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.
Cherry Bomb
"Red in its purest, brightest form really dominated the season across all cities, appearing in all categories from ready-to-wear to accessories," shares Seidel. "Prada’s red leather skirt suit was a particular stand-out." Ferragamo, newly helmed by the British up-and-coming creative star Maximilian Davis—also heavily featured the ruby hue, with many dubbing the fall color trend Ferragamo Red.
Not-So-Mellow Yellow
Pucker up: "Yellow was punchy and acidic this season, a zesty addition to the season’s palette," Seidel shares. "At Gucci, it was seen in the form of a cropped mohair polo, and Jil Sander also used the shade to punctuate the collection." Don't shy away from the citric shade in the coming season: crewneck sweaters and tailored trousers in the vibrant hue make for bold, conversation-starting statements.
50-Plus Shades
"In a more muted world, old faithful gray was very much present throughout Fall/Winter 2023, most noticeably via a parade of long, bold-shouldered coats, nodding to the winter uniforms of city workers in bygone eras," recounts Seidel. Groutfits—it's exactly what it sounds: monochromatic, all-gray outfits—were an especially prevalent styling choice on the runways: Bottega Veneta's strategically oversized tailoring and Loewe's slouchy knit set were quintessential of the chic potential of a matchy-matchy gray moment.
Glacial Blue
Take a dip into fall's icy waters. Loewe played with draped silks in glacial blue hues, while Fendi opted for sheer knits and Sandy Liang tackled the lace trend. The shade is so subtle, one could posit it's a step above a neutral.
Molten Silver
"Metallics were everywhere throughout the collections," says the Farfetch expert. "Newest feeling were liquid-like metallic fabrics, seeming to wash over the body through drapery at Ferragamo and Blumarine." Fall is also the ideal opportunity for you to test drive the silver shoe trend—may we suggest trying the magnificent metallic via a prepster loafer?
Salted Caramel
Just as soft pastels are intrinsic to spring, caramel browns are signature to fall. The decadent shade was prevalent throughout Saint Laurent's fall show, which paid homage to an '80s working woman mentality, and also in the maximalist offerings from Collina Strada and Dries Van Noten. This autumn, add a pair of high-waisted camel-colored trousers and a brown leather laptop bag to your workwear rotation.
