Color And Style Trends To Rock This Fall

August 31, 2020 author By Ann Loynd Burton Fashion Writer
Color And Style Trends To Rock This Fall
Color And Style Trends To Rock This Fall

Let’s be honest—2020 has been a heavy year. Thankfully, fall fashion isn’t taking itself too seriously. The latest color and material trends lighten the mood in an array of kitschy patterns, matching sets, and understated hues. Here’s how to work them into your wardrobe, stat.

All-Over Prints

Patterns are back in full force, and the latest offerings run the gamut from serious animal prints to grungy plaids and tongue-in-cheek motifs. Stock up on some of each to be ready for Zoom board meetings, socially distanced brunches, and everything in between.

Matchy, Matchy

Sweatsuits were the champ of quarantine, and they’ve inspired some more fashionable monochromatic predecessors. Think winterized fleece sets, ombré track suits, and sophisticated sweaters with complementing joggers.

Shades Of Red

Red is having a moment, but we aren’t talking your typical crimson. Instead, look for hues of burgundy, rust, and even berry-toned pinks.

Muted Tones

After the year we’ve had, it’s time to shed that tough exterior and embrace subtler themes. Streetwear is delivering with faded gray cotton staples and hoodies, tees, and pants in every shade of beige. Rock head-to-toe neutrals for a sophisticated look or pair with an aforementioned printed top to make a statement.

Shop the collection here.

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Meet Brain Dead: A Brand Doing Counter-Culture Right

Based in Los Angeles, Brain Dead invites artists and designers around the world to contribute to its line of graphic-led apparel. Styles nod to post-punk, underground comics, skateboarding, and “the spirit of subculture as a whole.” But while many brands claim to represent counter-culture, Brain Dead founders Kyle Ng and Ed Davis are actually walking the walk. Brain Dead’s most recent collection takes cues from climbing. Keeping It Real Before starting their brand in 2014, Ng and Davis hit it off thanks to their collective love for music, art, comics, and skate culture. That passion has allowed them to grow the brand for the past six years across two continents (Ng and Davis are based in Los Angeles and Melbourne, Australia, respectively). Perhaps what’s made it so seamless is that the duo are both immersed in the culture they represent. They grew up in the DIY movement of scouring dusty secondhand shops for hardcore records and hard-to-find comics. “Counter culture seems almost as mainstream as Taylor Swift,” Ng said in a 2016 interview. “We find inspiration from places that people won’t expect, but it’s natural to us.” Those unexpected places span old comics to LP covers, graffiti, vintage concert tees, graphic internet finds, and real-life people wearing it all. Authentic Activism Brain Dead’s immersive, authentic, culture extends to real-time issues, and the brand was quick to respond to the Black Lives Matter movement on a local and global level. In the days after the first Los Angeles protests, Ng hit the streets to help clean up, particularly around the city’s streetwear retailers. But above all else, he told Complex’s Mike Destefeano, he wanted to use his platform to amplify the message behind the protests.   He reached out to Blood Orange’s Dev Hynes to design and produce a T-shirt that read “If you love Black culture, protect Black lives,” raising $500,000 in just a few days for M4BL and the LGBTQ Foundation Fund. Other projects followed raising nearly an additional $300,000. Plus, Brain Dead’s nimble structure allows Ng to quickly respond to criticism, like when fans questioned a local manufacturer donating T-shirts. “I think the main thing, for me, is to show humanity. Look, we're not perfect,” he said. “I'm not going to just say that like every other fucking brand statement, but I want to act on it.” That down-to-earth mindset is what makes the brand so relatable. Ng and Davis are able to cultivate passion projects that benefit the community on a large and small scale by partnering with brands like Reebok and The North Face. Up next is a climbing shoe to benefit underprivileged children. “With every project we're doing, it’s, ‘How can I incorporate ways to help out and give back and build upon what's happening?’” Ng added. “The people have now empowered us. We don't need collaborations to make money a lot of times, so let's just benefit people who do need money and support.” Shop the entire Brain Dead collection in Complex SHOP. Read more

Stash Pockets: Utility Pants For Fall

These days, just going to the grocery store is an Everest-like expedition. Whenever you leave the house, you need to be more prepared than usual. Thankfully, this season’s trendiest pants are ready for anything, and they have enough pockets to stash as much hand sanitizer as you can carry. The look is equally utilitarian, in neutral colors like black, khaki, and army green that go with anything. We’ve rounded up our favorite silhouettes and how to style them for fall. Precious Cargo Like many of our favorite trends from the early aughts (looking at you, bucket hats), cargo pants are back and better than ever. The 2020 version is less dad on vacation and more construction-chic. Take Heron Preston’s collaboration with Caterpillar, for example. Think work-ready materials in functional silhouettes that look just as good on and off the job. Functional Fabrics Often reflected in old-school silhouettes like track pants, today’s materials are anything but a throwback. Enter innovative fabrics like polyamide, known for its durability and strength. You’ll also find classic ripstop and newer introductions like Vislon zippers, crafted from injected plastic elements to be lighter than comparable metal zippers. Basically, whether you’re taking on the elements or the concrete jungle, these pants will hold up. Zips & Clips It’s never been a better time to be hands free. So along with your Airpods, you’re going to need these pants. Look for details like key clips, snap hooks, and braided straps to keep your goods secure. Plus, zippers everywhere hold things in place while also adding a hardcore edge. Shop the collection here. Read more

