Some trends are more flattering than others — and have greater longevity and versatility. Here’s an easy guide that highlights 10 top trends of the coming season. Let me help you make some decisions about what to bring into your closet this season and what to keep far, far away.
LOVE!
Leather
The leather this season is very inventive: soft leather jackets and pants, plus leather pleated full skirts that have real movement. You’ll see cutout details, fur trim, and leather added to denim. Lightweight leather is great for transitioning from warm weather into the cold.
Mixed prints
Mixing prints works, though it’s not always easy to get this right! Mix checks with plaids when one of the patterns is bolder, the other more subdued. Mix floral prints together if they share the same general color scheme. Steer clear of polka dots with leopard and painterly prints with modern space-age-looking prints. And different animal prints together? Leave that at the zoo.
Cozy wrap by KnottyGirlDesigns/Etsy
Capelet by Crafty Butterfly/Etsy
Capes and ponchos
Yes, try one or both! Capes and ponchos and other similar wraps are both great complements to some of the season’s biggest trends and are the perfect outerwear piece for the chunky knits you may be wearing. Try one in tweed menswear styles. (And no worries, you’ll still get plenty of wear from your body-skimming winter coat.)
Camel
Wear camel, but only if it flatters you. Honey-blondes, redheads and brunettes may leap for this color trend but if camel makes your skin look sallow, hold back. Try a classic camel coat, a camel pantsuit, a trench coat, or a to-the-knee straight skirt in camel. In accessories, incorporate camel in a framed handbag or an over-the-elbow pair of gloves.
Pick a glove, any glove
Gloves
Here in DC, we wear them for months out of the year. How about ditching those stained or torn (or puffy quilted) ones and putting your style in your hands? Above-the-elbow leather gloves are great with capes, dresses or short-sleeve blouses. Wrist or elbow length in contrasting or complementary colors, they’re an elegant addition that elongates the arm and adds warmth for cold weather. Lace gloves to the wrist are dainty and quirky. Knit gloves with fingerless thumbs and index fingers won’t get in the way of your texting.
LEAVE!
Lingerie as outerwear
This trend might work for a couple of movie stars but no one else.
Feathers
They may look great — but does your dry-cleaner know how to handle them?
Knee-high socks
Proceed with caution. A better choice for most women is opaque tights or knee-high (or over-the-knee) boots.
Just say no.
Sweatpants
It’s pretty darn hard to get this trend to look right. If you’re in doubt, wear them to the gym and leave it at that.
(Ketura Persellin is an image consultant serving Washington, DC, and surrounding suburbs. Contact her for help putting your best look together this Fall.)
