I feel like I haven’t been on a shopping binge in a while. I haven’t even taken the time to take out my cold-weather clothes yet. I use cold loosely. Very…very…loosely. Fall in Phoenix shows up in a way that a late guest does. Quietly, weeks after everyone else, and most of the time feeling overdressed.
After about 10,000 articles, posts, and photos about the must-haves for fall 2026, I decided to build a list. This isn’t every single trend that walked a runway or hit the store shelves. It’s the short list of things I actually want in my closet right now. A few splurges, a few pieces I’d probably buy while bored on a Tuesday without thinking much about it, and a sweater loud enough to count as a personality and energize a Teams meeting no one wants to be on.
Here’s what’s hitting my cart and closet right now.
SHEER + LACE, BUT MAKE IT GOTHIC
Lingerie dressing never really left. Anyone who knows me knows I love a good sheer and/or lace piece. This season, it just started to be a bit more moody and gothic.
London set the mood with Erdem and Simone Rocha leaning more moody and romantic. By the time Paris rolled around, Saint Laurent was styling lace with latex and high, vampy collars. It’s the first version of this trend that feels like it was made for going out after dark instead of a beach cover-up. I kind of love the whole sheer layers-worn-loose style thrown over something more opaque underneath. You get the drama without spending the entire night adjusting. IYKYK.
MY PICKS: The Isabel Marant lace camisole or H&M bustier under a black blazer, and Khaite’s sheer peplum top for something a little more ghostly.
OVER-THE-KNEE BOOTS (VERY OVER)
Boots this fall go so high they’re practically pants. Givenchy pulled off the illusion best. At a glance, you couldn’t tell where the boot even stopped. It makes sense. Oversized is on its way out, and a long, narrow boot is what a slimmer silhouette wants underneath it. Suede for daytime, smooth leather for night.
I’d go practical first: the Toteme boots work with a pencil skirt on a workday and a mini on the weekend. If you want something fun and are daring, Gianvito Rossi’s leopard suede boots are a good bet. Is Leopard a neutral? My other favorite pick is the Paris Texas western boots. It’s an easier heel and embraces another trend right now: the western aesthetic.
THE ‘90S DRESS
The ‘90s dress is making a serious comeback because of Love Story, the FX series about JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, which aired back in February. The day after the first episode aired, Calvin Klein had their New York Fashion Week show, and everyone showed up looking for the pieces that would have definitely been in CBK’s closet.
Milan and Paris kept it going. Demna’s first Gucci show leaned hard into body-con, very Tom Ford in the mid-90s. Pieter Mulier’s farewell collection for Alaïa was all clean, close cuts. Simple, skin-close, and a little dangerous. It’s everything we want from a dress right now.
My short list: the Reformation silk dress is a slip dress ready for constant wear. Róhe’s velvet maxi is perfect for the upcoming holidays. And then there is the Saint Laurent. Oh, the Saint Laurent embellished maxi for the moment you just start ignoring your budget entirely.
SILKY SATIN
Satin is never going anywhere, and honestly, I’d probably riot if it ever did. What’s new is how it’s cut. Fitted shirts, longer dresses, and colors that aren’t champagne. A little sheen does more for a fall outfit than any fall accessory could, and it costs less.
My picks: the Reformation fitted silk shirt is a workhorse tucked into jeans. Zara’s jewel-button satin top is a cheap, stylish thrill, and well, that Dolce&Gabbana top is gorgeous.
BOWS WITH SOME BITE
I know. When I first saw bows, I thought the same thing. Bows can tip into birthday-party territory fast. But Simone Rocha, Erdem, and Celine all made the case for them this season, and the trick is contrast. A bow on a pink dress is sweet. A bow top with a leather jacket or tied into the back of a black knit is a choice. I’ll be wearing mine with beat-up denim and darker colors. Plus, the holiday shopping season will make this one easier to grab because bows will be everywhere.
My picks: The Zara contrast top is a hero piece, but the Mirror Palais and Dolce&Gabbana pieces are the two I can find 10,000 reasons to add to my closet any day of the week. And they would look great with my signature leather jacket…
LOUD KNITS
We’ve spent years living in oatmeal sweaters. It’s time to leave. This fall’s go-to sweaters are fuchsia, turquoise, and printed edge-to-edge. They have exaggerated necklines well past what’s considered reasonable. Wear one with plain trousers or layer it under a slip dress if you want to bring things up a notch.
My picks: the pink Bottega is very on brand. I’m obsessed with the doggie Zara sweater, and the Elder Statesman’s cashmere is the most expensive way to be cheerful I can think of.
THE BOTTOM LINE
If I had to buy just one thing, it’d be the boots. I can never have too many boots. Okay, maybe that’s not entirely true. My closet could very much disagree with me on this. But I digress, boots outlast every other trend on this list or any list for that matter. They work with everything from dresses to jeans and skirts. It will be hard to resist many of the pieces on this list because, well, I only pick the best and the pieces that can withstand the test from one season to the next.
