9 Fall Trends to Adopt If You Need a Break From Quiet Luxury

Lately, it seems impossible to scroll online without stumbling upon the terms "quiet luxury" or "old money" as the fashion aesthetic has taken over everywhere. I'm not sure about you, but some trends get tired really quickly for me, especially when they're inescapable on the internet. Don't get me wrong—I'm a stickler for good staples as much as the next girl. But minimalism's overwhelming popularity feels almost antithetical to its very ethos—an idea that's all about embracing items that outlast the trend cycle. All of this is to say that while minimalism may be having a moment, a wardrobe full of too many basics can feel, well… boring to me. After all, what makes fashion fun is finding that fine balance, baby!

One way you can break free from the grip of "quiet luxury" is by taking a few risks with your fall wardrobe. By no means do you have to become a devoted maximalist overnight, however, if you're in desperate need of a break, opting for a few bolder fall trends is the right move for you. In an effort to give you that much-needed respite, we spent hours combing through the fall/winter 2023 runway collections to identify the nine best maximalist trends for fall.

Whether you need to spice up your staples with a few statement accessories or are an anti-minimalist to your core, there's something ahead for everyone. 

1. Grab Your Bedazzler

Maximalism is all about embracing those eye-catching items that feel a little bit "extra," even if they're not necessarily pragmatic. So, of course, the best place to start is with the trend that couldn't be missed unless your eyes were closed: embellishments. Across F/W 23 collections, we saw seemingly classic items adorned with every type of embellishment‚ studs, rhinestones, beads, the works. It was as if designers had taken their bedazzlers and decided that it was high time they made the staples in the back of their closet shine again. At Balmain, that approach came in the form of taking a timeless circle skirt and giving it a more trend-forward feel with the addition of hundreds of rhinestones and matching embellished flats. While at Hellessy, the "tired-old" button-down and trousers were made shiny again with the addition of crystals. But if you thought only separates would be subjected to the bedazzler, you'd be wrong—nothing was off limits, including coats. At Brandon Maxwell, an impeccably tailored gray longline coat covered in beaded bouquets. While at Gucci, the term "drip" was given meaning with a black single-breasted coat with water-shaped droplet cutouts with beaded outlines. While some might think this trend is a bit too much, the true maximalists will be ready to head to the craft store to recreate this look for themselves. 

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2. Black Ice

Just because we're talking about maximalism doesn't mean you have to do the most (yet). If you want to ease yourself out of the quiet-luxury aesthetic, the best place to start is with the trend we're dubbing "black ice." We should preface this by saying that we know black is typically a neutral hue, but with F/W 23 collections, that changed. That's no more apparent than in the broad adoption of shiny patent leather textiles. Just look at how a timeless cropped trench coat felt edgier through the usage of shiny black leather at David Koma. Or how the classic-cut lady jacket came in the glossy material at Chanel. If designers didn't use the textile to make "dated" items feel daring, they used them to draw attention to their more dramatic silhouettes. For instance, at Balmain, a draped asymmetrical peplum top with gloves was exaggerated using a latex-like cloth. And then, there was Ferragamo's collection, which took a seemingly simple deep scoop-neck dress and made it sleeker by using shiny patent leather. While it might seem a minor choice that designers used black patent leather throughout their collections, when zooming out, it's clear that it has a chilling effect on how we view what's "classic". It's proof that even staple colors or silhouttes can feel maximalist if made to be. 

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3. Birds of a Feather

Do you know the old adage, "Birds of a feather flock together?" Well, I can't think of a better way to describe how essential feather-adorned frocks are to the maximalist agenda (they're basically a part of the starter pack). So, of course, when it came time to round up some of the boldest trends found on the F/W 23 runways, we had to mention the widespread prevalence of feathers. We saw this trend take flight in every form, including a white button-down fully covered in feathers at Valentino, along with a pastel-hued v-neck gown adorned with a single feather at Victoria Beckham. There also was a pale yellow leather dress at Sportmax with a matching feather boa and furry sandals. But the most maximalist iteration of this trend could be found at Bottega Veneta—a fur coat in a swirly mint-green and brown hue was embellished with matching feathers. If all of the adaptations of feathers this season aren't synonymous with this fashion aesthetic, I'm not sure what would fly as maximalist. 

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4. High Shine

It's no secret that metallics have been having their own moment. Sure, they might not be dominating the internet quite like the whole "low-key luxury" thing, but they are made for the maximalists. After all, what better way is there to make your wardrobe stand out than with a metallic-hued item? These pieces scream maximalism, but the iterations of this trend on the F/W 23 runways also managed to make them approachable. Case in point: Dries Van Noten's collection, which styled black trousers with a gold-foil coat. Or Coach's collection, which styled a black turtleneck underneath a silver-coated aviator jacket and paired with a matching maxi skirt and boots. If those two weren't enough to make a serious case for metallics, then one only needs to look to the pretty draped dresses in both Blumarine and Simkhai's collections as final proof. Metallics may be the antithesis of minimal, but you can't say they're not wearable. 

