We’ve been chatting a lot lately about the Fall 2025 fashion trends, especially the ones I’m most excited about. But of course, there are always a few that just don’t appeal to me. Some feel impractical for everyday life, and others don’t align with my personal style. So today I thought it would be fun to flip the script and share the Fall 2025 trends I’m not planning to wear… and, to keep it positive, I’m also sharing the ones I’ll be reaching for instead.
Some of these trends are already popping up, so you may have seen them—and others might be new to you. But now that they’re on your radar, you’ll probably start spotting them everywhere, lol! While I can appreciate the creativity behind some of these styles, they’re just not for me.
Here’s what I’m skipping this fall—and what I’ll be wearing instead. I even rounded up a few shopping widgets in case you’re looking for a little inspiration.
1. Pirate-Style Boots & Slouchy Boho Boots
photo credit: Free People
When I’m researching trends for the season, I usually start with a quick Google search and click through a few of the fashion magazines to see what they’re highlighting. Then I take a look at what’s showing up in the stores that cater to everyday women. Not everything that appears on the runways (or in Vogue) translates into something we’ll actually be wearing in real life, but I still think it’s helpful to get a sense of what’s gaining traction and where the more wearable versions of those trends might be headed.
This fall, two trends that stood out to me were pirate-style boots and slouchy boho boots. They were mentioned in articles like Pirate Boots Are the Unexpected Trend That Will Take Over in Fall 2025 and These Boho Boots Will Be Fall’s Status Shoe. While the examples shown in those stories feel a little over-the-top, I wouldn’t be surprised if we start seeing softer, more wearable versions pop up in mainstream retail—if not this year, then maybe next.
That said, I’m not personally feeling the slouchy boot trend at the moment. It just looks a little sloppy to me and leans more boho than I usually go for. I never say never when it comes to fashion (I’ve changed my mind before), but this season I’ll be sticking with more streamlined knee-high boots. I might play around with some subtle Western-inspired details to keep things feeling fresh.
Shop some of my favorite boots for fall:
2. Neons
photo credit: J.Crew
One of the big color trends I’ve seen popping up in a lot of articles—this one from Vogue being just one example—is neon. I’m all for bringing some brighter, bolder colors into my wardrobe. After wearing mostly neutrals for the past few seasons, I’m definitely ready for a change.
That said, I’m stopping short of neon. It just feels a little too loud and attention-grabbing for my personal style. I’d rather experiment with saturated jewel tones or rich autumnal colors that feel more wearable and sophisticated, especially for everyday looks.
Shop jewel tones and rich autumnal colors:
3. Layered Belts
photo credit: Anthropologie
This one popped up in a few of the Fall 2025 trend roundups I read, including this list from WedVibes, and I had to do a double take… no pun intended, ha! Apparently, we’re stacking belts this season, two or three at a time layered over coats, skirts, or pants that already have belt loops.
Don’t get me wrong, I like a good belted look. It’s a great way to add structure or polish to an outfit. But doubling (or tripling!) up just feels overdone to me. I can appreciate a creative styling choice on the runway, but in real life, I’m just not going to fuss with multiple belts.
This season, I’ll be sticking with one great belt that complements the outfit without taking over. I do think it would be fun to invest in a few that make a little more of a statement on their own… like one with grommets or studs or a more interesting buckle. I’ll link a few I have my eye on below.
Shop statement belts below:
4. Track Pants as Dress Pants
photo credit: EVEREVE
This is one trend I’ve been seeing everywhere lately, and it even came up in my Reader Q&A on Saturday. Track pants are being styled with Mary Jane flats, leather jackets, blazers, and button-downs to give them a more polished look.
I actually like the idea in theory. I love a good athleisure moment, and I’m all about finding ways to stay comfortable without sacrificing style. But for me, dressing them up with pumps and a blazer feels a little off. It’s not that it can’t work—it’s just not something I’d feel like me wearing, especially for officewear or a night out.
That said, I am on board with track pants styled in more casual ways. I’ll wear them with a half-zip or hoodie, a great tee, or I even like this look with the matching set. There are definitely ways to make them feel fresh and pulled together without crossing into “trying too hard” territory.
