ComScore

The One Fall Fashion Trend We Just Didn't See Coming

PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and the company may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. All prices are accurate upon date of publish. You can learn more about the affiliate process here.

I’ll admit I was a bit surprised by the rise of Y2K fashion, and the return of maximalism has also been an interesting pandemic-influenced turn. But the one fall fashion trend I just never saw coming is sharp tailoring from head to toe.

Button down blouses, crisp blazers, shirtdresses nipped at the waist and trousers galore have been gathering steam on my Instagram feed for weeks now. And the New Arrivals sections at trend-driven stores like Nordstrom, Revolve, Shopbop, and ASOS are chock-full of tailored staples. Fashion week also saw a slew of full office-approved looks. Tory Burch, The Row, Prada, Wales Bonner and even Gucci showed traditional suiting looks (with high-fashion twists, of course) consisting of matching suits with buttoned-up blouses and equally polished accessories, like loafers, leather belts, simple gold jewelry and sleek handbags.

unexpected fall fashion trend tailoring 1
Getty Images

What’s odd is not that plaid blazers and penny loafers are once again hot ticket items for fall—when are they not? —it’s that full tailored looks are trending while we’re all still sitting at home. Some folks have started to return to the office, but the vast majority of us have not. Many of us also weren’t expected to wear suits or conservative office attire in the first place, so why are we now clamoring for such structured pieces? Not once have I ever longed to wear a blazer, and yet my shopping carts are now loaded up with blazers and suits of every design—lavender, oversize, cropped, leather, plaid — you name it..

unexpected fall fashion trend tailoring 2
Getty Images

Last fall we couldn’t get enough of sweatpants, leggings and all things athleisure, but we appear to have done a complete 180, opting now for workwear staples that aren’t traditionally all that comfortable (or at least not on the same level as sweats). It’s curious that we actively want to dress in clothing that requires ironing and trips to the dry cleaners. No one is asking us to tuck starched white button-downs into straight-leg trousers secured with a black leather belt. Our offices or virtual book club members or children’s teachers don’t expect us to show up to meetings in a matching blazer-and-skirt set. Yet this is one of the top trends for fall 2021. Rather than question it too much, we’ll just embrace the fun of wearing clothing we’ve had no reason to wear for well over a year now and reacquaint ourselves with our ironing boards (or steamers, at the very least) for a very well put together autumn.

Here, 15 chic tailored pieces and sleek accessories to add to cart now and wear all fall long.


asos curve blazer unexpected fall fashion trend tailoring
ASOS

1. asos Design Clean Double Breasted Linen Suit Blazer In Blue

Available in sizes 12 to 24

ganni blouse unexpected fall fashion trend tailoring
Shopbop

2. ganni Cotton Poplin Shirt

Available in sizes 2 to 12

asos loafers unexpected fall fashion trend tailoring
ASOS

3. asos Design Marcia Leather Square-toe Loafers

misha nonoo husband shirt unexpected fall fashion trend tailoring
Misha Nonoo

4. misha Nonoo Husband Shirt

Available in sizes XXS to 4XL

cinq a sept blazer unexpected fall fashion trend tailoring
Shopbop

5. cinq A Sept Crepe Khloe Blazer

Available in sizes 0 to 12

spanx pants unexpected fall fashion trend tailoring
Shopbop

6. spanx High-rise Flares

Available in sizes XS to 3X

marc jacobs bag unexpected fall fashion trend tailoring
Revolve

7. marc Jacobs Tote

vila blazer unexpected fall fashion trend tailoring
ASOS

8. vila Tailored Blazer In Pink

Available in sizes 2 to 12

nonchalant pants unexpected fall fashion trend tailoring
Revolve

9. Nonchalant Fabi Wide-leg Pants

Available in sizes XS to L

1state blazer unexpected fall fashion trend tailoring
Nordstrom

10. 1 State Check Ruched Sleeve Jacket

Available in sizes XXS to XXL

asos curve pants unexpected fall fashion trend tailoring
ASOS

11. asos Design Curve Linen Cigarette Pants In Black

Available in sizes 12 to 24

neous bag unexpected fall fashion trend tailoring
Shopbop

12. Neous Jupiter Mini Bag

weekend max mara pants unexpected fall fashion trend tailoring
Saks Fifth Avenue

13. Weekend Max Mara Zanna Crop Slim-leg Twill Pants

Available in sizes 0 to 16

tory burch suit unexpected fall fashion trend tailoring
Shopbop

14. Tory Burch Linen Gingham Blazer And Trousers

Available in sizes 2 to 12

Available in sizes 2 to 14

aligne blazer unexpected fall fashion trend tailoring
ASOS

15. aligne Organix Cotton Tailored Suit Blazer


unnamed

Editor

Abby Hepworth is an RRCA-certified running coach who has worked in fashion for over 10 years. Want to know what shoes are in this season? She's got you. Need recommendations on...