9 Ways to Ensure Your Vegan Fall Wardrobe Makes You Look Hella Cute

The days are getting shorter and the temperatures are dropping, which means we are well into autumn. Though our mornings might be a bit on the chilly side, there is an abundance of fun seasonal fashions we can wear to brighten our sun-free days. Though cozy sweaters and cold-weather clothes have traditionally been made from vegan unfriendly textiles such as wool, cashmere, and leather, vegans today have a gorgeous variety of cruelty-free options from which to choose. Here are nine of our favorite cruelty-free garments that we’ll be adding to our closets this fall.

1. Billowy blouses
Fall 2017 fashion runways (including those of Valentino, John Galliano, and Kenzo) featured lavish, romantic, and billowy blouses. Though not all of these collections are vegan-friendly, we can recreate this same look with cruelty-free pieces. Isabel Marant Étoile offers the gorgeous flowing Welby Fluid Ruffle Cupro blouse in black and a neutral off-white, while Cupro is a vegan plant-based fiber that look and feels like silk.

2. Playing with plaids
W Magazine declared plaid to be “Fall’s Must-Have Print,” but so many of those pieces are crafted from wool. What’s a vegan to do? Never fear, as there are plenty of plaids available for those of us who don’t want animals to suffer for the sake of our outfits. Click on over to the Ann Taylor website for a stylish and sharp Ankle Pant in Plaid in a lovely shade of fall-friendly blue made from cruelty-free fabrics.

3. A little bit of sparkle
Nothing brightens a gray day like some glitter, which is on trend this season, as Elle deemed glittering boots a fall must-have. We found a fun, sparkly vegan bootie called the Savrita Pointy Toe Booties from Nine West in Black/Silver Ombre Glitter (note: not all colors are vegan). These jazzy accessories work well for evening but also deliver some glitz to a casual jeans-and-sweater outfit.

4. Luxurious velvets
We heard that velvets were a hot item this season, so we’re excited to find a gorgeous green velvet dress that works as well for a night out as it does for an autumn Sunday brunch. The garment’s long sleeves and heavy weight make it perfect for staving off the fall chill, while combining two looks seen on the season’s runways: high collars and lush velvets. Made from rayon and nylon, this über-romantic piece is getting a lot of play from us this season.

5. Sweater dressing
This season, it’s all about brightly colored oversized sweaters and fitted striped pieces. With this in mind, we found an oversized (and cozy!) sweater made from animal-free fibers designed by Free People. Called the Swim Too Deep Turtleneck Sweater, this deluxe knitted top is available in strong colors such as terracotta and navy, which are perfectly attuned to this year’s trend. Free People also offers colorful options for those sought-after stripes with their Show Off Your Stripes Sweater.

6. The classic cable
As much as we love fall trends, some pieces never go out of style. Case in point: the classic cable-knit sweater. However, cable-knit pieces often are crafted from wool, which is why we love that VAUTE has created a classic Aran sweater with cables made from recycled cotton. We predict that this vegan sweater will play a starring role in our fall wardrobes for years to come.

7. Radical red
There’s no denying red is a favorite this season. And why not? Red is a classic color worn to signify love, power, celebration, and passion by different people in different cultures. Because of this, we’re loving the cherry-red “Uma” dress that highlights curves and helps heat up those damp fall days.

8. Fabulous fall florals
Designers sent gorgeous colorful florals down runways for the fall season, reminding us that there are truly no rules when it comes to fashion. The all-vegan “Floral Mock Neck Dress” from Ann Taylor makes us feel a little bit like we’ve stepped off the runway and into a vintage Disney movie. And we love it.

9. Out and proud vegan
Cosmopolitan proclaimed that message-wear is of-the-moment high fashion for fall 2017. Well, we vegans know all about t-shirts that bear our favorite slogans. Chances are, we already have a few such shirts in our wardrobes, but in case you don’t, head to your favorite nonprofit’s online shop, such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (or a vegan store such as Grape Cat) for shirts with messages like “Tofu Saves Lives” or “Ferocious Vegan” and shop until it’s spring.

Maya Gottfried is the author of Vegan Love: Dating and Partnering for the Cruelty-Free Gal and Our Farm: By the Animals of Farm Sanctuary.