by YAHOO! SEARCH
A salute to fall fashion
Military looks and long silhouettes will shape the season
Updated: August 20, 2010, 8:34 AM
Those with a taste for olive will enjoy a fashion feast this fall. It’s a color that shows up on everything from dresses and pants to handbags and shoes. Olive and similar greens go solo or blend effortlessly with the season’s other quiet colors – including browns, camels and grays – as well as some brights.
It’s all part of the military-inspired and utilitarian trends so popular right now.
Throw in some animal prints, dark denim, fall florals, sheaths, vests and boots, and you begin to get the fall fashion picture.
The shape of things to come? One silhouette people are talking about is long over narrow – a tunic or knit dress with leggings or tights, for example.
But the piece on top often is asymmetrical, says Debbie Sidel, owner of Half&Half Trading Co., 1088 Elmwood Ave.
“One side is longer than the other,” she says, noting that it might be a tunic with an angled bottom or a cardigan that is longer in front than it is in back.
This creates less of a boxy look than a tunic cut straight across, so it’s more flattering on more women, Sidel says.
Textured stretchy tunic dresses – perfect for wearing with or without leggings –also top the trends listed by Mary Ramsay, owner of the Clothes Bar, 4401 Transit Road, Clarence.
“These are great for all body types and women of all ages,” she said via e-mail.
Her other top trends:
• Faux leather crop biker coats in beige and black.
• Oversized eco-friendly hoodies and loungewear.
• Vintage-inspired casual wear. Lord&Taylor’s highlights for fall include these contemporary pieces: military-inspired coats and jackets, leather or faux leather jackets, mixed metal statement jewelry, jeggings, clogs, boots and open-toe “shooties.”
And these classics: trench coats, chain handbags, ladylike pumps and dresses, pant suits and feminine blouses.
Here’s a closer look at what’s out there for fall:
Animal prints: Sure they have been around forever, but fans will be spotting them on everything from pumps to evening wear. You’ll find animal prints in plenty of realistic colors as well as a few surprises, such as a leopard print in tones of green.
Dresses: If a dress is on your shopping list, there’s no reason to wait. Styles range from solid shirt-dresses to patterned sheaths to longer flowing styles.
InStyle magazine includes the floral dress as one of its “new essentials,” and floral dresses showed up on fall runways, including Ralph Lauren’s.
Vests: An instant update, we say, and one that can be found in all price ranges. Some styles are lightweight and cascading for a draped look. Others are made of –or accented with –faux fur (really!).
Another option is a sleeveless jacket, a smart piece for early fall that will transition into colder weather. Pendleton shows one in an ombre plaid, left, worn belted over a classic turtleneck. Trim trousers and cut-out suede platform shoes complete the look.
Stripes: If plaids aren’t your thing, stripes are no longer reserved just for spring and summer. A striped shirt makes a versatile layering piece.
Leggings: They’re still popular and available in all sorts of colors and fabrics, including sueded materials and lace. Jeggings and textured tights are other options.
Full skirts: Fitted at the waist, flared, unabashedly feminine. Some are hemmed above the knee; others are longer. A tip from InStyle: Balance your flouncy skirt with a fitted top rather than a loose one.
Leather: Both real and faux. The leather jacket is shown with denim but also with satin.
Cardigans: Always popular, but the freshest-looking cardigans are long and/or patterned.
Ladylike handbags: Vintageinspired handbags with a handle or two are replacing the large, heavily embellished bags of recent history, reports the Associated Press.
A special top: Just what you need for all your basic pieces. It might be a shimmering shell with pleated detailing or a sequin-splattered tank.
Monochromatic looks: Wearing neutrals in similar hues but different textures and fabrics is one way to go for fall.
Too dull? You can break up the look with a pop of color or even a great white shirt.
Boots: Lace-up styles are getting much attention, but there are plenty of other options as well for fall.
As one retailer put it: “It’s all about the boot.”
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