Fall Trends 2016: 10 Trends That Include Shoes, Skirts, Coats And Other Clothes For The First Day Of Autumn

Say farewell to the sandals and sundresses of summer – Thursday is the first day of fall.

As the cooler months of autumn shift into gear (and all things pumpkin spice hit a coffee shop near you), it’s time to retire those summer pieces that can't be incorporated into a fall wardrobe.

While updating the classic autumn staples (more double-breasted wool coat and oversized knit sweaters are always welcome additions), 2016 is a fresh year. Plus it’s nice to upgrade the closet with a few trend-driven key pieces.

It's often daunting to spend money on pieces that might not work for the seasons ahead, so we rounded up an assortment of trends that we think might have "staying power." (Fashion is fickle beast, so don't hold us to this.)

Not sure where to start or where to look? Here are the 10 fall trends to try now and where to buy them.

Suede Mules: The ideal seasonal interim piece, peep-toe suede mules are perfect for sunny, yet crisp fall days. Nina Shoes and Front Row Shop have some great pairs.

The Mock Turtleneck: This spring favorite gets an update for fall when worn beneath a soft leather jacket or satin bomber. Find one in a slightly heavier weight (wool, cashmere blend) that’s fitted so you can wear under a skirt. Find one at Zara or H&M.

Knife Pleated Skirt: Bonus points if you find one in metallic. Depending on the weather in your area, this below-the-knee skirt can easily take you into winter months when worn with tights and vertiginous ankle booties. We particularly love Banana Republic skirts.

The Ruffled Top … for Autumn: A fall staple (ruffled Bardot tops were absolutely everywhere last spring), a ruffled top in rich jewel tones is the way to carry this piece into cooler seasons. Tone down the ruffles for this season though – ruffled sleeves or ruffles along the neckline of a top will work just fine. Check out Topshop and J.Crew.

Large Checkered Plaid Coats: The classic standby for autumn, the plaid checkered coat gets an update for the season with larger squares. Menswear-inspired cuts à la Marlene Dietrich will never fail. Nordstrom is always a good choice and Free People has a great coat.

XXL Sweatshirts: You can thank Demna Gvasalia for this one. The designer reinterpreted the gym-staple for high-brow audiences when he launched similar pieces down the runway for Vetements. This trend isn’t for everyone, but it’s worth a try – throw on a pair of thigh-skimming patent leather boots. Other than the aforementioned Vetements, try one from Fenty X Puma by Rihanna.

Flared Pants: Ah yes, the 1970s are making a strong comeback (as continuously evidenced by Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele and his fresh updates on the leisure suit). If you’re giving this piece a try, it’s best to invest in a pair of trousers with decent fabric, otherwise, a pair of the gently worn denim flares will work just as well. Urban Outfitters does a good flare jean.

The Perfect Fall Suit: The suits for fall are baggy, loose and best worn with a T-shirt underneath for a casual take. Unexpected colors are great, like the trousers from & Other Stories and the oversized suit jackets from Cos.

Velvet or Lace Chokers: More or less the fall/winter version of the thin black cord chokers that every It-Girl has been wearing for the past eight months. In this case, thickness does matter – opt for versions that are a little thinner or on the less opulent side or else run the risk of looking like you hopped out of a ‘90s teen sitcom. Nasty Gal. And Nasty Gal, again.

Crushed Velvet Jumpsuits: And speaking of velvet, the velvet jumpsuit has been getting a lot of play with designers, lately. Unexpected colors like forest green or powder blue show off the material and pair nicely with a rust brown or like Pantone’s new favorite “Flame” red. We like the ones from Asos or Revolve.