Recently, the Fashion Group International (FGI) issued its ‘Best Bets’ fall trends based on the Ready-to-Wear collections shown on the runways in Paris, Milan, London and New York. Among the top picks are: outerwear, texture, shearling, leather, knits, turtlenecks, prints, plaids, intarsia, the shopping bag, the bucket bag and booties.
You might be thinking that many of these have been on the list year after year. So, what’s different? Well, as usual, there’s a twist to ‘what’s old is new again.’ The lines get a little blurred, but in the end, your fashion statement will be your signature style. How are you interpreting these best bets? What will you do to incorporate these into your wardrobe? Can you take existing pieces and re-brand them to look fresh and current? Here are some of my favorites from this year’s list:
[prints]
These are usually seen in the spring and summer, but for fall, they take on a whole new life. Op Art is demonstrated in the Dries Van Noten print dress. Animal prints never go away, and this season, the leopard dominated the runway. You’ll also see numbers on garments, as in Tom Ford’s 61 (his birth year). Look for a splurge of patterns that include plaids and tartans.
[knits]
The new element here is the 3-D printed knits. They have defied modern technology and are best demonstrated at the house of Pringle. You’ll see intricate designs, cozy, oversized silhouettes, and knit pants. A go-to item knit is the turtleneck, not just the basic, but with extra fabric, interesting folds, even enough to cover your head and hands.
[coats]
According to FGI (and I concur), if you could buy only one item for fall…it should be the coat. “It’s the fashion must-have of the season because it makes all existing coats look old.” The new coats come in all shapes, sizes, colors and lengths; they’re wrapped, self-belted and caped.
[color]
A multitude of colors was seen on the runway, and the conclusion is there is no one dominant color story to tell. Green was a favorite among the designers, so you’ll see it in many shades. Ditto for gray. There are pops of neon reminiscent of the ’60s. Don’t worry… black is back, along with neutrals, reds and autumn colors.
[accessories]
Run out and get the latest version of athletic-inspired shoes. When done working out, strut your stuff in an ankle bootie. And note, handbags have a new silhouette: the shopping bag. But you won’t be on the outs if you show up in two older faves, the bucket bag and the backpack.
by Ellen Nisenson Soule
