New fashions come from many different sources of inspiration. That inspiration could come from a piece of fabric, a movie, a muse, or some other source. Let’s take a look at some of the directions designers took this year. One (or more!) may speak to you!
Minimalist meditation
Fashion as serene as a Zen garden, this is pared-down design with little or no embellishment for quiet understatement. Try:
- straight-line dresses
- jackets with shape but no details (like showy buttons, zippers, or other hardware), and
- a neutral color palette including winter white, rose beige, dove gray, and black.
Rocker queen
Flashy dressing to an extreme, this look wants attention and gets it. More is better, whether it’s adding yet another metal necklace to a chestful of them or looking for shoes that will shock or provoke. Channel your inner 80s diva with:
- sequined mini-dresses
- corsets
- tight leather pants
- lace
- spiked heels
- fringed shiny dresses, and
- denim and leather together, sometimes in the same item.
Future focus: Bundle up, urban warrior
Futurama
Flash forward into the future, to a defensive world. Now, what would you have on your body to guard yourself during your urban nomadic wanderings? Think spikes, breastplates, strong shoulders, and protective hoods. Guard yourself with:
- leather, patched pants
- hard spiked shoulder detailing in leather jackets
- fur fantasy boots, and
- nomadic looks in oversize bulky knits.
Sparkle lights up military drab
Inventive individualist
Embrace your inner artist! Put together a little of this and a little of that to come up with a unique mix. Your materials are any of the colors of the season mixed with a variety of textures, fabrics and styles. Look for interesting combinations like:
- turquoise and red
- a military olive-green jacket with a ruffled, frilly chartreuse green silk dress
- a long sequined skirt with a pullover sweater in an unmatched color, and
- other creative and pretty (not shocking) combinations.
’50s fever
Feminine, well put together and a bit of a tease, this look is big right now, thanks at least in part to the hit show Mad Men. You might like:
- high-waist full skirts
- full skirts on dresses to the knee or mid-calf
- anklets with heels
- a fur scarf
- a tweed capes
- long gloves
- heels with a bow detail
- red lipstick, and
- a framed handbag.
Jessica Schroeder of WhatIWore.com, working her oxfords
Menswear mashup
Borrowing style from menswear is the key to this look. The classic shapes and colors could suggest a look associated with old money, high class, and polished perfection. Try:
- camel, gray, and black for trench coats, tailored pant suits, suit-looking dresses, double or single-breasted jackets, and pullover sweaters
- plaid and checks paired with solids
- oversize overcoats
- messenger bags
- military detailing
- buttoned-to-the-top blouses,
- and oxford shoes.
(Ketura Persellin is a DC-based image consultant, writer, and blogger. She can help you look very Fall 2010 — contact her for details.)
