Trend Watch

Trends to Fall For

by Jordan Wolf on August 16, 2011 at 03:54AM

Ready or not, Fall is nearly here, and you know what that means – change! A new season brings a whole new style, with new shapes to size up, new colors to wear, and of course - new trends to watch. Here are a few of our favorites from the Fall 2011 runways. Which looks are you falling for?

Mod Squad

Spring runways may have brought back the glamorous and bohemian style of the seventies, but designers of autumn’s sixties-inspired fashions were taking style cues from across the pond. London looks were seen at Jil Sander, Prada, Bottega Veneta, and of course at Burberry, where creative director Christopher Bailey named sixties supermodel Jean Shrimpton as his inspiration for the label’s collection.

Jewel Tones

Bold, beautiful color rarely goes out of style - consider Fall’s jewel-toned color palette as the answer to Spring’s electric-brights. With neutrals like black and gray usually dominating the dreary runways of Fall/Winter collections, the rich, saturated hues at Isaac Mizrahi, Giambattista Valli, Cynthia Steffe, and Blumarine, among others, were a welcome break from tradition. Even Karl Lagerfeld's somber, post-apocalyptic collection for Chanel was not immune from the occasional blast of deep teal or cranberry.

Dots

From classic polkas, to sculptural circles and blown-up spots, humble dots made their mark on Fall’s runways in a big way. Marni showed their signature quirk with a graphic circular pattern, while Marc Jacobs explored the entire spectrum of spots from big to small. Dots were glam at L.A.M.B., and Stella McCartney took the concept one step further by incorporating three-dimensional dot embellishments onto sheer and solid dresses.

Plaid

Okay, so plaid is an unlikely candidate for any list of latest trends, but sometimes it’s the underdog that ends up the hero. It stole the scene at statement-maker Jean Charles de Castelbajac’s show, and turned heads at cult-label Rag & Bone, where mixed up plaids somehow slipped seamlessly into the collection’s graphic grunge aesthetic. Tartan turned up again at Sonia Rykiel, where it looked surprisingly posh and ladylike, and again at Thakoon, whose bold red-and-cobalt pattern was shockingly chic.

Structured Style

If Summer’s must-have silhouette was the easy, breezy midi/maxi skirt or sundress, then Fall’s go-to has got to be a return to structured, suit-style dressing. But forget about the icky pants-suits and ill-fitting “professional attire” of yore, and open your mind to sexy tailored suits made from fabric that flows, as seen at Yves Saint Laurent (worn with nothing underneath) and Michael Kors. If you’re not willing to suit up entirely, take a cue from the classic black-and-white combos of Ralph Lauren, or the ladylike embellishments on blouses and tailored jackets at Jason Wu.

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