Do you have a passion for fashion? Would you like to stay hip to what trends are booming this fall? If so, you’ve come to the right place. In this piece, there will be a dissection of Vogue’s annual fall fashion recap of “trends to know and shop,” and we will see in what ways those chosen trends can be translated to everyday school day fits or slightly upscale outfits that can be worn on the weekends.
The Vogue article published on October 8, titled “11 Key Fall 2025 Fashion Trends to Know and Shop,” includes five trends that particularly interest me in terms of how transferable they are to everyday clothing choices. Millbrook Senior, Candace Simone, expressed how she is “most excited to wear skirts with tights, cable knit sweaters, sherpa/fur jackets, and combat boots.” Students want to wear iconic holiday essentials, and this article will honor that while giving suggestions to spice up those looks.
Pop of Red
The first trend on the list is a “Pop of Red” which naturally is the use of a red article of clothing to bring an element of fun and vibrance to an otherwise basic outfit. The Vogue article uses the examples of a $770 wrap skirt from Tory Burch and a $150 cropped sweater from J.Crew. These simplistic and expensive items of clothing are obviously not realistic options for the average high school student, but luckily there are many alternatives to such pieces.
If you want a cozy and feminine skirt to be your pop of red, Gap has its CashSoft Stretch Midi Skirt, which is the perfect lipstick red that can match with any graphic tee with glimpses of red, neutral sweater, or asymmetric top. It’s only $31.00, achieving the same idea of a red fall skirt, but with a more youthful and simplistic twist. To substitute the J.Crew sweater, H&M sells a Fine-Knit Sweater, with a swatch in “Bright Red” that is currently on sale for $15.99. In general, H&M offers many alternatives to upscale pieces, at low prices.
From the Neck Up
The second category on the list is named “From the Neck Up”. This trend describes jackets with collars that are “draped, structured, or barely there,” showing examples like a beautifully layered Burberry trench coat priced at $3,650 or a dark navy wool jacket from COS that has a bold, wide collar priced at $399. A brand that operates as a great middle ground between basic, affordability, and luxury is Zara. They have many high-quality basics, including their jackets, like the High Collar Jacket in Taupe Brown, which can be unbuttoned, providing an upscale frame to your fall outfit underneath, or buttoned, forming a chic silhouette that makes a statement. Although a little pricey at $89.90, it is a jacket that will last and make a great Christmas present for my fashionistas. If you’re looking for a coat that is more laid back and less expensive, Old Navy has a wide variety of cozy, athletic, and warm jackets on sale for up to 60% off.
Monochrome Brown
The third category is “Monochrome Brown”, which is partially in commemoration of Pantone making mocha mousse their 2025 color of the year. According to Vogue, designers embraced shades from “caramel to espresso”, bringing “rich, warm sophistication” to the runway. The authors grabbed these beautiful Nili Lotan corduroy pants priced at $450 to represent this category. An alternative to these pants are the Levi’s 726 High-rise Flare Corduroy Women’s Pants, which don’t have the same front pocket detailing as the Lotan’s. Still, they are $69.50, a Levi’s bestseller, and actually come in a higher variety of sizes than the designer pair.
Strangely, there are not many chestnut brown tops on the market that would complete the exact monochromatic look with these Levi’s, but pairing them with a slightly airy chocolate brown top, like this one from Pretty Little Thing, would be cohesive with the idea of an all brown outfit. To take this look to the next level, I would recommend employing the sandwich method by throwing on a pair of chocolate brown boots, like these Stevie Knee High Boots. Of course, this outfit screams more formal, especially with the addition of a boot, but every suggestion can be made more casual. You can trade corduroy pants for trousers or sweatpants, a pinstripe top for a cardigan or sweatshirt, boots for sneakers or Ugg boots; all suggestions are adaptable for different settings.
Nomadic Spirit
The fourth category listed is a little more abstract, but it introduces clothing that can add more fun, texture, and layers to an everyday school outfit. The section is called “Nomadic Spirit” and describes “bohemian-inspired” items, like rich embroidered jackets, flowing blouses, flat footwear, and long pendants. Vogue notably shows a $1,950 Chloe silk blouse, which encapsulates the general idea of a lace and light top, but the specific top is obviously pricey and very conservative in appearance. In contrast, Urban Outfitters has this sheer lace babydoll top that, when styled with a tank top underneath and a jacket for warmth, can add the perfect amount of drama and elegance to a fall look.
This top, as well as other tops listed under the designer, Kimchi Blue, match this category very well. This company also makes lacey skirts, like this one, that can be worn with tights or leggings underneath and match perfectly if you want to substitute a pair of denim jeans. Additionally, any outfit can have a nomadic essence if it plays with eccentric layering, a mixture of fun colors and neutrals, and loose-fitting clothing that evokes a bohemian essence.
Modern Prep
The last, but certainly not least, category is named “Modern Prep”. This category is especially intriguing because, with the recent rise of the quarter zip on social media, preppy clothing pieces have been favored over more casual ones. Vogue describes how “corduroys, collared shirts, blazers, polos—are styled in a fresh, ultra-layered way for fall”. Since we have already covered corduroys and jackets, I really want to dive into the usage of polos and colored shirts. Polo shirts have been an iconic staple of the Ralph Lauren brand for decades, but they do run up to hefty prices well over $100. There are alternatives.
Aeropostale, another championed 2000s brand, has its A87 Piqué Polo for a whopping $10.00 (it’s on sale from its original price of $24.50). The shirt comes in over ten colors, allowing you freedom to how you want to show off your preppy style. If you want to layer your polo or a button-up, a nice sweater vest is sure to keep you warm. Notably, Banana Republic, a slightly upscale department store brand, has a Cable Sweater Vest on sale for 60%. The layering of sweaters and striped shirts is a page out of an old preppy rulebook, but any sweater paired with a pleated skirt or a cardigan and jeans can create a collegiate outfit that screams casual professionalism.
That concludes our coverage of five Vogue runway trends this fall that are transferable to school and going out outfits, which included: “Pop of Red”, “From the Neck Up”, “Nomadic Spirit”, and “Modern Prep”. These trends gave us advice to add an accent of color to regular outfits, wear jackets that aren’t scared to show a collar, flowy pieces that add drama and dimension, and an outfit that screams, “Academic Weapon”. I hope this article inspires you to step up your fashion this season and understand how to dress for less.
