Fall 2008 Fashion Guide

By
Ginger Burr

Although we are barely out of summer, the Fall fashions are flooding the stores. Before long we will be packing away the white pants and tank tops and looking for something a bit more substantial to guide us into the cooler season. It is still early but the fashion trends look promising (much more so than the pitiful spring fashions they wanted us to wear!). Here are three welcome styles, one questionable trend, and one tricky (but not impossible) shoe trend.

Color: The colors they show for any season can make or break your wardrobe (case in point last season when colors were dreadful!). When they start showing purple as a hot color for the Fall we know all is well. Rich eggplants, deep plums and royal purples are this season's "it" colors (along with the ubiquitous black). While jewel tones remain hot this Fall, they are usually slightly richer than the jewel tones you see in the spring. This is good news for many people since colors with a luxurious tone to them are much easier to wear than bright colors. The other popular color (again a continued trend from the spring) is gray. Be careful--leave the light grey to the few who actually look good in it. If you feel compelled to wear grey, a deep, charcoal grey is the safest bet.

Trench Coats: Now, rumor has it that trench coats remain big and statement-making-hitting knee-length or above and, although you can go with traditional black or taupe, many are in great colors or have interesting details. There is a style trench coat for everyone so have fun choosing one you'll love wearing!

Scarves: The scarf is making a comeback. Whether you like a moderately sized scarf to tie demurely around your neck or a huge long or square scarf that you wear with great gusto and confidence, the options are huge. Three quick points to remember when choosing a scarf 1) choose the appropriate size for your body shape and personality, 2) be sure the predominant color in the pattern is one that looks fabulous on you, and 3) love the print since it will take a lot of focus and is a reflection of your personality.

Skirts: This trend just won't go away. I'm talking about bell and bubble skirts. They are extremely tricky to wear since they add a huge amount of volume to your lower half. They can actually conceal what is going on underneath but they also run the risk of making you extremely bottom heavy (which few women are excited about). It also tends to be a very young look. So, if you are a tall, thin, savvy trendsetter, go for it. Otherwise, choose another skirt style or better yet, look at some of the beautiful dresses available this season.

Cage Heels: The gladiator sandal has morphed into something a bit more elegant and yet almost as equally challenging to wear. It has lots of criss-crossed and interlinking straps with a high heel. The biggest problem is that the straps come up high on the foot. This is fine if you have thin ankles, otherwise it will make your ankles look heavier than they are, and your legs look shorter. Of course you can always wear them with pants and then it is less of an issue. The other concern for those of us in colder climates is that they are very open and strappy so our Fall weather will dictate how long you feel comfortable wearing them. The most trendy way to wear them is with dark tights.

All in all, the Fall fashions look promising so have fun shopping!

Cage Heels

Ginger Burr
Total Image Consultants

Guest Writer

Plum

Trench

The Scarf is Back