Reconnaissance Fashionista: Fall 2009 Trends
About me: For years I’ve been the fashion police for my friends who were too busy being passionate about their lives, working, having a family. . . or too busy being successful at all of the above. Not that they couldn’t figure out fashion themselves, but they just didn’t have the time, or perhaps life required, and deserved, a bigger mindshare. There’s other reasons too. My very successful friends in the Pacific Northwest, for instance, do have some fashion sense, but also find it gives way to the practicality of inclement weather. Can’t buy suede purses in a climate where it rains all the time. Nonsense, say I. You can’t be a slave to fashion, but you can’t sacrifice looking good just cause of geography. Heck, I never claimed to be practical.
Some have even admitted they just don’t love shopping. Shock, surprise. For a variety of these reasons and more, they entrust this vital role to their faithful fashion sleuth-me. I have always loved finding just the right thing for gifts for my friends and family- and know what will look good on each of them, and what they love.
Over the years I have become a fashion road warrior- hitting the streets in search of great pieces that won’t break my budget, that may actually last more than one season, and that make me feel great. To some, I’m a trend advisor, and at the least, a good all-round retail early adopter & therapist. It turns out I love doing the reconnaissance, as much as the actual buying. It’s totally fun to me! And mostly I love the way my friend’s eyes light up when they open a gift, and adore it, and it looks amazing on them- and they keep it for years.
So, I don’t pretend to be all knowing or have all the right answers. But I love seeing what is new and unique, and then how I can put it together in an affordable way.
Most of the big trends always have less expensive versions that you can find that are terrific: there’s the original, and the other end of the spectrum is the very cheap knock-off that doesn’t last; then there’s lots in between. That’s where I live, and I love scouring the traditional and the unexpected places to put these bits and pieces together.
Trend #1:
Thigh-high boots. Not just for streetwalkers and drag queens. These are everywhere this fall. The variations and price points are all over the map, with toe styles, heel heights, how high on the leg they reach, and in a variety of suedes/leathers and beautiful synthetics. They’re cool! Check out What Cole-Haan has, and Piperlime. Not cheap, but I have a feeling this one will be around for a few seasons. And suddenly, everyone is tucking their skinny jeans into their thigh-high boots as a fashion statement- (many of us have been doing this as a super casual look with our Uggs & jeans for awhile); they throw a long sweater over the whole thing, and look tres casual chic. A variation –shorter boots with thigh-high leggings and patterned tights.
Trend#2:
The shoe bootie with the sky-high heel that is worn with everything- skirts, dresses, jeans. . . and it’s now morphing with the gladiator sandal look to create really stunning statement shoes. Check out ones with feathers, crystals- too beautiful! Oh and the sky-high and chunky-soled, rounded-toe pump is everywhere too. Too bad I don’t wear the high fliers, this trend I love, and it’s just getting traction.
Trend#3:
Animal prints: they’re back, and they’re everywhere, in shoes, bags (clutches!), apparel, tights, belts (a Cartier watch!). . .this one goes in and out; it seems to come back every few years. Sorry now I did away with my cowhide leopard belt I had 15 years ago. Check out the Leopard print watch band Nine West watch, $39.
Trend#4:
Big chunky necklaces, sometimes because the pieces themselves are large and sometimes because it’s a massive combination of layers and layers of smaller complimentary necklace strands put together. When it’s done right, and the rest of the outfit and accessories are simple, it looks amazing.
Trend#5:
The plaid tartan button-down boyfriend shirt that is light cotton, extra long, can be worn as a shirt-dress with tights, or just over a pair of jeans. Everyone can wear this- they’re long and go past the derriere. A lot of these are gathered with a front tie empire style (just under the bust), or they have a cute belt that gathers it at the waist. They’re easy to wear and very casual, look great layered, and can be found inexpensively all over. And this same plaid is all over too, by the way- in shoes, coats, hats; I wouldn’t be surprised if this continued on thru the spring of next year- its super versatile & comfy.
