40's Inspired Florals for the Fall

Cool weather clothes are always my favorites and I find floral prints in a Fall wardrobe delightfully refreshing.  Check out these 40's inspired florals from the Fall 2011 runway.  Photos from www.style.com

Karen Walker

Miu Miu

Miu Miu

Miu Miu

Miu Miu

And my inspiration for this post is a cute vintage inspired floral embroidered sweater by Free People I recently thrifted.   It's finally getting cool enough to wear it!

Fall Fashion Trends

Fall is my favorite time of year for fashion.  Here are a few of my top choices for "most wearable" fashion trends for this Fall.

The Working Girl Dress

Miu Miu

Chunky Sweaters

Rodarte

 

60's Inspired

Bottega Veneta

Maxi Skirts

L.A.M.B.

Plaids and/or Graphic Prints

Ferragamo



The great thing about these trends is that they are all available in your local thrift shop.  So whether you are financially challenged, desire a unique look, or just enjoy the hunt...you are in luck this season. 

 

And here a few other fashionable trends for Fall:  polka dots, capes and ponchos, duster coats, fur, and anything jade green or mustard/camel/rust.  

Great Pants for Fall

It's great to see the wonderful selection of pants that are availalble this season:  trousers, flares, peg leg, harem, cigarette, paper bag waist, etc.  There is something for everyone.  Here are a few photos of my two favorite pant looks:  the menswear trouser and the slight flare.

The slight flare (reminiscent of the 70's) is fitted in the hips and thighs and then gradually flares below the knee.  It is especially flattering on curvy figures as it balances out the hip area.  Avoid pants that are too tight.  A good fitting pant should have a 1" leeway in the thigh area. 

The menswear trouser (made popular in the 1940's by Katherine Hepburn) provides a little extra room for those with ample hips and thighs.  But make sure they fit well in the rear with not too much extra material in the upper thigh area.  If you are petite (under 5'4") avoid pants that are too loose, have too large a flare, or pants with a cuff.  Think proportion.   

Pair your menswear trousers with feminine, silky blouses (tucked in) and a heeled shoe or boot.  With your flares, try sleek simple tops or sweaters, depending on your build, and platforms or a heeled shoes to create a long, lean line.  With both looks, you definitely need some form of waist definition.       

Wearing Olive for Fall



One of the hot colors for fall is olive.  You can find almost every garment and accessory available in some version of olive.  Here are a few:



Oscar de la Renta



Love this dress!



BCBG

 

Dolce Vita



Seychelles



Moschino



Fossil

 


Olive may be the "in" color this season, but IN GENERAL, it looks better on warm skin tones.  Here are a few tips to keep in mind so you can make the trend work with your own natural coloring.  Olive comes in a variety of shades including green, brown, and gray.  Try differents shades of olive (in good lighting) to see what works best with your skin tone.  The good news is...ANYONE can successfully wear olive...by simply adding a blouse or scarf of a more flattering color close to their face or by wearing olive on the bottom half or as an accessory.

To add more flair and interest to your outfit, pair your olive pieces with brights (such as red), animal prints, and fur.



Looking Forward to Fall Fashions

Even though the temperature in much of the country is still in the mid 90's, stores are gearing up with Fall fashions.  I love the Autumn colors, great rich fabrics, and multiplicity of layers we associate with Fall.  This outfit is perfect for cooler weather without being drab.  Note the feminine details of the dress, the unique vintage necklace, and strappy leather heels...topped off with a simple black cardigan, tights, and a few bangles.  This dress is a great transitional piece.  Lose the cardigan and tights and wear it all Summer.  Photos by Dirk Olsen.