Ladies, we listed down every fall dress you need or you never thought you’d need: from the you-can-never-go-wrong fall staples to the trendy casual looks this season, and even your evening glamour. We got you covered.
So pop your favorite wine and enjoy scrolling through our Fall 2020 Lookbook.
“If a year was tucked inside of a clock, then autumn would be the magic hour.”
I have always loved the warm and almost melancholic palette as summer transitions to fall. There is something so peaceful with the shades of oranges and reds and occasional pops of color amidst neutral tones that I could just spend a whole day admiring the scenery.
The gusty wind, the rustle of crisp leaves being blown away, the sound of the steps as people are walking add to the charm of my favorite season. Not to mention that I can now wear my cozy sweaters and scarves while enjoying the chilly air with a cup of hot chocolate. Or go out with my dark floral midi dress layered with my all season tan coat and my favorite platform boots.
These days though with the COVID-19 pandemic looming everywhere, the simple things have become luxuries. The streets are empty, the stores are closed, people are only going out for important errands. Today, the fall season has become a little less warm without the vivid colors of outfits and even more melancholic with the quietness.
But who said we can’t put out our best self even when we’re just going out for a simple errand during this pandemic? If there’s one thing I learned during this challenging situation is that there is only so much time to live so every day is a celebration of life. And what better way to celebrate than wearing your best dress?
The Staple Fall Dresses
This list features the closet must-haves for Fall that will never go out of style.
Floral Midi Dress
Whoever said that florals are only for spring have not seen it in fall style. Color your florals to a darker palette to fit the fall season. You can dress it up with your classic heels or partner with trainer shoes for a more casual look. Here are more ways to style it.
This is a definite favorite fall style. Indulge yourself with a pop of color with this Alessandra dress from shopbop. Its claret patchwork color reminds me of the deep sunset vibes and the ruffle trims all throughout the dress add texture to the light and silky chiffon material. The long sleeves with puff shoulders also give off more drama to the dress. And the drawstring at the waist allows you to define your waist even with a flowy dress like this. Finish the look with a pair of tan thigh high boots because Fall is the boot season — don’t miss out!
This is another take on the floral midi dress. Unlike the first one, this is a more colorful palette closer to the spring colors with the vivid violet and pink floral pattern. Nevertheless, it’s a perfect fall style with a pearl style embellishment buckle, gathered puff sleeves, and flowy silhouette. Paired with suede heeled platform sandals, this outfit is ideal for your stylish grocery shopping. Accessorize with a chunky satin headband to add variation to the usual floral midi look.
Yes, floral can be edgy with the right style. For this look, layer your Kaoya midi dress with a black leather jacket (or you can also try a cropped dark denim jacket) and pair it with Docs to achieve the grunge vibe. To highlight the tiny straps for the gram, you can wear the jacket dramatically off on both sides or just one for a more teasing sexy look. The high slit feature is perfect for those with long legs who are confident to expose them regardless of the chilly weather.
Alternatively, you can dress this outfit down by layering a “basic” white shirt underneath the midi dress or over it with a little bun to the front to cinch your waist. And then replace the docs with your favorite sneakers. Or you can also try this style with a sweater just like this one.
Paisley Print Dress
Paisley is an ornamental textile design that makes use of the boteh or buta which is a teardrop-shaped motif with a curved upper end. It is the perfect fall print which combines the boho casual look with feminine style. Paisley prints are perfect in baby doll styles and can be easily styled up or down!
Though most love neutral tones for fall outfits or dresses, I personally love oranges as they remind me of both sunrise and sunset and the crisp old leaves scattered during this season. This paisley pattern on a baby doll dress style is one of my favorites. Also, I am gushing over the little turtleneck detail of the dress! Styling it with a white knitted beanie and some docs definitely screams casual streetwear fashion.
If you want a more formal look, you can switch your beanie with a beret and a muted color for the dress and thigh high boots to cover the exposed leg area.
Sweater Dress
Fall is cozy sweater season and sweater dresses are always in. This staple fall dress is the most comfortable and it also actually gives you warmth in the chilly weather especially this October. These are the two best styles of sweater dresses you can try.
I am a sucker for light brown shades for sweater dresses and I think it adds more to the cozy feeling. For this look, a turtleneck sweater dress is layered with a classic double breasted coat and knee-high boots. When styling sweater dresses or for any outfit at that, it’s best to coordinate the color of your coat with your boot/shoe to make it appear more put together. For this one, the different shades of brown complemented each item well.
Since sweater dresses do not really define shape and are generally on the more comfortable size, you can cinch and define your waist with a belt. To add contrast, opt for a fancy type of belt with attention-grabbing embellishments like a large metal buckle. Partner it with thigh high boots and a chic crossbody bag and you will definitely look like the basic fall girl.
Preppy School Look
The preppy style boasts classic colors, prints, and apparels. This style originated from the youth subculture of classic American universities. For this season, the preppy patterns that are definitely in are your punky plaids, tartan pattern reminiscent of Scotland, gingham, and argyle.
Here are some of my favorite preppy looks:
The preppy look school gets a notch up with this rebellious plaid print style by Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim of Monse. This slinky slip dress has a scoop neckline which is perfectly complemented by the choker necklace. Its thigh high slit on the other hand shows off the rubber-soled combat boots. If you want to enter with a “bang” this fall, this is definitely a look for the book.
Although I have not tried it yet, if you want a more conservative look with less chest area exposed, a good old white turtleneck shirt or sweater can do the trick. Best to pick a thin clingy fabric for the under layer to avoid creases on the slip dress.
