fall shopping

Jayne,

The weather is getting cooler, so I just pulled out some of my fall/winter clothes. I need to update my wardrobe and do some fall shopping. What should I buy? I don't usually follow the trends, but I want to look current. Is there anything I must have for this fall season?

Thanks,
C.W. (Westchester, NY)

i am so excited to finally get a question about fall 2010! and what better time to address what's hot for this season, than right now - vogue fashion's night out in nyc is today! if there's ever a night to shop for fall clothes, it's TONIGHT. hundreds of retailers throughout the city will have their best fall merchandise out, along with special giveaways, free food and booze, celebrity appearances, and even mini concerts. most stores will stay open until midnight. shopping for fall clothes can't/wont get any more fun! but i digress....

at the start of every season, i like to spruce up my wardrobe with several key items that "represent" a trend to keep my clothes current and up-to-date. the easiest way to update your wardrobe is with a new coat, jacket, pair of shoes, or handbag. there are several items that i feel are essential for this fall - here is what i'm dying to buy tonight, if not later this season:

1) a grey or camel coat:
                   
                        stella mccartney                            miu miu

                                [buy it]                                         [buy it]

2) a military style jacket or shirt jacket:

                           rag and bone                     marc by marc jacobs

                                 [buy it]                                        [buy it]

3) a black or camel fitted blazer:

                            rick owens                            stella mccartney

       

                               [buy it]                                         [buy it]

4) a fur vest (real or faux):

         rebecca taylor                     matthew williamson

                                 [buy it]                                        [buy it]

5) something plaid:

                          isabel marant                               burberry

                                [buy it]                                        [buy it]

6) a fabulous leather or shearling jacket:

                                   acne                                             vince

                                 [buy it]                                       [buy it]

7) something leopard:

                      yves saint laurent                              lanvin

                                [buy it]                                         [buy it]

8) a novelty sweater and cozy cardigan:

                             marc jacobs                      t by alexander wang

                                [buy it]                                        [buy it]

9) a dress with a longer hemline:

                           marc jacobs                          oscar de la renta

                                  [buy it]                                      [buy it]

10) killer handbag and ankle boots:

                                mulberry                        alexander mcqueen

                                [buy it]                                        [buy it]

here's the great thing - the items listed above are not only hot this fall season, but are timeless enough to last you through many more seasons to come. so get out and shop tonight! j

socks with sandals

 

Dear Jayne,

I've been noticing a disturbing trend lately - socks with sandals! What's up with that???

J.W. (NYC)

ok, i'm probably going to have A LOT of people disagree with me here, but i actually kinda like this trend. don't get me wrong, it's definitely not for everyone (ie. don't try this unless you're young, uber confident, and have great legs), but when it's executed the right way, i think there's something about it that looks good in a gawky but clever and coordinated way. call me crazy!

now i know it's hard to get the stereotypical image of the old man in socks and sandals out of your head since it has long been considered a fashion faux pas to dress in such a manner. however, consider these looks from the following spring 2010 rtw shows:

burberry prorsum

christian dior

dolce & gabbana

marni

the above designers are not the only ones to show this controversial trend in their shows. designers such as hermes, john galliano, givenchy and rochas were all rocking this look with sandals and/or open toe shoes on the runway. and it's not an entirely new trend either...remember the poodle skirts and white "bobby" socks girls used to wear in the 50's? in fact, this trend has been slowly making its way onto the runway for years, but it wasn't until this past season that MANY designers showed virtually EVERY look and outfit in socks and sandals (eg. dior, burberry prorsum, dolce & gabbana to name a few).

visually, i think it's similar to wearing a bootie or ankle boot particularly when you match the color of your socks to your shoes. what i also like about this look is that it is both comfortable and functional - no one likes the feel of sweaty feet slipping around inside sandals or painful blisters. also, there's no denying that it is more hygienic too!

and for those of you who are still haters of this trend, it's far from being just a spring/summer fling.  many designers have thoughtfully continued to pair socks with sandals or pumps for fall and resort. here are some (out of the many) looks from the runway:

