Every fall we see different Utility styles become trendy.  Sometimes it’s with a militaristic view and sometimes it has an equestrian feel.  Well for Fall 2019, it has a bit of everything in the Utility trend, specifically colors and textures.

Fall 2019 is really all about colors and textures in every trend.  The colors in the Utility trend range from golds and mustards to khaki green and deep oranges.  There are prints like camoflague that work really well.  And the texture part is really all about how to wear quilting and fleece.  I know a lot of women who love fleece and quilting but really only wear them as weekend or very casual looks.  This fall you can take the pieces and mix them with your work wear or even going our styles and be perfectly on trend.

Sometimes it is as easy as adding your casual puffy jacket to a dress and boots. Or take a casual jacket and denim shirt or jacket and pair it over a dress for work. Both the above looks are from Nordstrom and feature coats and dresses you can find at nordstrom.com .

You can also use fleece to create a trendy look Anthropologie is a great place to find a sherpa or fleecy jacket that you can pair with jeans for casual or patterned pants for a night out.

You don’t have to stick to just earthy colors either.  One of my favorite looks in this trend is in black and white . Anthro has a Scotch and Soda Geo printed puffer coat pair with Bagatelle tapered leather trousers, a stripe turtleneck and white runners, and it works perfectly.

You can take individual pieces out of your wardrobe like fleece and quilting and add them to styles you may not have thought about before. If you own a quilted bomber jacket, pair it with a skirt. This jacket is the Valentia Quilted Bomber jacket from Anthro. Or you could try pairing a terry sweatshirt like this one from Banana Republic with wide leg pants or wide leg jeans. You can take something as simple as a sherpa hoodie from Banana Republic, and pair it with denim or try it with a pair of straight leg black pants and khaki flight jacket.  Change the shoe to a black leather sneaker with a bit of detail and you are completely rocking this trend. Or try the same hoodie and jacket with a tapered check pant and simple black loafer.  And voila! You have a casual Friday work outfit ready to wear.

And remember at in our very first fall blog we talked about unexpected styles being in this trend?  One of my faves is still the Dempsey Quilted A line skirt from Antho.  Wear it with an animal print sweater and booties to work and then try a puff sleeve pom pom sweater from J. Crew with heels in a patterned fabric for evening.

I am a fleece lover, I love a fleece turtleneck like this Presly Fleece pullover at Anthro with a trendy bottom in either animal print or plaid.

And let’s not forget the effect of a camo print in this trend. Anthro has Sanctuary’s Lena Camo Utility jacket that can pair with everything.  I would even wear this jacket over a black dress! You can also do camo on the bottom, Anthro also carries Sanctuary’s mid rise Camo skinny jean that you can pair with a print sweater, a solid black cashmere sweater or even a white blouse.  Tuck them into boots when the weather gets colder or wear them with a simple loafer now.

There area  little accessory details that can make or break this trend in your wardrobe.  If you already have a few quilted and fleece pieces start mixing them up with pants and skirts or even dresses and then pay attention to how you accessorize them.  A great cross body bag will always work, this one is from BR. Or grab a colorful tote that isn’t in the same pattern that you are already wearing.  Then use a hat like this suede fisherman hat from BR or grab your black beret, chances are we all have one.  Even a great looking Panama hat like this one from Treasure and Bond at Nordstrom can take your outfit to the next level.

Keep earrings fairly simple, and use your wrist as the accessory place. Try tying on a fun animal charm bracelet and then layering with a Dainty stretch crystal bracelet like these in J. Crew’s 8 pack, you can layer more or less depending on how you feel. Just try and keep them mixes with rougher textures like the leather tied bracelet above.

For shoes, keep to runners, loafers and booties.  There are so many great runners everywhere for fall. A great Zebra print leather runner like these from Superga at Anthro would be perfect for this fall’s utility trend.  And you can never go wrong with a great pair of black leather sneakers, these Essential leather sneakers would even look great with a black suit for fall. I wear my black suede sneakers all the time and this fall will start to pair them with more pants and skirts, not just jeans and sweats.  A great classic loafer can work really well too. Paul Green’s Becca loafer in either Hazel (shown) or Black would be great for this trend, I love the ruggedness of the lug sole.

And of course booties can work as well.  A great lace up combat style like these from Vagabond at Nordstrom would be great with any utility look.  Or try a bootie in a color or print or even texturethat will add another dimension to your look.

The whole utility trend can be worn with all the fall prints and patterns.  Wear your quilted jacket with plaid pants or with an animal print sweater underneath.  You can also mix it with other trends, wear a lace shirt with your camo print pants or wear knit pieces under your quilted jacket.  Fall 2019 is all about mixing the unexpected instead of wearing what is expected, so have fun with it.

 

Do you need help figuring out how Fall 2019’s trends can work for you? Book me for a styling session and we can figure it out together! I am booking Novmeber appointments right now! Email me at Suethefashionista@gmail.com to set up an appointment.

Next week we will be looking at my favorite fall trend, Updated Classics!

Until next time…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This season Knits are paramount to every fashion look.  When we look at Fall 2019, a few things stand out: lace, satin, velvet, head to toe color and prints.  The one thing they all have in common is that they all need knit pieces to finish the look.  And not only do knits fit into every other trend for fall, they are a trend all on their own and can be layered one on top of the other to acheive this fall’s coveted edgy look.

What kind of knits are we going to be wearing? Chances are your knits from last fall can work again, especially if you have them in black or any of the great color hues that are on trend this fall.  Now is the time to keep that pumpkin colored turtleneck.  The 2 other colors you may want to add to your knit collection are purple and some sort of green shade. You can choose any style that works for you.  The longer cardigan is still strong for fall and in a rich purple shade from Chelsea28 at Nordstrom it can go from work to play.  If green is your color then maybe try something a bit trendier like ModCloth’s Balloon sleeve funnel neck sweater.  Both are not expensive and can make a statement in your closet and you will find them at Nordstrom.

