Allow me to set the scene: It's a crisp autumn afternoon. There's a slight breeze and a wafting scent of spice in the air. You've packed away your summer sandals and tank tops in storage and are adding your best fall jackets and coats back into your outfit rotation. You're looking forward to breaking out your best fall jackets—like your favorite trench of leather moto—even though it means summer's sunshiney days are long behind you. Because a major part of what makes fall fashion so fun is the surplus of really good outerwear.
Moda Operandi's chief merchant, April Hennig, references the late, great street-style photographer Bill Cunningham on the importance of a good fall jacket. "As [Cunningham] once said, 'Fashion is the armor to survive everyday life.' And outerwear truly is the ultimate coat of arms," she describes over email. Hennig adds, too, that fall 2024's trends were designed with the wearer's best interests in mind. "Designers provide an incredible array of investment outerwear to dress women for the real world, ultimately living their day-to-day life in these jackets," she says.
Ahead, Hennig, along with two other fashion forecasters, breaks down the best jackets and coats to consider, provides insight into how the fall 2024 trends play a part, and the key details to keep front of mind while shopping. Happy jacket season to all who celebrate!
A Quick Edit of Fall 2024's Best Jackets
- Best Trench Coat: By Marianna Ayisa Trench Coat
- Best Denim Jacket: Banana Republic The 90s Denim Trucker Jacket
- Best Leather Jacket: GRLFRND Alek Leather Jacket
- Best Maxi Coat: Wilfred The Cocoon Long Coat
- Best Barn Jacket: Nili Lotan Margaret Jacket
The Best Trench Coats
In addition to providing a timeless and sleek look, the best trench coats are practicality-driven. "An element of functionality is key—think reversible jackets, detachable collars or hoods, waterproof materials, etc.," says Lindsey Smecker, the principal trend and marketing director at ESP Trendlab. For instance, a chic rain jacket in a trench silhouette doubles as a weather-resistant option that's a bit more sophisticated than your standard nylon slicker.
The Best Denim Jackets
A denim jacket is a wardrobe essential for a reason. Casual with a classic Americana feel—the best women's jean jackets are ideal for fall because they're a lightweight layer with nearly endless styling combinations. A Britney Spears circa 2001-esque denim-on-denim outfit, anyone? Smecker adds that in terms of specific styles, fall 2024 sees a surplus of lightweight, cropped silhouettes and innovations with design-forward embroidery. "Jean shackets are trending this season, too, and are freshened up with unconventional stitching."
The Best Leather Jackets
Leather jackets always crop up come fall, but the trend experts shout out a few specifics to keep in mind about the edgy essentials. "We are predicting the structured leather jacket to be a staple this season in an evolution away from the oversized leather blazer to the leather trench," details Smecker. Moda Operandi's Henning agrees: "From hardware-heavy moto jackets with a looser fit to reimagined versions of the staple in cropped cuts with a seductive feel, the leather jacket is officially back for the fall season."
The Best Barn Jackets
Fashion darling Eva Chen styles a cropped version of Carhartt's chore coat with denim.
Marie Claire reported on the burgeoning barn jacket trend earlier this summer, and we're now seeing those predictions come to life. "The barn jacket is back in a big way—and there are so many interpretations," Smecker shares. "I particularly love the vintage-inspired options in oversized, lived-in silhouettes. Other options include a more feminine, cropped option or a softer silhouette closer to a bomber jacket."
The Best Maxi Coats
"In single-breasted or double-breasted iterations, the longline coat is a key style for fall," details Hennig. Specifically shouting out floor-sweeping duster coats, the expert says the style's "clean lines and relaxed silhouette make it an effortless way to finish a look. And with exaggerated proportion play being a trend across categories this season," she says, "it's fitting that jacket lengths have followed."
Smecker echoes Hennigs, saying that "maxi coats are the must-have outerwear of the season. Opt for either "a structured, neutral wool maxi coat for a timeless addition to any wardrobe or a duster coat in a bold color, abstract print, or statement plaid."
Meet the Experts
April Hennig is the Chief Merchant for luxury e-commerce retailer, Moda Operandi. With over 15 years of experience in the fashion industry, April’s knowledge of multi-brand retail and brand leadership experience made her uniquely well-suited to join Moda’s Executive Leadership Team. Prior to her appointment at Moda, April served as President of Jonathan Simkhai and the Vice President Divisional Merchandise Manager of Women’s Contemporary at Bergdorf Goodman.
Lindsey Smecker is Principal and CEO of ESP Trendlab, a leading design and consumer trend forecasting agency headquartered in NYC. For over four decades, ESP Trendlab has partnered with trend forecasting and futurist agencies from around the world to represent and curate their services. ESP Trendlab's expertise is trusted by the most influential leadership brands, including Apple, Disney, Nordstrom, Uniqlo, New Balance, Aritzia, Tom Ford Beauty and Pottery Barn. Leading ESP Trendlab's intelligence, Lindsey blends strategic level thinking and cultural zeitgeist with core design aesthetics to ultimately shape products, brands, and the world in which we live.
As Head of Creative at London based agency BDA London overseeing bespoke and their ready to buy commercial trend solution, Trendhub, Terrie combines creativity with strategic vision to create tangible solutions. Terrie delivers trend directions and strategic intel through a bespoke lens, providing 20+ years of forecasting experience while imparting a wealth of knowledge when communicating concepts. She has consulted across a broad range of design markets and at all levels. With a process driven by creativity and strategic thinking, she is always seeking to evolve and stay agile within the business, and the industry as a whole.
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