This fall, take your smartly tailored classic pieces, toss
in some whimsical, fanciful or old-time glamour and you’ll
have this season’s chic looks. Or, with simplified, refined
tailoring, add a decidedly feminine touch. You will be offered
many ways to tweak your classic pieces.
This Season: It’s an Edgy Elegance
COLOR:
Use
high color with your subtle neutrals and contrast two
beautiful colors together. You’ll choose from
reds, oranges and wine colors, lime and other earthy
greens, your dramatic teal blues and the more electric
blues, elegant golds, orchid (redder) purples and fuchsia
pinks.
Shades of grey, grey brown, brown and black along with
metallic tones. These neutrals practically beg you
to wear color with them.
DESIGN
Small
to large hounds-tooth checks and many plaids
with the buffalo plaid a new addition this year. Cables
narrow to wide, flat to bulky.
Stripes and other menswear patterns are classic. The
key to carrying off the menswear designs and tailored
styling is balancing it with feminine soft tops. Shoes
and jewelry should mimic the mood of your top choice.
Geometric abstracts and 60's pop-art designs.
Leopard prints. When abstracts
and checks are small and repetitive, they are for the
Spring Harmony. When large, black and white, they are
for Winters.
Artistic garden floral designs continue into this season.
So many are poorly made,
so check for scale and theme as they relate to your
Harmony.
FABRIC
Rich textures are
strong this season. Remember,
the Fall Harmony is the one able to carry off the highly
textured, bulkier fabrics. All Harmonies can make use of some tactile
interest as long as it isn’t heavy and/or coarse.
Nubby tweeds, boiled wool and richly textured yarns
prevail as we see a resurgence of the knitting craft.
Feathers are the fanciful part of textures.
Whisper-weight knits, cashmere and knits with stretch
are prevalent.
Velvet, satin, patterned metallics for day and evening.
Those, along with silk and satin, compliment the nubby
tweeds.
When you mix fabrics, think: opposites attract.
It also adds personal style.
Camel hair, patent leather, quilted and stenciled fabrics
round out the selections.
Leather is being used in surprising softer ways, like
drapy pleated leather skirts. Patent leather as whole
garments and as trims. Winters and Springs work best
with patent leathers; touches for Falls and Summers
are O.K.
STYLE
The
most influential trends this season are:
The layering of various pieces and textures. (A
few light layers that can be removed are
more interesting than bulking up with heavy
sweaters and coats).
The 30’s and 40’s Katharine Hepburn
menswear look in trousers, skirts, sweaters,
shirts and shoes.
Our most versatile staple, the jacket, in newly
conceived styling combinations.
A modern take on the 20’s flapper dress.
A burst of color works with a neutral or a
deep neutral and shade, i.e. orange or gold
with brown or forest green, teal or turquoise
blue with grey or brown, red or fuchsia with
grey or black.
Fanciful sweaters and other textures on garments
and accessories.
Last, but certainly not least, is polished
dressing which is all about clean lines, structured
shapes and elegant simplicity.
Tops
Shirts, blouses
with a bow, vests – buttoned or pull-over style – are
a stand-out updater to your existing wardrobe of pants,
skirts and suits. They can
be worn with a longer top peeking out for a casual
look, or in some cases, it might be dressier or better
for your figure to tuck in the top.
The boyfriend/collegiate oversize cardigan. Cinch it
in with a belt if you have a waist to show off.
Cowl-neck sweaters and fuller dolman sleeves can be
found. Crossover v-neck or scoop-neck sweaters in fine
yarns for a dressier look.
Pants
With a nod to old-school
glamour, you’ll see the trouser cut. They can
be more high-waisted with a wider leg in your dream
jeans, as well as in flowing fabrics. These
need higher shoes and shorter jackets. (One
needs to be tall, very slim or both to carry off the
very wide pants. Drapy fabrics will help for the shorter
slim figures).
Tailored, ankle-length and cropped styles. Cropped
pants are winterized by fabrication and worn with tights
in smooth to textured styles, completed with ankle
boots. You could also wear high boots for a clean long
line or dress them up with heels.
Skinny pants for the trendy types. Some of these are
also high-waisted. They can be cuffed up with flats
or pulled down and scrunched with high heels.