You can use knits as your base layer as well.  A great round neck or V-neck knit top can be the start of the layered knit look.A thinner knit like Banana Republic’s Italian Merino-Blend Crew neck could be a great base.  It comes in 8 different colors and looks great because you can wear it closer to the body. Ann Taylor also has a great Viscose Nylon blend pullover for you to layer with.  I love the cuff detail.  Or you can use a knit turtleneck like this one from Anthropologie as your layering piece.  Your base layer doesn’t have to be solid.  Play with this season’s prints and plaids, it will only make your outfit look more interesting.

Knits can work on the bottom too.  Knit skirts, everything like ponte or a rib knit pencil skirt like this one from Loft can work for your new knits look. One of my favorite knit skirts is the slim skirt from Eileen Fisher in washable crepe.  I wear mine all year round and it always looks great.  If you love ponte knit, which I do because it always looks great, never loses its shape and never fades, you may want to include ponte knit skirts and pants in your wardrobe.  They go great with a layered knit look. Believe it or not you can find a great fitting classic ponte knit skirt like this one at Talbots. Or get a great pair of ponte knit pants like this pair from Leith at Nordstrom.  Either buy pieces that are classic, like pencil skirts and straight leg pants or go for things that echo this Fall’s trends.  A a line ponte skirt or a cropped high waisted knit pant, especially in plaid or one of the it colors, will make your wardrobe pop!

Once you have the layering top and/or knit bottom, because you can always wear your  layered knit look with denim or trouser bottoms.  Then you can add other pieces keeping in mind trends and texture.  Remember this season an edgier look is in.  So maybe you want to add a Zebra Cardigan from Basel at Anthro.  This cardi would work with a black light knit layer underneath perfectly. Or play with a knit Sweater Coat as a layering piece.  This one is from Cressida and you can also find it at Anthro.  A great thing about a longer cardi or sweater coat is that you could add one more layer underneath like a knit vest or shorter fitted cardigan. Babaton at Aritzia has this fabulous Sidney vest that comes in Charcoal or Oatment and would be great layered underneath a cardigan. Or you can choose a close fitting shorter cardigan like this Washable merino wool one from BR.  Each piece that you layer should be little heavier than the one underneath and lighter than the one on top.

I usually use a long sleeve knit crew neck t-shirt as my base.  I have them in lots of colors and you can find them at places like Joe Fresh, so you don’t have to spend a fortune.  From there you can add whatever you want on top, like a vest and heavier cardigan.  Any oversize cardigan works.  This is the Aire oversize cardigan from BR but there are lots everywhere.  Anthro is a great place to search for interesting cardigans or take a look at J. Crew or Nordstrom.

Make sure you accessorize too.  Knit scarves can add an additional layer.  The heavier the knit looks in a scarf the better this season.  So try something like this Stripe Scarf from J. Crew or this Mimi Fringed wrap scarf in lots of different colors at Anthro. Or if you are really motivated make your own! That rustic knit look is really in this fall, so a handmade scarf would definitely work.

And another trick to make your look edgy is to belt your top layer, so if your top layer is a cardigan, maybe think about adding a belt. Pick something with texture or detail like this Double Grommet Belt from BR.  And don’t be afraid to add knit tights in colors if you are wearing a skirt. Colorful or textured tights are exactly what you want to wear this season, so pick either a color that works with your outfit or try a textured pair like these from Natori at Nordstrom.

And finally wear a chunky boot or shoe with your knit layered look.  Try a boot that has it’s own texture like suede. If you love the cowboy trend try suede textured cowboy boots like these from Dolce Vita at Anthro.  Or if you prefer something a little more classic trya casual suede wedge boot by Eileen Fisher.  Just try and keep to the same color story for your shoe as your outfit.  It doesn’t have to be a boot or bootie, there are lots of choices this year. A sneaker could work just as well for a layered knit that is casual just make sure they have some texture or a pattern like Penelope Chilvers high top sneakers at Anthro. Or if your look is for work or a bit dressier, try a textured shoe like something in velvet.  I love this Chie Mihara Shae Heel Mary Jane at Anthro, they would look great with a knit dress or skirt and colored tights.

You can layer your knits over your outerwear as well, perhaps a great wrap belted over a basic winter coat. BR has a great collection of wraps this season, this Leopard Wool Blend poncho wrap would look great belted over a camel or black coat.

Play with your looks, try layering in your own wardrobe.  Find a close fitting shorter cardigan or vest and try layering it underneath a chunky cardigan, or next time you put on your wool coat try a colorful or patterned wrap over top and secure it with a belt around your waist.  I also love turtlenecks layered under other sweaters once the weather gets a bit cooler.  Make this look your own by using your own scarves, wraps and sweaters, have fun with it!

If you need help making these trends work for you, then maybe you want an hour or two of personal styling.  I can even come into your own closet and help you make outfits of what you already have.  Right now I am booking appointments for November, so book soon so you don’t lose the spot you want.  Email me at Suethefashionista@gmail.com to book appointments or to ask any fashion question you may have.

Next week we will talk about the New Utility looks including Quilting and Fleece and how they are not just casual this Fall.  So stay tuned!

 

Until next time…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, this Fall’s Romatic trend has a lot more edge than last year’s.  Although there is nothing wrong with recycling a great romantic top or pant that you bought last year, I certainly will be doing that.  But this Fall you need to add edge or a bit of grunge.  If those aren’t your style than try making your Romantic look more Grandma Grunge by adding layers and layers of jewellery and scarves.  This way you can still look like you, but more current.

If you wanted to start from scratch this Fall, the first thing you need is Lace. It doesn’t have to be black but I think this Cherie Lace Blouse from Anthropologie is too beautiful not to post.  I particularly love the puff sleeves and that the piece underneath doesn’t come with it so you can wear your own cami or tank or wear it over a basic black dress!

Colored lace is important too! If you are tired of black lace then try this adorable Isabinda blouse also from Anthro in this stunning lavender.

You can do lace on the bottom too.  Remember our lace pencil skirt that we should all have in our closet? If you don’t have one get one! Ann Taylor has one online in Navy or head to Nordstrom and grab a skirt like Standards and Practices Tori Lace overlay pencil skirt.  You can never go wrong with a basic pencil skirt in your wardrobe.

