Discover Fall Color Trends 2024: Elevate Your Style Palette
Fall has always been my favorite time of year for many reasons, not the least of which is the arrival of fall fashions. It’s one of the best times to find those wardrobe basics that will span seasons, layer, and travel well. Today I’m joining up with my blogger friends Cindy and Jennifer to share some of my favorite color trends for fall.
Cindy Hattersley Design | A Well Styled Life
Fall color trends
Wait..aren’t “timeless basics” and “trends” contradictory? Not always, and I’ll explain why. Even though women over 50 have been advised to avoid looking “trendy,” I do think it makes sense for us to know what’s trending. For one thing, when a style or color is on trend, it usually means we’ll find a better selection, a boon when it’s something we’d wear anyway. And selectively incorporating trends can be a way to keep our look fresh and current. (And yes, even classic and timeless French women do this…)
While we often think of fashion trends in terms of silhouettes and styles, this fall there are few overarching directions. From diaphanous Boho to structured minimalism, and everything in between, there’s a little something for everyone. Color and texture are where I’m seeing the most recognizable trends. And the good news is you don’t have to wait for cool weather to start incorporating them.
Fall color trends
If you’ve had a color analysis and are trying to shop within your color palette, you may have found that not all of your best colors are available in any given season. So my advice is to keep an eye on color trends, and buy them when you find them.
Building a cohesive wardrobe within your color palette is a long-term process. But the good news is that the colors in your palette should play well together. So that sweater you bought 3 years ago will work beautifully with this year’s additions.
It’s been my experience that the color trends we see on the runways or in “insider” predictions don’t always show up in the shops. But this season, I am seeing a good variety of colors being offered, including some that aren’t usually widely available. Here are some of the best (and most wearable) color trends I’m seeing this fall….
Haute chocolate
MZ WALLACE SUTTON BAG | VINCE SLINGBACK FLATS | CASLON COTTON CARDIGAN
For those of us with warmer color palettes (Springs & Autumns), shades of brown can be some of our best neutrals. From toffee to chocolate to espresso the selection has been better than I’ve seen in years. Brown has shed its more stodgy, utilitarian associations, and has re-emerged as an elegant neutral alternative.
Summers: your “Cocoa” brown has a purplish undertone. Winters, look for the darkest of browns for your “Bitter Chocolate.”
Wine & berries
LONGCHAMP LE PLIAGE TOTE | VIONIC BALLET FLATS | J.JILL COLLARED SWEATER
All shades of red continue to trend this season, but I wanted to highlight these cooler Burgundy (and adjacent) hues, which both Winters and most Summers can often wear well. This is a rich looking color with timeless appeal. And in accessories, especially, it can play the role of a neutral.
Deep greens & teal
LONGCHAMP LE PLIAGE TOTE | TORY BURCH LOAFERS | TALBOT’S HENLEY TOP
It’s a given that you’ll find lots of olive green this time of year, but deep, rich greens and pretty teals have also joined the chat. Winters and Blue Autumns best suit the dark spruce colors, but every seasonal palette has a version of teal (or blue-green) that should work.
Shopping note: Talbot’s has a pretty good selection of styles in teal and , and Vince has some really nice deep greens.
Mmmmm…butter!
TORY BURCH LEE RADZIWILL BAG | POINTED TOE FLATS | J.CREW COTTON CARDIGAN
This fall color trend has been building for a few months now, and is still going strong. I know some of you might shy away from yellow in general, but if you’re a Spring or Soft Autumn, you may find this color surprisingly wearable, almost a neutral. Springs, look for versions that are yellower and more saturated. And some Summers can wear the softer, cooler, more greyed out versions, which correspond to Primrose in your palette.
My sizes: sweater – Medium, pants – Petite 6
👉 Style tip: Try this color in a shoe, bag, or other accessories to “lift” a neutral outfit.
I’ll be sharing more of my favorite fall pieces and trends soon. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter to receive updates and exclusive content. Which fall color trends are you most excited to wear? Let me know in the comments.
I can’t wait see what fall trends my friends Cindy at Cindy Hattersley Design and Jennifer at A Well Styled Life have featured. They always have such great style!
How to wear color with confidence!
Not sure which colors are best for you? Having an in-person color analysis can be one of the best investments you’ll make in your wardrobe and yourself. If you live near or will be visiting the Los Angeles area, I’m taking appointments for comprehensive color analysis. I’ll help you find the colors that make you ✨glow✨ so you can shop and get dressed with confidence. Get more information and book your appointment here: Susan Blakey Style Services.
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Susan, I love how you show what trending colors work for which seasonal palette. I’m a blue autumn, so the deep teals and the spruce tones are some of my best. I also am excited to see chocolate browns out there now, too.
Hi Carolyn, those colors are so gorgeous for Blue Autumns. If you haven’t already, do check out the new color at Eileen Fisher, called “Deep Adriatic.” It’s an almost perfect match for Autumn’s Marine Navy!
