Fall Into Your Own Style

Use our cheat sheet of this season’s hottest looks to help find what trends are right for you

Chicago Sun Times
September17, 2009
BY JESSICA SEDGEWICK, Staff Reporter

While most of us are still getting mileage out of our summer wardrobe, fashion magazines and stores are bombarding us with the latest trends. And this is where things can go horribly wrong. "Don´t feel obligated to participate in trends," says Julie Watson, local wardrobe consultant and personal shopper. "No one wants to have a wardrobe full of trends ´cause you look like a goof, and you don´t know who you are and what your style is." This means instead of feeling obligated to participate in all 10 to 15 trends we´re deluged with each season — leather leggings might be difficult for some of us to pull off — choose two or three that feel comfortable with your lifestyle. "If you look in the mirror and if it doesn't look right to you, then it doesn´t matter what a stylist says. You´re gonna feel uncomfortable, your posture will be different and your whole demeanor changes," Watson says. "And if there´s a season where trends don´t feel right to you, then save your money till the next season." This fall, we have safe bets (the classic white shirt and trench coats) with a few trickier trends (neon and sequin jackets). I´ll break them down for you in three categories: classic, boudoir and ´80s.

Looks are meant to be mixed and matched: Wear a classic boyfriend blazer with a sexy, romantic sequin tank or skirt. Or try a classic white button-down with a shredded pair of skinny denim. It´s all up to you to decide. Here´s a rundown of what´s hot in fall fashion at every price point:

BOUDOIR

Think romance. Or just lots of shiny stuff. This fall, blouses and dresses are reminiscent of lingerie, but without heading full-force into bedroom territory. Expect to see plenty of draping, lace, ruffles and shiny fabrics such as satin, metallic and plenty of sequins. Also, try pencil skirts with blouses tucked in to show off your curves in a romantic1940s way, or go the other way with a shorter, fuller skirt.

´80s

Last fall I wrote about the return of "Pretty in Pink" Annie Potts blazers and shoulder pads. Well, we continue to see those two trends, along with a few other rather semi-frightening trends, such as neon and acid wash jeans. For color, neon hot pink is huge, along with greens, yellow and oranges. For denim, look for acid wash, abrasions and ripping. "And shoulder pad feels more overt this year, less runway and more filtered into contemporary fashion," Watson says.

CLASSIC

Thankfully, a lot of us already own clothes that reflect this trend and can head straight to our closets instead of store racks. "I don´t think the return to classics is 100 percent economy-based," Watson says, "but it has something to do with it."
But if you´re in need of an update, here´s what to keep your eye out for: the perfect trench coat, the "boyfriend" blazer (a long jacket with rolled-up sleeves to give the illusion you´re borrowing a man´s blazer) and the crisp white button-down for a cute tribute to menswear. "A lot of the time classic goes to a very Talbots place,"Watson says. "But classics can be used as great investment staples and building blocks." Also try a long cardigan, unbuttoned, over a tank and skinny jeans or leggings.