The second thing you need is texture. Think Velvet, Satin and plush fabrics to all mix with your lace.  The way the fabric looks and flows is very important in this trend.

Maybe try a gauzy turtleneck from Anthropologie to layer over a satin midi skirt. This skirt is by Something Navy at Nordstrom.  I am in love with the midi satin and printed skirts this season with a closer fit top.  It’s very feminine and very Romantic.  Or try a suede or faux suede look  Ann Taylor has lots of faux suede and mixed with black or off white lace this skirt can take you to work and out for the evening!

Velvet is still important this year.  You can grab a velvet blazer and where it almost everywhere.  Pick something that will stand out, like a strong color like this one from Alice + Olivia at Nordstrom in Merlot.  Or pick one with some detail to the actual material, like Alice + Olivia’s crushed velvet blazer also at Nordstrom.  Wear these over your textured bottom or with pants or jeans.  Velvet isn’t just for evening any more.  The idea with these two jackets is to dress them up and down.  Remember the key to the look this season is to make it edgy.  So lace under velvet and then with denim or wide leg pants on the bottom.  Edge your look with metallic accessories or interesting shoes.

One of the ways to bring last year’s clothes, lace tops and pants, velvet pieces, etc. into this year’s trend is by accessorizing.  Choose a shoe or boot with detail, it could be as simple as adding an animal print to your bootie collection, this bootie is the Dolce Vita Coltyn Bootie at Nordstrom.  Or try something with more embellishement, if you are comfortable with that,like these Schutz Glitter ankle booties at Anthro.  Or go for something with a punk/grunge edge likethis Mood Bootie by David Tate at Nordstrom.  What ever the embellishment is,  needs to show, so these would be great with cropped wide leg pants and a fitted top.

Above are the basics on this year’s Romance trend.  To make it Grungy and Punky choose things that are age appropriate, not something a teenage girl would wear, and that work with the story you are trying to tell.

So if your story is head to toe one color, which is huge this year, then add jewellery to make it either grungy or punky. You can make your statement wearing a statement necklace like this one from Cristabelle at Nordstrom.com.  Then layer on the pearl and silver bracelets too.  Remember this year more is more, if you are layering jewellery on.  Just keep it working with your own style.  If you are not a jewellery person, choose either a layered wrist or a layered neck and then a simple earring.  If you are comfortable with heavy details, then layer it all on. Gold is definitely more popular than silver this year and rose gold the most popular.  We will have a jewellery blog by our expert Shoshana Lewis later in the fall to explain it all.  If you are wearing golds, reds, oranges or greens stick with gold tone jewellery.  Choose a layered necklace like this one from Karine Sultan also at Nordstrom.  Then either layer more on, maybe pearls and a layered wrist and big earrings or make your statement with just the necklace.  You of course are going to layer down to work and layer up more for an evening out.

The other part of this trend I want to talk about is the Grandma Grunge trend.  What is Grandma Grunge?  It’s layering older looking jewellery styles, like your mom’s pearls with a new edgy necklace and then instead of a blazer layer, putting a cardigan on top of your lace, satin and velvet.  Here is how it can be layered for a woman to get this vibe. Start with a pair of lace pants or a lace skirt. I happen to have a pair of lace pants from Ann Taylor that look very much like these from Veronica Beard, trust me they will work with everything!  Add a top layer in either satin or velvet, like this Satin Smocked Tie neck blouse from Banana Republic.  This style would look great tucked into the above pants.  Then start your layering of jewellery and accessories. Maybe choose a studded belt like this one from Isabel Marant at Nordstrom to go around your waist.  Then choose a layered necklace like this one from Bauble Bar at Nordstrom.  You can choose to layer your wrist or not, remember the top is smocked and long sleeve so no one will really see your wrist unless you pull up the sleeve.

For your shoe do either a pointy toe bootie or shoe I kind of like these western looking boots by Dolce Vita at Anthro because they look a little unexpected with lace and satin (which is the vibe we are going for in Grandma Grunge).  And for the final touch wear a big fitting cardigan over top like this with a waffle stitch, this is Woven Heart’s Waffle stitch cardigan and you can find it online at Nordstrom. The open cardigan in a rougher look won’t hide your accessories or edgy belt and it will further edge up the look.  I used black as a base but this season use any rich color as your base.  Perhaps your bottom piece is teal or a forest, change your accessories to gold tone and pick a satin top or velvet top in a color to match or compliment.  And you can switch to denim on the bottom too, just keep the denim dark on the bottom.  Wide dark leg jeans would look great with a satin top and pointed toe boots.

If you have questions about this look please just ask.  It might not be an everyday look for you, but give it a try the next time you are going out, you may like it.

If you want help with your own style or have questions please email me at Suethefashionista@gmail.com. I am booking styling appointments now for November so book early to get the time you want.

Next week we will look indepth at the knit trend for fall, we kind of flirted with it today but Sweaters are huge for fall so we will dive deep!

Until next time…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last week we talked all about how strong the colors of Purple and Green are for Fall 2019.  They probably are the “newest” colors to be that strong.  But as I said before Fall 2019 is nothing if it’s not colorful.  So if Purple and Green aren’t for you then don’t worry there are so many others there will be at least one great color that can wake up your black, grey and navy pieces.

ORANGES AND YELLOWS

Earthy tones and brights are both strong for Fall 2019.  But two of the colors that can brighten any outfit are the deep oranges and mustard yellows that are everywhere this fall. This Max Mara Cashmere Coat in Copper is one of the many shades of the Orange family that you see for Fall.  This would be a great color for a head to toe look too.  Max Mara’s stretch jersey dress in Orange is the perfect piece for under the above coat if you wanted head to toe.

Orange is all about at Anthropologie.  I am a casual dresser so even though I love dresses and skirts, I usually only wear them when I am going somewhere special, or to work.  The rest of the time I live in jeans and pants.  This pant and coat paired together from Anthromakes me want an orange pair of pants!  The pant is the Paige Nellie high-rise Culotte in Dark Orange baby corduroy, it also comes in Dark Plum.  The coat is Anthro’s own Plaid Jasper Coat and it would also go great with anything denim! Anthro also has this great Frida Pommed Hand-Knit Pullover,  that could be the little orange pick me up you are looking for. And if a more vibrant orange is your thing then maybe try Anthro’s knit Column Dress.  I prefer the more coppery tones of orange but if you don’t this dress is great.

