Fall Fashion Predictions For The Stylish Sapphic
What do fruit prints, nipple piercings, seaweed dresses, and mini skirts have in common? Gay fall style, of course!
We’re breaking down some fun ways to elevate your look so you can be a bit more fashion-forward this season. Get the look by shopping directly from some of the links we’ve provided, or get creative in your own closet!
Biblical Fruit
I personally can’t think of anything gayer than biblical fruit. Every queer person either has a pomegranate tattooed on them somewhere or an obsession with figs. Don’t be shy to try on some other biblical fruits—grapes, apples, or olives (which I think are the gayest of the bunch). I predict that more looks inspired by these fruits will come into trend and style. With a heavy influence of Christianity taking over this country, I think it’s time to queerify it.
How To Style
Red is already a power look that can be bold to wear on its own. Add a pomegranate-inspired bag and shoes for a touch of whimsy. I would pair this look with a leather sports jacket for a street style edge. This olive green dress and heels are already an elegant staple for your upgraded capsule collection, but with the addition of a bubble bag, you can make it a little bit more fun. Pair this with a long brown trench coat to give it more of an olive tree feel, and because it’s stunning. If you’re looking for a “I’m just running to the grocery store” look, throw on a fig t-shirt and pair it with some purple basketball shorts. I would add purple heels as well as a pretty head scarf that matches your bag. Depop, Etsy, eBay, and Poshmark are the best places to find creative looks.
Nipple Piercing Shirts
Body piercings have already made a comeback in a crazy way. Some would say they have never really left, but now every girl, man, and child has 3 lobe piercings or an eyebrow piercing. I feel like in the future, we are going to step it up even more. For the people who already rock nipple piercings, it’s time to show them off! For those who don’t have one yet, it will be a fun way to experiment.
How To Style
Any shirt you already own can be used for this style—just pierce it with your jewelry of choice! I think a black and white outfit works best with this design because it allows the piercing to be the center focus. Leaning edgier, this could be a really fun way to spice up an outfit. Check out Roberto Cavalli, Obeey, Jaded London, and ap0cene for some great pieces.
Plaid on Plaid
Plaid pants, Plaid work shirt, Hat, and Plaid sneakers,
Denim on denim has been a craze for lesbians everywhere for as long as I can remember. With the resurgence of plaid, be prepared for the denim-on-denim style to turn to plaid. Experimenting with different types and colors can make for a really interesting contrast that can be both femme and butch.
How To Style
A cute high-neck plaid top paired with a kilt is one really easy way to spice up the plaid look. Paired with a brown leather jacket and more plaid accessories, this look is chic and fashion-forward. A baby-doll plaid dress with some plaid tights is also a really cool way to be comfortable yet upgraded. If you’re going for something a little more masculine, plaid pants and a plaid work shirt pair really well together. Throw in a baseball hat and a tote, and you have yourself a really refreshing outfit. I recommend shopping at Anthropology, ap0cene, Depop, and Vivienne Westwood.
Medieval Takes Over Renaissance
After Chappell Roan stunned the 2024 VMA Award Show in a full armor look, I’ve been itching for the trends to start. Back in 2018, Renaissance fashion was all the rage—from those mesh angelic baby head shirts to a resurgence of long flowy skirts. And while the Renaissance fair is still very popular, along with Renaissance-themed jewelry and such, I believe that the future is medieval. The Renaissance speaks to beauty and light, whereas the medieval period is a moment of darkness and fear. What better era to make a comeback during these scary times?
How To Style
The obvious styling pieces are metal handbags, armor-like jewelry, and chain metal cropped tops. But for some more elevated pieces, you can include a headband crown, ballet flats inspired by the medieval period, clunky shoes, shiny silver pieces, and a pearl neckpiece. I recommend looking at Etsy, Highly Liquid, Alexander McQueen, and Jean Paul Gaultier.
Ties! Ties! Ties!
Pink tie, Skirt, Lipstick shirt, Hippie bag, and Clogs.
Ties have already started to make a comeback (were they ever really gone?), so let’s look at all the different styles. Obviously, there’s a classic Avril Lavigne inspiration, but you could also go for a Bette Porter-esque look from something office-friendly. Not sure how to tie your tie? A quick video tutorial should help you get it down in a few tries. We recommend this TikTok tutorial from Alli Bellairs that will have you tying in no time.
How To Style
Upgrade your outfit slightly with the addition of some flats, a scarf-tie, and a studded bag. If you’re a bit more casual, a crystal-studded tie can elevate a simple t-shirt look very quickly. Ties can also look fantastic with a slightly more bohemian style, so you can pair a bright tie with a long flowing skirt and some clogs. The tie will always be the star of the show, but don’t be afraid to accessorize further to really make the look your own. To find the tie that speaks to you, try looking at Nordstrom, The Kript, Minga London, and Etsy.
Underwear as Outerwear
Gray skirt, Red shirt, Red boots, Red bangles, Magazine bag, and Brown sunglasses.
Goldfish shirt, Orange bag, Orange heels, Blue bag, and Orange jacket.
