Hot months are officially over, and the spooky month has come to an end. With golden leaves, a cool breeze and a pumpkin spice latte (or sweet potato, if you're in China), the fall season is the favorite among fashionistas for a reason. While walking around the picturesque streets of Shanghai, we can observe every possible outfit combination, from T-shirts and jeans to coats with knee-high boots.

In this iteration of SHANGHAI STREET CHIC, City News Service asked me if I'd be up for adding my own spin. Some of you may have read some of my pieces before, and by now, I'm studying Fashion Design in Shanghai.

For this edition, I'd like to focus not only on just what people wear and where they come from but also analyze and highlight specific trends and stylistic choices that you, as readers, can take back into your own wardrobe.

Congrats to Feng Shitong, the Gorpcore Ballet Diva, for being this month's Street Chic top model.

Feng Shitong, 22, Wuhan,"The Gorpcore-Ballet-Diva"

Originally from Wuhan, Hubei Province, Feng Shitong has come to Shanghai as a traveler. When I spotted her on the street, I knew I had to include her in Street Chic. She is wearing a gorpcore-style jacket from a popular Chinese brand, MASON PRINCE, and pairing it with a more girly skirt that still has a grip on the fashion community. "What I want to convey is the feeling of being cool but girlish," says Shitong. While keeping comfort in mind, she chose a pair of Crocs as her shoes, which I am personally a fan of.

Here we can see the combination of two different styles: an outdoor, manly rain jacket styled with a layered cake skirt. It is always good to play on contrast, especially if you don't want to bind yourself to a certain subculture or lifestyle. Going into the colder months, maxi skirts are still an amazing option – just don't forget to layer them with warm tights or even some pants. You can swap a thin rain jacket for a fluffy coat or cozy, thick sweater, and you've got yourself a look.

Cecilia, 26, Jiangxi Province, "The Birthday Girl"

"Today is my birthday! Meeting you today and taking some pictures is a surprise for me~," opens Cecilia. Originally from Jiangxi Province, Cecilia now works at a cosmetic company (which one remains a mystery). "Today I wore a leather coat, which makes me feel cool and mature. I hope that when others see me, they think I am a cheerful, mature and strong person," Cecilia says, and she would be right.

Leather jackets and coats have been very prominent on the runway for the past couple of seasons. Not only do they have an innate edge to them that can elevate any simple outfit, but leather jackets are also very versatile. Wear them with jeans and a white T-shirt, or throw them on top of a high-neck sweater and a maxi skirt to match.

While Cecilia's companion chose to remain anonymous, we can highlight a prominent stylistic choice: combining "mountain-climber shoes" with baggy jeans. Long gone are the days when we were only allowed to wear sportswear for sports or hiking and skiing gear for, well, hiking and skiing. Don't be afraid to combine active lifestyle clothing with something casual, like jeans or classic (but not fitted) pants. You don't have to actually do anything active, trust me on that.

Fortuna, Nanjing, "An amazing suit, Fortunately"

Fortuna is a Southeast University graduate from Nanjing. She came to Shanghai for an event and visited Anfu Road to shop. "Today's wearing style is the one that is more suitable for the streets of Shanghai among my usual styles," says Fortuna. And she is right – such a casual yet sophisticated look shows that Fortuna values comfort but cares about looking put together.

It truly is a classic look: an H-silhouette blazer with wide-leg pants, recently pushed by brands such as Saint Laurent and Bottega Veneta. But not all suits are made equal. The key details that make Fortuna's blazer look amazing are the fastenings and the color. When picking up a suit, pay attention to the buttons, seams, and color. Cheap-looking buttons and uneven seams can ruin any outfit. Be careful when buying a suit with gold or silver details: Are they too shiny or too plastic-looking? How well do they go with the overall color? In Fortuna's case, the irregular-shaped buttons are just the right shade of gold, which goes beautifully with the natural greige color of the suit.

"The Lady in Grey," Anonymous

A shy yet very stylish lady in grey shows us one of the easiest ways to level up your styling game, yet it is very impactful (and trendy): a touch of burgundy. Yes, that is the trend. If you have been keeping up at all with recent runway shows or if you follow any fashion bloggers, you will know that this deep shade of red (popularized by brands like Gucci and Bottega Veneta) has been the IT color of the past two seasons. If you wonder what can make your simple (or boring) outfit stand out, just add a pop of red. It can be a bag, a pair of shoes (extra points for patent leather), a hat, or even a pair of glasses. Simple, easy, budget-friendly – what's not to love? Great color combination recommendations from me: grey and red, brown and red, olive and red, and denim and red.

Orhanito and Lele, 34 and 34, "The inspiration seekers from Berlin"

Both Orhanito and Lele came to Shanghai from Germany. Orhanito is in search of inspiration and to visit a special person of his, while Lele moved here to start her own fashion brand (how wonderful). Lele mentioned that she had just come from her dance class (evident by her clothing) to meet up with her friend for coffee. "I like to combine my sports clothes that I wore underneath with some comfortable pieces," says Lele. Orhanito describes his outfit as "basically myself. I think fashion is an addition to your personality and not just a way to cover it. Never let your love run cold – especially for yourself," he sums up.

A fashion lesson we can learn from this is to dress your personality, not just your body. Are you an active person who's just finished dance practice? Don't be afraid to combine your sportswear with something more relaxed and flowy (just keep the color scheme cohesive). And if you prefer dressing more minimally, your choice of fabrics will play a major role in the overall look of your outfit. Natural fabrics, such as linen (like Orhanito's clothes) and wool, will create a more elegant and put-together visual effect and are usually of higher quality.

Tobi, 31, "Tobi and Bowie the Dog"

Tobi came to Shanghai 7 years ago. He is a graphic designer and art director (my dream job, personally). Oh, and his little friend's name is Bowie – Bowie the Dog. I could spot a person who works in the art or fashion scene from a mile away, even in their most casual wear. "Oh, but it's Rick Owens head to toe," mentions Tobi – an important detail.

You might have heard about the importance of "basics." Basics are pieces of clothing that should be in everyone's wardrobe: they are simple, clean and interchangeable. An oversized, neutral-colored T-shirt, cargo pants (with minimal design), and a simple sneaker make an amazing collection of "basics." You can get three of each in different colors, and you'll have more than 30 (don't check my math) outfit combinations to wear. Amazing brands to get your basics from, besides Rick Owens, are COS, GAP, and ARKET. P.S. That countenance. Fierce.

"A Grand Vision in Pink", Anonymous

Shanghai is full of stylish elderly people. Their usual choice would be something traditional or simple; however, this incredible lady doesn't want to hear any of that. A striking magenta two-piece suit, with matching Mary Janes and a string of pearls –love it(!) Even though this kind of color combination might be too bold for most of us, we can learn not to be afraid to make a statement, no matter the era you're in. Some of the hottest statement colors in the upcoming season are Burnt Ochre, Terracotta, and Cerulean.

Bonus Beauties

Want free photos? Contact us on our WeChat account, we'll let you know where we're shooting next!