Check out: Charlotte Russe, Green tartan blouse, $34.
Trend#6:
Military style jackets & details, such as scroll work and braiding; the length of the coat varies, many are to the waist or mid-thigh, some to the knee or calf- but they can have one or two rows of brass buttons, epaulettes, and front stitching detail. Not sure that this one has longevity, but it’s a nice change from the very serious winter coat- spices things up a bit.
Check out: Charlotte Russe, Military coat, $34, also Macy’s, around $80
Trend#7:
Skinny belts. Great for garnishing a light cowl-neck sweater, a pencil skirt, or even acceptable over a cotton button-down shirt. Belt widths change a lot; the more drastic, the shorter the lifespan- but who cares? Investing in a couple of cute belts is a great way to accessorize what you already have instead of buying whole new outfits. It’s what I do in lean times.
Trend #8:
Poncho’s, poncho’s, poncho’s. So versatile, you just throw them over your jeans or your skirt, and they look soft, but keep you warm. This seems like a variation of the poncho’s, throws, and scarves that we’ve seen the resurgence in these past few years. I still have my faux black rabbit fur poncho from 3 years ago, and now it’s cable-knit’s turn in the limelight. Check these out with the shawl or turtleneck collar. I love it because we don’t need anything much heavier than this in So Cal, its stylish and beautiful, and comes in all lengths. Seems like it was the extra long sweater (ala 60’s style) for a couple of years, and now it’s the long poncho that is as warm as a coat.
“Night Out” $65 from Novica.com; but also look at Bebe, $79(short version), Amazon $129, Pendleton.com $148,Macy’s $495 hood & zipper; Alpaca Boutique .com $59 Flori $134, and try Polyvore.com- for a range of prices.
Trend#8:
Asymmetrical designs: Origami folds in skirts and one-shoulder dresses and blouses. Just like we’ve seen skirts and dresses with a bubble hem, designers are playing with the other surfaces and lines of skirts, they’re breaking all the rules. This look is best on the thin and the long-legged. One-shoulder pieces I suspect will be big this spring too, it’s not too practical for the winter in cold climates. Also, I am seeing the “shark bite” hem (longer on sides than middle) a lot in t’s and sweaters alike.
Trend#9:
In general, extra-long blouses, sweaters & cardigans have now joined extra long t-shirts. Also, red and purple seems to be popping up throughout the Fall styles, and a lot of brights; guess the fashion industry knows consumers need a bit of cheering up these days, if they can afford it! I also see a lot of leggings, patterned tights, and skinny jeans with the sky-high pumps; this is a no-brainer on slimmer silhouettes, but luckily the tops and cardigans go long and look great with this for those of us built with more curves.
Stuff that endures: Big, big bags (purses), bug-eyed sunglasses, and ballerina flat shoes. I don’t do any of these, but these appear to mainstays- at least for a while longer. I’ll reserve judgment on the skinny jeans.
I like to watch how trend elements overlap- how will the military jacket details work their way into jeans or purses, and say for instance, when will you see the tartan plaid in a purple sky-high patent leather pump? Trust me, its already being done somewhere.
So my friends in the northwest. . . never fear; put down those flannel shirts and all weather sandals and thick wooly socks, and go out there and find a bold fashion statement – and look fabulous in all that rain.
But I kid. Fashion is really about feeling good- it’s not in labels, it’s about finding your style “voice”, and liking what we reflect, however we each do that. We wear the style, not the other way around. I just try to lend a little fashion nudge. But I support whatever fashion means to my family and friends, because in the end, the best “look” is who they are–and they’re all fabulous underneath whatever is on their backsides.
This is what I’ve gleaned from my latest reconnaissance missions in the way of top trends for the fall. These are just a few, of course, but some of my favorites. What are yours?
Until next time.
Robin Whitman is a Retail Merchandising and Marketing Professional, self-professed trend sleuth, trainer and writer.
RLWhitman 
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