Fall is a season anyone can look forward to. The leaves change, it gets colder and everyone’s favorite flavor – pumpkin spice – is back on the market. Every year, there is the new hottest trend for every season. It could be a recycled trend brought back, or it might be a totally new concept. As you embrace this fall season, there are a variety of trends that everyone should know about.
More Than a Pumpkin Patch
There are so many different things to do during the fall. One of the most popular activities is going to a pumpkin patch. But you might want to change things up a bit and take a chance to explore something different. Activities like apple picking, thrifting, visiting haunted houses and going on ghost tours are just a few of the many trends you can enjoy and take part in this year.
If you are looking to enjoy things from the comfort of your own home, try a new recipe. You might want to make things like pumpkin bread, chai lattes, caramel apples, pumpkin seeds and even a pie. Take a scroll on Pinterest and the recipes are endless.
“I think baking is a lot of fun and kind of relaxing,” English teacher Rachel Giles-Bachman said. She explained how she has fun going to apple orchards with her husband to pick apples, and later bake with them. This has become a yearly tradition for her and her husband, so it could be this easy to start a tradition of your own.
Imagine getting home from the apple orchard and deciding to try a new recipe. The smell of a freshly baked apple pie and warm cinnamon fills your home. The warm glow of sunlight hitting the orange and yellow leaves brings the perfect cozy light into your home. You bundle up wrapped in blankets with a homemade chai in hand and get ready for a horror movie marathon. Invite some friends over, or you can have just as much fun on your own.
Another way to enjoy fall from your own home is pumpkin carving or painting. This can be a really fun activity to do with family or friends. It’s never too difficult, and any age can participate. Collect the seeds from the pumpkin and try cooking them with cinnamon and salt to make delicious seeds that you can eat. Even creating fall themed decorations for your home can be festive and relaxing. You could paint decorations, make things with paper mache, create pumpkin-shaped sun catchers and even do some research on your own to find the many more crafts and DIYs you can make.
Brown, Beige and Everything Vintage
The fashion trends of this year are endless. From chunky jewelry to sleek leather boots, there is always something in between that can spark an interest in anyone. A huge trend this year is thrifting. Instead of buying brand new for high prices, many people are finding their style through thrifting. This also relates to the fact that so many trends from years ago are being brought back now. Things like low-rise pants and jeans, chunky gold jewelry, faux leather or fur jackets and comfy oversized sweaters are making a major comeback this year. The clothing brand Hollister participated in this trend revival and had an entire 2000’s themed clothing launch. New trends brought to 2025, though, are sparking interest in a lot of students at Kaneland.
“Even though I would probably never wear it, I like the fall-type boots, like long boots with leather jackets,” freshman Quinn Adams said.
There are many different outfit combinations, ideas and concepts among teens, and everyone has a different opinion. Fashion isn’t all about fitting in – it’s about what’s comfortable for you and what makes you happy.
“My perfect idea of a fall outfit would be a warm sweater, jeans and my Uggs,” freshman Emily Craft said.
New trends, such as off-the-shoulder tops, Adidas shoes, Uggs, lace, tote bags and toned down colors, are huge this year. Browns, beige, white, maroon and orange are the majority of the color combinations you will see in an average outfit, but bright colors are in fact rolling into this year too. Patterns like polka dots, leopard print and stripes also have a pretty big part in clothing at this time of year.
Fall in Flavors
The classic pumpkin spice is in season, and this is something almost everyone looks forward to, as well as a classic warm or chilled apple cider from a local farm. Every year, Starbucks releases their fall menus with something new each time. Classics like the pumpkin spice latte always return, but some people have a different take on their favorites.
“I think my favorite fall Starbucks drink would for sure be the apple macchiato,” Giles-Bachman said.
Another popular favorite is the iced pumpkin cream chai. Both Adams and Craft had the same opinion that an iced pumpkin cream chai is their favorite seasonal drink from Starbucks. Beyond just flavor, these drinks bring a sense of warmth and comfort that many associate with fall traditions.
It isn’t hard to imagine the steam flowing from your cup that is filled with warm apple cider as you continue walking through the pumpkin patch with your friends. All of you are coordinating with thick sweaters, jeans and uggs. You sip away the apple cider and notice how the world around you has completely changed, all because of the shift in seasons.
Different desserts and foods can appeal to different people, and making them could be a fun challenge to try to make them yourself. There are so many different pies, cookies and soups to try. Fall is associated with warmth and coziness, so all these foods contribute to this ambiance, keeping things full of flavor with cinnamon, pumpkin, apples and warm soups. Looking up different recipes and even discovering recipes kept in your family could start a new tradition.
As the leaves turn colors and the weather gets colder, find warmth within yourself and keep up with the trends through fashion, foods, drinks and spending time enjoying yourself with the people you love.