3.1 phillip lim fall 2010

dolce & gabbana fall 2010

marc jacobs fall 2010

jonathan saunders fall 2010

prada resort 2011

 

rag and bone resort 2011

cynthia rowley resort 2011

for those of you who think this ISN'T the worst fashion trend to date and are daring enough to try it, here are a few guidelines: 1) start with matching your sock color to your shoes; 2) choose neutral colors like grey, khaki, or pale pink which are less obtrusive; and 3) pair with heeled shoes.

all controversy aside, i am so drawn to these looks from jcrew's fall 2010 collection:

as with all things you've seen around a lot - if this trend continues to seep into the mainstream, by this time next year, you may be just as drawn to it as i currently am! j

louis vuitton dresses

i was recently asked what my latest fashion obsession was, and though i have many, the first thing that came to mind were these louis vuitton dresses from the design house's fall 2010 rtw show:

i don't know how many of you watch mad men, but it's a show that's received a lot of attention and has acquired a pretty large following in the past 3 years. slowly but surely, the show's 1950's setting and attire has penetrated the fashion industry and has started to influence trends. case in point, the return of the longer hemline shown in many fall 2010 rtw shows. like all fashion trends, it usually takes a few seasons for something to catch on, but right now i feel like the curve hugging silhouette and new length if these dresses feels really refreshing. for the past few months, many celebrities like jennifer lopez, gwyneth paltrow, kirsten dunst, and rachel bilson have been photographed in the longer hemlines.

coco chanel once said, "thighs are one thing, but a woman should never, ever show her knees."  i think she would have applauded the return of the longer silhouette. after all, it's chic to keep certain parts of the body under wraps. once these louis vuitton dresses hit the stores, i'll be hunting my size down just like i did with the prada print dresses from the spring...i'm ready for the fall season! j

plaid shirts

Hi Jayne,

I recently bought two plaid shirts: One is tunic-like in reds, blacks and whites. The other is a feminine 3/4 sleeve with few ruffles in front in tones of white and baby blue. How can I wear them to get them to go from farm to fabulous?

Thanks!
C.B. (Toronto)

while tartan plaid has been around for centuries and the burberry classic check since 1924, plaid shirts recently became a huge trend after the movie twilight came out. as the cast's fame sky rocketed, the papparazi photographed many of the actors in their daily lives wearing various plaid shirts. in fact, lead actors robert pattinson and  kristen stewart may have single handedly started the mad for plaid trend. it seemed for months pattinson's daily wardrobe consisted of just plaid shirts! shortly thereafter, everyone from chloe and marc jacobs to aeropostale and abercrombie, were doing versions of their own plaid. both men's and women's designers embraced the trend, and sure enough it became ubiquitous this past year.

now for women, i feel that there is a danger of looking too masculine (or like a lumberjack) in plaid if styled improperly. therefore, it's important to try to keep your looks feminine and fun. also, i think it's nice being able to dress your plaid shirt up or down, or as you would say, taking it from "farm to fabulous."

for a more casual look, you can pair plaid shirt #1 with a pair of black or dark denim skinny jeans. likewise, you can wear it with black leggings or a pair of crisp white shorts and ballet flats. add a black blazer and stiletto heels to the skinny jeans, and you instantly have a super chic look.

another option is to wear your shirt tucked in with a black skirt and belt. add a leather jacket and platform wedges or heels, and you're ready to go out at night. similarly, if your shirt is long enough, you can wear it over a pair of black leggings with a wide black belt and killer stilettos.

i generally prefer to keep accessories to a minimum and keep other items of clothing simple (in solid tonal colors that compliment the colors in the plaid). for plaid shirt #2, i've done similar things as i did for shirt #1...here are both casual and dressier options:

and finally, i'll leave you with this look from just cavalli's fall 2010 rtw show:

i think it's pretty hot for plaid, and she definitely doesn't look like a lumberjack here! j