Welcome to the best season of the year!! Every summer we start to preview what the next fall is going to look like. There is nothing like fall for fashionistas, the colors, the fabrics and the layers all work to make us feel like it is really the best of what fashion has to offer. I get so excited when I start to see the fall clothes in the stores and even the magazines get my heart pumping. I want to warn you this is going to be a longer blog as I decided to talk about each trend in one blog and then spend one blog over the next weeks on each trend.
I cleaned out my closet over a month ago to get it ready for fall 2017. I kept all the investment pieces, suede boots, black blazer etc. But made way for what is new. I am not advocating everyone do this. But there is a lot to be excited about for fall 2017. What I am going to do in this blog is introduce you to all the major trends and then over the next month or so we can go into each one in-depth. But if you were to ask me what is the one item you could buy to take last year’s wardrobe into this fall I would say it should be something RED. A pair of boots, a blazer or jacket or dress. 
These boots are from Top Shop and available at Nordstrom in the US and the Bay in Canada. Red is one of the new it colors and you are going to want something red and fashionable in your closet.
The New Sporty School Girl Trend:
The first trend we are going to look at is one that takes all the sporty looks from past seasons and modernizes them. This is where you will find all the nordic sweaters and patterns that are so fall 2017. 
This Sara merino wool sweater from Tory Burch at Nordstrom is an example of what the nordic trend looks like. But this trend also includes all the different styles of varsity looking jackets 
Trouve, Nordstrom’s house brand has a great looking varsity jacket at a reasonable price. 
Or use this trend in your fall outerwear as BCBG makes a long varsity jacket that works as a coat! Your puffer coats also work in this trend, just make sure you have a bright color like red, 
nothing keeps you warmer in the winter than a great Canada Goose parka with fur trim. The fur trim is also trendy this season.
Besides outerwear, think to your self what else would be sporty and school girl. Plaid pants and plaid skirts 
like this Halogen ( Nordstrom) plaid pencil skirt. Also remember how great our chinos feel, well you can wear them with this trend 
Remember when I told you dark denim is in for fall, this is where you could add your dark denim pieces either on the bottom or on the top. A great denim shirt with chinos or a dark denim jacket with the plaid skirt.
Colors important to this fall trend are Navy, Khaki, Gold and Red.
Suits, suits and even more suits
Just because Hillary Clinton isn’t President doesn’t mean women have stopped wearing suits. Her signature pant suit is super trendy for fall in every print, color and pattern. Suiting is stronger than ever and the pant suit is where it is all at. 
I am a huge Hugo Boss fan, I love the way their clothes fit. This Hug Boss Julea stretch wool blazer and pants will be no exception. Done in a fabulous grey check it really stands out. Checks, Glen Plaids and all kinds of patterns should be done in your suiting. Or go completely monochromatic and do one color like camel or red, head to toe. 
The important thing with the suiting trend is that all your accessories are feminine. Use things like ruffles and bows and feminine details in your shoes and bags to make this year’s suiting trend work.
Pick a blouse with either a ruffle sleeve or collar or both! Or a pretty pattern with your suiting. This is the CeCe Ruffle crepe blouse and it is available at Nordstrom. But don’t keep your feminine details with your suits just to the tops you wear. Make the entire statement new by using a dressier shoe, and up to the minute accessories. 
Halogen’s lace up D’Orsay pump is the perfect feminine touch for your feet with a suit. 
And you could either tie a beautiful silk scarf at the neck (Collection XIIX Paisley scarf at Nordstrom) or go feminine with Bauble Bar’s 3 layer choker necklace 
also at Nordstrom.
The key to this trend is to make your suit look feminine. Use a statement necklace, shoe or even belt ( more on that later) to make you look like a lady!
