Cooler weather ushers in earthy fabrics and hues

By Allison McCrory / Photos by Kate Treick Photography

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Shopping list: Jackets are big news this fall! Add quilting and classic neutral tones that will team with black, chocolate and winter white and you have a winner. Monika jacket, $398; Just Black denim jeans, $98; Tyler Boe turtleneck, $110.

“Jackets — lots and lots of jackets.”

That is the top fall fashion newsmaker, according to Pensacola’s Bluetique owner Laura Belsinger.

Shorter and boxier styles have especially been trending this season as well as quilted jackets.

Shopping list: Vegan leather is the season’s favorite fabric, surfacing in nearly all fashion lines. These joggers by Emily McCarthy, $228, make a versatile fall duo paired with this poppy top, $210, also by Emily McCarthy.

Shirt dresses with or without a belt are a smart Gulf Coast autumn choice to exude a pretty put-together look.

Throwback denim skirts in midi or maxi lengths are popular. In denim as well as other fabrics, wide legs are still reigning as queen of pants.

Perfect for signaling a fall vibe, suede and corduroy are trending. But if you’re just adding one new fall piece, vegan leather is where it’s at.

“While in New York for market earlier this year we couldn’t believe how much vegan leather we saw for fall. It seemed like every line we met with had at least a couple of leather pieces in their collection,” Belsinger noted.

Current colors as well as fabrics shout autumn!

“Chocolate brown, caramel, burgundy, olive and deep blue,” are the latest fashion spectrum, Belsinger said, adding that leopard print is off the charts.

“There are also some fun pops of color — mustard, paprika, and scarlet red.”

Mary Jane shoes “are everywhere right now,” she added, with ballet flats a popular choice as well.

Finish your autumn look by tossing essentials in this season’s favorite purse — a woven bag — to celebrate fall on the Gulf Coast.

Shopping list: Looking for an outfit that will take you everywhere you want to go this fall? How about this Tyler Boe Harper bomber jacket, $252, paired with a versatile top and jeans? Le Jean Virginia wide leg jeans, $235; Amanda Uprichard Freya top, $212.

Laneikia Wilson

After relishing participating in Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps for four years at Tate High School, Laneikia Wilson knew a military career was in her future.

Flash forward 10 years: Wilson has served in the Air Force reserves for a decade as an E6 technical sergeant in civil engineering. During that time, her work as a heavy equipment operator sparked an interest in project management. She completed a degree at Pensacola State College last year — and is still going strong.

“I am now halfway through my bachelor’s in project management and am projected to finish next December, 2025,” said the Monroeville native.

When not working for the Veteran’s Administration, doing reserve duty and studying, Wilson cares for her two young children and also enjoys exercising — especially outdoors.

“I love to work out and have a huge passion for nature and anything outdoors. Some of my favorite activities have been skydiving over the Grand Canyon and scuba diving in the Pacific Ocean when I was on military duty in Guam.”

Wilson also reveres November’s patriotic holiday, Veterans Day, which she calls “near and dear to my heart.”