Fashion is a conduit for escapism. Under the creative director's spell, the runway becomes a portal that reprieves you from reality. Your daily woes don't exist during the 10-minute show (you forget about to-do lists and life necessities)—all that matters is ingenuity and storytelling. The fall 2023 runways, however, were noticeably more grounded in the everyday. Designers considered the importance of dressing for Real Life, with an emphasis on wardrobe basics you'd wear when grocery shopping and during off-duty weekends. That's not to say there wasn't fantasy at play. In particular, fall 2023's color trends balance both concepts: a day-to-day closet that's practical but also sprinkled with wondrous joy. Think: classic autumnal neutrals alongside bright lemon yellows and mighty metallics.
Overall, the upcoming season's top shades are rooted in reality but still encourage you to daydream—after all, mentally escaping to a faraway land remains one of fashion's greatest joys. Ahead, we condensed the color data and tapped Celenie Seidel, Senior Womenswear Lead at Farfetch, to curate a list of fall 2023's leading shades. Oh, and if you've grown weary of Barbiecorehot pink, great news: a certain fiery shade will replace the Mattel-sponsored shade come fall.