Maximalist:
This next chapter of fall 2017 is for all those 80’s girls who couldn’t wait to over do it again. It is the exact opposite of the Minimalist trend from the past couple of seasons. Instead of streamlined head to toe think of every piece you are wearing being over the top. Over the top prints are here, worn head to toe
. Take this suit from Whitehouse Blackmarket in their floral print ( dark florals are huge for fall in every trend). But instead of wearing it understated like in the picture, to achieve Maximalist you would wear a print shirt 
in a similar but not matching print (also WHBM) or 
a very detailed solid color blouse ( WHBM) and then add 
either a patterned bootie (Kenneth Cole) or slide or one with jewels on it 
(Jeffrey Campbell). Early in the season wear slides or mules and later switch to booties. Then just make sure your handbag is as over the top as the rest of you and you are set. 
Ted Baker London makes great floral and intricately detailed handbags that aren’t too expensive. You will also see leopard print back for fall in a few trends, maybe this is where you add a leopard print bag or booties.
Just remember that everything is supposed to be over the top. You can do skirts and dresses both making a statement, with statement accessories. Or if you are like me and will not totally embrace this trend but still want to be fashionable, pick one over the top piece, like the booties above and wear them with textured pants or a print shirt and dark jeans. There will lots of this trend explored later in the season.
Americana
The Americana trend is really the old Boho trend from last fall. The only difference is it has totally been americanized. Think Charlies Angels in the 1970’s, lots of denim, corduroy and shearling. You could even nod to Cowgirl style here.
this is the Standards and Practice denim shirt dress from Nordstrom. Shirt dresses are huge right now in lots of different fabrics. But I really like them in denim or chambray. You could wear this dress almost anywhere. This is where you classic Frye boot comes in 
you can’t go wrong with their classic Melissa boot ( Nordstrom has it in wide calf too!) On the top add something shearling
like Lost and Wanders Piper Shearling Vest (Nordstrom) or you can’t go wrong with a leather or suede jacket either. 
Sanctuary has a great faux suede moto jacket that you could wear over denim.
You will still see some embroidery on denim and some light colors. My best advice is to stick to dark denim because it will work in almost every trend for fall but if you already have light denim you can wear it in this trend.
With your accessories here think Folkloric, so 
a denim looking leather saddlebag would work here (Brahim Andesite Lucca Sonny Crossbody Bag) and 
fringe earrings by Baublebar in a complimentary color.
Since most of us have Boho items from last year and remember what Americana looks like from the 70’s this trend shouldn’t be hard to figure out. I personally like any trend where I can pull out my Frye boots again!
The next 3 trends we would put together in to one big one. But I will go through them each individually just a bit briefer because they do intertwine a little bit.
Disco
Yup, it’s back. Not the music but some of the style. Now don’t go looking for Saturday Night Fever outfits quite yet, this time we are adding a bit of a modern twist to the trend. This is where you find all your really shiny fabrics and metallics. Sequins are a huge part of this trend and then pull in some disco staples like platforms and jumpsuits mixed with modern over the knee boots and mini dresses and you have it.
One of the biggest trends here is wearing super mini dresses, like almost a top with no bottoms. 
I actually don’t blog about it a lot but I do love Banana Republic, I just find them hit and miss sometimes. This season they seem to have nailed it. A lot of their dresses aren’t as mini as the trend is showing but the right kind of mini for women who are in their 40’s and over. Their animal print tie waist shift dress has a bit of sheen to it so it works in this trend. I would wear the mini dresses almost like tops if you want with either skinny dark denim on the bottom or dark leggings. This is where you can wear your brightly colored off the shoulder detailed tops like this one from J. Crew in the warm jade color.
Your pleated midi skirts in a shiny or metallic fabric work here too. And don’t forget sequins! J. Crew hasn’t either in
early fall with their Collection Sequined Stripe top.
Jumpsuits are still strong. They totally fit into this trend 
WHBM’s Black Overlay Jumpsuit works perfectly here. But instead of strappy heels add platforms 
. These Steve Madden Circuit Sandals harken back to old-time disco and in this season’s it color Red.
Keep all your accessories here metallic or sequined. Shiny is the key!
This Celine Dion Faux leather Clutch from Nordstrom will be perfect.
Most of us already have something sequined or shiny. I happen to have a vintage sequin top that my mother bought in the 1950’s, I will wear that with wider leg black pants as my nod to this trend. Think of what you have in your closet already that could work with the disco trend. Either a pair of platforms or something metallic or sequin is all you really need.
