Caroline Blevins ’18

When the leaves fall off trees and the cool Connecticut temperature drops to 60 degrees, Staples fashionistas can be found at Oddz of Westport, Urban Outfitters or Lululemon to keep warm. Finally, it is time to jump into a pair of leggings, throw on a sweater and kick it in the trendiest boots of the season. From head to toe, here are five cozy must-haves for a chillingly chic October.

To start, shoulders with ruffles will flourish in the halls this fall. Big, bold, puffy sleeves will certainly be flapping. While Saint Laurent, Isabel Marant and Ellery are predicting broad shoulders to be popular this fall, I envision something a bit different. Flares that start at the elbow provide a new and updated look. The ruffle obsession began in the summer of 2017. Now that the decorative flares have become more popular, the trend is following into other seasons.

“Ruffles are a trend that are becoming even more popular than they are currently,” Amanda Neckritz ’18 said. “My mom’s store, ‘Groove,’ sells inventory with ruffles daily. I love trying on the new items with ruffles on when they come in. You will definitely see me in the halls wearing ruffles this fall.”
Just like Amanda and almost every other student in school, I will also be wearing ruffles this fall. I loved the initial trend of ruffles when they began in the summer and I will continue to support them throughout the cooler seasons. To complete the outfit, I recommend throwing on a pair of blue or black ripped jeans and boots.

Check out Staples students in all things checkered this season. Flannels may be back this fall, but the black and white picnic-patterned shirts are a new and improved approach to a typical shirt.

“I like wearing plaid and flannels especially in the fall because it’s just the right weather outside to get away with not wearing a jacket,” Luke Welch ’19 said.

The picnic-pattern possesses a “scarecrow” vibe that is a must-have for any fall occasion. Whether you’re on your way to school, pumpkin picking, apple picking or taking a fall family photoshoot, this style will come in handy. Shirts, skirts and pants are all highly encouraged and a great way to stay fashionable.

Boys, flannels look best with khakis or jeans and make a great alternative to a sweatshirt. Girls, pair your flannel or picnic patterned shirt with black ripped jeans and short booties.
All things burgundy are predicted to be a hit this season. Moving forward from last year’s burst of orange, burgundy is predicted to be the hottest color of the season. A deeper shade of red is perfect for this time of year and is a good excuse to bundle up in scarves, sweaters and vests.

“Burgundy is a warm and rich color that absolutely screams fall, and I love wearing a light gray sweater with a burgundy scarf, or vise versa,” Remi Levitt ’21 said. But it can have a drawback. “Since burgundy is such a powerful color in and of itself, it’s difficult to pair it with any other color than a neutral,” Levitt added.

Lastly, slip into some swanky sneakers. Glittery, starred, slip-on and platform sneakers seem to be all the rage and I see why. For the newest and greatest, Steve Madden is always my go-to. For shoe shopping addicts and trendsetting enthusiasts, you can never go wrong with any type of Steve Madden footwear. In any given case, they can make or break an outfit.

“To me, sneakers are the final touch of the outfit,” Jacob Maged ’18 said. “People can look straight at you and see what you’re wearing, but if the shoes match or stand out, it turns heads.”

There are two perks that go along with a prominent sneaker. One, there is not much effort involved. Honestly, students walk with their heads down in the halls so the rest of your outfit may not even be seen. Throw on leggings, silver sparkly sneakers and a grey sweater and you’re all set, looking comfy and trendy.

But perhaps you’re looking to impress. In that case, there is perk number two: shoes can be the final touch when completing an outfit, if they match you’re all set.

Second, having fashionable sneakers can be useful on those dark mornings when you’re too lazy to throw on boots. Since the coolest shoes have so much going on, the rest of your outfit can be basics.

When going on that yearly fall shopping spree, make sure to follow this guideline. Oh, and always keep in mind the wise words of Coco Chanel, “Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury.”