Fall fashion is all about nostalgia — everyone will be rocking these '90s and '00s trends this year

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We hope you didn't clean out your closet too thoroughly over the years, because fall is pushing some familiar fashion favorites into the spotlight. Style mavens are raiding the archives and bringing back decades-old trends we loved, forgot about and, in some cases, swore we'd never wear again. Think early-2000s gaucho pants, '90s plaid and plenty of other styles that might have you wondering what year it is. But this time around, they've gotten some updates that make them feel surprisingly current.

To find out which blasts from the past are officially ready for another moment, we tapped a team of fashion experts to reveal the six '90s and 2000s trends you'll be seeing everywhere this fall. You may even have a few of them collecting dust in the back of your closet, so consider this your sign to start digging. And if your old favorites disappeared during a long-overdue closet purge, never fear: We've rounded up plenty of fresh finds worth adding to your cart if you're ready to embrace a little fashion déjà vu.

The comfy pants you probably never expected to see again are officially back. "Gaucho pants are probably the return I am most excited about," says stylist Zoë Hennessey . "They have the ease of leggings, but I personally do not love wearing tight pants, so gaucho pants feel much more comfortable and easy for me. I didn't realize how much I missed them until they came back."

The trick to making gauchos feel more 2026 than an early-aughts throwback is all in the styling. "The wide and flowy bottoms offer movement to the overall outfit, making it a great pair with shaped pieces like a structured jacket and/or a pointed boot," says celebrity stylist Derek Warburton .

Made By Johnny High-Waist Wide-Leg Gaucho Pants

Plaid may be a perennial fall favorite, but this season, the classic pattern is getting a more grown-up makeover. Preppy pleated skirts and grungy flannel shirts are taking a back seat to fashion-forward pieces that make the traditional print feel cool again. "I expect a big comeback for all things plaid," says Warburton. "However, I think a more fashionable comeback for plaid won't come in older genres like school or grunge; instead, plaid will be reserved for more tailored and sophisticated pieces, like in trousers or blazers, and usually paired with denim pieces or knitted tops."

We recommend starting with one piece that you mix and match with modern basics. Try a plaid midi skirt with a chunky knit and boots, or pair a lightweight checkered top in an unexpected color with jeans. And for even more fresh ways to wear plaid this fall, check out this handy guide .

Prettygarden Plaid High Waisted A-Line Midi Skirt

Pilcro Hadley Relaxed Plaid Buttondown Shirt

Asymmetric hemlines are bringing back the playful, anything-goes energy of the early aughts with slinky, uneven silhouettes that instantly make an outfit more interesting. They look cool enough to wear solo now, but they're also perfect for layering with sweaters, jackets and boots once the temperatures dip.

"The nostalgia of '00s red carpet looks makes me yearn for this pre-Instagram era. Style was less about looking flawless or executing a perfectly crafted PR moment, and more about authenticity, which is what makes things cool," says Erika Kuhn, stylist at Modern Vanilla . "I love the asymmetrical hemlines from these days, which were often slinky tops or dresses layered over pants — perfect for the cooler season. It's a bonus that this hemline is extra flattering and elongates your silhouette."

Djt Flowy Handkerchief Hemline Midi Skirt

By Anthropologie Celia Asymmetric Ribbed Sweater

The peplum top — the flouncy, waist-defining silhouette that dominated the late '00s and early '10s — is officially making its way back into the fashion spotlight. Today's peplums are more sophisticated, trading sweet frills for sharper lines, sculpted shapes and a much sleeker finish. "The modern peplum creates more movement and dimension in an outfit. It also can make someone feel more feminine or whimsical, which is exactly what a lot of my clients are searching for in their personal style," says stylist Samantha Dawn .

"I never thought I'd say this, but the peplum is back!" agrees personal stylist Kelly Ostro . "After seasons of oversized, relaxed silhouettes, I think women are ready to see their waists again. I love a sculpted waist paired with something relaxed or masculine on the bottom. It's a perfect example of how fashion works: Everything eventually comes back, but it's how you style it the second time around that makes it feel new."

Brown is having a major moment this fall. "In place of the cooler neutrals that have dominated the past few autumns, richer and warmer browns are now in fashion," says Dawn Porto, chief product officer at Clarks . "Brown is the perfect color for autumn, offering warmth, depth and a sense of grounded style, which is much more interesting than yet another surge of black or gray."

But this season, brown isn't sticking to the usual autumnal playbook. Instead of going head-to-toe in chocolate or caramel, it's all about pairing the warm neutral with fresh jolts of color . Hennessey recommends wearing brown with some of the season's less expected shades, including light pink, baby blue and deep wine red. "They feel very reminiscent of the '90s to me," she says. The surprising combos make classic brown feel fresher, and prove the versatile neutral plays well with more than your typical fall palette.

Old Navy Oversized Half-Zip Performance Fleece Pullover

Remember when wearing two tank tops at once was practically a wardrobe requirement? Well, the layered-cami look is officially back. "I really love the layered tank look. Two tanks layered over each other are probably the easiest way to wear it," says Hennessey. "But as we move into cooler weather, you can layer the tanks over tees or long-sleeve tees and top everything with a blazer. I think this is also a cool way to play with color. Layering different shades over each other, maybe even adding in a sheer piece, can look very chic."

Aelfric Eden Contrast Layered Padded Cami Top

FP Movement All Clear Coastline Layered Look Tank Top

Even better, you don't necessarily have to dig through your closet and start stacking tanks to recreate the look. Brands are now doing the layering for you with clever two-in-one styles that give you that doubled-up, Y2K-inspired effect without the extra fabric or bulk, making them ideal for layering under cardigans and light jackets this fall.