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5. Furry Friends 

Let's be honest: taking risks with our wardrobes can be, well, scary. As much as we might be bored with our basics, knowing they'll always work is comforting. But what if we told you there's another option that's just as comforting as your cozy cardigans but ten times cooler? Enter faux fur accessories into the chat. We saw fuzzy textiles all over the F/W 23 runways, but they didn't just appear in the form of coats. We saw everything from hats to shoes to shawls to bags, all covered in furry materials. For example, there were bright-green fuzzy pumps at Givenchy and hairy pink kitten heels at MSGM. While at Stella McCartney, their iconic Falabella Tote Bag came in a shaggy white faux fur. Similarly, A.W.A.K.E. Mode's signature Mia bag was given a trendy upgrade through the usage of dark brown fur. Using fuzzy materials in this way allowed designers to add a touch of maximalism to their collections without having to commit to doing too much—something which you could take inspiration from, too. Sure a chunky knit sweater is the safer bet for fall, but we can assure you that this trend is the furry friend you didn't even know you were missing. 

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6. Crayon Legs 

By now, you might be wondering if there's an even more straightforward way to add a touch of maximalism to your fall ensembles without making major overhauls. Luckily for you, one trend is perfect for that purpose: crayon legs. In simple terms, this trend is all about embracing colorful tights. We've seen hosiery, in general, bubble up since last fall, but with F/W 23 collections, designers took the underpinning to the next level by using them to play with color blocking. We saw that approach adeptly represented Atelin's runway show as a slinky black gown was paired with pale blue tights. Similarly, neon green fishnets peeked out underneath a sheer black lace gown at Gucci. And then, there was David Koma's collection, in which a black blazer was styled over a red tulle skirt and matching red tights. But possibly the most maximalist version of this trend was found at Miu Miu—a model wore an eggplant-hued cardigan and sweater along with black briefs over sheer tights. If you're looking to color outside the lines this fall, the runways showed that this simple underpinning is the place to start. 

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7. Animal Kingdom

One could argue that if maximalism were a kingdom, then animal prints would be at the top of the food chart. After all, no other print trend has outlived waves of mass extinction—sure, one moment, it might be dying off, but after a few seasons, we always find ourselves flocking back to them. Animal prints always manage to graze back into the zeitgeist; the F/W 23 collections were not immune to this pattern. Across the board, every type of critter was represented on the runway: leopard, zebra, python, cheetah, cow, and even surreal-looking animal prints. But it wasn't solely their dominance that made them stand out, but how designers made them feel dangerous (in a good way). Simply look at how an ultra-sultry form-fitting knit dress at GCDS came in a yellow zebra print. Or how the classic suit feels less "safe" when fashioned from a python-looking red leather at Sportmax. Even the classic animal print coat felt more fierce, as it was given a fabulous upgrade by adapting the tailoring—at Stella McCartney, a cow-print coat had a long-sweeping hemline. While at Ferragamo, a leopard print fur coat had dramatic shoulders. Collections this season proved yet again, that this print style is always evolving. 

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8. Big 'Ole Baubles 

If you've been riding the minimalist wave, chances are you're still a bit apprehensive about the "more is more" ethos that's central to maximalism. We get it. When adopting a new aesthetic, there's no safer way to dip your toes in than by starting with a few small jewelry swaps or, in the case of F/W 23 collections, some very big ones. Across the board, we saw big 'ole baubles paired with more minimal separates to add something extra to the ensemble. For example, we saw an oversized beaded earring squarely placed against a taupe turtleneck peplum top at Brandon Maxwell. Similarly, at Rokh, a gray reworked blazer was styled with a silver chain and dome-shaped earrings. Then, there were the iterations of the jewelry trend that aired on the side of true maximalism—e.g., a pointed collar blouse was styled with a navy blue hat and oversized spherical clip-on earrings at Balmain. Or the extra-large dome pendant necklace with matching earrings that were styled with a turtleneck and matching coat at Wooyoungmi. Though jewelry may seem like a minor part of our wardrobe, these runway looks proved that the right accessories can make a big impact. 

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9. New Shiny Neutrals 

Look at you making it to the end of this story! Hopefully, by now, you finally feel ready to consciously uncouple with "quiet luxury." But if you're not one for initiating breakups, there is one final trend we think finds the middle ground between minimalism and maximalism: neutral-hued sequins. Hear us out on this one; this embellishment allows you to get the best of both worlds. As you're avoiding the unbearable pain of trying to part ways with your browns, blacks, and white colors this fall but still embracing a little shine. If that's not enough to sell you, spend a minute looking at how this trend dominated the F/W 23 runways. We saw sequins scaled back from their formerly over-the-top connotations to be transformed into ultra-tailored dresses and separates—e.g., there was a high-neck knee-length dress in black sequins at Emilia Wickstead. Similarly, at Puppets and Puppets, a cap-sleeve dress with a high-slit was covered in black sequins. But it wasn't just black that was given a shiny new update, as we saw brown sequins draped across the body like a melting chocolate bar at A.W.A.K.E. Mode's show. And then, there was 16Arlington's collection, which featured a series of neutral-hued sequin looks, including a dark-brown crewneck shirt styled with a matching knee-length skirt. Each look proved that you can find the balance between "simple" and "statement" items, you just have to be willing to try a few new trends. 

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