Best Fall Looks Right Now

Fall fashion is always romantic, cozy, and breezy, which makes it something to look forward to even as you’re dreading a long winter. But even in places like New York (where I used to live), where fall only seems to last a couple of fleeting weeks, you can continue to use the layers throughout the winter, tastefully dressing around the added bulk. And in places like Tucson, where I live now, fall pretty much lasts all winter, so I can really get a lot of mileage out of my fall clothes. If I pick up any extra pieces this fall-winter, these are the ones I’m looking for:

1. Plaid and more plaid!

Yep, plaid flannel shirts are still “in.” I’m not sure why, but they are cute and comfy, so I won’t argue.

2. Hunter rain boots

These adorable wellies, or galoshes, are not just for rain anymore. They look good paired with almost anything, thanks to their classic look. I prefer them in army green, but nowadays, you can get them in almost any color. You can shop on Hunter’s USA website, and Nordstrom has a great selection, but you can find them elsewhere online if you shop around.

3. Leaf motifs

I have seen some creative uses of leaves lately, both in accessories and in clothing designs. I myself have a felt leaf barrette (pictured) that I bought in Brooklyn, and it’s one of my favorite hair adornments for the fall.

4. Slim trench coats

It seems like everyone’s wearing a trenchcoat this season, whether in black, red, or traditional khaki. The trick this season is to get it snugly fit enough that it almost looks like a wrap dress, and to actually use the buckle (don’t just tie it in a knot like some purists insist). Target has a cute version with piping (pictured above) on sale for about 50 bucks. Compare that to the ones at Gap and Banana Republic, which go for well over $100, and you have yourself a deal.

4. Bow ties

The cool thing about menswear is that women can wear it too, but I have to admit that this look mainly works for guys. Especially hot Matt Smith type guys.

Also worth mentioning…

Downton Abbey-era fashion, charcoal  grey outerwear, suspenders, brown leather, thick knits, tweed, and anything with a natural, woodsy feeling. Think English countryside on the day of the hunt. This is a good thing. But just once I wish I could say that top hats were coming back in fashion. Surprise me next season, world!

Adam Scott poses with wildlife

Here’s a great fashion spread starring the super cute Adam Scott from Parks and Recreation and countless other hilarious projects, posing with taxidermed animals while wearing sharp-looking suits.

Link: http://dsreps.com/blog/?p=3729

Read This: Fashion Review of the Republican National Convention

Buzzfeed published a hilarious roundup of the fashions on display at the RNC this past week. While I firmly disagree with their placement of the 1920s guy in the “drab” category, kudos for pointing out the awesomeness of bear hats, Abe Lincoln, and hats made out of beer boxes.

Check it out:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/fab-or-drab-at-the-republican-national-convention

Rebecca Hall’s weird earring

What is up with this earring Rebecca Hall was wearing at the Moet British Independent Film Awards? It’s more of an ear cuff and it appears to be on only one ear. Somehow it feels reminiscent of jewelry from India. I was able to find a few other examples of similar pieces, pictured below, by searching for “ear cuff,” so I suppose it may be a trend. What do you think?

Why don’t they make mascara like this?

You know, pushing mascara up against your lashes with no more leverage than, well, eyelashes is a total waste of time. If you’re going to get any effective coverage, you need something more to push the mascara brush up against. Why don’t they make mascara brushes like this (see above), like a curling iron? Get back to me on this, cosmetics companies.

Best and Worst Dressed at the 2012 Golden Globes

The 69th annual Golden Globe Awards took place yesterday, and there were plenty of interesting fashion choices on display. Many were tasteful, and some were terrifying, but mostly it was a good year for understated elegance. Here are my favorite (and least favorite) looks of the night:

Best Dressed: Reese Witherspoon! I love the neckline. Simple but quite flattering! And it reminds me of Jessica Rabbit, which could come off as tacky but she gets it right.

