This fall, Toronto’s fashion scene is stepping into a season of subtle sophistication and reinvention, from elevated basics to structured outerwear. Local style enthusiasts say the city’s wardrobe is getting a refresh, one neutral palette and textured layer at a time.
Now Toronto spoke with two fashion content creators to get their take on what Torontonians will be wearing as fall fashion takes over the city. And for them, the style trends this autumn are less about chasing fast-moving fads and more about how the pieces make people feel confident, comfortable and just a little bit bold.
QUIET LUXURY, NEUTRALS AND THE RETURN OF SUEDE
For lifestyle creator Parmis Najmi, this fall’s look is defined by “quiet luxury meets comfort.”
“I know a lot of earthy tones are really in. Those deeper brown tones I’ve been seeing a lot. I know last year chestnut was more in but I’ve been seeing a lot of deep browns. But yeah, just overall, quiet, luxury, cozy. I feel like that’s kind of the vibe that people are leaning towards,” she told Now Toronto.
Najmi, who blends wellness, beauty and fashion in her content, gravitates towards muted tones, pastels, and earthy shades, creating a style she describes as “chic with a hint of trendy.”
A standout texture this season, according to her, is suede.
“I love suede. I feel like I’ve been seeing that a lot, especially in bags. I think suede is the main thing right now,” she said.
Ballerina flats have also made a major comeback as an in-between shoe from the hotter months into the colder season.
“I know it’s a great transition shoe from summer to fall, because it’s still closed-toe, but it definitely gives it a little bit of breathability if you’re wearing like a nice long coat and some trousers.”
Leather also remains a fall staple for Najmi.
“Leather has always been trending in the fall time. I feel like it’s the one material that really indicates, Ok, we’re heading into the colder months, so definitely leather as well. But I think leather is a little bit more timeless, and you’ll probably find it every fall,” she said.
As temperatures drop, structure and quality take the spotlight, and for Najmi, the key is a neutral-based outfit layered with a statement coat.
“I love investing in outerwear. I think that is kind of the statement of my outfits in the fall and even transitioning into the winter, you know, so really focusing on quality is my thing. And structure. I think the structure of your coats is so important,” she explained.
She encourages anyone defining their fall style to prioritize fit and texture rather than logos or loud branding.
“If the structure, fit, and quality are not up to par, then one aspect of the outfit will definitely speak louder than the other.”
TAILORED, TEXTURED, AND WESTERN-INSPIRED
While some are leaning into cozy minimalism, style specialist and content creator Myles Sexton is seeing something more daring happening on Toronto’s streets.
“There’s a lot of deconstruction of suiting right now,” Sexton told Now Toronto.
“We’re getting away from those boxy ‘80s kind of silhouettes into something with an hourglass silhouette when it comes to suiting. So, we’re still getting a strong shoulder, but it’s like a really tailored weight, and then a bit more of an accentuated hip, or a relaxed hip, or just really interesting ways of reinventing suiting. And we’re seeing that worn even more, not just to the office, but I think, more in street fashion, which is really cool to see.”
Denim is also back in a big way, with denim-on-denim and western references making their way into both menswear and womenswear.
“I think it’s interesting to see that there’s such a western influence in fashion right now, which I personally love. And I think it’s just sort of the idea of hard and soft. So, I think these sort of soft silhouettes where we’re seeing like silky fabric lingerie worn as street wear, mixed with a hard, like bomber jacket, or varsity jacket, or, you know, a leather jacket,” they said.
For their own wardrobe, Sexton is leaning into cropped outerwear and barrel jeans, paired with combat boots — a nod to the boots’ recent resurgence.
“Last year, I purchased a cropped trench coat and I feel like I’ve been grabbing that quite a bit lately as the weather starts getting cooler,” they said.
Satin, an unexpected start of the season, is also making its way into colder-weather wardrobes.
“A lot of satin for the fall, which I think is normally more like a spring-summer sort of fabric. But I feel like I’m seeing a lot of that.”
HOW SOCIAL MEDIA IS SHAPING THE SEASON
Sexton also says that social media plays a major role in how Torontonians approach fashion this season.
“People are just looking for inspiration from a lot of content creators or pop culture as reference points. Social media is such a powerful tool for inspiring people,” Sexton said.
“I think it’s really cool because we’re kind of in this moment where I feel like people are being more adventurous with their passion, and especially when it comes to menswear. It makes me so excited to see that people are feeling more confident and comfortable to express themselves through fashion, and not feel like they need to fit inside a societal mold.”
While trends may circulate online, inspiration is often found offline. For Sexton, recent travels to Turkey, Jordan, and Sweden have shaped their approach to layering, colour, and fabric.
“I think it’s just been really inspiring to take some inspiration from what I’m seeing other people wearing and different silhouettes and colours and playing with sort of textures and bringing that into my style,” they said.
Whether it’s neutral minimalism, bold suiting reinvention, or mixing textures in unexpected ways, Toronto’s fall fashion moment is about expression — not perfection.
“Start with a very neutral base, whether it be like creams or a full on black neutral base,” Najmi advises.
“The coat is kind of what makes the outfit. A very basic base, black or white, and then a good quality structured coat.”