After Charli xcx’s Brat took the world by storm last summer, being “messy” has made its comeback (finally). The clean girl aesthetic held us all in a chokehold for too long, but now it’s “okay” to be messy again. Underwear peeking through your outfit made a pretty big comeback during the Y2K resurgence of 2023, but I say we keep it going—mix-and-match boxers and thongs with pants and skirts. Throw in a mesh factor to make it more exciting. I have fully worn a mesh skirt with just underwear out of my house before, but I will admit, this is not for everyone.
How To Style
You can go simple with this and do boxers with jeans, but adding a letterman jacket and a cool t-shirt can elevate this vibe. I think leaning into a different aesthetic, like the city girl outfit as my second styled option, can make for a really cool contrast. Lastly, I think playing with colors while doing the risque mesh look can bring it from trashy to sophisticated really quickly. I recommend shopping at Oddli, Peppermayo, Obeey, and Poshmark for this look.
Water Siren
The earth fairy look is already quite popularized—long, flowy earth tones and hippie-like accessories. This is also a notoriously known gay look, but I think there will be an expansion to water siren looks. There have already been trends on TikTok of “siren eyes” and “office siren,” but I haven’t seen anyone really lean into a full siren look. I think this is a job for gay people, and I think it’s coming.
How To Style
The style is very beachy, but with a mystical pirate twist. A ripped-up beaded skirt with a cute cami, or a seaweed long dress. I styled outfits specifically for hyper-fem, but that does not mean that mascs can’t do it! Think Jack Sparrow vibes. Miu Miu, FrancySpring, Nordstrom, and Depop are sure to have some good finds.
Work Shirts 2.0
Workshirts are popular among lesbians and have been for forever. I thought it would be fun to not only highlight the look, but to elevate it a little bit with funky accessories.
How To Style
A tie on your jeans instead of a belt can bring a new vibe very quickly to your look, along with a colorful pair of sunglasses. Or you can have a pop of color on a graphic tee tank top. Another way to spice up this classic look is a workshirt with a fun design. You can pair this with a pop of color on your shoes. I recommend looking at Abercrombie, Todd Snyder, and Psylos1 to work this look.
Animal Tattoos Become Outfits
I personally think it’s very queer to resonate with a specific animal, especially if that animal is deemed “ugly” or “scary”—like bugs and spiders. Cats have always been heavily feminized and stereotypically owned by sad women. But why be just a sad woman when you can be a sad GAY woman? Cats can bring out that energy in a very fun way. I think we will start seeing a trend of people wearing these types of clothing; instead of just getting a fawn tattooed on your upper right arm, you can now proudly show off a different look.
How To Style
A fun animal t-shirt is always a helpful starting point—bonus points if they are an “ugly” bug. Pair it with a skirt or pants that also have animals on them, or you can make the top be your statement piece. To really bring the animal idea home, add cheetah or leopard print tights, or you can make it a bit more street style with just some sneakers. I love the juxtaposition between the punk rock style and a cute kitten, so I made sure to include a look that represented just that. Depop, Misstt, ANGELtype, and Goth n’ Rock are great options for shopping this look!
Tiny Little Skirts
Army green skirt, Brown long-sleeve shirt, Pink bag, and Green sneakers.
Mini skirts are absolutely never going out of style. Whether you are straight, queer, femme, whatever—mini skirts have always been a part of mainstream style. But I wanted to highlight specific mini-skirt looks that can make you appear just slightly queerer and more fashionable; even though we all love a basic black skirt, let’s play around a bit!
How To Style
A mini jean skirt paired with a jean barret is very High School Musical, and I think, also very gay. Paired with some 2000s-inspired brown boots and a colorful top, you have absolutely elevated a simple look. A skirt wrap or skirts over pants are also a really cool way to have fun with this look in a more covered-up way. A black and white outfit can be queer-coded; colors aren’t necessary if that’s not your thing! A mini army green skirt paired with a colorful belt and a layered tank is another really fab and gay way to wear a mini skirt. Bonus points if the tank top features Nana, an anime show about two young women who meet and become roommates… that’s not gay at all. Shop the look at Steve Madden, Cos, Prada, and Gap.
Rainbows and Bows
Flower sweater, Gray bow skirt, Pink bow, Studded shoes, and Studded bag.
Bows made it back to the scene in 2023, but mostly as a part of straight fashion. Hyper-feminine looks are definitely a part of LGBTQ+ culture, but bows were mostly associated with the clean girl, cutesy aesthetic. I think now that they are out of style a bit, lesbians will adopt it as part of a new trend. Bows are typically a symbol of femininity, and what better way to say you are a woman who likes other women than using a symbol of femininity?
How To Style
There’s so much that can be done with bows! You can sew or clip them onto any outfit already in your closet, or take this as an opportunity to go shopping. Bows on plaid oxfords, on jeans, on a cami, on skirts, in your hair! It can be dressed up with color, or it can be kept simple yet feminine. Bow-ify your closet with looks from Lirika Matoshi, Urban Outfitters, Valentino, and Nhuhn.
