fall ‘26 style guide

After a treacherously hot midwest summer combined with the challenge of dressing a postpartum body and babywearing a little furnace - I have never, ever been more ready for cooler temps. So it’s safe to say that compiling this Fall 2026 style guide has been a fun little daydream. I say daydream because it is mid-september and still above 80 degrees. Our time will come - so let’s get into the things, colors and styling tips I’m feeling for the upcoming season. As always - not a prescription to go out and buy a new wardrobe - just musings and inspiration for you to take or leave.

Dark indigo denim has been on my mind since earlier this year. Im talking so dark it could be mistaken for black. I snagged an oversized dark denim button down from H&M that I reached for way more than I expected to in the spring, and I’m feeling it’s going to get a lot of use this fall.

A full Canadian tuxedo look with dark denim reads all kinds of cool. Light and mid denim has reigned supreme for a long time now, I think it’s time we’ll see the pendulum swing!

Also in the pant category - when all pants seem to be grazing or pooling on the floor, I’m really really vibing a cropped pant, culotte and even bringing our bermuda shorts into Fall. They seem so much easier to style with different kinds of shoes (flats, booties, kitten heels, slim sneaks), and I think the peek of ankle and calf is just the right amount of skin for the season, especially when transitioning.

Bonus points for a suede or leather pair (just snagged a pair of vintage Gap lamb suede culottes on Poshmark) and I’m going to try to cut a pair of my floor grazing jeans and see how the cropped raw hem looks with their wide silhouette. I can report back. Pair with an oversized sweater, a leather bomber or technical jacket - effortlessly cool.

Ok me obsessing over green isn’t anything new - but a specific flavor of green is catching my eye - the chartreuse-y moss-y greens that lean more yellow than the more recently favored olive or sage greens. It’s a little 70s and adds an unexpected pop to an outfit. I also think it’s one of those colors that surprisingly looks good on everyone.

My husbands grandma (grandma in-law?) passed down to me a vintage woven chartreuse drawstring purse that I simply adore. I’ll be putting it into heavy roto this fall. Along with a pair of saint Laurent mossy green sunglasses I snagged for a certain special upcoming occasion 👀

I know I ranted and raved about a funky ring stack for summer - I’m still all about it. But in the Fall, where we start to bundle up with sweaters and scarves and jackets covering our wrists and necks I think the opportunity for a fun moment shifts up to the ears.

Picture an oversized wool turtleneck, stirrup leggings, ballet flats, hair pulled back and just one large and in charge ear cuff making a statement. It’s asymmetric and interesting and I love it. There’s these glass bead chunky ones that I’m hemming and hawing over what color to choose before pulling the trigger. If only I found one in a mossy green!

This feels almost silly to include in a style guide since it is so painfully basic BUT I feel like I’ve been sleeping on long sleeves for the last few years and the lack of them in my wardrobe makes me think I may not be the only one. Of course I have 10+ button downs and way too many sweaters in varying shades of beige. So not those kinds of “long sleeves”. I’m talking plain jane white cotton long sleeve tees.

My favorites are the oversized ones (surprise surprise) with large funnel almost bell sleeves. I wore one at our apple orchard shoot the other week. They’re casual and ripe for fun accessorizing. Just add a pendant necklace, loose jeans and a kitten heel?? so easy. so good! Want to spice it up? Make it a striped, sheer, henley or raglan long sleeve tee. I’ve been seeing all versions make the rounds, even a padded-shoulder version that I might just have to try. This is a thrift or $10 old navy purchase - very accessible!

I could go on and on - this is just what’s at the top of my list. But trust that more of my outfits will see the light of day when this darn humidity breaks and I can stand to throw a sweater over my shoulders without melting into a puddle. Rant over - thank you for being here 🤍 I hope this got your style brains stirring!

Love & blessings,

Rachael

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