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.  

Spring Fashion Trends

I'm pleased to share with you my latest project...a Spring Fashion Feature in Latter Day Woman Magazine.  Check out the Spring trends article and photos at:
 

http://www.ldwmagazine.com/



Here's one of the outfits.  Flare leg trousers jeans...I absolutely love them!  Find out what else is hot for Spring.

Photography by Amie Vanderford, Styling by Lisa Byrd Thomas
Hair by Phee Phee Green, Makeup by Shelby Anne Willis, Photography Assistant - Jason Sheesley
Top from DownEast Basics and jeans from New York & Co.

 And don't forget to sign up for the DownEast Basics Giveaway on my blog (previous post) which ends March 6.  Several DownEast Basics items are used in the Spring Fashion Feature.

Military - Trend or Timeless Classic

Granted, the military "trend" is more popular in some seasons than others.  But it's almost always around in some form or another.  Really, we should consider it a timeless classic instead of a trend. 

 

Burberry



KMart

 The fashion magazines and runways are abundant with models totally decked out in full military array...jumpsuits, aviator jackets, cargo pants, lace up soldier boots, uniform hats, and jackets with buttons and huge epaulets.  How do we interpret the look to suit our lifestyle without appearing to be dressed for Halloween?  I suggest wearing one military inspired piece at a time. 

Two easy pieces to incorporate into your current wardrobe are the military jacket and cargo pants.  There are always some really great, but inexpensive options available.  Pair your military jacket with jeans for a totally casual look with plenty of style.  Or throw it over a feminine dress for an unexpected combination (as shown above).



Balmain



Moschino

Whether your opt for the new skinny cargo pants or the looser (easier to wear) original version, try adding a floral top or casual sweater for two totally different looks.

For those of you who prefer to be more understated, but still want to add a military inspired piece to your wardrobe for fall, here are two great options.



Dries Van Noten



Paul Smith

    
My advice for your first military purchase...buy a "middle of the road" jacket, then plan to keep it forever.  Trust me, this won't be the last season you will wear it.

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.



Wise Clothing Selections...What's Your Fit Challenge?

When I decided to write about clothes that don't flatter, I could have posted some tacky fashion faux pas of the rich and poor alike.  But we all know what "unflattering" looks like.  Instead, I have chosen to focus on the positive.  So, I am posting photos of some basic clothing styles that look good on most body types.

The Gored Skirt

Calvin Klein

The Empire Dress

Calvin Klein

The Straight Pant

Calvin Klein

Few of us look like runway models.  We all have different body types and different "fit challenges."  We may have a large chest, curvy hips, a petite frame, long legs, etc.  Those things don't make us imperfect; they make us NORMAL!  We don't need to be critical of our bodies, we just need to be WISER in our clothing selections.  Taking a photo of ourselves in a particular outfit can help us to view it more objectively. 

One reason for ill  fitting garments is because we are trying to wear styles or trends that are not suited to our body type.  We need to be wise and learn what looks good on us and how to adapt the trends.  For example, even though I am small (size 2-4) my "fit challenge" is finding pants and jeans that fit my small waist, curvy hips, and "bigger than normal" thighs.  I have learned that Misses sizes are more accommodating in those areas than Junior sizes.  I know that straight leg or slightly flared pants (not skinny) are more flattering on me.  And even though skinny jeans are the trend (and I have found a pair that fits me perfectly), I am smart enough to know that they are more flattering on me if  I wear them with a longer tunic or jacket.

Finding flattering clothing can be frustrating.  But we need to be patient and buy only what makes us look our best.  If we are smart about our clothing selections, no one will ever know we have a "fit challenge."

What's your "fit challenge?"