Welcome to the fall fashion season, which brings plenty of new trends in clothing and accessories. Planning your up-to-date look can be daunting, so RedEye asked wardrobe and shopping consultant Tom Kolovos, who acts as style analyst for fashion web site thebestdressedlist.com, to share his Top 10 fall fashion trends. Here are some of his picks to get you fashion fit for fall from your head to your toes.
PATENT LEATHER
Not only will you see this holdover trend from spring in shoes, bags and belts, but also in details on dresses and jackets and even in outerwear. Kolovos says patent-leather accessories are a wardrobe staple. Nothing dresses up a casual look like a patent-leather shoe or makes an old black coat seem new again like a patent-leather purse.
Christian Louboutin patent “Iowa” Mary Jane pumps, $590 at Saks Fifth Ave
“Brytni” Mary Jane, $99.95 at Steve Madden stores
VOLUME CONTROL
Whether it’s wide-legged trousers, a bubble skirt or a great puffed-sleeve blouse, Kolovos says volume looks best when it is contained to one part of the body. He suggests a Salvatore Ferragamo bubble-sleeve white shirt (right) with placket detail — his best investment piece for the season — with a pencil skirt. At $430, the Ferragamo shirt might be pricey for many, so here are two less-expensive options.
L.A.M.B. bubble-sleeve blouse, $165 at Nordstrom
Puff-sleeve pintuck top, $48 at Gap
JEWEL TONES
Purple, fuchsia,deep emerald green and cobalt blue mix well with the season’s predominant color, gray. Jil Sander’s fall collection revels in jewel tones, such as the $1,780 Wednesday dress (right), but you can find these colors at your favorite stores at every price.
Velvet by Graham and Spencer “Valerie” Dress, $90 at Nordstrom
KNITS
The trend that started last fall with sweaters and pieces meant for layering has expanded into ubiquitous sweater dresses, sweater coats and chunky knits. A good buy for fall is a lightweight sweater dress with an added belt. Beware of bulky knits, however; they pack on the pounds. The best bulky knits are cropped and have a strong line and shape. Vince makes a great U-sleeve button-front a-line knit cardigan in brown or olive. Club Monaco has the best-looking lightweight knits in town right now for under $100.
Vince cardigan, $295 at Bloomingdale’s
Kenneth Cole Reaction puff-sleeve cutaway jacket (left), $149 at Nordstrom
MENSWEAR FABRICS
Menswear fabrics — especially tweeds, herringbones and plaids — are a hot look in women’s apparel, Kolovos says. Pair a simple turtleneck with a herringbone pant and a great belt, and you have the look down pat.
7 For All Mankind “Jacqueline” herringbone stretch denim trousers (left), $198 at Nordstrom
Lela Rose skinny herringbone pants, $625 at net-a-porter.com
BOOTS
Kolovos says he prefers the “oh-so understated chic” of the flat-heeled riding boot over platform high heels.
Ralph Lauren Collection buckled riding boot, $1,090 at Neiman Marcus
Geox ‘Ascot 1″ boot, $259.95 at Nordstrom
GRAY
Gray is the new black, Kolovos says, but resist the urge wear the look from head to toe. Remember that gray can be blue-based or brown-based, so you have shade options ranging from slate blue to taupe to charcoal. And remember, in the age before everything went with black, the traditional color used to accessorize gray was brown. Try a brown belt and brown shoes to warm up the look. A camel coat over a charcoal suit or dress looks spectacular. Just ask any well-dressed man.
Stella McCartney boxy satin dress (right), $995 at Neiman Marcus
Puff-sleeve shift dress, $148 at Banana Republic
SHINE
Go for sparkle with iridescent fabrics and sequins on everything. Manoush offers a sequined tunic that Kolovos says is a great piece for any age customer, depending on how you cover it up or down.
Manoush sequined short-sleeve tunic/mini, $308 at Neiman Marcus
Iridescent dress, $39.90 at H&M
BELTS
Belts will be impossible to avoid this season, Kolovos says. Spruce up an old black coat with a patent-leather belt. Take a white shirt and black pants and rock them out with a belt, thick or thin.
Wide suede belt, $68 at Banana Republic
Patent belt, $8.80 at Forever 21
STRUCTURED BAGS
Kolovos likes this handbag trend in patent leather and metallic or bright colors. His sure winner is Vera Wang’s $55 black patent-leather frame handbag for Kohl’s, but here are two other options.
Quilted barrel bag, $48 at Urban Outfitters
Marc Jacobs quilted stam hobo, $1,200 at Neiman Marcus
———-
RITAREDEYE@TRIBUNE.COM