All of the fall oranges can go back to the classic colors, orange looks fantastic with browns and camels.  I also love copper and orange with dark denim and animal print.

You can also keep your footwear in this family. Sam Edelman has the perfect Tawny Brown Faux patent in a bootie that would be great with denim or some of the looks above.  If that’s too bright for you Vince Camuto also makes a great Dannia Bootie in Rusty Orange that can work too.   Both the above booties can be found at Nordstrom.  Or to balance out a coat or dress for work or a night out try the Emma Go Lea Headed Booties in a great copper snake motiv from Anthro.  This kind of bootie color combination would be a great compliment in a head to toe orange/copper look.

The Yellow and Mustards for fall work alot like the oranges.  They all can go back to the classic colors and are fantastic with dark denim.  Or go with a gold tone, that shade of yellow can work on a lot of women.  One of my favorite pieces for fall is  Banana Republic’s Soft Satin Smocked Blouse in Autumn Gold.  As a matter of fact it is on the way to me right now! It’s not too mustard and is dark enough gold that it looks really rich.  I like this color back to black and denim and even with leopard print as an accent. Of course this blouse comes in tons of other colors and a leopard print, but this is a fresh new color that can brighten up last year’s pants and skirts.

Anthropologie is heavy on yellows and golds in their early fall collection. One of my favorite online pieces is the Bonnie Ballon-Sleeved Pullover. If you remember from our first fall intro blog we talked about the importance of sleeve detail for fall 2019.  The balloon sleeve or bishop sleeve is one of the newest and hottest looks.  You will also notice in all the tops how the sleeves are billowing away from the body for fall.  Maybe try one piece with this sleeve.  And at $88 this is a great price to try it at.  Sometimes a great top is all you need to brighten your day Anthro’s Nina Lace top in Gold could do just that, notice the sleeve detail.  For most places September is still too hot to get into sweaters, so try a piece like this in cotton and nylon to use as a transition piece as you switch from summer mode to fall. The golds, yellows and mustards also work great in a print.  Plaid is huge for fall and this Dalton Wrap Maxi dress from Anthro could be the perfect dress to take you from work to play.  For work you could pair this dress with Babaton’s Stedman coat in Rich Carmel and for play try a slightly darker denim jacket, this is the Trucker denim jacket from BR.

Don’t be afraid to wear you golds and mustards with animal print either. A gold tone blouse under an animal print coatlike this look from  BR is a fantastic way to express your trendy look for fall.

Footwear with golds and mustards can be more subdued.  Wear browns and neutrals, unless you are going back to black, then you can wear black.  But a great bootie like this one from Vince in a roasted cashew color is a great neutral color to wear with your golds, mustards and yellows.

 

RED AND PINK

We saw quite a bit of red last fall too.  Red is almost becoming a neutral color because it can work like a classic color and with olives and greens but it is also an accent color that can wake up classics. Max Mara’s Icon Coat comes in True Red.  If you want you could wear red head to toe, but I love it when it is paired with blacks and denims and even greys and camels. J. Crew has a great Mixed Embroidery Drapey top that comes in Bright Ruby, again notice the sleeve, it’s a modified balloon sleeve. And of course with the strength of plaid, we all want a plaid shirt. this Greyson the Hero checked button down walks the line between reds and pinks and would be fantastic with all your dark denim. Or try a red print tunic, the Jessamine Floral blouse would be great back to denim and navy and even work with camel. Both these tops can be found on the Anthropologie website.

I do wear red head to toe now and then.  I have BR’s Avery pant in Red from last year and a blouse in the exact same red and I do wear them head to toe with black shoes for a dressier occasion that I don’t want to wear a skirt to.

Pinks really run the gamut for fall from true pink to burgundy to fushia and back into purples.  You can totally accent your purples with pink for a fresh fall look. Ann Taylor has this look down pat.  Their Chevron striped sweater mixes Magenta back into dark Plum.  They also have a fabulous Stand up Collar Slit Neck Magenta Blouse that can take you from work to play to an evening out. Again notice the sleeve detail.  Or take this magenta color down to the bottom. AT has this Double Weave Tie Waist Wrap skirt in Violet that could really add life to your work wardrobe.  And for a more casual look the Nina Lace Blouse from Anthro above also comes in a Deep Berry color that could be just enough pink for you.

Or do an about face and wear your pinks on the softer side, Anthro has the Mae Striped Pullover that you can pair with Pilcro’s Blush High rise Bootcut Cords for a head to toe look, with just a bit of other colors thrown in. You could also try this Evanio Rose Embroidery Jacket to marry the soft pink and dark rose together.  Great with denim and back to browns, camels and navy.

Pink and Red are great colors to wear to make your classics come alive.

 

THE CLASSICS

The classic colors are as strong as ever.  You can never go wrong with black.  Black is and will always be the essential color to base your entire wardrobe around.  But with all of the other colors that are so on trend this fall, black takes a back seat.

Banana Republic’s September Edit is full of Black and white pieces. You could freshen your black with this Houndstooth sweater top that you can wear like a top or a vest. Or grab a Houndstooth caridgan to wear over everything from blacks to denims and camels.  This sweater even works over reds.  Since everyone already has lots of black bottoms and dresses in their wardrobes, you can likely wear your basic blacks from last year and just punch them up with either black and white pieces like these from BR or reds, pinks and golds. And never fear to use black for this season’s trend of head to toe.  This look is on Max Mara’s website and in some of it’s advertising and no matter what your age or shape, head to toe black always works. I actually once did a whole trip to Europe in head to toe black with one pair of jeans, so I know it can be done.