Susan, you’re right, that deep adriatic is nearly a spot on match for marine navy! Thank you!
What’s a blue autumn? Is that the same as a deep autumn?
Blue Autumn is the coolest end of the Autumn palette. Their best colors are still warm, but not as strongly yellow-based.
Hi Susan
This was such a fun and informative post. I figured color theory would enter in, I need you to do my colors. I had them done years ago when my hair was very dark brown (pre-silver). I have a pretty good idea of what colors I should be wearing but don’t always follow the plan!
Thanks so much, cindy!
Absolutely gorgeous post! Thank you for pulling this together.
Hi Lee, thanks so much!
Susan,
Does the Henley top from Talbots in either the green or the burgundy work for the autumn palette ?
Hi Nancy, the green should work for Autumns, looks to be in between your “Peacock” and “Kingfisher” colors.
Fall is my favorite season as well, and since I think I’m a “winter” I especially love your berry and teal selections!
Thanks, Alexis!
Good morning!
I love the color collections for winters. Your personal pallet works well for you but the colors are not very useful for me. These blue greens and wine colored collections are gorgeous. I also appreciate the more feminine shoe choice. I feel my face looks less feminine as I’ve aged and need to wear slightly more feminine styles to counter balance it.
I am having trouble choosing between the 2 pilage bags both are so pretty. Thank you
Hi Cristi, thanks, and I’m so glad you’ve found the Winter options helpful!
I’m loving all the greens for fall and have already started to zero in on my favorites. Trending color is such a great way keep our look current and relevant while remaining true to our style. Loved this post Susan.
Thanks, Jennifer! And I agree, there are so many fabulous greens out there now.
Thank you Susan for all you do!
I’d love to see you style shoes in a color, such as burgundy. Thx!
Thanks, Lauren! Here’s an outfit I posted a few weeks ago: Relaxed Classic Casual
Thanks for the roundup! You’ve mentioned a couple of adjectives attached to the seasons— blue autumn, soft autumn— I haven’t seen those modifiers in the general Red Leopard season explanations. Can you say more about that?
Hi Pam, you’re welcome, and here’s a quick explainer: within each of the 4 seasonal palettes are 4 subgroups, determined by which of the colors within the palette are best for a person. I’ll expand more in a future post, but a Blue Autumn would be at the coolest end of the palette, and a Soft Autumn will look best in the more muted Autumn shades.
Great, thanks! I love your “explainer” posts. I’d love to see more about style personalities, too— especially how to dress for occasions that don’t fit in your wheelhouse, like he one you did on formal wear for gamines. I really look forward to your posts!
Such a terrific, sensible approach to incorporating trends. And the capsule illustrations put it all together in a very helpful way!
Thanks so much, Judy! I’m glad you find it helpful.
I always enjoy when wine and burgundy rotates back in style!
Hi Beth, it’s an elegant color, and fabulous choice for cool palettes.
Oh, I love teal! It’s normally so hard to find. I’ll have to keep my eye out for it. I was shopping yesterday but didn’t spot any. Perhaps, just missed in all the new.
Thanks, Joanna! Do check out Talbots and some of the other brands mentioned. I think we’ll see more of it in the next weeks.
Hi Susan,
Lovely post and color ideas thank you! I just bought that Quince burgundy blouse! Happy weekend 🙂
Thanks, Francesca, and hope you love the blouse!
Hi Susan, Could you let us know what season the client shown in the final picture is? I can guess but…… Thank you!
She is an Autumn Leaf.
Now that I am retired and on a very limited budget, I use the style ideas you show to help me keep my look updated. I was lucky to learn a good while back what colors work for me. My complexion is pink-ish and my hair started turning white in my twenties so I embrace being a Winter, now at 70+ with silvery white hair. Muddy tones near my face make me look ill. I like clear jewel tones and get complements when I wear them. I love blue-greens in any form. One of my favorite pieces is a merino sweater from Eileen Fisher in “spruce” that I scored in a thrift store for under $10! My scarf and necklace collections help change up the looks.
Hi susan, thank you so much for all of your wonderful posts. I think I enjoy the color and the Travel posts the best you mentioned a new Eileen Fisher color that was close to Marin navy for autumn. But I can’t find the post. Was the color deep Adriatic? I love the EF carrot ponte pants. I never would have considered them until your recommendation.
Thanks, Stephanie! Yes, it was Deep Adriatic.
Thank you!
Great outfit with the butter sweater and those shoes. Very put-together and elegant. Love the trousers too.
I might buy burgundy if there isn’t too much blue in it. And for greens I want a lot of yellow in the green, certainly not teal.
We’ll see what comes up in our shops.
Greetje
Thank you for the great Posts! Do you do colors via zoom? I am finding it hard to decide if I am a soft summer or another subgroup.
Hi Denise, thanks so much! I don’t offer Zoom color sessions, as I find in-person analysis to be the most accurate and effective.