For fall, mix sexy and sweet, sophisticated and glamorous
By Linda Miller | Published: August 20, 2012 | Modified: August 21, 2012 at 11:58 am
September is the month women allow themselves to get serious and excited about fall fashion.
“Oh how I love the true break of seasons in Oklahoma,” said Angela Crawford, owner of Closet Moxie in Shoppes at Northpark. “With fall's arrival, I am revived by the chill in the air and the rustle of colored leaves in the wind, but what really gets me revved up is having the perfect reason to make a change in my wardrobe.”
Fall brings so many choices, including leather, reptile prints, winter white, peplums, oxblood, lace, menswear and military touches, gold and a nod to Kate Middleton's clean and tailored style.
Learn to love leather
“I am in love with leather for fall,” Crawford said. “Whether you go all out or just add a touch, leather adds a power-packed punch to any outfit.
“Leather and especially faux leather have come a long way from the tough biker jackets. Today, faux leather is much more realistic, and even real leather has a lot more options with a suppleness that allows for feminine silhouettes and is wearable by all.”
Not sure about a leather skirt or dress? Try a high-waisted skirt with a leather band at the hem.
“I love the contradiction of textile and design with this combo — feminine, girlie, toughie and biker all mixed together,” Crawford said. “Pull it off by adding a pop of color and a classic trench with complementing sueded texture. Can you say bombshell?”
Mixing and matching
Each season brings the opportunity to look at clothes in a new way, and this fall is no different.
“I am all about the subtle flirtation of refined classic shapes mixed up with new textures and colors,” Crawford said.
Lace may seem sweet, but mold it into a black pencil skirt enhanced against a nude backdrop, and that skirt has gone from sweet and demure to sexy.
“The trend of restraint dressing in this manner turns primness into an aura of sexiness with deeply textured fabrics and slim silhouettes that show off a woman's curves without showing an inch of skin,” she said.
Colors, textures
Eden Turrentine, manager of Liberte at Classen Curve, said she thinks women will enjoy the touches of leather and lace, as well as the season's hot color, oxblood.
“Everyone needs something oxblood in their wardrobe,” she said. “I think it's a reasonable color that all ages can wear.”
Oxblood or burgundy has a luxurious, glamorous feel to it, she said, making it a pretty complement for many of the season's offerings, including gold, a strong look in both clothing and accessories such as brooches.
“A brooch is very ladylike,” Turrentine said. “It's a pretty choice beyond a new pair of earrings or necklace. I think it's fresh.”
Other looks for fall include black and blue combos and head-to-toe winter white. Black and navy haven't been a popular combination in a while, but it's a new way to color block.
“Again, it's ageless and sophisticated. And I like sophisticated,” Turrentine said.
Head-to-toe winter white, another sophisticated look, was all over the runways. Many women may not find it appealing, but for those who dare to go white, it's a dreamy and luxurious look. Go tonal instead of trying to match each piece.
And don't put away those colored jeans just yet. “We're still seeing colored denim for casual wear; it's just more earth tones and neutrals. People like it as an option from indigo denim,” Turrentine said.
Making it work
Bottom line: Fall trends are actually wearable and translate to the modern woman, Turrentine said.
“Trends are trends, and they're great in New York or Los Angeles, but if they don't work in our daily life, they don't really have a lot of meaning for us.”
