As autumn weather rapidly approaches, so do new trends that will help us transition our closets. One of our favorite trends has to be the emphasis of menswear in womenswear — better known as the blazer. The blazer made its huge comeback in fashion almost a year after the 2016 election. Designers held tight to the staple wardrobe piece as a symbol of power, structure and leadership. Finally, the blazer’s resurrection trickled down from the runway to retail and is continually reinvented with new colors, silhouettes and even prints. From pastel colors paired with rainbow prints to khaki matching sets, we rounded up eight unexpected, chic and playful looks to wear this season.

Ultra Pattern Power Clash

Fall Blazers

GP & J Baker Blazer, $50, Patterned Jumpsuit, $50. Available at H&M online. Model’s own shoes and jewelry.

The Lowdown: Swedish retail mega-house, H&M, recently collaborated with GP & J Baker, a British wallpaper and textile company, on a newly-released collection featuring prints from GP & J Baker’s archive. The result was an eye-catching combination of high street and high fashion. Pairing a geometrically printed H&M blazer with an Art Nouveau inspired jumper is the chicest and most adventurous way to tackle this trend with two completely separate themes.

Mod Athleisure

Fall Blazers

Cutaway Blazer, $128. Available at Express in stores only. Plaid Ankle-Fit Pant, $28. Available at Zara online. Model’s own shoes and jewelry.

The Lowdown: The beginning of this colder season is perfect — especially in the Denver metro area — to experiment with this fall’s “sport in power” look that requires a few more pieces to achieve. A blazer in a simple grid print with a cropped design is both serious and playful. It allows for just the right amount of edge to accompany trousers with a sporty theme, like these athletic-striped, ankle-fit pants from Zara.

Cosmopolitan-Boho

Fall Blazers

Ruched Sleeve Boyfriend Blazer, $60. Available at Express in stores only. Chiffon Piped-Trimmed Shirt, $17. Faux Leather Circle Bag, $20. Available at Forever 21. Model’s own shoes and jewelry.

The Lowdown: Denver has had its fair share — and counting — of bohemian fashion but this fall it’s about the evolution of the boho trend. This season the goal is to focus on classic textures like chiffon and chino while combining deep colors such as teal, hunter green, taupe and the color champion — burgundy. Pair this season’s hunter green blazer with a flowy and wide ensemble to ensure the bohemian flair is alive. Just add a beret or any other kitschy hat with retro print, like glen plaid.

Maximalist

Fall Blazers

Career Jacket, $35, Rainbow Pleated Skirt, $22, Graphic Sweater, $20. Available at Forever 21. Model’s own jewelry.

The Lowdown: Carrie Bradshaw circa Season Four of Sex and The City is having a moment. The maximalist trend is returning from a hiatus so fall is about finding the most outlandish pieces and turning them into a chic look. The best way to accomplish this trend is to fuse bold colors into the outfit and always incorporate something whimsical, like rainbow stripes. Remember this trend is meant to be loud and over-the-top but the trick is to match the blazer with a similar color in your outfit. For example, the thin light pink stripes in the skirt are pulling the entire look together by being almost the exact same shade of pink as the blazer. It turns the craziness of this outfit into an office-appropriate look.

Earthly Hues

Notch Collar Blazer, $128, Mid Rise Barley Boot Trousers, $80. Available at Express. Plaid Shirt, $29. Available at Zara. Model’s own jewelry.

The Lowdown: Beige is not going anywhere, as the earthy sand color is one of many that is on-point in almost every retail space. The beach look is staying strong, bringing earthy tones from summer to fall. Brown, taupe, khaki and cinnamon will be everywhere on both blazers and trousers. The best way to wear this earthy trend this fall is to find a pair of matching trousers and break up the look by wearing a statement t-shirt.

Plaid

Fall Blazers

Express Blazer, $128. Available In Stores Only. Express One Eleven Modern Shoulder Tee, $30. Express Denim, $40. Model’s own jewelry.

The Lowdown: This season’s tried-and-true trend is plaid, with bold color combinations becoming the new classic. The plaid blazer is both preppy and sophisticated while playful and feminine. Pairing it with denim will bring back the “early aughts” trend of high street on top and street on the bottom.

’80s Edge

Fall Blazers

Rolled Sleeve Boyfriend Blazer, $80. Available at Express. Leggings, $20, Chain-Accent Faux Leather Fanny Pack, $17. Available at Forever 21. Model’s own shoes and jewelry.

The Lowdown: The primary color trend is a refreshment to the pastel craze that has kept afloat the entire summer. This bright yellow boyfriend blazer is perfect since the oversized design is meant to encapsulate a vintage ’80s music video vibe. A distressed long sleeve tube top and stretched Pony leggings pair perfectly with another revived ’80s trend — the fanny pack. Wearing the accessories as the focal point will ground the playful colors for a serious look.

Bold Classic

Fall Blazers

Petite Rolled Blazer, $80, Wide Leg Pants, $50. Available at Express. Model’s own shoes and jewelry.

The Lowdown: This fall isn’t just about mixing prints — it’s about finding the boldest and loudest primary colors and wearing them in the sleekest way. Statement blazers are one thing, but having a powerful color such as red takes the look from elementary to runway. Going a size or two larger is key, especially if the blazer’s cut is meant for petite sizes — it will be oversized but not in the arms and shoulders. The extra size adds more inches to the hemline which is key. The bold, classic blazer is the perfect staple for the swinging pendulum of both menswear designs in womenswear, oversized silhouettes and bright colors such a red, cobalt and yellow.

Photography by Rebecca Grant

Styled by Ernesto Prada and Stephen Garcia

Model Nancy Ruiz