This tartan plaid pinafore overall dress with buckle straps is definitely one of the most stylish preppy looks for fall. Aside from the interesting buckle straps, this dress also comes with pockets! This is quite a big deal since most women dresses are not equipped with pockets and it’s always a pain to not have one where you can stash your secret gummy bears or sour tapes.
This look is best layered with a contrasting colored sweater underneath and ankle-high boots. Also, one of the best things about preppy style is that it’s very versatile with accessories. Here you can style it with a fedora hat and quirky glasses.
When preppy meets Victorian era, you have a gingham long casual maxi tiered dress. The gingham pattern is the preppy side while the tiered feature or the overlapping layers created to make different hemlines can be traced back to the Victorian era where clothing symbolizes wealth. This dress paired with a cream colored sandal is already stylish on its own.
Another gingham pattern preppy look is the more casual and sexy style like this one.
This is an all over gingham pattern mini dress has a self tie shoulder strap with a fashioned large bow knot in front which adds sexiness to the dress (with the small hole skin exposure). Just like any thin strapped dress, you can layer this with a basic shirt underneath and pair with your favorite white sneakers.
Fun fact about the argyle pattern is that it is derived from the tartan of Clan Campbell of Argyll (hence, the name) in western Scotland. This pattern has been seen in socks worn by Scottish Highlanders since the 17th century. This multicolor pattern midi dress is perfect for your stylish scroll on the street. The ¾ sleeve is good for the chilly weather because we want to look stylish but not sacrificing comfort in the process. Pairing it with gold ankle boots and large gold earrings bring more sophistication to the rather comfy look of the dress.
You can also style it with a simple wide bucket belt to cinch the waist and put more shape to the outfit. If you’re opting for a thinner band, you can tuck out the top part to hide the belt and give the outfit more variation.
Let’s bring it back to nineteen forty
In the recent runway shows, Rodarte and Miu Miu are taking us back to the 1940s era of feminine shirt dresses, smart collars, and shoulder poofs. The 1940s women fashion is basically cut to doing more with less since the wartime during this era limited the wardrobe options of women. So dig your closet because polkas are back in town and as my favorite youtuber once said, “Men are out but menswear is in.”
Polka Dots
The polka dot trend has been here since spring and we’re seeing it staying until the fall and probably the coming winter. Polka dots became a trend from the 1920s through the 1960s and every decade it has its signature characteristic. For the 1940s, polka dot dresses are dresses for all occasions and were made into suits and maternity dresses.
Here are some of my favorite polka looks:
This black and white polka dress can be your staple fashion dress throughout summer, spring, and fall. One of my most favorite dress styles is always to partner it with sneakers to mix dressy with comfort that can be worn on many different occasions. To add a bit more edge to the outfit, layer it with a moto jacket (which also adds a bit of inspiration to the menswear of the ‘40s).
The moto jacket or the bike jacket is reminiscent of the Fall 2013 fashion and honestly it’s still a good piece of clothing to dress up any outfit. Not to mention that Fall can be a little bit chilly so a jacket would be a good deal.
Aside from polka dots, puffed sleeves are also in this season. I totally dig this look for the glamorous fall look because… who doesn’t? The polka dots in this satin midi dress is basically stylish on its own but the puffed sleeves take it a notch up with the drama and dress the outfit up without putting on another layer of clothing.
Finishing the look with a black clutch bag with golden lining and sparkly ankle strap heels gives it the sophistication that completes the outfit.
Shirt Dress
Men’s wear inspired style? They’re totally in this season. Shirt dresses are fun to play around because there are so many ways to style them. It’s basically investing on one item but getting so many variations that will never get you bored.
Here are some of the many ways you could style your shirt dress.
This is one popular way of styling your shirt dress and honestly, it’s also one of my many favorites. Layering a cream knit sweater vest over your white shirt dress is not only a very comfy style but also adds contrasting texture. The thick soled boots remind me of the nouveau grunge trend this season except this one does not exactly fit the grunge color scheme.
To make it a bit more chic or preppy, you can try one of the many looks from best dressed 30 Fall Outfit Ideas on her youtube channel.
She layered her long sleeved collared dress shirt with a sweatshirt on top for a comfy look paired with white platform boots and that cute bag! The big hair pins also add a bit of cuteness to the look.
These styles are perfect for a casual lunch date.
This shirt dress with its dramatic bishop sleeve is casually styled with a pair of light denim pants with the rolled up detail at the end to make way for the black and sexy strappy heels. Accessorize this look with retro-squared glasses and leather beret and you’re up for the stylish business woman award.
Or you can also ditch the pants and wear a men’s vest to style your look and since dress shirts can be a bit short, try putting on your knee-high or thigh-high boots for leg coverage.
Let’s get that sparkle on!
To culminate the list and as promised, we got your evening glamour covered. This season we’re pegging the heavy metal theme with lots of sequins to spice up our rather neutral colored palette and add one level higher drama from our prints.
What better way to culminate the list than with the very extra one shoulder ruched sequined mini dress? This dress incorporates many of the Fall 2020 trends. From the sparkly sequin look to the asymmetrical style with one shoulder exposed (sexy!) to the puffed shoulder and of course, that fringe detail on the silver bag! Finishing it off with silver ankle strap heels makes it a definite killer Fall outfit!
Aside from that, the ruche from the waist to the mini hemline also adds more texture to the smooth and sparkly sequin and gives more emphasis to the shape of the wearer. That is, it’s also a figure hugging stretch jersey.