Camels and Browns are very prevalent this fall too. But again they take a back seat to the trendier colors. You could never go wrong with a Camel colored coat, and the Stedman Coat from Babaton comes in many shades of Camel, it goes over everything.  BR is using camel as a great neutral for fall.  And nothing is more essential as a neutral for fall then Camel colored suede booties .     The western influence is still strong in boots and J. Crew has these Western boots in Tan Suede that will go with everything!

Browns are being worn back into animal prints this fall in a great way.  BR’s Dillion shirt comes in a Cheetah print that will take care of any brown craving.  Save your browns for boots and shoes to tie in with all the greens and golds. A boot like Steve Madden’s Subtle Snake Embossed Chelsea boot can be worn with lots and lots this fall and is a great alternative to black boots. A rich brown bootie with an embossed pattern like this can even work back into Purple and Red.

Grey is another classic you will see spots of for fall.  Especially paired with burgundys and wines.  Stick to a darker grey if you are wearing it close to your face or as outerwear, save the pale grey for bottoms. Babaton’s Steadman Coat in Charcoal is the kind of grey you want your outerwear to be. Or keep your greys in knits like this BR Merino wool Cardigan.  One of my favorite pieces in my wardrobe is a ponte grey knit pencil skirt, I reinvent it every fall with different color pieces.  This skirt is Vince Camuto and you can find it at Nordstrom.

 

I know this was a bit longer of a blog, but we have now gone through all the fall colors that you will see in stores and magazines.  Don’t be afraid of color this Fall and go into stores and try on the different shades of purple, green, gold and orange until you find the one that works for you.  Then you can always wear it back to denim and classic colors that are already in your own wardrobe.

Do you need help negotiating all this season’s colors? I am booking styling appointments for early October right now. Email me at Suethefashionista@gmail.com to make an appointment.

Next week we will look at the Romance trend with all it’s grungy and edginess.

Until next time…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fall Colors are Fabulous!! Not only is it great to wear all the rich tones, there are so many this year that if you only wore solid colors for the whole season, you wouldn’t get bored. Color is as important as Black this season and Black is as strong as ever.  But this season color is so much more beyond the basic black, grey and camel that embodied last fall. Let’s start with the two strongest trends in colors and then go into all the others you can pair with them and of course back to black, navy, grey and camel.

PURPLE

The newest color you will see everywhere are all the different shades of Purple. And there is a shade of purple for everyone.  There is no such thing as you can’t wear purple or at least one of the shades of purple.  There is a shade of purple to suit everyone.

Everyone of our favorite stores has tons of purple for fall.  Aritzia has their best selling Babaton Conan Pant Terado in this beautiful Cardamon color.  Pair it back to black, grey or camel or head to toe with the Babaton Power Blazer or the Babaton Kirby sweater .  Here it is broken up with black, but you could do everyone’s favorite Babaton Power Blouse in the same color too. Ann Taylor is showing this Shadowed Violet Midi Skirt. They show it online back to a pinkier purple top or animal print.  You could treat Purple as a neutral and pair it back to plaids and animal print.

Leather and faux leather is a big part of fall this year, if you want try something that takes you to that trend and works with all the purples. Anthropologie is showing this Veronica Buttoned A line Skirt in a faux leather.  This would be great with tone on tone tights and boots. And if you love Lavender, try this Halogen Bias Cut A-Line Purple Dewberry.  Remember lady like is in, and this skirt will be beautiful with winter whites and navy. If you want something quintessentially purple, try a pair of 7 for all Mankind Alexa Ultra High Rise Velvet Straight Leg jeans.  They are from Anthro and you can wear these everywhere.  They pair with golds and blues really well and of course back to black too!

If Purple isn’t your thing then maybe just pick up an accessory or shoe that you can wear with other things. A pair of Purple Sunglasses from Bottega Veneta at Nordstrom could be worn all the time. Or a small cross body Oxblood colored bag from Mulberry could be all the purple you need to add. You could Purple your flats and wear them with a pair of opaque tights in the same color, then you are giving a nod to the tone on tone look and tights and shoes the same color will make your legs look miles longer.

You will see Purple pop up over and over as part of other trends for fall, but if you wanted it could be a trend all on it’s own.

 

GREEN:

Just like Purple, Green can be many things this fall.  It goes back to other colors and stands on it’s own.  There are tons of shades of greens this fall, everything from Forest to Pistachio, so pick one that suits you and own it.  Even though purple is the it color, you can make the same statement with Green, it is like the 2nd place it color this fall.

There are lots of shades of Green.  We will touch on Olive and Khaki here but really deal more with those colors in our Utility trend later.

One of the best colors is the deepest forest green. Aritzia is calling it Scarab and you can do it in all the Babaton classic pieces. The Babaton Power Blazer, the Conan Terado Pant, the Babaton Power Blouse, the Sadiki Pant, their new high waisted dress pant (it also comes in black and this pant is a must have if you need a new pair of dress pants!).  Many dresses and tops too.  This green is a color so many women can wear.  Wear it head to toe with the Babaton Classic Steadman coat in the same color.  Or break it up with black, camel, beige or even denim.  I would wear the Power blouse with dark jeans and black shoes, you can totally use your denim as a neutral with all the fall colors.  This green even looks great back to animal print.

If your life is more casual like mine, I would probably buy one of the pieces above and pair it with denim.  What I would be wearing more often is a jacket like the Sheena Embroidered jacket from Anthro that I could wear as a layering piece under a coat.

Or if Green truly is your color, then play with the different shades.  Go for this Holly colored Button Sleeve Turtleneck paired with Pilcro’s high-rise Skinny cord.  Or go for a true Forest colored sweater with the Josie Cardigan, so great with your dark bootcut jeans. Or try everyone’s favorite style of pleated midi skirtin Academic Green from J. Crew and pair it with a matching tissue weight Turtleneck and find a pair of matching tights, then your will be rocking the look from head to toe.  You can also break up green with denim, black and even the different shades of mustard and yellow just like Anthro does with the Josie Cardigan above!

