Top 5 Must-Haves for Fall

If you've been following my blog recently, you know I've been focusing on fall trends. And then this weeks episode of Project Runway did the exact same thing- the entire challenge was based around fall trends in both fashion and hair style. So, to break up my (very) long-winded posts about specific trends, I though I'd give you a couple of short lists to get your fall fashion wardrobe kick-started- My Top Five Must-Haves for Fall (mens and womens editions).

First up, ladies:

1.) Suede shoes: Pick your favorite style- booties, pumps, flats, tall boots- but find a pair in a luscious suede or faux-suede finish.

Suede Wedge Booties, Gap, $79.50

Chinese Laundry Women's Nixon, Shoes.com, $59

Bamboo by Journey Women's Platform Rosette Pumps,Overstock, $34.99

2.) A trench-inspired piece: Whether it's a skirt, a dress, or even a traditional jacket, the trench is hot this season. It's a part of the oh-so-popular military trend right now, so get on board!

Trench Dress, Ann Taylor Loft, $98

High Waist Belted Dress, YesStyle, $43.40

Christian Michaels Button Pencil Skirt, 6pm, $79.35

3.) A leather bag in olive: I am dying for bags in this color right now.

Rebecca Minkoff "Devote" Shoulder Bag, Bluefly, $254.99

MiMo "Anita" Handbag, eBags, $120

Fashion Express Distressed Bag, Buckle, $43.20

4.) Quirky tights: whether a fun pattern or a bold color, adorn your legs in fun and funky tights this fall.

Chevron Patterned Tights, Old Navy, $9.50

Diamond Pattern Tights, Jockey, $10

Super Sheer Spiral Tight, American Apparel, $14

5.) RED! Shoes, tops, pants, dresses, jackets- it's all hot if it's a bold red this fall.

Steve Madden Caryssa Pump, Nordstrom, $129.95

Worn Red Turtleneck Dress, Target, $24.99

Lennon Coat by O'Neill, Lulu, $83

And now for the gentlemen:

1.) A great 3-piece suit: Great on its own or broken up and used in a more casual way, the 3-piece suit is not just this seasons trend. It's also a great classic investment piece.

Tessori Milan Pinstripe 3-piece Suit, ShopNBC, $142.99

Jones New York Black Suit, Mens Wearhouse, $499

2.) Corduroy: Nothing says "fall" quite like corduroy. Go for classic, clean shapes like straight or boot-cut pants.

Straight-leg Pants, Old Navy, $29.50

Straight-fit Cords, Banana Republic, $55

Corduroy Blazer, Gap, $88

3.) Lace-up boots: "A dressy version of a hiking boot" is the best description I can come up with.

Aldo Umphrey Boots, Zappos, $150

Fitzwell Carson Leather Boot, Zappos, $92.12

4.) Plaid: Whether flannel or lined in fur, plaid is the "it" print this fall. (That's actually true for both men and women.)

No Retreat Men's Plaid Woven Shirt, Overstock, $13.99

Treemont Plaid Shirt, REI, $49.50

5.) Leather outerwear: An amazing leather jacket is never out of style, but this season, keep an eye out for sleek blazers and motorcycle styles.

French Connection Washed Leather Jacket, 6pm, $280.80

Pentagon Blazer, Undergear, $220

There you have it- my top five must-haves for fall for both men and women. Let me know what you think!

Fall Fashion Trends Continued: Alpine Attire

When someone asks me to write about fall fashion trends, I find I can either make a list of "top" looks for the coming season, or I can write individual posts elaborating on a specific trend. Lately, I've been doing the latter, so feel free to leave a comment and tell me what you think of these long-winded posts. I've been trying to go into lots of detail to help you achieve the most successful version of these trends, but if you'd rather little nuggets, just let me know. I aim to please!

Anyway, we've covered military for both men and women and men's suiting, so I'd like to go back to covering both genders and talk about the newest fall/winter trend: alpine-inspired attire. Picture yourself in a cozy ski lodge with snow falling outside, a fire blazing inside, a mug of steamy hot chocolate and a good book. Just the idea of being up in the mountains in the winter is ideal, provided the power- or at the very least the heat- stays on.

