The first week of autumn is officially upon us. I always get excited for this time of year for the slight chill in the air, cozy evenings at home, and the endless opportunities for layering. Whilst I try not to pay too much attention to seasonal trends, especially with how quickly things come and go these days, I like to take advantage when a certain trend fits in with my personal style.
What I love about autumn in general is pulling out all of my menswear-inspired pieces, from loafers, to blazers, to trousers. This year those styles are really on trend, so I’m jumping on the bandwagon and going full grandpa chic. Here are a few of the trends I’m most excited for.
Chunky Loafers
Loafers are one of those perennially stylish pieces that always look great no matter what, but the “on trend” style tends to change every few years. From the Gucci Princetown loafers from a few years ago, to chunky loafers à la Prada more recently, there’s always one silhouette that everyone seems to go all-in for.
Loafers are my most-worn shoe this time of year, so I figured why not add another pair to my collection. There’s practically an infinite number of ways to style a loafer, but I particularly love how they can help transition summer dresses into the cooler months and really give a nod to this collegiate aesthetic.
The chunkier style really complements some of the other trends I’m talking about later in this post, and I love how they balance out an oversized blazer. Sometimes a voluminous top half commands something a little heftier on the bottom, and these loafers fit that bill perfectly.
Sweater Vests
The sweater vest burst on the scene this time last year and was seemingly inescapable for a while, but it’s still holding strong. Again, it’s one of those pieces that slots in effortlessly with my existing wardrobe, and they have this real professorial sensibility to them that I think is so fun to play with this time of year. Even when the trend dies down, I know this is something I’ll continue reaching for.
I think my favourite thing about the sweater vest is the sheer practicality of them. They’re truly the ultimate layering piece, and can bring summery tops and dresses into the cooler weather. Throw it over a blouse with a jacket on top, and take off layers selectively if it gets warm by midday. Maybe this is a Toronto-specific issue, but the weather can honestly vary by 15 degrees throughout the day during the autumn, so easy layering pieces are really key.
Tailoring
Tailoring is on just about every autumn trend report I’ve seen so far and is all over Instagram as well. From oversized blazers to trousers to suiting-inspired patterns, there are so many ways to jump on this trend in a way that works for any wardrobe or lifestyle.
I was on the hunt for a Frankie Shop-esque oversized blazer and ended up finding a really good dupe at Aritzia. It’s a super versatile silhouette that works with dresses, jeans, or smart trousers, and from casual outings to more formal occasions. I’m waiting for the weather to get just that little bit cooler and I’ll be wearing this constantly.
The houndstooth blazer is an older one but fits the tailoring trend so well. It’s a wool material, double-breasted, and the perfect amount of oversized, just truly the perfect grandpa-chic piece. I used to wear it a ton back when going to the office was still a thing, but I love it equally as much thrown over a t-shirt with jeans for a more casual vibe.
Good trousers can be hard for me to find; they’re often too small in the hip or too large in the waist. Being petite, I also don’t find a super wide, floor-skimming trouser overly flattering on me. Or at least I haven’t been able to find a pair that works. I love this cigarette style because they look great with flats, heels, and boots alike and are just really flattering. They’re from Weekend Max Mara and were a major sale find a few years back. I think I forgot about them last year but they’re definitely going to be on heavy rotation this year.
Chunky loafers – Maguire; Sweater vest – Aritzia; Brown blazer – Aritzia; Houndstooth blazer – Everlane (old season); Plaid trousers – Weekend Max Mara (old season).
Photographs taken on Kodak Portra 400 film with Olympus MJU I.
