A Guide to Fall 2010

Whether we like it or not, the new season has almost arrived. Soon it will be time to hang up the floral shifts and straw fedoras and cozy up to gorgeous warmer pieces that fall has to offer.  Whether you're updating your wardrobe or hunting for new additions, these essential fall items are sure to get you through the cooler weather nice and breezy.


The Chambray Button-down Shirt

The Chambray shirt was iconic in the 1980's and 1990's casual wear fashion. This fall is all about consolidating opposites so you can try dressing up this casual shirt with a pair of dark silk cigarette pants and pumps. Be wary of double denim but it's fine as long as the jeans are of a dark wash.

BDG Chambray Boyfriend Shirt, $48 at Urban Outfitters 

Unisex Chambray Long Sleeve Button up Shirt, $58 at American Apparel 

The Boyfriend Blazer

Having made a big impression on us last spring, the boyfriend blazer is back for another round. Blazers with feminine detailing such as silk linings and modest shoulder pads can give your outfit a pretty yet strong feel. It can be thrown on over a jazzy top and jeans to give your outfit cleaner lines or wear it over a feminine shift and heels for the evening.



The Cigarette Pants/Jeans

After a summer of billowy harem pants, cigarette pants provide a sleeker silhouette and is versatile enough to pair with a casual or structured top. Cigarette pants look great in the high rise style which looks great with a crisp white short sleeved collared shirt tucked in to show off the cinched waist line. As for the length, try something different and opt for a 'grazer'--cigarette pants that stop midway between the calf and the ankle. It's a breezier look than full length pants which you'll have plenty of chances to wear come winter.



The Cape Coat

Since this season is all about uniting contrasting shapes, try a cape coat if you're not afraid to wander a bit off the beaten path of outerwear. Cape coats come in different styles--poncho and cape backed. Poncho styles have one uniform shape and they create an edgy kind of egg shape silhouette with rounded shoulders, sleeves and hems. Cape backs have a slim bodice and a cape flair at the back, which provides a perfect balance between geometry and fluidity.

The Thigh-High Socks 

Thigh highs from the 80's are making a comeback in a major way. They allow you to find the perfect groove between summer and fall if you pair them with shorts or that particularly short dress (mini skirt ensembles may be a bit too much when paired with knee highs). As for footwear, pair your socks with satin peep toe pumps if you're going for dressy or have a bit of the socks peep over the top of knee high boots on a casual outfit. 

The Collegiate Style 

Collegiate style clothing are not just for those of us hitting the books this fall, they are making appearances on the runways of designers such as Tommy Hilfiger. Look for V neck cashmere sweaters layered over collared shirts, button-down blazers and wool scarves.

A Nod To Minimalist Fashionistas...

I have always admired the inimitable taste of women who always turn up looking enviably chic. No matter where these women fall on the fashion spectrum, in the end they all seem to be believers in fashion minimalism--dressing each morning with guts and conviction, knowing not one piece of garment or accessory on their body is excessive. Fashionable women have the ability to make their sartorial choices look effortless, but it doesn't mean they haven't put serious brainpower behind their clothes. They do not hide behind their clothing, but use them as a vehicle to enhance their confidence. They are the epitome of 'cool and collected'. Who better to devote this first entry to?

Designer Phoebe Philo's debut collection for Céline doesn't miss a beat when it comes to effortlessly finding the sweet spot between insanely stylish but, not overly so.

"Chic women never shop to fill a void; they buy only pieces they love"

One of my closest friends has such enviable style and what she says about dressing minimally is that it is not about reducing the volume of your wardrobe, it's about understanding your personal style and being aware of exactly what works for your own body. Her shopping habits are intuitive, not impulsive. The woman buys only what she cannot stop thinking about.

Thanks to designers like Celine, Chloe & Stella McCartney, this season is full of cigarette pants, crisp white shirts, asymmetric necklines, top-to-toes synchronize grey & beige colors , luxe capes and skinny belts. 

"There is no such thing as 'out with the old, in with the new'"

I personally love observing what each turn of the season has to offer; the way fashion evolves is fluid but not completely linear, each new trend and development reflexively pays homage to previous styles and inspirations. The most fashionable of women can appreciate the dynamic quality of fashion but are not slaves to every fleeting trend. There are some pieces worth investing in since they will prove to be timeless classics that one will go back to time and time again. As a general rule of thumb, it is better for your style and easier on your wallet to look at buying clothing as collecting special pieces for your wardrobe rather than 'shopping'. Make as many purchases that are meant to last across the seasons, keeping in mind longevity in both style and quality. Items such as a good peacoat or trench, classic pumps, or a pair of luxe but durable boots are essential components to a woman's fashion arsenal. For centuries, kings, queens, and generals have dressed to conquer the world. Why shouldn't a Burberry military coat make you feel just as invincible?


below:  for Fall 2010, Gucci's latest venture in fashion was an exercise in minimalism that brought the more sophisticated aspects of 1970s fashion into the now.
The palette of browns, nudes, and greys works perfectly for the immaculately tailored trousers. Dresses are uncomplicated: marked only by diagonal slits and solid gold collars.

Fortunately, buying for longevity doesn't have to mean buying safe. Though I am forever fond of finding a garment I can see myself wearing for many years down the road, it doesn't mean i'm not keeping my eyes open for that bold and special piece that's not so much trendy, but iconic. Take for instance, skinny-leg cargo pants; it's one of the most notable pieces of clothing appearing on this season's catwalks in Europe and North America. Even if you've worn them to death already this summer, you can still make these babies useful come fall by dressing them up, but only slight, with a silky cream blouse and strappy heels, then throw on a camel cable knit as the cold weather kicks in.

Donna Karan at New York fashion week. 

Alexander Wang at New York fashion week.

Marc Jacobs at New York fashion week. 

I just loved the return to minimalism in fashion seen this season; from the cleaner lines to streamlined silhouettes to nude shades, there is just so much versatility and class to go around. It isn't merely the aesthetics of minimalism that appeals to me, it is the message they convey. Sharp and clean dressing says, "I'm together, I have more important things to do than dealing with fussy clothes".