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I have just returned from spending five days in the future. The mornings were coated with a crisp chill, rain showers soaked the pavement in the afternoons, and the sun broke through the clouds just in time for golden hour. If you’re double-checking your calendar, don’t worry, it’s still August—but in Amsterdam, it feels like the middle of Autumn. The future, in this case, was my reality for four wonderful days of strolling down canal-lined streets.
As an avid Weather app user, I packed my suitcase as best as possible for the unpredictable climate. Thin cotton nightgowns (to be worn as day dresses), cashmere sweaters, and a leather collar trench were all equally deserving of my closet space in Amsterdam’s famous Pulitzer hotel.
Fall fashion is my favorite, so I welcomed the opportunity to dress beyond the unrelenting humidity I’m still experiencing in New York City. In preparation for the season, my TikTok FYP, Pinterest, and IG explore pages have been inundated with suede bucket bags, barn jackets, and dark-wash denim.
Despite my dedication to digital trend forecasting, nothing came close to the experience of getting to see fall trends IRL on the Dutch fashion set. I returned from my trip with newfound excitement to style the pieces I already have in my closet, a specific fall shopping wishlist, and a strong craving for Stroop waffles.
Outfit Optimism
Since the weather constantly fluctuates, the Amsterdam locals apply a baseline of sensibility to their outfits. Sweaters peeked out of oversized tote bags and every footwear choice was suitable for an unexpected rain shower or long bike ride. There was a clear throughline in every look: outfit optimism. You might sweat in the sun or get soaked—either way, the outfit will still be fantastic.
Outfit optimism lies somewhere in between dopamine dressing (AKA wearing what makes you feel happy) and strict functionality. It’s cautious optimism, but optimism nonetheless.
For example:
- Colorful sneakers are an outfit requirement. Based on my personal survey of footwear, Salomon and Adidas are the locals’ brands of choice. I left the hotel in velvet ballet flats, walked for five minutes, and turned back to put my Salomon sneakers on—I was thankful I made the switch when it started unexpectedly pouring rain an hour later.
- For women, your hemline is as short as you want your commute to be. Poplin boxers and Adidas soccer shorts replaced trendy maxi skirts and for good reason—long flowy skirts are not as bike-friendly. But don’t confuse the look for athleisure, ruffled collar blouses are still the top of choice.
- Mary Poppins might be the biggest handbag influencer. A purse, or in this case a tote, must fit a functional layer, an umbrella, and a bike lock. A local friend of mine brought a second shirt option in her tote bag to lunch at Kiki’s (order the burger) just in case she “hated her outfit or got cold.” Spoiler: her outfit was perfect, but she ended up wearing a sweater.
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Transitional Dressing
When it comes to getting dressed, I typically dread the period between late August and early October. It’s too late in the season to wear my bright collection of sundresses, but the weather doesn’t accommodate my collection of wool coats just yet. Because of this dilemma, I usually stick to safe transitional outfits like jeans and a T-shirt (boring!).
The Dutch, however, are professional transitional dressers—they make the change of seasons look fun and easy. The art of transitional dressing in Amsterdam is rooted in juxtaposition. Instead of choosing neutral between-season pieces, they geniously paired unexpected items from each season together. The result was playful, practical, and in some cases editorial.
There was no particular demographic that was best-dressed in Amsterdam—everyone seemed to get the fashion memo. I turned my head to get a second look at an elderly woman’s outfit at a street market, I snapped a pic of the man in front of me in line at a coffee shop, and I stared at a woman’s stunning cowboy boots at a wine bar. I took street style photos of so many well-dressed locals and saved them to an inspiration folder on my phone and tried my own hand at transitional dressing.
Outfit formulas of note:
- Short striped boxer shorts + an oversized chunky sweater + knee-high leather boots + vintage sunglasses
- A lady jacket + matching slacks + a large woven summer market bag
- Track pants + ruffled blouse + colorful sneakers
- Short dress + suede or leather jacket + loafers + tall socks
Fall Forecasting
The sales associate at de Bijenkorf, a swanky department store in the center of Amsterdam, immediately pegged me as a tourist (was I that obvious?!). As I debated the merits of a reversible yellow and camel Max & Co. wool coat, she kindly informed me that even though it was chilly that morning, it would be too hot to wear the coat later in the day. I assured her the purchase was intended for future dreary New York City days and we both agreed that I should buy it.
The coat met the requirements of the fashion lessons I had learned in Amsterdam. It is warm and practical. It is modern but not necessarily trendy so it won’t go out of style—and to fuel my individualism complex, it’s not available for purchase in the United States. Sold!
While I still plan on wearing every basic fall trend on the internet, my trip inspired me to do so with more creativity. I won’t be packing up my shorts just yet and I’ll try styling my abundance of floral blouses to expand their lifeline through the fall season. Buying a new pair of boots has gone down a priority level on my shopping list because I now need to up my sneaker game.
If you’re making a trip to Amsterdam, pack sporty, pack playful, and don’t go outside without an umbrella.
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