Here are some looks with track pants that I can get behind:
5. Corpcore Shoulders
photo credit: Aritzia
Strong, structured shoulders are back this fall, with some fashion insiders calling it the return of “corpcore.” I’ve seen this trend pop up in several fashion articles, including this one from Vogue, and it’s also starting to show up in more mainstream roundups—so it’s definitely having a moment.
While I can appreciate the look on the right person, it’s not something I’ll be adding to my closet. I already have naturally boxy shoulders, so the last thing I need is extra padding or exaggerated tailoring in that area. Styles like this tend to make me look broader on top and throw off my proportions. It might be great on someone with a more narrow frame, but for me, it’s a pass.
This is probably the main reason I tend to steer clear of blazers in general. Instead, I’ve been leaning into casual jackets with softer shapes and more relaxed tailoring. Utility styles and leather jackets give me just enough structure without adding bulk, and they’re much easier to wear day to day.
If you’re looking for ideas, I put together a full roundup of The Best Lightweight Jackets to Grab Now, and I styled a black leather jacket with subtle ’90s vibes in this all-black outfit post if you want to see how I’m wearing the trend my way this fall.
Shop my favorite fall jackets:
6. Fringe
photo credit: Madewell
Still trying to make fringe happen? 😂
Fringe showed up again in this WedVibes trend roundup, and I know it has its fans, but I’ve never been one of them. It leans way too boho for my style, and I just don’t love all that movement and fuss.
I’m even starting to see it pop up at mainstream retailers, which tells me it’s not just a runway thing—it’s actually gaining traction for fall. I can appreciate fringe in theory, especially when it’s done in a more refined or minimal way. But most of the time it just feels a little too costume-y or Western for my everyday wardrobe.
If I want to add texture or interest to an outfit, I’d rather do it with great fabric, tonal layering, or interesting accessories—not a bunch of swinging tassels. I think studded details are a really fun way to achieve the same effect, but they feel more true to my personal style.
7. Snake Print
photo credit: Nordstrom
I’ve worn snake print in the past, and I actually enjoyed it at the time, but it feels a little too soon for a comeback. I’ve seen it popping up here and there, and while I don’t hate it, I’m just not into it on clothing at the moment.
Maybe I could get behind a snake print belt or a small accessory—something subtle that adds a little edge without taking over the outfit. But for now, I’ll be skipping the bold snake print tops, dresses, or pants.
Instead, I’ll stick with leopard and cheetah prints, which feel a little more timeless to me. I do like to find modern takes on those classics—like the mesh Mary Jane flats I’ve been wearing lately. They feel current and fresh without veering into trendy-for-trendy’s-sake territory.
Shop animal prints for fall:
Final Thoughts
So there you have it—seven Fall 2025 fashion trends I’ll be skipping this season. Some just don’t work for my body type or personal style, and others feel a little too out there for everyday life. That’s the thing about trends… you don’t have to try them all. It’s about knowing what works for you, what feels good to wear, and what fits your lifestyle.
Of course, if you are into pirate boots or fringe or neon sweaters, go for it! The fun of fashion is that we all get to interpret it our own way. I’d love to hear—are there any trends you’re passing on this fall? Or any you’re surprisingly into?
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44 Responses
The 90s called, they want their shoulder pads back. 😉 GOOOOOOD GRIEF, all of these are a hard pass! None of them suit my coloring (dark autumn) or my aesthetic (feminine, classic, polished). So, like you Jo-Lynne, I’m staying true to myself. That said, there are some gals who pull off boho quite well, and some gals who look really good in those neon brights. But IMO, some of these trends are just ridiculous. Double or triple belts? Linebacker width shoulder pads? Athleisure mixed with a blazer for corporate settings? Sorry, really, no, just no.
AMEN!!!! I said then if we ever got rid of those things, I was never wearing them again.
Fully agree about the oversized shoulders look being a hard pass. I keep hearing about trends and silhouettes cycling ever faster, but wow does that not apply to oversized, droopy or heavily padded shoulders.