When someone says "alpine inspired," I immediately think of bear skin rugs, thick woolen mittens, ski hats and those sweaters with deer and moose woven on the front. This falls alpine look pulls inspiration from all of those ideas, but in a modern and sleek manner.

Let's start with sweaters: they make a fabulous layering piece for both men and women. Yes, the reindeer and snowflake prints are "in," but that doesn't mean they have to be ugly or ill-fitting. If you like these kitsch-y designs for their sense of nostalgia, then go for it! But trust me when I say that there are tasteful, fitted versions out there. Right now they're a little harder to find, but as the months go by and the weather gets colder, they'll be out more and more. To help save you some shopping time, I found some suitable sweaters for both the guys and the gals out there:

7 for all Mankind Icelandic Sweater, 6pm, $93.15

Icewear Wool Sweater, Sierra Trading Post, $99.95

Energie Hayman Zip-up Cardigan Sweater, OptimusPrice, $298.99

Icelandic Wool Handknit Sweater, NordicStore, $196-$216

Reindeer Vest, Shop Say What, $25

Sierra Sweater, Amazon, $98.98

Some people aren't really into the prints on these sweaters, but even if you don't want to sport one, you can still look like a snow bunny in a lush cable-knit sweater instead:

Autumn Cashmere, Bluefly, $103

Icelandic Design Lansbury Sweater, Apparel Valley, $138

Chunky Blend Zip Cardigan, Fair Indigo, $22.25

Guys, I know you're not know bunnies- you're super hot ski dudes. Please don't be offended by the "snow bunny" remark. To make it up to you, I've found some amazing cable-knit sweaters for you:

Hand Knit Shawl Collar Cable Knit Sweater, Bloomingdale's, $265

Cable Knit Sweater, Buckle, $33.75

Cable Knit Sweater, Buckle, $13.50 (Discontinued- get it while you can!)

While sweaters are fabulous, they aren't the only "alpine" item out there. Remember what I said about the bear skin rug? Well, I don't think you should turn it into a trench coat, but I do think you should get on board the faux-fur express. Thanks to Rachel Zoe, faux fur is everywhere and the fur vest is a super chic way to participate in this trend:

BB Dakota Graham Faux Fur Vest, Revolve Clothing, $90

Juicy Couture Faux Fur Vest, Piperlime, $228

Gentlemen, I don't recommend fur vests for you. Not yet, anyway.

So, by now you're probably wondering, "How do I wear these bulky, alpine-inspired pieces and still look sleek and trim?" The answer is simple: if you wear a thick sweater or bulky fur piece, make sure all the other pieces in the outfit are slim and trim. Slender pants of all kinds are appropriate- skinny jeans, skinny cargo pants, skinny trousers, even thick woolen leggings under a longer sweater- all of these are appropriate. A fitted turtleneck, long sleeve tee or thin cashmere sweater underneath the fur vest will always be a winning look, too. Guys, wear a fitted straight-leg or boot-cut jean or a nice pair of wool trousers (flat front).

Now, let's not forget the accessories! For some, a sweater or vest is a bit too much and they might want to approach the alpine look with a little more subtlety. In that case, I recommend incorporating one alpine-themed accessory into an otherwise basic fall/winter outfit. Actually, the "one item" rule should apply to even the more substantial pieces, too. If you wear a reindeer sweater with furry boots and a ski hat and matching sweater, you'll just look like a cartoon. And now, for the accessories (my favorite part):

Smartwool Snowflake Scarf, Sierra Trading Post, $43.20

Nordic Peruvian Hat, Lids, $19.99

Faux Fur Lined Hat, Bravisa, $35.52

Naughty Monkey Faux Fur Boots, Zappos, $79.95

Lambswool Snowflake Winter Gloves, Fur Hat World, $24.95

The great thing about this trend is that you will likely have a few pieces already in your closet, but even if you don't, just one or two key statement pieces will work with your regular fall and winter wardrobe. A wool pencil skirt paired with an Icelandic sweater will be a perfect suit alternative for the office. Gentlemen, you can layer your Icelandic sweater over a button-front shirt and brightly colored tie and wear it with a suit or a pair of jeans- either look will be chic and put-together.