Green is more or less what you want it to be.  Wear it head to toe or break it up with other colors or prints. As far as accessories go, I can’t say Green shoes are going to be as strong as the different shades of purple in shoes and boots, but definitely scarves and bags are where you will see it. A poncho or cape in a dark olive color would be great for a casual look with denim or black bottoms. Or add a great scarf to your camel or black coat.  I like this one from Ted Baker at Nordstrom because it has a few other colors and echos the dark floral that is so strong for Fall.

I thought I might have to break this blog into 2 weeks and I was right.  Purple and Green are the 2 biggest color trends for fall.  Next week we will talk about some of the others, like Red, Orange, Mustard and how they all go back to the classic colors of Black, Grey, Brown, Navy and Winter White that we see every fall.

I encourage you to go online and get out into the stores and discover what fall colors you love.  I am booking styling and wardrobe appointments for early October and November right now.  To book an appointment or if you have a fashion question please email me at Suethefashionista@gmail.com.

Stay colorful!

Until next time…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, it’s not really here, it’s actually the end of August while I am writing this blog. But you can sort of see the signs of Fall already if you look hard.  School is starting, it’s cooler in the mornings and evenings and some of leaves are already starting to change just a bit.  Someone said to me the other day that she hates Fall, but she is thinking about the shorter days and the rain and slight chill in the air.  I on the other hand, absolutely love Fall! I love the change of seasons, I love not being too hot wearing jeans and boots, and most of all I love the color of everything Fall.

Fall 2019 is not just a rehash of last year or the year before.  It is actually new and exciting and just doing the research for this blog there are already things I am drooling over.  There are so many great trends for Fall 2019, you won’t know where to start.  I literally want to start buying as much of it as I can, it’s fresh and beautiful.  So let’s get started so you can be as excited about it as I am!!

Fall 2019 Trends:

COLOR:

And when I say color I mean color! Head to toe color is the strongest it has ever been.  And not just dark colors, wear brights (yes the same kind of brights and neons we saw for spring) or wear pastels or wear earthy tones.  Wear what looks good on you and wear it head to toe!Here is a picture from the Max Mara website http://www.maxmara.com, this is the type of head to toe I am talking about.  And you can do the head to toe color in any color you like, here is another example in Black, also from Max Mara. Even head to toe Pistachio is a great look! And not just your clothing but color your tights to match your outfit. Colored tights are a huge trend for Fall.

But one of the other things I want to talk about when it comes to color is that everything goes for Fall 2019.  Reds, Oranges, Mustards, Greens, Grey, Black, Brown, Pinks and many more.  But one of the strongest new color is going to be Purple.  You are going to want something Purple! And every shade of purple too! This is a Vince Camuto blouse in Merlot, which is a great color to wear if you need something warmer next to your face. If you love the softer shades try a Lavender blouse by Madewell. Every shade of Purple is strong from Eggplant and Wine to Lavender.  Just wear what suits you.  And if you are not a purple fan, just give a nod to it in your accessories.

I will go into colors for Fall 2019 in depth starting next week, we may even take 2 blogs to talk about it, there are so many great colors and color combinations for Fall!

 

ROMANCE:

Romantic styles are as strong as ever.  But not like we talked about last year.  There are two sides to Fall 2019’s Romantic trend.  One is the dark rich floral prints and tones (yes, purple will pop up here again). But it isn’t just pretty dark florals, it has a bit of an edge to it.   Remember the punk trend? Well, this Fall’s Romantic trend has edgy punk pieces placed right along side of your oversize dark floral blooms. And what is the other side to this year’s Romantic trend, well let’s call it Grandma Grunge.  Antique looking tops with knits piled on top, then another knit and add pearls or a blingy broach.  You can put both sides together by wearing lace and then adding either a more casual knit piece or a combat boot. . Here is a more realistic way to really work this trend, for now wear a lacy dress with a white tee and edgy boots, later add a black cardigan and dark patterned tights.

There is so much in this trend, and you don’t have to take it to the grunge level if you don’t want to.  The Florals are beautiful and the lace is exquisite. The Myra Tiered Blouse at Anthropologie is beautifully romantic and you can wear it with your jeans. Or try the Raquel Lace Sweatshirt also from Anthro, you can wear this with a mid pleated skirt or casual with denim.

There is a ton to go through so we will dedicate an entire blog to explaining how to buy and wear this look for fall.

KNITS:

I talked about knits briefly in the Romance trend, but knits are so strong for fall, they are a trend all on their own.  Believe it or not, I even started knitting and I am so excited to put some of my own creations along side every other knit piece I will be wearing. One of the huge trends in knits is layering one on top of the other. Knits are huge when you wear them together for Fall. Try adding a scarf to a chunky sweater, or wear a knit top and skirt together. Eileen Fisher has some of the most fabulous knits and you can be guaranteed that the top will match the bottom. Try their Lux Merino wool mock neck top with the Lux stretch Merino wool pencil skirt in Deep Hemlock, or if Greens are not for you, you can do the same look in Charcoal or Black.  Start here and then layer on top with a scarf or hat that compliments.

Again there is a ton to talk about in this trend,  Fall is really all about knits.  So we will dedicate an entire blog to knits.  They will also pop up in other trends, just like the punk and grunge themed items will too.

 

QUILTING AND THE NEW UTILITY LOOKS AND FLEECE GOES MAINSTEAM:

Quilting itself is huge for Fall, so save all your puffy coats and anything you already have that’s quilted, chances are you will wear it.

Wear your quilting in coats, skirts and tops.  Bags and accessories can be quilted too. The Fonda Quilted Utility jacket at Anthro is a great way to introduce something quilted into your wardrobe. Or try a pair of Spanx quilted leggings, available at Nordstrom or where ever you see Spanx.

The other part of this trend is the Utility angle.  The basic colors of Khaki, Beige and Winter White. You might even see a little Mustard in here too. You could even go all out in the Ryanne Utility Midi Skirt at Anthro.  This would look great into fall with a pair of boots, even cowboy boots.

Oversize is kind of the key to the New Utility.  Think oversize jackets or even overalls! Or maybe even a great Denim jumpsuit would work here Pick one that shapes to your body, even if you do an oversize overall, it should show that you are still a female. This is the Citizens of Humanity Miki Denim Utility Jumpsuit from Anthro.  Great for early fall as shown and later with a turtleneck or mockneck underneath and booties.

