| Key Takeaways • This fall’s palette centers on chocolate brown, navy, olive, burgundy, and cream — warmer and earthier than a typical black-heavy fall lineup. • Suede, corduroy, faux leather, and trench detailing are the textures carrying those colors this season. • Seven real pieces below, each one built around a color-and-texture pairing you can shop today. |
What You’ll Find In This Post:
What’s Trending For Fall 2026
On Sunday I walked you through what you actually bought this summer and what’s already sitting in my cart for fall — the blazer, the coat, the denim, the loafer. Today I want to zoom out one level, because underneath all of those individual pieces is a pretty consistent story: a handful of colors and textures that keep showing up everywhere I look.
If you missed it, you can catch up on What Women Over 50 Are Buying This Fall here.
The palette this year is warmer than a typical fall lineup — chocolate brown, navy, olive, and burgundy, anchored by cream instead of black. And the textures carrying those colors are suede, corduroy, faux leather, and trench detailing. You’ve already seen a few of these in my own cart — tweed, dark denim — so consider this the fuller picture behind that shorter list.
The Edit
1. The Trench Update
Cropped Cotton Twill Trench Coat — Banana Republic
$248.00 · Sand Beige
Why it works: A cropped trench solves a problem I didn’t know I had — all the polish of a full-length trench, none of the bulk under a bag strap or when you’re getting in and out of the car. Sand beige keeps it squarely in that warm neutral family everyone’s leaning into this year.
How I’d style it: I’d wear this over a simple sweater and dark denim for daytime, or thrown over a dress for something a little more polished at night.
2. Navy Twill Barrel Pant
Navy Twill Barrel Pant — Everlane
$88.00 (marked down from $148.00) · Navy
Why it works: Barrel-leg pants are having a real moment, and navy twill is an easy way in if you’re not ready to commit to a bolder silhouette everywhere else. It’s structured enough to layer a blazer over, relaxed enough to wear with just a sweater.
How I’d style it: I’d pair this with a cream sweater and loafers for everyday, or dress it up with a silk blouse and heels for something more polished.
3. The Faux Leather Midi
Faux Leather Flare Midi Dress — Ann Taylor
$139.00 (currently marked down from $189.00) · Midnight Mahogany
Why it works: I wasn’t sure I’d come around on faux leather again, but a deep mahogany brown like this one changes the whole conversation — it reads rich and grown-up rather than trendy. The flare through the skirt keeps it from feeling stiff.
How I’d style it: I’d wear this with a chunky knit cardigan and boots for daytime, or on its own with heels for evening.
4. The Olive Utility Jacket
Denim Trapeze Jacket — Banana Republic
$180.00 · Olive Green
Why it works: This is an updated take on a classic barn jacket — an easy A-line cut in soft, rugged denim, with a corduroy collar and cuff lining doing double duty on the texture front. Olive green is one of the colors to know this season, and this jacket wears it in the most casual, least precious way possible.
How I’d style it: I’d throw this over a white tee and jeans for a weekend errand day, or over a dress for something unexpected.
5. The Oxblood Statement Coat
Double Face Belted Coat — Talbots
$449.00–$479.00 · Rich Burgundy
Why it works: Some years I reach for a black coat without thinking twice. This year I keep gravitating toward this one instead — a rich burgundy that still feels sophisticated but reads a little warmer and more interesting against everything else in my closet.
How I’d style it: I’d wear this belted over a simple sweater and trousers for the office, or open over a dress for a chic evening look.
6. The Ivory Anchor
Berkshire Fitted Jacket — Talbots
$199.00–$219.00 · Ivory
Why it works: Every one of these colors needs a neutral to bounce off of, and ivory is doing that job better than black this year. This fitted jacket is structured enough to layer over a dress or wear on its own with denim.
How I’d style it: I’d wear this over a slip dress for evening, or with dark denim and boots for daytime.
7. The Investment Suede
On Sunday, I showed off a caramel suede balloon-sleeve jacket from Treasure & Bond, worn with wide-leg denim and cognac accessories — a good preview of exactly this trend in action. You can shop this exact look on my ShopMy page.
Suede Patch Pocket Jacket — Talbots
$698.00 · Whisky
Why it works: If I’m going to spend real money on one piece this fall, suede is where I’d put it. It’s one of the clearest trend combinations out there right now, especially paired with navy and chocolate brown, and a good suede jacket is the kind of piece that just keeps working, year after year.
How I’d style it: I’d wear this over a turtleneck and trousers for a polished look, or with jeans and boots for something more casual.
FAQs
Chocolate brown, navy, olive, and burgundy are the core colors this season, anchored by cream as the neutral instead of black.
Suede and corduroy are the standout textures this year, alongside faux leather and trench detailing — all showing up in both casual and elevated pieces.
Not at all. If you already own something in tweed, dark denim, or a wool coat, you’re already wearing this season’s story — these seven pieces are simply ways to build on what you likely already have.
Which Color or Texture Are You Drawn To?
Tell me in the comments — are you a suede person, a corduroy person, or still holding out for one more week of linen? I read every one.
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