Make this trend new by adding a pair of over the knee boots 
This pair is from WHBM but they are everywhere. Chances are you likely already have a pair, so wear them with your shorter dresses and you will completely make this trend your own.
Glamour
Yes Glamour is in and undone is out. Everyone loves it when they look glamorous. Wear all your ruffle tops in this trend 
. Pull out all your ruffles from seasons past in every color and print and wear them for fall. Velvet is a big part of this trend and super important for Fall 2017. So pull out your velvet. 
Wear your velvet tops here or back into the disco trend. This top is a simple velvet top from Eileen Fisher. Another great place to add velvet is on the bottom like these velvet leggings
from Nordstrom. Wear them with Ruffle or print tops, especially leopard print and add a dressy mule like above. 
Even a great pair of velvet jeans would work here, these are from Veronica Beard at Nordstrom. 
Even our sweatshirts are going glamorous with satin bows on the sleeves by Sanctuary. In this trend wear this sweatshirt with dark floral or print pants and velvet or suede booties.
And yes I am thrilled that leopard print is a huge part of this trend. It is my favorite print and I really think one piece in an outfit makes it look great.
You could wear a very feminine coat in the leopard print by Badgley Mischka with a faux fur collar. Or go as subtly as a pair of Steve Madden sneakers 
. But my favorite ways to wear leopard is either in a sweater or top
this sweater will soon be in Banana Republic stores. Or I love leopard print booties or clutches. 
Dolce Vita has a great pair of booties at Nordstrom and even though it is not a clutch I love this Clare V. Petite Simple Leopard print tote.
It’s small enough that it works cross body too. If you have leopard print wear it, if you don’t buy one piece like a scarf or belt as a nod to this glamorous fabric.
Romance
We have had the Romantic trend in fall before. Here is where you find all the dark florals and lace and statement accessories that can marry the last two trends, disco and glamour, all together with this one. 
One of my favorite looks that illustrates this trend best is from WHBM. Their Long Sleeve Floral Lace shift dress looks fabulous with black over the knee suede boots. The dress isn’t super short but short enough to work. Think dark florals, lace and metallic accessories here. Any dark patterned ruffle top will work. 
This Trouve suplice tie top from Nordstrom will work with a darker bottom and suede or lace. Shoes need to be statement here like 
these Vince Camuto pumps which come in this wonderful black and midnight multi color. All your accessories need to be statement too. Big belts are back and this Black Corset belt from WHBM is 
perfect this season. This is where you pull out your statement necklaces once again, 
we all have them, but if you don’t this one is from Banana Republic.
Even your gloves should be a statement! Like these from Nordstrom.
Just think romantic and wear what works. I love dark floral tops and dark ruffles with dark denim and suede booties for a wonderful fall look. I also love dark floral dresses with suede boots. Be true to what you love and just glam it up a bit.
You can see that the last 3 trends really do intertwine. You can mix and match them completely. But in the coming weeks we will go into more detail on each so you are ready when the fall weather hits.
I am going to close this blog with talking about colors for fall. Color works through every trend and sometimes adding just one new color and one new piece to your existing wardrobe will make it look new.
If you are going to buy one new things make it RED! A pair of boots, gloves, coat. Red is the most important new color to the fall palette. Purple and varieties of purple red are also important, which means keep all your plums and bordeaux, you will be wearing it again. Dark pink is still strong, so if you invested in a dark pink cashmere piece last fall you can still wear it. Black of course will always be strong but the new neutrals are Midnight navy and camel or vicuna. All of those work as a great base if you are tired of black.
I know this is a lot to digest in one blog. We will start going through each trend in-depth next week. Once we go though each trend we will do accessories and beauty for fall. I love to hear your feedback and suggestions so please keep them coming. In the meantime if you need help navigating fall styles just email me and set up an appointment. I am back working again as of Sept 1. Email me at Suethefashionista@gmail.com with fashion questions or to set up a styling appointment.
Until next time…