Fleece could be a trend on it’s own, but it goes so well hand in hand with the whole New Utility look that I have to talk about them in the same blog.  Fleece, sweat materials and last year’s Teddy bear coats are all going mainstream.  Try your fleece in something unexpected like this Stateside Carey Fleece Midi Dress from Anthro.  Pair it with suede flat boots and add some knit accessories.  Or try this Shaina Fleece Pullover also from Anthro.  Pair it with denim and quilted bottoms to really own the look.

A whole blog will be dedicated to this trend too.  There are a lot of subtle elements to this trend.  A lot of how you work this trend is how you put fleece, and quilting together to make them acceptable for everyday.

 

UPDATED CLASSICS:

Party Girl is out! Lady like and Proper looks are in! What do I mean by that? Well think about how great a patterned or printed blazer and jeans look with a boot.  Take it up a notch by adding some interesting accessories that you wouldn’t have added before and you have it.

With this look you really have to channel the 1990’s.  Think big shoulder pads, leather jackets and skirts.   You can still wear your flannel or plaid shirt, just pair it differently.

I saw this Etro jacket in a magazine and instantly fell in love I can’t afford it but I want it.  The look I saw was the same outfit with the belt on the outside. This is the picture and I will be channelling this look just maybe not with a $2000 blazer.  But that’s what I am talking about, strong shoulders and an unexpected detail like the black belt with a beautiful buckel on the outside. This Fall you will want to belt your blazers and your coats.

Think lady like with edge. Adding an unexpected  item to your very classic, ladylike look. It could be a fleece lined boot, a chain belt or something with studs.

One other piece to this is the newest outerwear trend, welcome back the cape! Both Marc Jacobs and Chloe and showing them for Fall and in a another month they will be in all the stores at every price.  The one new piece of outerwear you should buy to wear with your updated classics is a cape.

We will go into more detail in an upcoming blog.  There is a new way to put classics together and accessories that bring it all together.  So stay tuned.

 

FALL PRINTS:

When we do our Fall Prints blog we will go into detail about plaid and how to wear it this year.  And go through Animal print.  It is super strong again this year.  It seems like animal print is becoming a classic for fall, so if you don’t have some now is the time. This might be the fall you buy a leopard print jacket.  This one is from J. Crew and I know Aritzia has them too. Or think about animal print accessories, J. Crew also has the perfect pair of Laney Pumps in Leopard calf that you could back into your classics and romantics too.

There is really a lot to go through in both plaids and animal prints so we do that in an entire blog.

 

SHINE ON:

Shine is back and it is strong.  Think pewtery silvers and gold lame.  This trend will not only be about all the clothing (and there will be a lot of it) but also the accessories, bags and shoes you can add in here too!And you can think about adding shine to every day not just evening.  Try a metallic colored puffer from Marc New York at Nordstrom. Or try this top from Rebecca Minkoff also at Nordstrom.  Gold is as strong if not stronger than silver.  And Rose gold too!

We will do a deep dive into this a little closer to holiday season and talk about accessories too.

I also may add in a denim blog if I don’t cover it in any of the above, this year it’s all about Bootcut, although wide and slim are still very much in style.

And if I don’t feel it’s covered we may do a shoe and accessory blog as well.  But shoes and accessories are such a huge part of all the above trends to get the look perfect we may not need to.

And as a special treat our great guest blogger, Shoshana Lewis from Shok designs will be back right before holiday season to get you ready for all the great new jewelery styles and colors.

There is so much to be excited about for Fall 2019!! And we will dive into all of it starting next week!

Until next time…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even though summer is far from over, we are more than half way through August.  In the next few days stores will be putting all their Fall merchandise out, in a few weeks all the students will be back in school.  While you may continue to wear warm weather clothing for another month but basically the end of August means the end of Summer.  So while you are on your summer schedule now is a good time to get your closet in shape for the new Fall collections.  Pick a cloudy or rainy day and get to work.

Here’s what you need to keep and what you can get rid of, sell or donate:

 

Toss:

-Anything that doesn’t fit you any longer, it’s too short, too big or too small. There is no point in keeping clothes that don’t fit, they take up valuable closet space and if they are too small they make you feel bad about yourself, if they are too big they just look bad. And if you are over 45, truly question the length of your skirts, I have to say this mini skirts are for the young and I see way too many women who should not be wearing short skirts wearing them, not a good look.

-Put away those giant oversize tote bags. They were all the rage for spring and last fall but this fall they are not.  I wouldn’t advise getting rid of them, they seem to come back every other year and if you invested in one or two, just save them.

-Slouchy boots were really strong last fall.  You may see a few this fall, but they are not the right boots for Fall 2019. There will be lots of other choices you will love coming up.

-Any A line coats, two years ago they were the coats to wear, not anymore. Stick to streamline coats and classic styles, those always seem to be in style.

-Fanny pack bags, they were in for Spring but Fall everything is more lady like, especially small very feminine bags.  So put the large ones away for now.

-Off the shoulder tops and sweaters.  We are finally starting to see the end of this trend. There are new trends in necklines so it’s definitely time to move on from this trend.

-All those shirts and sweaters or sweatshirts with sayings on them like Blonde or Brunette. Again those are pretty much done.  This season pictures on your tops are worth a 1000 of those words. Look for tops with pictures that look like they are painted on instead of tops with words on them.

-Low waisted jeans and pants. No one over 40 looks good in them anyway, so stick to high waisted (super strong for Fall ’19) or the always comfortable mid rise. You won’t see many low rise anywhere.  Truly fashionable women will be wearing high rise.

-The entire Party Girl look is out. So ditch anything that you still have from that trend. Fall 2019 is much more prim and proper but with an edge.

-One other rule I live by is that if you haven’t worn something in a year, it’s time for it to go.  For example, if you haven’t worn a coat, sweater, skirt or pair of boots last fall, you probably won’t wear it this fall (the only exception this year is your bootcut jeans) so if it’s in good condition sell it, or donate it if it’s a bit more worn.  I sell my good condition items every season and can make anywere from $800 – $2500 depending on how much I am selling.  This year I did a big shoe clean out, my shoe size has decreased since last year so no point keeping shoes that are too big even with an insole, so off to the resale store they went.

