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Shopping guide: Make your fall wardrobe runway-worthy
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Now that the temperature has dropped in New York, there is an even greater sense of urgency to get one’s fall shopping list covered. For many women, it’s a challenge to weed through the sea of fall trends and decide how to update their wardrobe. From color trends to shoes, this shopping guide covers all the key pieces for fall and how to buy them.
THE COLORS
Think Peacock
The biggest color trend this season takes inspiration from the peacock feather:
Other Key Fashion Colors
Don’t forget about these opulent new colors for the season:
Back to Basics
Make sure to mix in these core colors that match back to the fashion colors! This is especially smart for the clothes you plan to wear most often.
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THE CLOTHES
Lace Stretch Top - LAYERING PIECE
This is a great way to get more wear out of warmer weather clothes. The lace top was shown on the runway underneath strapless dresses and tank tops. With long sleeves, it’s a great way to update your sleeveless tops and dresses while also adding warmth.
Satin Blouse
Metallics and shine are both key fabric elements for fall, and a satin blouse is a great way to cover both trends. A super shiny blouse in satin or charmeuse gives off an almost liquid metallic sheen. While seemingly a dressy top, it can also be worn more casually with jeans and over-the-knee boots. For a dressier look, tuck it into a pencil skirt. The style of your satin blouse can be simple and understated or more decorated with pintucks and ruffles.
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Plaid Tunic/Blouse
Since this trend will be incredibly saturated in the stores this fall, try searching for some of the more unique-looking colors and styles of plaid shirts. Buffalo plaid will be the most dominant, so be creative with color/shirt styling especially in that case. The button-down plaid tunic is great to wear with leggings and also with jeans. With leggings, make sure the shirt is a longer "tunic" length with more coverage. Another great way to wear this trend is in a feminine silhouette with ruffles or waist details that contrast the masculinity of the plaid.
Bow/Scarf Tie Blouse
This was a key look for the fall runways, and can be worn with almost any of the other pieces listed here. Some of the blouses have a permanent bow attached while others have a scarf to be tied in a bow. For a casual look, wear it with jeans and a motorcycle/bomber jacket. For the office, wear it with a pencil skirt and the boyfriend cardigan.
Boyfriend Cardigan
This is a great staple piece to add to your wardrobe if you don’t have one already. The boyfriend cardigan is a low V-neck style with buttons down the front. Usually it’s a little longer than regular cardigans, but can be either fitted or slouchy in shape. Buy it in a Basics color to get the most wear out of it, and use it as a layering piece with your more colorful fashion pieces.
Boyfriend Blazer
The look is slightly boxy and relaxed but still tailored. The boyfriend blazer looks just as great with a T-shirt and pair of jeans as it does with black pleated pants and a satin top at the office. Most brands are using “Boyfriend” in the name this season, so it should be fairly easy to find the right style. Choose a Basics color for versatility. Tweeds and heather colors add a nice texture.
Motorcycle/ Bomber Jacket (faux or real leather)
This was a big runway trend with the black leather/ biker look this fall. However, you don’t have to dress like a biker chick to pull this look off. Besides jeans, this jacket also looks great with a plaid tunic, leggings, and ankle booties. Some of the jackets are purely motorcycle style while others are merged with a bomber jacket shape. Wear this jacket with your shiny satin pieces to make them less dressy and a little more edgy.
A Sequined “Something”
Sequins are perfect for the holidays, but this year try wearing them for the rest of the season too! The key to wearing sequins without looking too formal is to buy a piece with a slouchy and casual style. Sequin tops should be loose and somewhat boxy, while jackets shouldn’t have too much structure in them. Dresses should be short and not too fitted, and can be dressed down with leggings and a motorcycle jacket. Speaking from personal experience, a black sequin skirt can turn into a staple wardrobe piece.
Pop Color Dress
This dress is meant to show off one of the great jewel-toned fashion colors of the season. Choose one of your favorite fashion colors in a flattering shape, and it will become your perfect party dress. Keep it short and flirty in knee length or above. Since this dress is about the pop of color, keep the details all tonal and avoid extra embroidery/embellishments.
