The Fall 2023 Runway Looks That Will Define Cool Style This Season

Ready to dive into the next batch of looks that are about to define the rest of the year? While there are a number of broader trends happening, I'm pinpointing the specific looks from the fall/winter 2023 runways that I think are the ultimate source of cool style this year.

You see, we look to the runways each season to determine the overarching trends, but if you really think about it, we can trace the defining elements of each back to a handful of specific looks, whether it was an article of clothing, a novel styling trick, a color combination, or an overall mood.

If you want to know what the fashion set will be adopting, re-creating, and iterating on in no time, I suggest you start with these eight runway moments. Consider this your crash course in fall 2023 fashion. When I first saw them during fashion month last spring, they were the images that blew up group chats and social media feeds, and now that many of these pieces are hitting the market, I can state with conviction that these looks will set the tone. In a few cases, they already have. The white Prada skirts are already blowing up on Instagram, for one.

From the Miu Miu look that's making plain hoodies high fashion to the rising halter neckline that Ferragamo is pioneering and the bold '80s earrings that Schiaparelli is ushering in, continue on to discover the eight popular fall 2023 runway moments to know about and shop pieces to re-create them IRL.

Prada has built a reputation for its trustworthy staples over the years, and this fall, the brand has doubled down on signatures like A-line skirts and kitten heels. Prada's skirts may be embellished with delicate floral embroidery, but the effect they have when styled with simple crew-neck sweaters is one that anybody can re-create with the right silhouettes.

Key elements: A-line skirt, kitten heels, crew-neck sweater

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Wardrobe basics often default to casual, but this Ferragamo look holds all the proof that they can be dressed up too. Combining sleek elements like a halter-neck bodysuit and leather pants in the same hue, consider this your cue to extend the shelf life of certain staples into nighttime dressing. Just add loads of bold gold jewelry for an extra oomph.

Key elements: Halter top, bold '80s earrings

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Saint Laurent is bringing back '80s power dressing, and with it comes a renewed focus on office-ready staples like silk blouses, pencil skirts, and strong-shouldered jackets. To me, this particular runway look strikes the right balance of workwear and weekendwear. A belted pencil skirt and point-toe pumps offer polish, and the distressed leather aviator jacket thrown on top lends it a lived-in feel.

Key elements: Leather aviator jacket, silky tank, pencil skirt

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If you reach for a good sweater as the anchor to your fall outfits, then you'll love this Tory Burch look that does just that. This season, the designer ruminated on the power in classics like tailored trousers, pullover sweaters, and button-down shirts. On paper, they may not amount to much excitement, but once you see the genius color combination of subdued mushroom and fiery red, you'll understand the brand's genius vision.

Key elements: tailored trousers, pullover sweater, button-down shirt

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Everyone saw a bit of themselves in the mussed-up and frazzled Miu Miu models this season. With layers of coats, plain hoodies, leggings, and sneakers, this is the image of a woman on the go—whether from her Pilates class or morning meetings—and the hyperrealistic runway is one our editors have already raced to re-create IRL.

Key elements: hoodie, peacoat, crew-neck sweater, leggings, sneakers

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From large, sculptural earrings to stacks of gold bangles, accessories played a big part in Schiaparelli's F/W 23 ready-to-wear collection. Along with these more talked-about outfit additions was a range of simple fabric headbands. The pulled-back hairstyles they helped create made a clean canvas for the massive earrings models wore. What's more, I think the combo of fabric headbands and big earrings is one we'll see all over this season.

Key elements: '80s blazer, sculptural earrings, elastic headband

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This season qualified as the odd in-betweener that bridged the gap in creative directors at the Italian house. Despite it—or perhaps because of it—the collection was a sartorial palate cleanser. It's not every day I can say that I'd copy and paste a Gucci runway look right into my wardrobe, yet that's exactly what I'd do with many of the pared-back looks I saw. Here, oversize tailoring in the form of a classic trench coat, a striped shirt, and baggy denim seemed to mirror the outfit formula many of our editors repeat during the workweek. 

Key elements: Trench coat, striped shirting, loose jeans, leather belt

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With the rise of trends like blokecore and ladcore, soccer jerseys have been making their way into the closets of fashion people—sports knowledge notwithstanding. But British designer Grace Wales Bonner was laying the groundwork for these aesthetics long before they were trending on social media. The designer's androgynous pieces draw inspiration from sportswear in the '70s along with a range of historic references, from the Renaissance to the Middle Ages. This look from the brand's fall collection is an elevated take on the jersey trend with a bright turtleneck layered underneath. It's paired with a delicate lace-trim skirt to offset its athletic vibe.

Key elements: Soccer jersey, contrasting turtleneck

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