Back-to-school fashion

This year has seen its share of ups and downs in clothing trends. Skirt lengths went up to mid-thigh, and the lengths of some dress pants rose to just above the ankle.

Floods were also spotted on men’s pant legs when a seemingly worldwide phenomenon of the “roll-up” pant ankle began.

But flowing maxi dresses and tunics provided a much-needed anchor to their shorter counterparts. This juxtaposition theme of summer’s fashions, however, is turning into one of innovation.

Designers are stepping out of the box this fall and showcasing their talents as creative visual artists, not just pattern-makers and sewers. New trends in color, form and fit are being explored and provide a great deal of variety for young shoppers to look great at the start of a new school year.

One new trend for fall will banish all negative thoughts of the term “matchy-matchy.”
For Bottega Veneta’s fall 2010 line, warmer color families were seamlessly incorporated in silky, rose-colored blouses and crimson leather pants. At Akris, a women’s business suit, fully saturated in yellow-green chartreuse, caught looks as it passed down the runway. And Oscar de la Renta created blazers of royal blue and bright eggplant, paired with patterned tights of an identical hue.

At first glance, these color combinations might seem a bit jarring, but they do provide a simple way to dress in the morning, especially if one needs to catch a bus after oversleeping. Since matching colors and hues is now the new hot topic, you can rest assured that throwing on a full ensemble of yellow with a matching scarf and shoes will not be so tacky anymore.

Another strong influence on designers this fall was the idea of making everything longer.

Miniskirts and short shorts are apparently dead, and amply draped dresses and coats have sprung to life. At designers Michael Kors’ and Ralph Lauren’s fall shows, skirts and dresses softly brushed the ankles of the statuesque models. Cardigans and coats by designers Peter Som and Marc Jacobs were refreshing twists on their originals; the designers made these layering pieces knee-length.

And there were no high heels to accent these nearly floor-touching pieces, either. Flat-soled skimmers and leather boots without any extra height were shown.
So, in an effort to stay warm and stylish on campus, investing in some lengthy outfits would be a good idea. The more layers and length you can wear this upcoming season, the better.

Plus, the combination of long skirts or dresses with shorter heels or flats will make the morning walk to classes a lot easier on your feet and legs.

In short, this fall will be a season that contradicts the styles of summer and bring a fresh perspective on color and fit. All you need to do now is scrape up some money for new digs and take inspiration from fall’s hues, lengths and styles.