Let me know if you find any of these trends at bargain prices. Since it's a new trend, a lot of the great pieces will be in the high-end stores. After the trend has been around for a while, it will start to trickle down to the less-expensive shops. Let's cross our fingers and hope that happens soon!

Buckle B

A new store opened up in my local mall and it is an absolute heaven of denim. I have been calling it "Buckle B" because their store sign looks like this:

Turns out, it's actually just called "Buckle." Who knew? And if they only want to be called "Buckle" and not "Buckle B," then WHY put that little red "B" at the end of "Buckle." I'm just saying, it's confusing.

Ok, enough about me and my issues with fonts and logos. Moving on. The average person needs to try on about 30 pairs of jeans before they find a single pair that really works for them. I say that when you find that perfect pair of jeans, buy a boat load of 'em. Stock up. Jeans never really go out of style, so it will be worth the investment. True, there are different cuts that come in and out of fashion- skinnies are hot right now, flared leg was popular a few years ago, bootcut is almost always a good choice, and trouser jeans are a great choice for "casual Friday" no matter what the decade. Because you'll get so much wear out of your jeans, it's okay to let yourself spend a little more. I draw the line at around $60-$75, but that's just me. For some, $200-$300 is worth it for that perfect pair. For others, $20-$30 might be more in line with their budget. I suppose that's what's so great about jeans- you really can find a great pair at any price point. You never know- you might score an amazing designer pair at your local Goodwill for $5. Jeans are such a personal choice and yet so universal at the same time. I'm a fan of Old Navy's Sweetheart Boot Cut in "Dark Authentic" wash. They're inexpensive and they fit me well. I'm not opposed to higher end jeans, it's just htat the Old Navy ones work for me and my body and my lifestyle. Even my white jeans are ON's Sweetheart Boot Cut. But if I did decide to invest in a higher end pair of jeans, I think they would be from Buckle. These ones, in fact:

!iT Jeans Dream Diva Stretch Jean, $88

I love the flared wide leg at the bottom- that often helps balance out wider hips. I also like the fading on the leg and the threading around the zipper. I am not a fan of very striking or high-contrast threading. I don't need my hips to look any wider than they do on their own, thank you very much. But a little bit that's not too high-contrast doesn't bother me. Although these are a tad outside my price range, I might invest in a pair or two because they seem to be pretty high quality.

One thing to note about a LOT of Buckle Jeans: the back pockets often have flaps AND are often embellished with embroidery and sometimes a little bling. For example, take a look at the back pocket on the !iT Dream Diva jeans: 

I'm not a huge fan of the bling, but I can handle it in small doses. This "Fleur" jean pocket would be a bit too much for me, but perfect for someone else:

Be careful with pockets on your jeans- the wrong kind, or even the wrong placement can become very unflattering. Small pockets on a large rear only make the rear look larger. Same goes for large pockets on a small booty. Also, if the placement of the pockets is very wide or very low, it can draw the eye in an unflattering way. ALWAYS look at your booty with a critical eye when you are in that fitting room! And bring a friend who will be honest with you. Another style I like is these:

MEK Moscow Boot Stretch Jean, $125

But don't worry- just because I love dark wash and clean cut doesn't mean that's all there is. There's also faded:

BKE Sabrina Stretch Jean, $76.50

And of course, skinnies:

Hurley '81 Skinny Stretch Jean, $49

Distressed:

Silver Frances Boot Stretch Jean, $85

REALLY Distressed:

1921 Alanis Boot Stretch Jean, $158

Plus size:

Silver Berkley Straight Stretch Jean, $92

And even mens jeans:

Rock Revival Jimmy Straight Jean, $148

Honestly, there are so many jeans on this site, I could be here all day showing them to you. At any given point, you or one of your friends or family is probably looking for a great pair of jeans. Any resource to bring someone closer to that goal is a good thing. Have a great day, everyone!