Top Trends Fall/Winter 2017
I’ve come across many fashion situations in my experience, but for those of you who’ve heard me talk about my 26 year old daughter you can imagine how excited I was when she asked me how to dress more like a “grown-up” at work. In her casual environment, it was more about updating shoes while keeping the jeans (or upgrading to casual pants) and adding cute accessories to dress up her everyday wear.
I love that these small but important changes helped her feel more empowered and put together. And a reminder to all that we can always revise our own “formulas” to update our personal brand. Making tweaks to look and feel your best can have huge impacts!
Fall Florals ..are back big in embroidery and applique’ (applique’ is sewing smaller pieces of fabric onto a larger background to form a picture or pattern). It’s very “Gothic Romance” in beautiful blouses, dresses or jackets. Pair a dark-background floral with jeans for an on-trend look.
Silver Shimmer. I’m seeing lots of nice metallic pieces for Fall which can elevate the everyday into a sense of occasion. Make sure to strike a balance with texture – you want the pieces to flow nicely and not bunch. Also, a little goes a long way, so choose wisely.
Suit Up! Head-to-toe suiting options are great for those in the workforce who miss the days of suits or if you want to feel a little more sophisticated. Don’t forget the extras to make it your own, like pairing a great jacket with split bottom pants.The trend is to have a split either on the sides, back or front of the pant leg (also a fun trend for jeans and pants not worn as a suit). I’ve seen suits paired with fancy tennis shoes, a nice pair of boots or even loafers.
Topping it off. While some of these aren’t necessarily new trends, I’m seeing a lot of these in the stores and any of of these would certainly complement and update your wardrobe.
- “Sheer” blouses from tomboy to feminine have a see-through overlay that can minimize flaws and highlight your positives. Make sure the top is just long enough, and is made of a soft knit material.
- Gorgeous velvet and satin are very hot right now and can feel luxurious on your skin. A pop of purple or dark red just might do the trick!
- Sweaters are part and parcel with Fall, and nordic knits (in new shapes), oversized cropped and cardigans in fun colors are the rage.
Shoes! Tall boots are back – with or without embellishments while booties are taking a back seat on the runways. Also, take a look at some interesting pearl-encrusted shoes, red shoes or flats and fashion sneakers. All good updates for the season and love once again pulling out the knee high boots to wear with skirts and dresses!
Handbags. The structured bag, featuring handles and a strap, and mini-cross body are great updates to change with the season. Choose purses with metallic accents, as well as some structure and texture. The more structured the bag, thebetter to pair it with slightly looser clothes. And don’t forget – a nice purse can lift up your entire outfit!
Jewelry. Long hanging necklaces are still in and feature tassels, striking geometric shapes, and even tribal details. One of these signature pieces could be all you need to give a monochromatic outfit your signature style.
Color me Fall: Earth tones are always popular (think creams and browns), but greens, blues, purples and reds are also big. And as much as I love color, I do think black is awesome and works well year-round. As the quote says, “Women who wear black live colorful lives”.
Chic Puffers – yes it’s true: Speaking of color, there are some really gorgeous down puffer jackets and coats out there in all colors that have flattering silhouettes and design details. And of course they keep you warm too!
make up tips & finds
Skin:
We all love the sun, but we also know it does untold damage to our skin. My advice: get a great sunscreen to put on under your moisturizer and foundation. And put in on every day, even on your hands and neck! It’s not only a nice thing to do to pamper yourself, it might even save you from sun spots…or worse!
My favorite is EltaMD sunscreen moisturizer. I get SPF 46 with transparent zinc oxide. It doesn’t feel greasy or make me break out. Top it off with your favorite moisturizer if you have dryer skin and then foundation that can also have a light sunscreen if you want. Just don’t depend on your foundation with added sunscreen to do the job alone.
Nails:
I’ve just discovered Essie Gel Couture nail polish. While not really a no-chip gel, it looks shiny and lasts 2 weeks on me with 2 coats of polish and the top coat (no base coat should be used). Worth the extra price if you do your nails yourself or if your salon carries this.
Lips:
Creme de la femme by MAC is a soft year-round plummy pink color that feels like an easy way to soften up my fall look. Have to admit I like a little shimmer on my lips!
Mini-Backpack Love:
When I was visiting my daughter in Mountain View California went to a fun store called Therapy (what a great name!) and I purchased a Herschel minibackpack in black to use during my trip. I have found it so terrific I haven’t been using my regular handbag. A real find!