What’s on My Fall Wishlist
What’s on My Fall Wishlist
📍 Greenwich, CT
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Cardigan || Shirt || Jeans || Ballet Flats || Handbag
There is something about the first hint of fall that makes me want to completely rethink my closet. Suddenly, the linen and raffia I couldn’t get enough of in July are making way for richer colors, softer textures, and all the layers I’ve been missing since spring. But this year, I’m less interested in reinventing my wardrobe and more interested in making it feel a little richer. Fall 2026 is full of exactly that kind of inspiration, with heritage patterns, tactile suede, deep autumnal colors, and even leopard making a particularly strong showing. My wishlist is a mix of pieces that feel current now but, more importantly, will still feel like me several falls from now. Here are the five trends currently at the top of my list.
Chocolate Brown
If there is one color defining my fall wishlist, it’s chocolate brown. I’ve always relied heavily on black, navy, camel, and cream, but lately I’ve found myself wanting to work brown into that rotation as another everyday neutral. It feels especially beautiful with denim, crisp white, navy, burgundy, and even black, and adds an instant warmth that feels right as we head into cooler weather. Chocolate brown has been showing up throughout Fall 2026 street style alongside other deep neutrals, but I’m most interested in the pieces that won’t feel dated when the trend cycle moves on. A beautiful handbag, ballet flats, loafers, belt, or simple knit would be an easy place to start, and I have a feeling this is a color that will be sticking around in my closet long after this fall.
Suede
Suede may be my favorite way to make an otherwise simple fall outfit feel a little more special. The texture alone adds so much richness, even when the rest of the outfit is nothing more complicated than jeans and a white button-down. It has been particularly visible this season in brown bags, shoes and outerwear, and I love that the current suede moment feels more Ralph Lauren than overly Western. I’m especially drawn to a chocolate or tobacco suede bag, although a great pair of suede loafers or ballet flats would accomplish the same thing. This is one trend where I’d rather add one beautiful piece than build an entire suede wardrobe.
Heritage Plaid
Plaid for fall certainly isn’t groundbreaking, but that’s precisely why I love it. This season I’m drawn to the slightly old-fashioned versions that feel like something you might find in an English country house or an old Ralph Lauren campaign: tartans, muted checks, patchwork plaids, and combinations of olive, camel, navy, burgundy, and cream. Plaid has been prominent in the pre-fall collections as designers revisit classic wardrobe staples, which makes this feel much more like a continuation of something timeless than a fleeting trend. I’d love to add a plaid shirt or jacket to wear with jeans and ballet flats, but I’m equally tempted by the idea of introducing it on a smaller scale with a scarf or bag.
Burgundy
I don’t think I’ll ever tire of burgundy for fall. It has all the richness of red without feeling quite as bold, and it works beautifully with practically every neutral already in my closet. It also happens to be one of the fall’s notable colors, appearing across the collections alongside brighter, more unexpected shades. I love it most as an accent against navy, chocolate brown, camel, gray, and cream, so I’m not necessarily looking for a head-to-toe burgundy outfit. Instead, I’m thinking about a beautiful pair of ballet flats, a structured handbag, a cashmere sweater, or even a silk scarf. It’s an easy way to make the clothes I already own feel distinctly autumnal without changing much at all.
Leopard
Perhaps the most unexpected addition to my fall wishlist is leopard, although I’m starting to think of it less as a print and more as a neutral. Leopard was everywhere during the fall fashion shows and street style, particularly in statement coats and accessories. The trick for me is keeping everything around it incredibly classic. I love the idea of a leopard jacket over a black sweater and trousers, leopard ballet flats with jeans and a white button-down, or a small leopard accessory mixed into an otherwise simple navy-and-denim outfit. One piece is plenty. Styled that way, leopard feels less trendy and much more like one of those slightly eccentric classics that makes a straightforward outfit infinitely more interesting.
Cardigan || Shirt || Jeans || Ballet Flats || Handbag
The common thread running through my wishlist this year is that none of these pieces require an entirely new wardrobe. I can wear chocolate brown with the navy sweaters I already own, add a suede bag to jeans and a button-down, mix a heritage plaid into my usual fall layers, use burgundy to add color, or let one leopard piece do all the talking. Even the outfit above feels like a good reminder of how I want to approach the season: classic denim and a button-down, a slightly whimsical knit, and a pop of red at my feet. The goal isn’t to look like I bought this fall’s trend report. It’s to find a few things that make getting dressed this fall feel exciting again, while still looking unmistakably like me.
Love from Connecticut,
Katie
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