Tips and tricks for fall fashion

Fashion has come back to school this year with the kind of sexy confidence that only comes from growing a year older and wiser. With some slouchy, wild and over-the-top trends, this sophisticated fall season has found its fresh style in clean staples.  
The word floating through the fashion world’s fall air is minimalism.

This season’s trends are centered around the luxurious refinement of the “less is more” philosophy — one not often used in this industry. Throughout fashion week, designers played with the extravagance of luxury juxtaposed with the simplicity of minimalism.

Most notable was Chanel’s witty and outrageous arctic-themed RTW collection. Karl Lagerfeld, the notoriously extravagant showman and industry legend, had a genuine 265-ton iceberg imported for the show’s centerpiece. Nothing says minimal like the arctic landscape, and nothing says extravagance like having it delivered to your front yard. To top it off, models strutted around the statement in head-to-toe fur but with the Lagerfeld catch: it was all fake.

Fur of every kind was all over fall collections. From boot cuffs to full-on fur vests, the fur trend is in full force this season and any form is a must-have for fall. Look for fur on accessories, like a scarf, or go for outerwear with fur or shearling collars or boot cuffs to give that luxe feel to a basic piece.

No one did staple items better for this fall than Celine. The collection was one of the best showcases of the season, as well as the epicenter of the minimalist luxury trend. The entire show was a lesson in new fall chic. There was nothing showy or provocative about the Celine show — actually, it was exactly the opposite. The garments fit perfectly, but not tightly, and the long hemlines of skirts and coats evoked the classy, put-together sexiness of a real woman.

Just above the knee, floor-length and  everywhere in between was where the hemlines fell at the military-driven Marc Jacobs and 1950s-inspired Louis Vuitton runway shows. These two important fall trends played less into the leg and more into the mature but simple hourglass silhouette.

With the chill of fall already here, now’s not the time to leave bare skin to the wind. Cover up with a longer military coat, or for those not ready to change, pair socks or stockings with the chic new lace up boots.

Bunkering down to keep warm and comfortable was at the heart of the fall/winter trends. Cozy sweaters were, of course, a huge part of the runway looks, but designers belted them at the waist for a cleaner feel. Even sweat-inspired pieces managed to make it into some of the more contemporary collections.

But before you start walking to class straight out of bed (apart from those 8 a.m. excuses) fall’s comfort is a bit more tailored than that. Designers make these comfy, casual fabrics work by pairing them with clean and structured pieces to make simple items look high-end. 

The key to pulling off fall’s main trends is fit. The fashion cycle has grown out of the skintight pants and off-the-shoulder shirts into a more mature, figure flattering look.
The bootcut is now the new skinny jean and the wide-leg is the new statement. As with all trends, the fashion world has moved on to the next reinvention. However, from the look of it, fall’s new luxury approach to minimalism is a trend we will see for a long time.