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While designers released their Spring 2023 collections at New York Fashion Week, Free People unveiled its Fall 2022 collection on the city’s streets. The celeb-loved brand tapped a viral, street style photographer, Johnny Cirillo, to help showcase its eclectic-yet-cool collection of cold-weather pieces.
If you’re a fan of street style, you’ve probably seen Cirillo’s Instagram account, @watchingnewyork, where he snaps and posts pedestrians’ outfits. He has the magical ability to make any outfit look straight off the runway, and for this project, he cast New York creatives such as writers, makeup artists, and tattoo artists as his models. Cirillo revealed on Instagram that the Free People’s team told the talent to “dress however you’d like,” and the results are spectacularly singular but still on-trend.
Sliding through his post, you’ll discover outfits as unique as each model. But upon closer look, you’ll notice almost every outfit features a few key pieces: layered necklaces, a statement coat, cowboy boots, and lots of leather (and vegan leather). These stylist-approved items also happen to fall on our list of top fashion trends to wear this fall, and everyone from celebrities to chefs will be sporting them all season long.
These unlikely trends may seem difficult to style, but thankfully, Free People’s campaign is full of inspiration and helpful advice. To keep things simple, we chose our five favorite outfits for fall from the collection. See the looks below, and shop Free People’s entire Fall ‘22 Collection here.
Instagram / @watchingnewyork
Cowboy boots aren’t the only Western touch you should consider adding to your fall wardrobe. Fringe is always fun, and Harlem-based model Mei Li knows the trick to pulling off any bold look. In conversation with Cirillio, she shared, “It’s nice to have someone in your corner just letting you figure out who you are growing up, so when you’re older, you can grab random pieces that ‘might not work.’ But who cares? You’ll wear it with confidence, and that will look good.”
It helps that she complemented this suede jacket with stylist-approved vegan leather pants and a sheer bodysuit.
Get the look:
Wild Skies Fringe Jacket
Shop now: $648; freepeople.com
Light Year Bodysuit
Shop now: $58; freepeople.com
Star-Crossed Lovers Vegan Straight-Leg Pants
Shop now: $98; freepeople.com
Sienna Ankle Boots
Shop now: $198; freepeople.com
Depths Of The Sea Layered Necklace
Shop now: $38; freepeople.com
Model Alexis Sundman doesn’t consider herself the most fashionable, but we’d beg to differ. She modernized Free People’s Penny Lane-inspired coat by wearing it with leather pants, an embellished boho bag, and the pointiest suede ankle boots. Her white tee and chunky layered necklace kept the outfit laid-back and an easy go-to for happy hour or nights out.
Get the look:
Lady Lane Faux Fur Collar Jacket
Shop now: $298; freepeople.com
Flashback Tee
Shop now: $38; freepeople.com
Talk Of The Town Vegan Moto Pants
Shop now: $148; freepeople.com
Point Me West Ankle Boots
Shop now: $258; freepeople.com
Vic Velvet Slouchy Back
Shop now: $158; freepeople.com
Can’t Stand the Rain Layered Necklace
Shop now: $48; freepeople.com
Finlay Manyan may be young, but he’s already wise beyond his years. Cirillo asked the rising star for his best fashion tip. The model’s response? “Everything is cool,” he said. “Nothing is uncool, period.” That extends to breaking conventional fashion rules, like not wearing white after Labor Day. He styled a cream baseball cap, corduroy pants, and sneakers with a gold sequined faux fur coat, a look perfectly balanced between subtle and standing out.
Get the look:
Cowboy Baseball Hat
Shop now: $38; freepeople.com
Kiana Jacket
Shop now: $648; freepeople.com
Harlow Wide-Leg Cord Jeans
Shop now: $148; freepeople.com
Chuck Taylor All Star Hi Top Converse Sneakers
Shop now: $65; freepeople.com
Tara Thomas, a vegan chef and consultant based in Brooklyn, is always on the go, so she chose pieces suited for all-day wear: a pair of Free People cowboy boots with a low heel and an easy-to-access sling bag. Her outfit features excellent transitional pieces for fall, including a plaid mini skirt, leather jacket, and lightweight cap.
Get the look:
Jealousy Leather Moto Jacket
Shop now: $698; freepeople.com
Your Fave Baby Tee
Shop now: $30; freepeople.com
Bali Thai Plaid Mini Skirt
Shop now: $128; freepeople.com
Encore Checkered Tights
Shop now: $30; freepeople.com
Sterling Western Tall Boots
Shop now: $298; freepeople.com
Phoebe Slouchy Lieutenant Cap
Shop now: $38; freepeople.com
Wade Leather Sling
Shop now: $88; freepeople.com
Hold off on stuffing your summer dresses into storage because writer and art director Michelle Li proves seasonal pieces have a longer shelf life when layered strategically. This lesson even applies to pastel and flowy pieces. Her light pink outfit mixes lace trimmings with cozy faux fur for an unexpected fall pairing we’ll be trying all season.
Get the look:
Calloway Dress
Shop now: $198; freepeople.com
All That Coat
Shop now: $328; freepeople.com
Walk This Way Vegan Slouchy Tall Boots
Shop now: $150; freepeople.com
With Love From Texas Bolo
Shop now: $40; freepeople.com
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