What an interesting list! I have a pair of black suede slouchy boots that I will definitely bring out and wear with a skirt or slim jeans. And the only neon item I wore this summer was a bright neon pink small crossbody bag that was perfect for vacation and really popped against an all-white or denim outfit. I am like you, Jo-Lynne, I will wear track pants with sneakers and a close-fitting zip up hoodie and tshirt!! Actually the double belt idea is kind of creative and could be interesting, especially using thinner belts! Have fun packing!
I’m totally on board with you on these trends. I don’t like the track pants, they all seem longer in length, hitting the floor. I’m 5’4”, so being between regular and petite sizing is challenging to me. I don’t look especially “good” in athleisure wear. I have a hard time feeling put together when I wear a sweatshirt (with denim) unless it’s with yoga pants and sneakers. Shoulder pads, yuck!! lol double belts, silly! I do love a little western theme tho.
I’ll be looking forward to your posts when you share the alternative styles above. Love jewelry tones…so classic.
I had already had the same thoughts as you expressed on most of these. I hadn’t heard about wearing more than one belt, but that’s a pass also. I do like some lime green in moderation. Having grown up in Phoenix, western style was always around, with some girls involved in rodeo or just rode horses. Teachers wore lots of silver and turquoise, so I will never wear the western style, including boots with only a nod to western. This was such a fun post!
I’m with you. I’m not wearing those trends either. I had a flash back of when I wore snake print clothing back in the middle 2000s. Lol. I have never liked fringe. Its not me. I have track pants but won’t dress them up. I ordered the Loft burgundy jeans on your widget last month. They’re nice.
All of these are a no way for me, plus barrel jeans and most wide leg, although I have 2 I love. I want to try Mary Jane’s, but not sure I can pull them off.
As the leopard loving girl I will admit I do own a couple snake print items that work for me but I wholeheartedly agreed with Big no to the other things you mentioned
I thought for sure cow print was going to be on this list. Ha!
Haha! It probably should be… I’m a bit more open to it, though, just b/c it’s fun and different than what we were wearing 5 years ago.
This is one of the many reasons I follow you. Your Nay list closely reflects my own.
As a little girl I owned a fringe jacket that I loved. Fringe swaying in the breeze when I rode my bike. Pony tail flying. A sweet memory that shall remain in the past. One look at me and you know I am not a Boho cowgirl and will fool no one.
Any animal print does not jive with my personal style. I have tried, but I just don’t feel right with anything animal print on. I look at some of what you posted and have to say, “Are we really doing that again?”
I’m going to pass on all of them….well maybe the snake skin if I see something that appeals, like a belt or a blouse. 🤔 Maybe…
Fashion is evolving so fast these days. It’s ridiculous! It’s just a push to shop more, buy more, dump more. I’m not buying into it!
I agree and I’ve also wondered if that’s the intent. They might not have thought it through tho, it’s almost getting to the point that people haven’t even gotten rid of a trend before it’s back in style! When that happens, there will be no need to buy. Then they’ll start waiting longer again to give people time to get rid of it before they bring it back. Just my hunch!
Just this morning I was online and kept seeing track pants, fringe and neon everywhere! I immediately wondered what Jo-Lynne would say about these trends. Minutes later, your email popped up in my box! It was perfect timing!!
And, I do agree with you, these item will be a pass for me too, but I could do track pants with a hoodie and little tank underneath, but not with a blazer or dress shirt. But the fringe, slouchy boots, big shoulder pads and snake print are a hard no for me!
Haven’t decided if I like the slouchy boots yet; this is one I’ll wait and see about. If they’re still big next year, maybe.
I’m an 80s girl, so I definitely wore neon and big shoulders the first time around. Neon will be a pass unless I see something small and fun, like a bag charm or a scarf to tie on a bag, that appeals to me. With the shoulder pads, it would depend on the garment.
I don’t tuck anything in and I don’t wear belts, so I won’t be wearing layered belts!
