The winter season officially commences on December 21st and while the incoming chill prepares for its arrival, it’s important we also prepare our wardrobes.
Whether we have weddings to attend to, participate in or plan for this season, remaining on and ahead of the trend schedule incoming is imperative for Fashion Enthusiasts everywhere. Here is a breakdown of some of our favorite trends of the season and how to achieve them.
Fringe Finishings
Celeb stylist Kalyn Rodriguez had the Fashion Girlies in a chokehold this late summer when she donned this epic fringed leather jacket by Double A via Cult Mia. Styled with a double bagged look complete with an LV and NDG along side a fall/winter-coded wispy bang, this look should serve as a reminder to Brides, Wedding Guest Attendees and Style Enthusiasts alike that fringe is an absolute must-have this season.
How to Achieve the Look: Kalyn’s knack for styling bold pieces with even more bold accessories is her biggest superpower. Instead of running to tone down the boldness of a statement fringe piece, take a page out of her book and style it with equally cool and out-of-the-box pieces to counteract its glamour. Kalyn’s exact jacket is by Double A and is available made to order on CultMia.com.
Image by @kalynrodriguezz on Instagram.
Fashion Industry titan Telsha Anderson-Boone donned a multi-textile look in monotonous butter yellow this September, giving us a blueprint of how to do layered texture with fringe well. This fun look combined both net and fringe in a way that brought dimension and a diversified tactile palette that made for an interesting look to engage wish, visually speaking.
How to Achieve the Look: Try going for similarly yet contrasting textiles in the same color like Trisha to experiment with fringe this winter. Mesh, net, and cashmere are great textures to try matching fringe with.
Image by @_miazaki_ on Instagram.
True Brunette Energy
Actress Da’Vine Joy Randolph is a vision anytime she serves us a glimpse of her face card but the way it has been eating with her true brunette tresses is unmatched. Perfectly complimentary to her pink and red-forward skin undertone, this chestnut brown adds an extra layer of softness to her stunning face shape and melanin.
How to Achieve the Look: If you love how Da’Vine’s hair is giving us that classic, 90’s glamour vibe, go for a loose curl and a few frame-framing layers in the front to get that same soft whimsy.
Image by @iamhairbyhe on Instagram.
Influencer Kyra Nikole is one of our favs when it comes to rocking a brown hair moment and her custom color that she attributes to the brilliance of her stylist Tori (@mytruehairaffair on Instagram). Perfectly chestnut-y and rich, Kyra’s tresses perfectly compliment her skin tone with the brows to match as well.
How to Achieve the Look: Kyra’s look gives 2010 bombshell blowout energy. To get a similar vibe, try a U-part wig for an easy install and maintenance like Kyra did.
Image by @kyranikole on Instagram.
Lifestyle and Fashion Influencer JaLisa E. Jefferson has become widely popular for rocking a stunning brown tone with her ever-changing hair styles and for good reason: always mixing a rich brown base with hints of cool toned light brown highlights to brighten it up, her hair looks are ideal for ladies looking to go glam or go home with this fall and winter trend.
How to Achieve the Look: When going to a professional to achieve the True Brunette hair look of your dreams, request an equally warm and rich base color of true brown with hints of light brown/blonde highlights throughout to add dimension and fun like JaLisa.
Image by @jalisaevaughn on Instagram.
Blush-Heavy Glam
In case you’ve missed it or have been living under a rock, blush-forward glam has been having a major moment all year thanks to Ngozi Edeme, otherwise known on the Internet as @paintedbyesther; one of the top makeup artist in the game as of late for celebs like Kelly Rowland, Mariah the Scientist and Olandria. Her use of blush has started waves in the beauty space, allowing Black women the space to see the potential power and play blush holds in pulling together a glamorous and flirty look.
How to Achieve the Look: Brands like Pat McGrath Labs, Rare Beauty and Danessa Myricks each carry some of the best and most sought after blushes on the market, from liquid to cream to powder. When applying once your base of foundation has been set, start with your cream/liquid contour and then go in with your liquid/cream blush before sealing it all in with your concealer on top. Once blended, add a touch more blush to your underage to melt in the pinky tone and create a flawless look overall.
Image by @paintedbyesther on Instagram.
Shape Play
Style queen Tracee Ellis Ross is known for playing up shape and space when it comes to dressing herself and this winter, she’s played her fashion game no different. In this shapeshifting Balenciaga dress styled by her longtime stylist Karla Welch, Tracee allows the conjuring shape of the piece to be her statement while letting her slick low bun, black heel and red lip be the perfect accessories.
