FALL FASHION A SPECIAL SECTION OF THE SCARSDALE INQUIRER • SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
Style Watch:
THIS FALL, PLAID IS RAD!
Diva details,’70s inspire fall trend
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f “plaid” makes you think of school uniforms and lumberjacks, take another look this fall. From the couture runways to the shopping mall, plaids in patterns from tiny to tremendous are showing up on everything from bags, scarves and footwear to sportswear, wear-to-work dresses and beaded evening gowns. BY This is the season to invest JACKIE in a snuggly wrap in a thick, blanket fabric, often in brushed LUPO wool with plaids from subtle to bright. Max Mara’s wonderful bathrobe coat comes in muted tones of cream, beige and taupe with a cozy shawl collar. St. Laurent’s menswear-style topcoat is double-breasted, precisely tailored and presented in a classic grey-on-grey Prince of Wales plaid. Joie updates the fur-trimmed parka in fuzzy black and white oversized lumberjack check for casual wear; Akris uses satin jacquard appliquéed in a plaid pattern in vivid fall paintbox colors on a sheer, open coat. Michael Kors’s collection showed a masculine gun-check trench coat worn with pajama pants in silk tie fabric. Plaid skirts look newest in longer lengths to show off the pattern, such as Carmen Marc Valvo’s diagonal plaid silk ball skirt. Midcalf skirts return in plaids, such as Kate Spade’s red woodland tartan swingy skirt, and Ralph Lauren’s long plaid wool skirt worn with an English country-style wool jacket. Shorter Aline skirts in diagonal plaid have a ’60s vibe and look great with some of the season’s new Donegal tweed flecked sweaters. Plaid miniskirts should be worn with caution, as they tend to project a “naughty schoolgirl” look for anyone over 25 (unless, of course, that’s the look you’re after). If the sweater-and-plaid skirt combination doesn’t have the edginess you’re trying for, mix it up a bit for a look that can only be described as “nerdy hipster.” Wear a diagonal plaid knee-length skirt with a plaid sweater whose design is knit in a horizontal/vertical plaid pattern. Plaid intarsia sweaters appear in many sportswear collections and are great for updating a pair of jeans. Pants designers are also showing more tartans, checks and windowpane tweeds. Plaid slacks look newest in updated cuts, such as wide-legged menswear trousers in glen plaid, or Prada’s slightly flared slim plaid slacks chopped off above the ankle. Not ready for head to toe plaid? Add just a touch at ground level, where you’ll see fabulous plaid shoes and boots. Standouts include Manolo Blahnik’s glen plaid booties, Proenza Schouler’s tartan espadrilles, Stubbs & Wootton’s plaid court slippers with snaffle bits and embroidered crests, and Kate Spade’s stiletto heel pumps in black, cream and taupe plaid on lizard-embossed patent. continued on page
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elcome, fall! After summer’s lazy days of languid heat and casual clothes, we’re ready for a change. We’ve played well, but now it’s time to get serious again — or at least play at being serious, darlings. Fall brings gorgeous transformation with sharper looks, structured silhouettes and dazzling details. This season especially is all about the details. Can a hemline express your attitude? Can a cuff purr with personality? Of course they can. We’ll give you the season’s best choices, but the rest is up to you. Whether you follow these trends or defy them, wear your looks with confidence — it’s the secret to sexy.
INDIVIDUALITY BY TRACI DUTTON LUDWIG
Feminine skirts Carwash pleats and micro minis are this season’s favorites styles. Carwash pleats modernize last year’s obsession with fringe for wearable, everyday looks. Fitted through the hips, carwash skirts appear as traditional silhouettes with box pleats until they move. Then comes the surprise. With a walk, skip or swagger, the pleated sections swing out as broad, flat panels before returning in place again. A little flip, a little leg… What could be more fun? On the other side of this season’s obsession with skirts is structured shape by way of the fitted mini. Rendered in hip-hugging stretchy fabrics and hemmed to several inches above the knee, these skirts are bold. But they need not be as daring as they may appear on the hanger. To dampen the overt sexiness of a micro mini, cover bare skin with a monochrome leg. Continue the palette of a black micro mini with textured charcoal tights and chunky booties. Or pair an ultra short skirt with über-elongated boots that stretch over the knee and read like leggings.
Diverse dresses Look down! Creative hemlines bring individual style to this season’s diverse collection of dresses. Asymmetrical silhouettes and handkerchief hems capture a disco-era vibe. Feminine details such as ruffles, zippers and fringe bring a flirtatious flair. Slim cuts with flounced bottoms are a contemporary nod to the mermaid silhouette, but they are much more wearable for every day and every body. To balance the attention directed down under, designers are playing up with necklines to everyone’s advantage. Fall collections are abundant with shoulders and décolletages. Look for sensual styles such as soft, loose cowl necks, one bare shoulder paired with one slim long sleeve and deep V-necks paired with bandeau style bras.
Long legs Be cool, baby. Designers must have been spinning the vinyl of Fleetwood Mac and Sonny and Cher, because we’re feeling the energy of that iconic era of style. Pants have gone full circle and are reaching to the signature looks of the 1970s for inspiration. High-waisted jeans, flared legs and textured fabrics are beautiful replacements for the low-waisted skinnies that have dominated collections of the past few years. High-waisted trousers look deliciously feminine when the waistline is emphasized to create a sleek hourglass shape. Push the look by tucking in your blouse, wearing a sleek turtleneck and belt or pairing the trousers with cropped sweaters or cinched jackets. Flares are feminine because they elongate the leg and add sweeping movement. Choose a sexy heel to peek out from the base of the trousers to finish the look with a sweet kiss.
Androgyny Menswear for women is a perennial favorite of fall. This year’s interpretation is showing a lot of gray textiles and boxy silhouettes. From rich charcoals to stormy heathers to subtle dove grays, the palette is mysterious and moody. It combines well with black, white, cream, navy and red for neutral looks. Or be bold and choose orange, coral or pink combinations for something decidedly more dynamic. Nubby wools, textured knits and sharp details like buttons, zippers and chain-stitched pockets feminize the
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INSIDE FASHION
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BEAUTY:
Look and feel good: the power of massage Dermatologist Q&A – Fall skin care
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STYLE:
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TRENDS:
Must-have minis make max impact this season
Fall forward: changing with the seasons Celebrating the details with fall’s best accessories
This ensemble from Neiman Marcus in White Plains has a little bit of everything from style to texture to tone — the perfect touch for fall’s varied weather conditions
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