Athleisure has never been for me. It looks cute on you and many other women, but I’m plus-size with a large bust and not much of a waist, and I think I look one hundred percent frumpy in a tracksuit or anything similar. So ironically, seeing track pants styled up is the first time I’ve considered an athleisure piece. Not sure I’m on board yet but it could work in my very casual office.
Fringe I’ve always liked because I tend more boho. Not on Western style clothing, which is not me, but on crocheted items and bags, and I have several.
Love snakeskin for shoes and bags. I bought snake-pattern flipflops this summer, and I’m considering some ankle boots. But like you I’m not feeling the clothing, at least not yet. However, I wore a very subtle black and grey snakeprint blouse for years, and now I’m sorry I gave it away!
What a blast from the past with the neon and the double/triple belts, these were so big when I was in college. I will pass on most of these, but I still have a great pair of slouchy grey boots that I love, and the most fabulous suede fringe jacket I picked up at a vintage shop. The neon and shoulder pads? Not this time around!
I bought track pants from Athleta this weekend in Colorado and I love them. So comfy. They’re a more dressy material than the track pants we grew up with in the 80’s (we remember you, velour!). I agree I prefer a more casual look with them. I wore them yesterday with a white tshirt. Will also wear with a white button down and white cami under. No heels for me with track pants. Will do black loafers with a lil heel. (I’m 5’5 and hate flats). The ones from Athleta have snaps on the inside of the back lower pant leg so you can scrunch them up a bit to avoid stepping on the pant leg . Would also wear a quarter zip like you mentioned. Just have to tweak the trends to match our own style!
I agree with all your thoughts on these trends. Isn’t it nice we don’t have to jump on board with every single trend. I like to stay stylish but am careful about picking the trends that don’t over power me or seem very short lived. I am 5’1”, 120 lb, 70 years old.
I loved this article! I agree with you on so many of the styles, especially the fringe – yeehaw! It makes you wonder what the fashion designers/manufacturers are thinking!
I appreciate the way you incorporate trends into a real person’s wardrobe so you look current, but you don’t need to wear every trend that comes along. Thanks!
I love an edgy green. Not neon but different. I try on first to make sure it is a color I can wear. Some that lean towards a lime green have worked for me. I use to not like green at all. People said when I wore green my eyes looked green and I am blue eyed. It was crazy but they do tend to take on a different color when wearing some shade of green but I actually like that now. Green reminds me of color of hope in the Spring so often wear it alot in the Spring.
I’d be passing on all of these too. I also will be passing on barrel jeans.
Some of the trends make me think the powers to be are doing their best to think of the most outlandish things and see if they’ll take off. The majority of them are a ‘no’ for me.
You took the thought right out of my head!!! I didn’t express that thought here, but that’s exactly what I said to myself as I read this post: “it’s like they are intentionally choosing the most ridiculous and outlandish things that can think of and seeing who will actually follow along”. Some of these things feel more like a social experiment than actual fashion trends. Just IMO.
I actually like the track pants thing- I like contrast dressing and wearing things that don’t “go” together. Although I wear them with a denim shirt and a pair of flats instead of heels and a blazer. Yes I could maybe do snake skin in an accessory but I agree it’s too soon for a comeback and the rest are a pass!
Oh and I don’t mind neons sometimes but not for fall!!
I love your round up and insights! So accurate. Your ideas to soften the approach is perfect!
This was a fun post! As someone else mentioned, I’ve never been able to pull off animal prints on clothing. The most I can do is in accessories occasionally. Every time I’ve tried an animal print clothing item I just felt silly and like I was play-dressing. The one exception is I have a pair of leopard pj pants but no one outside my house gets to see those lol. I’ve never really liked neon and it does seem incongruous with fall. The double belt thing would only be reasonable with a dress because who wants to undo two(+) belts every time they need to use the restroom?! Big shoulder pads are just laughable and I’m not going there again post-80s. Slouchy boots add too much visual bulk to my already, ahem, not-so-slim calves and ankles.
