Trends | Fashion

You may not be ready to say goodbye to summer, but you are probably ready to dive right into the exciting new trends coming up for fall. Just remember to look before you leap to choose the looks that fit your taste, lifestyle and body type the best!

Color blocking continues into fall with bursts of color that came on the scene this spring. Clothing cut in a 70’s style—especially wide leg and flared leg high-waisted pants—is a trend you’ll see a lot of as well. Phillip Lim, BCBG Max Azria and Rag & Bone are three designers who are doing great color blocking pieces for fall. All the denim companies are adding flared and wide leg jeans to their rosters in a variety of widths and waist heights, making it easy to find the best fit for each shape. Watch what comes down the line from NYDJ, James Jeans and J Brand.

Someone who is really going to have fun with color blocking is bold and expressive. S/he is artsy and creative and comfortable with mixing colors. This person likes to go out, have a good time and be social. The best way to incorporate color blocking is to flatter the physique. If pear shaped, wear a darker bottom with a brighter top. If apple shaped, show off the bottom half by wearing a darker top paired with a skirt or pants in a bright color. Or, keep it neutral in the clothing department and make a statement with colorful accessories that distract from the body altogether. Just keep it minimal—it’s a fine line between chic and clown. One accessory in one color complementary to a dominant color in the outfit is fun and dramatic, any more than that is just too much. Bold colors also transition from day into night; there’s nothing more fun than a pop of color in the form of a clutch or a shoe with a little black dress! Moving towards winter you can still wear color by mixing in fall browns and winter whites.

The woman who wears a 70’s look is romantic, flirty and comfortable in her skin. This is a very feminine look, but it is also strong—think Bianca Jagger. Wide leg jeans are best worn with a feminine blouse tucked in and platform or wedge shoes/boots. Tucking in the top will elongate the legs, as will the height of the shoes. This look works best on someone with a long waist, but a boot leg jean will give a shorter waisted person the same effect. The boot leg jean has a lower waist and the slight flare at the bottom will create a similar effect to the wide leg (and give you a break from the skinny jean trend of late). Complete the look with a chunky gold necklace, slouchy hobo bag and platform shoes. A long knit scarf and floppy hat will carry this look through the fall and into winter. Wide leg jeans in dark denim can definitely transition from day to night. Dressing them up with jewelry, a sexy blouse, and a strappy wedge sandal will have you dancing the night away.

Both of these looks say, “confident, successful and current.” But remember that all trends work best in moderation. You have to wear pieces that express your personality and are appropriate to your lifestyle—so keep it simple if you are more conservative and have a little fun if you want to get noticed!