How to Achieve the Look: Brands like Cult Gaia, H&M, Zara, and Hanifa are known to play with shape well. To achieve Tracee’s vibe, look for a column dress with a widened sleeve line for dimension.
Image by @traceeellisross on Instagram.
Ashy Blonde for the Tresses
Images by @iamhairbyhe, @dom_i_nic_25, and @iamdavontae.
Savannah James has become the poster child for how to do ash blonde as a brown skin girl and thanks to colorists Ricky Wing, Davontae’ Washington, and Dominic Ackah-Amihere, the perfect cross between caramel and ash blonde has been achieved.
Additional stars like Ciara, Lizzo, Shelley and Beyoncé have also become synonymous with the ashy blonde trend. Each going for their own version of the hue, this shade is stunning on all shades and skin tones, making it the perfect and most unexpected yet on-trend color to go for this winter.
How to Achieve the Look: If you’re inspired by any of these looks, take these notes to your next appointment based off of which is your fav – Beyoncé’s look is a true platinum ash blonde with a cool-toned dark root while Chelley’s features a warmed tinge on the ash blonde spectrum complete with brown lowlights for dimension. Singers Lizzo and Ciara both went for highlighted versions with a more brown base and face framing layers for added depth and glamour.
Images by Beyonce.com, @dom_i_nic_25, and @iamdavontae.
Brown Is the New Black for Wardrobe
Brown has taken over as the color of season and not only are the girls incorporating it into their looks this winter, but they’re also going all out by making it a monochromatic moment when they rock the hue as well! Queen Bey rocked it the monochromatic way and her blonde tresses complimented the formal look all the more! Whether chocolate, brunette, golden brown or wooden brown gives rich and elegant while remaining sultry and sexy.
How to Achieve the Look: Beyoncé’s look is formal in set-up and sexy in appeal. With the cutout, plunging neckline, fringe fur jacket overtop and cool shades, she made this formal, night out look become a rocker chic moment that all the girls are going for right now. Add on fringe fur jacket to appeal to both the brown wardrobe trend and the fringe trend for a fashion-conscious look for the season.
Image by @beyonce on Instagram.
From night to day, influencer and MUA Falon Shelby rocked the monochromatic brown trend in a look that can easily go from day to night. Complete with her brunette bob, this ultra on trend look is ideal for ladies looking to wear a look that can work on the go.
How to Achieve the Look: Falon’s two piece set and caramel brown boots each feature sueded fabric, which makes it all look cohesive and uniformed, despite being two different tones of brown. Falon’s exact brown suede set is by Akira and her boots are Fashion Nova.
Image by @stillsofalon on Instagram.
Sofia Richie Grainge stunned with her newly-introduced baby bump in this monochromatic brown fit by her emerging fashion label, SRG Atelier. Complete with a fur coat with a chic crew neckline, co-ord set underneath and killer chocolate bag with a polka-dotted pump to match. The circle frames add an extra touch of chicness as this look serves as the ideal get-up for a holiday errand run this winter season.
How to Achieve the Look: Sofia’s outfit is a style lesson in how to look chic while remaining cozy and casual. Sofia’s exact look is available on her brand website, srg-atelier.com.
Image by @sofiagrainge on Instagram.
When In Doubt, Oz It Out
Images by Hollie Molloy, Moriah Ziman, AB+DM Studio, and Jonathan Jacobs.
Arguably the movie of the year, the coveted Wicked sequel, Wicked 2: For Good has revived once again the love for the wonderful color companion that is pink and green. But thanks to Paul Tazewell, the Oscar-award winning costume designer of the film, this go-around allowed watchers and fans of the movie to explore the expanded color palette, textures and glam of the Ozian world. From yellow brick road yellow to emerald green to posh pink and maleficent black, the colors in this film has been a clear inspo for formal wear this season and for good reason; their individual level of opulence and glamour they bring make for a gorgeous tone for brides, wedding attendees and formalwear lovers to tap into this winter.
Kamie Crawford in Valdrin Sahiti for the Wicked 2 premiere was a true vision to behold. Featuring a foiled metallic green fabric, corseted waist and dramatic sweetheart neckline, Kamie’s look embodied Old Hollywood with a 2025 edge.
How to Achieve the Look: Kamie has mastered the art of giving vintage Hollywood realness while remaining on trend with the times. To do the same for your formal fashion obligations this season, try pairing an Old Hollywood hairstyle or makeup look and accessory combo with a modern outfit to balance the two eras.
Image by Moriah Ziman.
Written by Writer, Kennedi LéShea.