Neighborhood Spot: Graphic Tees for a Greater Good

Complex SHOP is kicking off a wide-reaching and ongoing partnership with Neighborhood Spot to help support local NYC small businesses and charities during this dire pandemic period. The story of Neighborhood Spot, and its resilient and resourceful founder, William Grand, bears all the markings of a quintessential NYC narrative. Growing up in the city, Grand dabbled in the skateboard and punk rock scene and admittedly owned “too many” t-shirts. He eventually bought a one-color press to make tees with a friend, and grew it into a small business with a studio on Eldridge & Canal Street. Fast forward to 2012, William’s career evolved into DJing and spinning records in Japan and t-shirts took a back seat. Then 2020 rolled around, Covid hit and everything changed. “Many of my friends had businesses that were affected,” he says. “I now had zero work, so I thought this was the perfect time to get back to t-shirts, but with the intention of giving proceeds back to help these businesses navigate shutdown.” Instead of waiting for help from someone else or even the state, Grand took the initiative and got to work. “One hand washes the other and both wash the face,” he says. “The government is a faulty faucet.” The first drop of the Complex SHOP X Neighborhood Spot partnership consists of t-shirts made for several businesses and charities including: Army & Navy Bags, Regina's Grocery, Cheeky Sandwiches, Takahachi, Green Top Farms, the Harriet Tubman Museum, NYC Food Bank, and more. All profits from the sale of each t-shirt will be donated to the respective business or charity. Included also in this drop are 2 exclusive colorways that can only be found on the Complex SHOP.   View this post on Instagram It’s HERE! Complex SHOP welcomes @NeighborhoodSpot in an ongoing partnership to help support local NYC small businesses and charities during this COVID-19 pandemic period. All the profits will be donated to the respective NYC spots. Pick up a tee and show #NYC some love @armynavybag @reginasgrocery @cheekysandwiches @greentopfarms @harriettubmanmuseum @foodbank4nyc @takachieastvillage @warriorsinthegarden and @btfacollective . #complexshop #iloveNY Credits: T-shirts designed by: @neighborhoodspot @roachi @jakexkent Appearances by: @henryyao3 @romangrandinetti @jacknyi @roachi & Din Yates Video footage: @newyorknico Video edits: @complex A post shared by Complex SHOP (@complexshop) on Sep 16, 2020 at 7:57am PDT   Below is the list of the different NYC spots featured in the first t-shirt drop with Complex. Regina’s Grocery is a cute, Lower East Side, family-owned gem that offers authentic Italian treats like the delicious, prosciutto and fresh mozzarella sandwich dubbed Uncle Jimmy. William Grand: “Regina’s Grocery was one of the first on board. I’ve been friends with Roman Grandinetti for over 10 years and we actually shared that studio space on Eldridge St. Plus his mom, Regina, is a sweetheart.” Army & Navy Bags on East Houston is a downtown NYC landmark, and the place to go for finding the best military and surplus clothing. The store has been around for over 40 years, and its manager Henry is one of the nicest New Yorkers you’ll ever meet. WG: “Army & Navy bags has been my go-to spot for winter gear over the years and the owner Henry Yao is the nicest guy. So when Nico revealed his business was struggling we put it together quickly with Roachi and Co.”   Cheeky Sandwiches is a New-Orleans style sandwich joint on the Lower East Side that makes up for its diminutive square footage with tons of bold, unforgettable flavor. For lovers of cajun spices, Cheeky’s is a must-vist. WG: “I've known Din Yates at Cheeky Sandwiches for over 10 years. He's the best dude and the chicken sandwich with a side of beignets is a piece of food coma heaven.” Takahachi is a no-frills East Village sushi spot that’s popular with both the local regulars and the cool celebrity set. Its owner Jack and his team are known for using only the finest quality ingredients and never cutting any corners. WG: “Takahachi was also one of the very first on board in March. Anyone who knows Jack, loves him, he's a positive staple in the neighborhood.”   Green Top Farms is a local NYC establishment specializing in fresh, farm-to-table, locally-grown food. They also deliver healthy plant-based meals and wholesome groceries. WG: “I aligned with Green Top Farms through the best NY shirt contest in April. Proceeds from Kyle Earl’s shirt benefited the farm and we ran some goods for them.” WG: “NY Gritty from Roachi was another one I met through the best NY shirt contest. We helped bring his incredible design to life and he's been a massive help to Neighborhood Spot ever since. Proceeds from these support the NYC-based Warriors In The Garden.” WG: “Tubman Twenties was based off an existing stamp made by Dano Wall after this inept administration delayed the release of the real Tubman $20’s until 2028. There's a new Harriet Tubman Museum in Cape May NJ and we're channeling all the proceeds to help them finish building. WG: “NYC Rent Relief Lottery was an idea I had just before August 1st to help pay a NY'ers rent with proceeds from this ongoing capsule. Many businesses are struggling but so are a lot of New Yorkers.” WG: “Loving you is easy... is designed by Jake Kent. He already printed these in Berlin but I saw it, loved it, and reached out to bring these to life in the US and outside Europe. We're channeling funds to the Black Trans Emergency Fund in the US and KOP in Berlin.” For the future, Grand plans to connect with more businesses in NYC before expanding to other cities around the world. “There are countless places within the 5 boroughs, but our focus is on the family-owned gems that are the real DNA of each neighborhood.”. Now that you’re familiar with all these spots & charities, pick up a tee and show NYC some love. Shop the entire Neighborhood Spot drop here. Read more