2-For Dress
Meant to look like a separate blouse and skirt, this dress has the two sewn together into one. Typically the top half of the dress is solid and the bottom skirt half is printed. This is a great way to incorporate a print into your wardrobe. Since many of the skirt styles this season are high-waisted, this 2-for-one dress gives you that look but avoids the bulkiness of tucking your blouse into your skirt.
Lady-like Dress
For another way to look chic in the office, consider the lady-like dress. The silhouette is a sheath dress with a fairly conservative neckline and a cinched or belted waist (think Audrey Hepburn). The dress looks best in solid, menswear, or a ditsy print. It’s nice when being classic is also considered a trend.
Jumpsuit
Some people may shy away from this trend as an image of Studio 54 pops into their heads. This may be the unfortunate case with some of the jumpsuits this season, but there are also some that make this trend worth a second chance. The right jumpsuit looks like it could almost be separates worn in the same color. Try it in a basic Black or neutral, in a flattering silhouette that is slightly slouchy but fitted in just the right places. The top should have a blouson effect that hangs loose slightly over the waist. The bottom half should fit like a normal pair of pants, but in a slouchy style that’s not too clingy at the hips. Change the look by wearing it with different belts and accessories.
Key Pant Styles
While the skinny leg pant trend continues, there are thankfully new pant styles this season that cater to more women’s bodies. The boot leg and flare leg pants have come back in style, along with wide leg pants. The slight flare is flattering proportionally because it mimics the width at the shoulders and hips. Most of the new wide leg pants are no longer as high-waisted, which makes them wearable for more body types. Some slim leg and wide leg styles also have pleats at the waist. Also look for Ponte and doube knit fabrications used in structured pants, particularly for the skinny leg pants.
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Key Skirt Styles
Pencil skirts pair nicely with the soft feminine blouses of the season. The look is equally acceptable with the blouse tucked into the skirt revealing a high waist, or with the blouse left out. Some other key skirt styles to look for are the the full skirt, draped/cocoon skirt, and mini skirt.
Leggings/Tights
Opaque leggings and tights continue to be an important element to your fall wardrobe. This season also features highly decorated leggings and tights, which are best worn as the main focus of the outfit. This can be anything from a bold print to actual beading and embellishments. The fabrication of leggings also takes on a new importance this season. PVC-coated leggings give any outfit a more edgy look, with a rubbery appearance that’s almost futuristic. Expect to see leggings with new fabrics and details that add an update to your fall/winter look. If you choose to wear a shirt and leggings combination, make sure that the shirt is tunic length - long enough to cover your back side.
THE SHOES
Over-the-knee Boots
If you’ve already mastered the look of knee high boots over skinny jeans, it’s time to take the next step. Over-the-knee boots can be a scary concept to some, but it’s just a matter of knowing how to buy them. Many of the styles can also be folded down to knee high length for added versatility. The material of the boot should be matte finish, not shiny fabrics like patent leather or vinyl. Try a flat style or a chunkier high heel. Buying the flat version is more versatile for every day because it looks more casual worn over slim jeans. These boots can be worn with dresses and skirts too, as long as they are paired with opaque tights or leggings (No fishnets!!). The dress or skirt should be of a modest length such as just above the knee. The key is to look chic and stylish instead of looking like a call girl.
Ankle Booties
When you’re looking for a dressy fall shoe, consider the new ankle booties style. The shape looks best when scooped low around the ankle bone and with a heel 3” or higher. This bootie is like a shoe/boot hybrid which reveals the ankle and therefore keeps legs looking long and lean. It also emulates the leather/biker trend for fall while still looking sophisticated.
Cut-out Boots
Speaking of hybrids, these boots often create the look of a shoe by cutting negative space out of a boot shape. These boots look great with leggings and skinny jeans, as well as adding extra flair to a basic dress. While many of these boots have peep toes, you can wear them further into winter if you find one with a closed toe.
Shopping links:
Zappos
Nordstrom
Saks Fifth Avenue
Bloomingdales
Macy's
Urban Outfitters
Dillard's
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