3 Fall Trends You’re Wearing Wrong — And How to Fix Them
Fall fashion is having a main character moment—but too many of us are stuck playing extras. The season practically begs you to layer, clash, and show up with mood. But somewhere between TikTok hauls and mall mannequin mimicry, the magic gets… lost in the pile.
We’re not here to judge—we’re here to stage an intervention. Because you can pull off that oversized blazer. You can rock layered knits and play with texture. You just need to unlearn a few habits first.
And for those of you ready to do the work? We made you a starter kit.
Mistake #1: Grunge, But Make It Too Obvious
Let’s set the scene: ripped tights, plaid skirt, moto jacket, Doc knockoffs, and a band tee you found in the men’s section at H&M. Alone, they’re solid pieces. Together, it’s giving AI-generated outfit inspo.
Grunge was never about overdoing it. It’s about not caring, or at least looking like you don’t. Scroll through @dirtymartiniclub on TikTok or @naninvintage on IG—real grunge is soft chaos, not cosplay.
Zara’s recent Fall edit has the aesthetic dialed back: slouchy wide-leg pants, sheer knits, and just one beat-up leather jacket to pull it together. Less is the new rebellion.
Your Fix:
Write it out. Seriously. Our Grunge Guidelines Journal was designed for this moment. It’s a faux-handwritten field guide to what not to wear—complete with ink smudges, barbed wire hearts, and style sins you won’t make twice. Scribble, sketch, course-correct. Think of it as a soft reboot for your wardrobe.
Mistake #2: Layers That Look Like a Retail Display
We get it. The TikTok girlies made you believe “layering season” was just neutrals stacked on neutrals. But if your entire outfit could be sold as a pre-styled flatlay, you’ve missed the point.
Fall layering should feel lived in, like you’re piling it on between coffee runs and house shows—not assembling a capsule wardrobe for a #vanlife post.
Look at @wisdm on Instagram—his combos are relaxed and slightly offbeat, mixing varsity jackets with knits, or layering tanks over long sleeves with no apologies. Meanwhile, Urban Outfitters is pushing contrast textures like corduroy bombers with sheer thermals, or denim on quilted fleece.
Your Fix:
Top it off with something that breaks the system a little. The Cordsmiff Logo Beanie is the kind of piece that looks like you forgot to try—aka perfect. Toss it on over a hoodie, a jacket, or both. It adds the right kind of “bad layer day” energy that Instagram’s clean-girl aesthetic forgot.
Mistake #3: Copying Trends Instead of Owning Them
Fall’s trend cycle is fast, and it’s tempting to just buy into the current flavor—cottagecore, club collegiate, gritty glam—but if your whole vibe comes from a Pinterest board, it shows. And not in a cute way.
ASOS, Abercrombie, and even Free People are all in on trend mashups this season, and the smart ones are making it personal. It’s not about looking like you belong to a trend—it’s about choosing pieces that support the one you’ve already started.
TikTok’s @alyssainthecity leans into this like a pro—she’ll take an Abercrombie sweater vest and style it with thrifted trousers and a pair of totally unexpected New Balances. It’s hers, not just the store’s.
Your Fix:
Start with a piece that feels like your personality—like the Witchy Botanical Scarf. It’s mystical, slightly chaotic, and quietly confident. Drape it over a corduroy jacket, knot it at the neck, or twist it around a messy bun. Whatever you do, make it yours. Because fashion isn’t about dressing like everyone else—it’s about showing what’s underneath the trend.
Ready to rehab your fall fits?
Grab the Cordsmiff Fall Fix Kit—featuring the Grunge Guidelines Journal, Logo Beanie, and Witchy Botanical Scarf—before someone you follow tells you how to dress next.
🛒 Shop the Cordsmiff Fall Forecast Drop
📲 Tag us on IG or TikTok with #cordsmifffixkit for a chance to be featured
Let’s mess it up the right way.
