Fall Essentials

Fall is an exciting season for fashion. Designers release new lines that explode in vivid colors. Models grace the runway wearing everything from wool to leather. Magazines are filled with images of cool-weather wear, accessories and perfect evening wear for your holiday parties. Dressing for fall is an opportunity to express your personal style, and it is right around the corner.

When fall arrives, it brings the promise of new fashion and a fresh start. Shopping for weather-appropriate apparel is a necessity when you live in an area that is drastically colder when the season changes. Select a few transitional pieces that can be worn in both warm and cool conditions. Choose garments that can be layered for the optimum effect. Cardigans or blazers paired with lightweight blouses and camisoles are great options for the first few unpredictable days of the fall season in which the weather starts off cool, then gradually warms as the day progresses. Pair skirts and dresses with leggings or tights and boots to incorporate a chic yet season-appropriate look. 

And don't forget, the fall season comes with a lineup of parties and events for the holidays. A fall wardrobe for the festivities, including holiday parties, may require dressy evening wear and sophisticated cocktail dresses that are appropriate for business events.

Anything Goes
Fall brings new trends and fabrics. Each year, designers implement both traditional and modern. Coat lengths and styles vary and are made in an array of fabrics from plaid to animal prints. Wrap coats from pea coats to trench coats with coordinating belts for easy closure are stylish outwear options. If you prefer a more traditional form, try the ever popular button-down coat. Look for matching coordinates. Fall fashion designs provide the perfect opportunity to coordinate jackets with slacks and suits.

Long, extended pants are another popular choice for fall. Select slacks that are long and wide in traditional fall colors such as black, dark gray and brown to create the illusion of longer legs and a slim silhouette.

Accessorize.....accessorize....
Common accessories for the fall season are belts, hats and scarves in neutral colors. Surprisingly, pastel hues are also suitable choices for the fall. Typically debuting in the spring, pale shades consisting of light blues and pinks show up in winter scarves and hats. Choose accessories that complement and accent the staple pieces of your outfit. You might try pairing a light blue pastel scarf with a dark gray fall suit. The contrast between light and dark makes any ensemble stand out in the crowd. Fedoras and wide-brimmed hats add a little something extra to your look in addition to keeping you warm; choose several hats to express your personality from wool, felt, suede and crochet.

Remember to break the rules when you dress for the fall season. New fall fashions break the monotony of tradition and defy cliches. Women walk the streets in dark slacks paired with light-colored coordinating pieces. Light, floral prints pair well with dark work wear. Short or long, warm or cool -- there is something for everyone when dressing for the fall season.

-Carrie