Runner up: Robert Downey, Jr. Hooray for tails!

Worst Dressed: This one is a tie between Jessica Biel and Elle MacPherson. What was either of them thinking? Or rather, what were their stylists thinking? Jessica Biel looks like a dowdy old woman, and Elle MacPherson looks like a crazy person. Bad celebrities!

Street Style: Cats and Dogs

A cat print dress and houndstooth coat equal one excellent look! Local fashionista Degas Lopez exemplifies modern vintage chic with her adorable frock and outerwear at the Seashell Radio show at Plush in Tucson on Saturday, November 26th.

My recent TV-inspired purchases

As much as I love TV (and I really love TV, especially when accompanied by beer), I usually can’t bring myself to buy TV-themed fashion. However, my recent discovery of The Only Way is Essex, which is basically the British version of The Hills, prompted me to search on Zazzle for the “I (Heart) Essex Girls” shirt that the dude is wearing in the speed dating episode, and while I didn’t find that (no surprise there…having worked in the souvenir field I can tell you that the “I (Heart) New York” people are notoriously litigious when it comes to people ripping off their shirts), I did find the same design on a tote bag (see link here). Sure, some people may think I’m a lesbian, but that’s a risk I’m willing to take for a vague TV reference that nobody will get. Note that there is also an “I (Heart) Essex Boys” version, but anyone who’s seen the show knows that the Essex boys are way less hilarious.

My next goal when I have a little more money is this t-shirt, naturally:

Since I was already in a TV memorabilia mindset, I searched for True Blood and found a few good things. I always thought the Merlotte’s shirt was cute, but that’s a little much even for me. “Team Eric” seemed a possibility for about a second until I realized I wasn’t 13. Then I discovered it: a Lafayette-themed shirt (link here) that says exactly what my mouth is usually saying without me having to say it! This will save me a lot of time.

I’d better not run into Pam when I’m wearing it though, because she hasn’t done that in a long, long time…

Seriously, Payless?

Shooties and bootines? Okay, now Payless is just makin’ stuff up.

Stars with Style: Lucy Woodward

Verve recording artist Lucy Woodward has been performing with the Portland-based band Pink Martini lately, but she has been dazzling audiences with her amazing vocal talent and delightful fashion sense for years. I got the chance to chat with the songstress at Pink Martini’s concert at Central Park’s Summerstage on July 17th, where she wore the fabulous green and white dress pictured above. The dress, which is from Shareen Vintage, went perfectly with the sun-dappled backdrop of the park, and it exhibits one of my favorite summer trends, bold tropical prints.

Here’s a look at some of Lucy’s other great looks!

 

Four shoes to get you through the fall

Well technically, the title should say “eight shoes,” since you wouldn’t get very far with one of each. Shoes are an expensive habit if you constantly follow the trends, but you only really need a few good basics, which leaves you free to splurge on the occasional ridiculous trend (I’d like to point out, however, that I refuse to purchase espadrilles this summer. You can’t make me do it!). Here are four classic shoes that will take you into winter in style.

The Slingback Heel

Everybody looks sexy in slingback heels. It’s just science.

The Mary Jane

Fans of the comfort and cuteness of Mary Janes will be glad to see that there are dozens of varieties available nowadays besides the chunky-heeled, black patent leather kind that look like tap shoes without the tap. Here are just a few cute ones.

 

The Ankle Boot

Still as popular as ever, ankle boots are just a great way to look put-together without being too dressy. They’re also a great way to get through the ups and downs of autumn weather with dry feet.

 

The Ballet Flat

Maybe it’s not that new or fresh, but come on, who doesn’t rely on ballet flats year-round? There are lots of cute ones around this year too.

Fall 2011 trend predictions

There are plenty of runway trends that will inevitably trickle down to the streets this fall, some of them regrettable (ponchos, anyone?). And why are designers always trying to get us to wear jewel tones? It’s not gonna happen! But these are a few pieces I’m looking forward to seeing a lot more of this fall, if my predictions are correct.

