A neon-bright windbreaker is the perfect thing to trick people into thinking I am outdoorsy (nope) and adventurous (definitely not).A neon-bright windbreaker is the perfect thing to trick people into thinking I am outdoorsy (nope) and adventurous (definitely not).
I know it may be premature to talk about fall fashion, but the cozy autumnal season is right around the corner. (Not officially until September 22—but still.) When that first crisp breeze hits the air, it will the sign for us to start rummaging through our drawers to fish out our beloved knits, coats that have been in hibernation (not to mention updating our coffee orders from cold brew to pumpkin-spiced lattes). Does that make me basic? ¯_(ツ)_/¯
With outerwear on the mind, though, there is a particular fall jacket that I am counting down the days to wear. . . and it’s not a chic overcoat or classic belted trench. Rather, it’s a neon-bright windbreaker—the precise kind you would see in a 1980s Patagonia ad. Sound strange? Allow me to explain.
Colorful windbreakers were all over the fall 2026 runways, making the case for a tech-y jacket as a surprisingly sophisticated statement piece. At the buzzy Lii show, the sky-blue windbreakers had red accents for a color-blocking twist. At Loewe, a purple zipped-up windbreaker was hooded and oversized, while Miu Miu’s version was cropped and given a shaggy fur trim. The mood of the season was taking a very pragmatic and utilitarian item, and transforming it into something much more decorative and fashun.
It’s an unexpected fall piece that is suddenly calling to me. The saucy little windbreaker, to me, exists in a perfect sweet spot—where it’s not too bold or flashy, yet not too stealthy or minimalist, either. It’s also an investment piece that does all the work for your outfit: You can pair it with classic jeans or even athleisure, and boom, you’ve suddenly got yourself a look with pizzazz. Plus, it is also functional. Perfect for those windy or rainy days where getting dressed seems impossible.
But the best part? You don’t need to shell out on a runway-priced version to partake in the trend, either. Sure, the reversible brown-and-blue Tory Burch version is chic—as is the tri-colored Loewe jacket worth a whopping $3,850. But you can also log on to eBay (or Depop, or Poshmark…) and source yourself, say, a vibrant (and vintage) sporty Columbia windbreaker for under $25. It’s both cheap and cheerful.
All of this to say: I simply cannot wait for the weather to get cooler (and, indeed, windier), so I can bust one out for fall. If you see me sweating in one come New York Fashion Week in September (when it’s still very much hot out), mind your business. Because a fun, neon-bright windbreaker is the perfect thing to trick fashion people into thinking I am outdoorsy (nope) and adventurous (definitely not).
Inspired by the look? Shop six colorful windbreakers below.
