tend to come in softer, more neutral colors and more sophisticated fits, plus they don't have an annoying little logo embroidered on the chest. Polo sweaters have been around for a few years now, but I'm including them in this year's trend report because they've evolved a bit. Whereas a few years ago they all had open collars—technically called a Johnny collar—this year's batch has buttons at the placket, the deeper the better in my opinion.  My original intent was to wear one of the latter, but you'll see I'm in the former for reasons I'll explain in a minute. Long story short, I'm a big believer in this season's polo sweaters, and I've got my eye on a bunch of great options. 

Suede has been surging in popularity for a few years now—I included it in last year's fall trends—and we're either about to reach Peak Suede or maybe it's just a sign that it's here to stay. I am a fan; because of the natural nap, it has a richer, softer texture than leather and it takes dye beautifully, particularly in autumnal colors like brown, which has also been trending for awhile now. That said, suede can be a little more high-maintenance than leather—it stains more easily and I find it to be harder to keep clean—but for what it lacks in ease of care, it makes up for in pure luxuriousness. And yet there's something inherently boho about suede, which is what appeals to me—it's the ultimate rich-hippie essential. Which brings me to my latest, very specific fall trend: the fringed suede jacket. 

 I've said it more than once and I'll say it a thousand times: leopard print is a classic. So it's perhaps a bit disingenuous on my part to call leopard print a trend, but what's trending about it for me at the moment is a particular accessory in a specific shape: a slouchy bucket bag. There are several really, really good ones out there right now, but before I get to them, I wanted to give a shoutout to my Clare V mini tote, which has been with me for years. She still makes the larger version of the bag in a slightly different print, and if you're ok with a handheld or crook-of-the-arm tote, it would make a fantastic work bag. But for the rest of these, the shape I'm after is a shoulder bag with a more elongated silhouette. Read on for my favorites of the season. 

 Lately "trend" has become a dirty word, and I can kind of understand why. Fashion has always had trends—the definition of the word itself means something popular or current—but social media has definitely sped up the lifespan of a trend, and fast fashion retailers, particularly those of the drop-ship variety from overseas, have been happy to comply with this lightning-fast cycle. Not to mention, we're coming out of a longer "quiet luxury" moment that emphasized more timeless, neutral, trend-agnostic pieces versus novelty. This is not a dig on minimalism; I understand why so many people gravitate toward a look that feels more classic—there's a certain ease to it, and figuring out what to wear can be challenging enough. That said, quiet luxury itself is a trend, and sure, it's fun to cosplay as old money. Which is exactly the point: Fashion should be fun. It's fun to try on something new—a trend!—and see if fits. If it doesn't, or if you don't even want to try it on, you don't have to participate! As I always say, life is short and you should wear what you love. But sometimes you don't know what you love if you're not trying new things. Case in point, I thought the mere idea of oysters was gross until I was starving and at a party where they were the only food that was being served. Out of desperation, I tried some. Guess what? Oysters are delicious. Which brings me to the harem pant.

Some seasons there's a trend you can't seem to escape, and for fall, it's suede. It's everywhere this year—especially accessories—and to be honest, I have mixed feelings about it. Suede is notoriously hard to keep clean—dirt tends to get stuck in the nap and getting it out requires a thorough, frequent brushing. Lighter colors especially get schmutzy quickly; there's a reason you never see white suede. That said, there's something rich and textural about suede that lends itself to fall. Traditional autumnal colors like chestnut brown—and all the shades of brown that are also incredibly popular at the moment—really look good in suede. And if properly cared for over time, it can develop a gorgeous patina. I wouldn't recommend going for something you plan to use every day, but if you're strategic about it, suede can be a really luxe addition to your wardrobe. Here's how I'm wearing it. 

When I was a kid, I hated shopping for jeans. I would eventually acquiesce to a pair every season...then never wear them. This pattern continued through my adolescence, well into high school, where I found vintage Levi's 501s, which weren't perfect but were better than nothing. When flared, low-rise jeans came into fashion in the late '90s and early '00s, I finally found a fit that I liked, and I've been a jeans person ever since. I may have struggled at first with skinny jeans, but I eventually got used to them—although for the last 15 or so years, my go-to fit has been the straight leg. I will freely admit that since Gen Z declared that skinny jeans were "cheugy" and everyone started seeking out wider, higher-rise, and baggier fits, I have struggled to find a variation of this that works for me. I have a feeling I am not alone. Nowadays, the denim fit options are overwhelming—barrel, kick flare, palazzo, trouser, wide-leg, relaxed, reverse, '90s, whatever—and the sizing is frankly all over the place. It's enough to make a woman want to go back to her trusted skinnies, and if you want to do this (or never left them in the first place), you have my full permission. I still wear my slim-straight jeans all the time. But after a prolonged period of frankly ugly-looking jeans, I feel like denim has found its happy place. Brands have figured out a good balance of high (but not too high) waist, wide (but not too wide) leg, and relaxed (but not too relaxed) fit, and I'm especially liking all of the dark-wash options at the moment. Here's what I've learned in my wide-leg denim research.

Red has been trending for several seasons now—it was my accent color for my Italy trip this summer—which means that according to the whims of fashion, it's time to move on to a new one. For a minute, it looked like we were trying to make chartreuse happen with brat summer, but since that color looks good on 2% of the population, it didn't quite catch on. Thankfully the pendulum has swung in a more democratic direction to burgundy, which feels more natural and logical—this moody hue is red's goth older sister and feels totally right for fall. Deeper, darker, more mysterious, she's like a nice glass of pinot noir...which happens to be the grape in—wait for it—Burgundy (a.k.a. Bourgogne) wine. Since pinot happens to be one of my favorite wine varietals, and because I'm definitely embracing this rich evolution of red, here's how I'm wearing burgundy for fall. 

Last week, the New York Times did a profile on the "Christian girl autumn" woman, and I found her to be equally fascinating and relatable. Then again, I am one of those people who unapologetically loves fall. It has the best weather, the best food, and the best clothes. I like to be covered up—we can unpack the psychology behind that another day—and fall means you can layer turtlenecks and sweaters and blazers  and all those other cozy pieces all on top of each other. (Note: I know you can do that in winter too, but I feel like winter adds an element of needing more protective gear, which I'm not into.) This fall feels extra important to me because the last two have been marred by pandemic uncertainty, but this year feels like we're all ready to embrace capital-F Fashion once again. I've stopped doing trend reports—trends are something I don't exactly follow anymore—but there are a few things I'm particularly excited for this season. Here are my top three must-haves for fall 2022.