Caps

I’ve already stated my weariness with the fedora trend, and I’m not suggesting anyone go Samuel L. Jackson or Newsies with a newsboy cap. I’m talking about floppy tweed caps, with or without a buckle. There are military-style caps with a flat top and equestrian-looking caps like the second one pictured. They make just about anyone look good, and they have a retro appeal that’s subtle, rather than overwhelming.

Sweaters with skirts

Speaking of caps, Jean-Luc Godard wears an excellent one in the photo below, which also displays one of my favorite fall looks — a sweater with a knee-length schoolgirl-esque skirt. Tights or long socks, ballet flats or oxfords — whatever you choose to wear below the knee is up to you. But keep the sweater baggy like Anna Karina does to avoid coming off too much like a schoolgirl of the X-rated variety.

Floor-length hems

Sure, it’s completely impractical in a city like New York (I shudder to think of a walk through the subway in one of these), but floor-skimming dresses and coats make a dramatic impression. Yes, that means you can dig that maxi dress from 2009 out of your closet and give it new life. It’s a recession, some trend recycling can be forgiven.

Red hair and natural makeup

This photo of Alyson Hannigan pretty much says it all. Red hair, natural makeup, check. Unlike last year’s trend of bright red lipstick and pale skin, vampire-style, this year it’s all about looking healthy and alive. Interesting to think about what that means in terms of us and the direction our culture is headed. Perhaps things are looking up?

Minimal jewelry

When fall comes, it’s time to put away the oversized, clunky necklaces that go so well with summer’s exuberant personality and focus on simple pieces that speak of timelessness. Simple pendants that have sentimental value (like cameos and coins, pictured below) are perfect for this time of year, which is all about getting serious again after a season full of reckless abandon.

Ditch the fedora and get a straw cloche

I know, I know, straw fedoras are cheap and you can wear them with anything, but right now you can’t walk down the street without seeing about a thousand people wearing them. This trend was tired even before it started — the entire cast of The Hills was wearing them years ago, as I recall. So ditch the fedora and pick up a flattering and versatile cloche, which will take you from summer to fall with a touch of class.

Cloches don’t necessarily have to be stiff and fussy, although a visit to a vintage store will turn up dozens of those. In this Gossip Girl still, Leighton Meester wears the Louise Green Emily cloche (thanks to Kelly Brown from Fashion Picks for posting about this!). It is a breezy, summery alternative to wool and felt cloche hats, and while this elegant version goes for $245, Nordstrom has a similar straw cloche on sale for $23.90! (picture and link below)

Torrid also has a cute black version for $18, pictured below.

Yay hats!

The Vans x Santigold Sneaker!

Exciting news! I’ve long been a fan of indie musician and Defiant Fashion Star with Style Santigold, whose unique fashions set her apart from her less awesomely dressed indie comrades. Well, Vans apparently agrees with me, because they have issued a limited edition sneaker in collaboration with Santigold! The shoe is called the Tosha Hi collab sneaker, and it is being sold exclusively by Karmaloop.com. These fabulous black and gold chain sneakers are right up my alley since I’m a sucker for fake gold, and I kinda wish I could afford a pair. What do you think of them?

The best of Target’s designer diffusion lines returning!!

As you’ve probably already gathered from the commercials Target‘s been scattering about, there is something very exciting happening, at least for fashion fans who don’t mind waiting in line or showing up early. The major retailer is having a “Best of” sale featuring 17 of the designer diffusion lines from over the years! They’re calling it the GO International Designer Collective, and some of the designers featured include Thakoon, Rodarte, Zac Posen, Jonathan Saunders, and Tara Jarmon. With two looks each, that means 34 outfits will be available at reasonable prices. The sale lasts March 13th through April 10th, and you can shop in the stores or online.

Yahoo’s Shine has a preview of the looks that will be on sale — check it out!