Lauren “Elle” Mercado is a stylist for SPLURGE! and owner of Handpicked Rentals. Reach her at stylebyelle.com.

With the blazing temperatures we’ve had all summer, I’ll bet you’re ready for it to cool down. As you flip through this month’s fall fashion shoot, you’ll notice a brighter color palette, reminiscent of the usual summer hues throughout the pages. For fall 2022, get ready for temperatures to cool down and fashion to heat up. 

I know it seems almost criminal to wear bright tones during this season, but fall’s usual suspects, the core neutrals, won’t be the only colors in the lineup. This season the colors are less restrained than last year, and illuminating hues like pinks, oranges, reds — and even yellow — are sticking around for a while longer. 

We focused on showcasing Pantone’s color picks for 2022: a mix of non-conforming colors to boost self-expression, inspire energetic qualities and celebrate life. This season encourages spontaneity; fall fashion is all about making room for experimenting and wearing whatever you want. Which I, for one, always subscribe to.

Now that we discussed colors for the season, here are other trends and tips to get you fall-ready, and where to buy them locally.

Are Colors Not Your Thing? 

Not ready to plunge into a bright pink outfit for fall? The good news: Just because bright colors are sticking around doesn’t mean you’re out of trend if you’re loyal to neutrals! Neutrals and olive green are core classics, and that’s why we’ve featured the romantic puff-sleeved midi dress available at Aspen Boutique. Now, suppose you’re open to playing around with a little bit of color. In that case, the outfit combo by The Violet Closet features a wine-colored pleated skirt, printed sweater, and purse, all with subtle pops of color. 

New Waistlines 

Y2K fashion is back in a big way, bringing in micro mini skirts, low-rise jeans, jewels and glitter. If you’re like me, we are not returning to anything low-rise! Style Tip: A small way to indulge in this trend is to opt for a pair of mid-rise pants next time over a high-rise pair. The burgundy pants from LBD are an excellent example of mid-rise pants ready for fall. We paired the pants with a chunky knit sweater (with a collar!) which is very on trend now.

Just Clip It

I’m not trying to show my age here, but this is about the third time I’ve seen claw clips trending — or maybe they never went away? Hair clips have been reimagined this season with patterns and designs to match any outfit, dressed up or dressed down! Aspen Boutique has a wide variety of clips in-store, with added details like jewels, fabric — and even cat-shaped ones, which I bought! All of Aspen’s clips are best sellers already this season.

Leather for Fall, Ground-Breaking

Leather gets reimagined this season by merging force with femininity. Think fierce moto chick meets feminine fashionista. The 2022 leather makeover consists of hardcore, oversized, and worn-in leathers paired with flowy bottoms or ultra-feminine blouses. We especially love this look from The Violet Closet, which features leather trousers with a hot pink sweatshirt and pearl accented heels! The look is one part effortless, one part ultra-feminine, and just the right pinch of edgy to make this a perfect outfit option for fall 2022.