And that brings me to track pants…I am here for a modified version of this trend. The Evereve emails have me intrigued with the possibilities. But I would not wear them with blazers or heels. I do think they could be fun with a sweater or button-up shirt and mary janes or loafers for a twist on the normal athleisure look. Almost all the track pants I’ve seen have lengths that would force me to wear heels except Spanx and Athleta both have petite sizes. I just bought a Spanx track pants & zip-up jacket set when they were on sale and I really like them. And I will probably end up with a black pair from Athleta to see if I can find a look that doesn’t feel too far out on the edge.
Most of these trends are a hard pass for me too, with the exception of the slouchy boots. I have a pair of chocolate brown faux suede slouchy boots that I have kept for at least 15 years…not sure why. But, they look surprisingly similar to the Isabel Marant boots that are linked at the bottom of the Boho boots article you listed—who knew? Since they tick several trend boxes this season, maybe I’ll give them another whirl!
I have a few pairs of slouchy knee high boots I’ve held on to so I’ll bring them out again and I might do snakeskin in a belt or shoe but the others trends are a pass for me.
Thank you for this refreshing post! I admire your honesty and for being so confident in your style to say no to a fashion trend that doesn’t compliment you !
I totally do this myself on some trends and was so reassured to see this post today!
A nice twist on a fashion post!
I like a snake print! And track pants with an unexpected top, not heels though. The barrel pants I do not understand. To each their own!
Most of the list…nah. I’m still tired of snake print, but want to get a pair of leopard sneakers. I’m looking around to find the ones that “grab” me. I’m intrigued by cow print! I’m going to get something in that category! Possibly flats or loafers. At work, I’m known for my shoe collection, so leopard and/or cow will cause a stir!
I also just ordered a pair of barrel jeans on extreme sale. We’ll see how that goes. But trying new things is fun. Who knows? Maybe something with a subtle fringe will catch my eye.
Love this post, Jolynne! Please make it a regular one when you do your trend reports each season. Obviously the “pass” items will be different for each of us, but I firmly believe in only wearing what I love and what flatters my body type/coloring, etc regardless of trends.
I agree with you on all of these. Some are downright comical, but on others I think a watered down version is doable but not the extreme version. I’ve noticed that the women whose style I most admire (sophisticated and elegant even when casual – think Jennifer Aniston or Kate Middleton) typically only lean into trends and skip the costume-y ones. I’ve started doing the same and feel much more polished.
Ha ha ha–too funny of a post–pretty much agree with your stance on all of it. The closest to exotic –I will be wearing this fall is my new leopard belt from Evereve. And for western–the harness style on my new brown suede booties will be it for me! That neon green reminds me of the Flower Power era. I like alittle boho and vintage–but I see nothing here–I’d wear.
I loved this post because it made me laugh! A hard no for me as well. Thanks for offering some alternate choices, Jo-Lynne.
Agreed!!!
I like most of these, except for the double belt which feels forced. That’s not to say I’ll wear them, but most feel sufficiently fresh that I see the appeal. The dressed up track pants are the most intriguing, but I think it will be hard to pull off in a way that looks intentional.
I have a snake print blouse I bought several years ago and still like, although I haven’t worn it in years. It’s a green print, so it looks less “snaky”. I also have a pair of Sam Edelman light brown suede open toe booties with a sling back strap (so kind of like a sandal more than a bootie) that has two layers of fringe on the vamp. For some reason I’ve kept them for about 10 years because I liked them even though I didn’t feel like they were in style. Well, now I’m thinking I could wear them again! Although very few fashionable people where I live (which is 50 miles from DC) so they probably wouldn’t know that fringe is trending and just think I’m wearing something old, lol.
I absolutely agree. I don’t think I’ll be on to trying any of these trends either.
I was around in the 80’s for big shoulder pads. Not again please!!! I sort of like the double belts. And a modified slouchy boot is not too bad. Otherwise no to the rest.
Jo-Lynne, I recently got some nice leather handbags, vintage. I am wondering how you take care of your bags and shoes, boots and belts. Any tips on cleaning them and keeping them in great shape? Thanks!!
Hey Linda, I don’t do much to bags and belts. Occasionally I’ll take shoes to a shoe repair shop to get minor scuffs touched up or those heel pads replaced.