Fall ’08 has something for everyone. It’s important to remember that wearing the latest trends in fashion doesn’t make you have style. What truly defines a woman’s style is when she is confident with who she is from the inside out, what styles complement her coloring and figure shape, and which trends best express her authenticity. She understands how to edit all the trends seen in the latest magazines, select a few trends that resonate with her and update her classic wardrobe items. Understanding how to incorporate one or two trends is key. You never want to wear multiple trends from top to toe. Keep it simple and polished. Here is my interpretation of fall’s latest, greatest trends for women of all ages. These four secret trends will help you take high fashion to an everyday level and assist you in selecting a few trends to keep you looking fashion forward and chic on a budget.
This season the designers are creating a more mysterious, glamorous look. Styles are redesigned from the 40’s, 70’s, and 80’s to highlight strong silhouettes with a sophisticated edge, femininity and rock ‘n roll chic. This fall designers are creating structured tailoring silhouettes mixed with luxurious fabrics and embellishments. The timeless classics continue to be updated to look more sophisticated but still remain a great wardrobe basic. It’s the return of power dressing in suits, menswear and dresses.
Before we explore the five fashion trend statements, it’s important to review what’s new in the way of color, pattern, texture and detailing for fall, as a lot of these elements will be in more than one fashion story.
Color Is Back
This season color reigns over the basic black from days gone by. Berry tones and other vivid colors will be seen in ready-to-wear and accessories to add a bold splash of color to enliven your look. For the professional woman, this season you want to build your core wardrobe basics in neutral tones like navy, brown, camel and stone. If you need a new coat this season, you will see shades of sorbet, making a statement coat look more modern. Shop for a coat in a soft gray to the lightest purple or pink – a nice change from the old dark colors like black, brown and camel.
Pattern & Print Pizzazz
Fabrics are going in a new direction – towards luxe. Expect to see luxury fabrics with details like gold metallic silk threads, as well as metallic and crystal embellishments. Floral continue to flourish but transitions into a winter floral design reminiscent of the 80’s chintz interior decorating fabrics. For casual dressing this season, go back to the English countryside where tartans, checks and precious plaids give us a casual-country style.
Texture & Details Make A Difference
Nothing can add more style and magic to an outfit than texture and great details. For a more casual lifestyle look for chunky and cabled sweaters, boiled-knits and tweed suits. For more evening allure, shop for textures like lace and velvets to take you back to the Victorian Era. Look for details on clothing, like suede and leather inserts, studs, military details like epaulets, animal prints, piping and banding, sequins and crystals and appliqué embellishments.
Here are the five fashion trends for you to check out and see what you want to incorporate in your wardrobe for this fall season:
1). Retro-Chic
Rewind to the past; the 20’s, 40’s, 50’s and 70’s. Designers took vintage style classic looks this season and magically changed the shape, details, and fabrics to create a ladylike retro chic style. In this theme you will see shapely, feminine dresses like fitted sheathes and frilly outfits like Sarah Jessica Parker wore on the TV show, Sex and The City. Romantic ruffled blouses, ensemble dressing, the oval-shaped coat, long-leather gloves, over-sized hoop earrings, Art-Deco necklaces and brooches best define hot items in this trend.
2). The Return of Classics
This year we are continuing to define the classics. Menswear returns in power dressing with a 40’s influence. Mix the polished and tailored with old and casual elements to create your core wardrobe pieces. Within this trend, look for skirted-suits, a modern classic white shirt, a tuxedo suit, a pair of new wide pants, a classic clutch handbag and a great narrow belt to accent a hint of a waistline.
3). Easy-Rider Style
Designers replaced last season’s innocent looks with a strong, hard look mixed with a soft touch to create a rebellious, tough, and chic biker style. Key pieces reflective of this trend are embellished ready-to-wear, a biker jacket, the ankle boot, strong necklines and a studded casual bag.
4). Bohemian Eclectic
This eclectic look from the 70’s-inspired hippie chicks is here to stay. To take advantage of this updated bohemian style, you blend a mix & match modern gypsy look with global chic to create this eclectic and artsy look. To express your individual style with this trend look for pieces like the full printed skirt, colored tights worn with stacked heels, global print scarves, pattern tunics and a boho-style handbag out of suede with fringe.
I hope this season you will consider adding a few statement trends into your wardrobe to look at bit more fashion forward. Remember, simplicity is key. Keep you head-to-toe look congruent and communicating one style. It’s fun to add a few new pieces to your current wardrobe – it makes it feel like you own a new outfit or two without spending a lot of money. Once you understand the key trends prior to your shopping spree, you can shop on the Internet, discount or department stores, as they will all be showing these latest trends. Take this article along with you on your next trip to the mall to find a few fashion trends that you think are worth a try.