Pinstriped jeans and pants. Jeans in color other than
denim blue. Luxury metallic
jeans look best with an unadorned, simple top and worn
with heels – whether
a sleek boot or pump. Other jeans can be worn with
breezy flats, loafers, boots or high heels.
Skirts
The movie Hairspray
has given motion to the fuller skirts. A pronounced
waist, a fitted top and defined shoulders carry this
look off best. Shoes need to have some height.
Straight skirts and those with fit at the hips and
flaring at the hemline, both short and long are part
of the mix.
Dresses
A
classic knee-length, simple shift dress with pretty
details will flatter most.
The shirtdress continues into cooler weather. Spruce
it up with a belt and cardigan.
Sweater-knit dresses are a cozy addition to your wardrobe.
The fit should be easy and can be dressed up or down.
Dresses with a bejeweled neckline give a built-in finished
look. In some cases, you might want a belt.
For a definite evening look, you’ll see origami-like
pleats sculpting fabric in supple, flattering cocktail
dresses, satin gowns and flirty skirts. The
details of this pleating require minimal jewelry. There are
also evening dresses and gowns with too many tiers
to count.
Suits
We have matched
suits this year. Feminize them with a bow-blouse
(not for the Fall Harmony), or wear sans blouse,
adding a camisole if the suit buttons are too low
and add deeper toned stockings. Brighten
up the menswear look and other neutrals with a colorful
top. A bright jacket with the suit’s pants
or skirt could be another option.
Jackets
With a return to
tailoring, we see defined shoulders, but not oversized.
Short, cropped, sporty fitted jackets. Short dressier
jackets have ¾ or what’s called bracelet
sleeves. Long sleeved tops are worn under them with
one large cuff bracelet or several small bangles on
the wrist.
Metallic or velvet jackets will glam up your jeans
and pants and can be structured enough in style for
work.
Blazer-like sweater jackets are perfect for that in-between
look we all need, being versatile enough to dress up
or down.
Shawl-collared, jacket-like cardigans of varied lengths
and heavier knits. Some are as long as ¾ length.
These can be belted if it works for you. Shawl-collared
sweaters need to be tweaked for Falls to wear them
in order to balance out the curving collar. Always
button or belt the sweater or jacket into a V-shape.
Hoody sweatshirts, fitted in shape.
Parkas are short, ¾ length and long. You’ll
see a welcome trimmed-down bulk, nipped-in waists,
glamorous fabrics, trims and flattering details.
COATS
Some classic wrap
coats have added flourishes like ruffles, flared shapes
and cinched in at the waist with a belt.
You’ll notice many coats with ¾ sleeves – some
having kimono-style sleeves or trimmed edges.
Short trench coats, double-breasted coats, coats with
simple architectural shapes – some with a flared
fullness.
Capes come short and long. These can add elegance and
drama not to mention easily covering layers of clothing.
Wear over slim, not wide, pants or skirts.
ACCESSORIES
Classic styles
have added details that echo the textured mood of this
season. The same design themes seen on garments are
also repeated on accessories.
Statement hats, gloves, bags, belts and jewelry in
rich hues and fabulous fabrics are there for you to
choose what suits your style and personality.
A short necklace is fine, but also long double,
triple and multiple layers of chains keep the layering
factor going. Opt for your Harmony’s
shapes. Chains can also serve double-duty as belts!
Green malachite jewelry adds a welcome colorful accent
to your neutrals.
The menswear look should be accented with more embellished,
opulent or exotic jewelry.
This season’s new shorter sleeves are an
invitation to decorate your arms with bangles,
gloves and watches. In refined leathers, gloves
add instant polish. Choose colorful gloves for
fun or flourish.
Metal grommets intertwined with ribbons and leathers
are on purses, shoes and handbags.
Bags are medium - large, buckled, jeweled and colorful.
If you’re a Spring, medium is your large. Also,
for petite people, medium is big enough. (We’re
not talking about totes, here – which are
larger by definition).
Peep-toe heels and flats.
Ankle boots, tall cuffed, casual flat boots or
dressy sleek. New
to the boot/shoe scene are oxford-style booties – they’re a chic
alternative to loafers for work; patterned hosiery
match up well. They come simple or detailed and
can work with skirts and pants.
Quilted patent leather shoes and bags. Feathered
shoes, bags and hats. Preppy stripes and plaids
in accessories are also part of fashion’s
variety this season.
The bottom line: if it
doesn’t look good on you, it’s
not in style.