 

What to Keep:

-Denim is going to be strong.  Skinny jeans and Wide Leg are both strong. Cropped wide leg and skinny too.  But the new style of denim to wear is the bootcut! If you kept your bootcut jeans now is the time to pull them out, if not go out and buy a pair! And boot cut crops too!A darker wash is great for Fall and Winter, these KUT from the Kloth Bootcut Jeans from Nordstrom are the type of new style you will want. The bootcut is super flattering on every figure. Kut from the Kloth even has larger sizes in their very flattering high waisted Nathalie Bootcut Jean at Nordstrom.

Exposed buttons on pants and jeans are in, especially on a cropped pant or jean. You can grab this great pair of dark wash cropped, high rise button from jeans from Banana Republic.

-Everything Purple is going to be strong and in every shade of purple from lavender to eggplant.  So keep anything purple you already have and if you don’t have this color in your wardrobe maybe consider it. The darker colors of Purple are probably more flattering for fall and winter but if you love the soft lavender, now is the time.  This top is from Graham and Spense at Nordstrom Rack, not only is the purple color important but the balloon sleeve is too.

If you are not a huge fan of purple, but want to nod to the trend then pick an accessory like a scarf or hat or even pick a pair of gloves with a bit of purple on them as a nod to this trend. These gloves are from Kate Spade and you can find them at Nordstrom.  You will see purple in everything, coats, clothing, shoes, boots and bags.  So if purple is your color and I know a few women who love it, now is the time to invest and wear it constantly!

-Quilted everything! We all have puffy coats, and yes they are still super strong for fall and winter.  All those quilted vests and jackets, still going strong, especially if you have one in a bright color.  But quilting isn’t just for outerwear, it will be on skirts, pants, tops, and shoes, boots and bags. How about a Quilted A line Skirt? This skirt is at Anthroplogie.com right now.  If you love it grab it before it’s gone. And if you need a new puffer coat for fall, shine is in, so maybe try something in a color (not black) with a sheen to it like this coat from Sam Edelman at Nordstrom.com

-Keep all your knits, especially anything with a bell or balloon sleeve.  Knits are going to be huge this fall, especially layered one on top of the other.  So any sweater that has a detail on the sleeve stays in your closet. This Therese Balloon-Sleeve Sweater is available at Anthro.  Nordstrom has some too, but in another few weeks to a month they will be everywere.  So if you love it buy one and if you happen to have one (also called a Bishop Sleeve) this is the Fall to wear it.

Keep all your animal print knits.  Leopard print sweaters are coming in every shade and style. You will also see them in pants and skirts, jackets and everywhere.  If you have them, keep them. I bought this J. Crew Tippi Leopard Merino sweater last year, they don’t have it at J. Crew anymore but Nordstrom still has it, and I am going to be wearing mine this year.  You could also try something newer like a cardigan . This is J. Crew’s Sophie Open front Blazer cardigan, but you can find leopard print cardigans everywhere.  BR, Anthro and even Nordstrom have them, so choose one you like a stick with it.  If you don’t want a sweater try a skirt or blouse.  Those you can find everywhere too. BR has both of these blouses online right now, if you are adventurous try the Dillion Classic fit Shirt in Blue Leopard or if you are a leopard purist like me, the Sheer Leopard Print Peasant top is for you. You can even buy a Leopard Print Sheer Raincoat from BR but better act quick, they are already sold out of Small and Medium online.

And hang onto all your animal print bags and shoes too.

-Keep your men’s wear blazers. Blazers are super strong for fall, especially in a men’s wear print. If they have shoulder pads even better.  Those strong shoulders of the 1990’s are back again.  But this year add a punky adornment to that blazer either a studded belt or a chain broach. The look is kind of like this image I pulled off google.  Search for the look if you want to know how to do it.  A strong belt over any blazer works, more powerful is a belt with studs over a blazer. Or think chains, you will see a lot of chain belted blazers.

-Good news is that all the fleece and Teddy Bear coats you bought last year are all still strong for Fall 2019.  Your fleece is for more than the gym this year, so perk up your fleece with color and detail. You can wear your fleece jacket with trousers this year or a skirt. But if you really want to take this trend with you Anthro has a fleece dress and pencil skirt either the Stateside  Fleece Midi Dress or the Stateside Pencil skirt would work this Fall.

-Keep all your plaid, all the flannel shirts and all the pants.  Even plaid coats and jackets.  You will still wear them. This year you will wear your plaid bottoms with new oversize knits or with fleece and any plaid shirt you have will look great over bootcut jeans. Or try something like this Cisse Textured Plaid Cardigan from Equipment at Nordstrom. Plaid is as strong as ever!

-Keep all your bright colors. Fall 2019 is all about color. Of course Black never goes out of style and all the classics are still strong, black, camel, navy and grey.  But we already talked about Purple, keep Red, Burgundy, Mustard and Olive.  You will be wanting to wear those colors too.  And all shades of each color, think crabapple red or butterscotch caramel or even chili pepper orange.  The more color for fall the better!

-Keep your jumpsuits! Wide leg, Slim leg and cropped, they are all still going to work for Fall.

Denim Jumpsuits are going to be everywhere.  This one is from J. Crew.

 

This should give you guys a really good guideline when going through your wardrobe of what you will want to hang onto and what you will want to toss.  Keep wearing your spring and summer for the time being but now that it’s mid August it’s really time to plan for Fall.  Do you need help figuring out your closet?  I am available for personal closet wardrobing.  I bet I can find all sorts of new outfits in your closet you haven’t even thought of.  If you want to book an appointment just email me at Suethefashionista@gmail.com I am in Vancouver all of September and can help you get ready for fall.

There will be no blog next week August 28, but starting September 4 we will be going through all the fall trends and then each week one by one so you can see all that is out there.  Any questions about fashion please use the same email above.

 

Until next time…