Fall Fashion Must Haves

from the September 2013 edition of Sassy Magazine

I am drying for all the new trends this season. So much so that I have become a bit overwhelmed! Honestly, I found that my shopping list was longer than my budget. Something had to be done.
I needed to consult with some colleagues.

I spent some time talking-shop with a Hollywood stylist in LA a few weeks ago. Our girl’s lunch consisted of a lot of hummus and fashion magazines! Here is the list of this season’s top 5 MUST have’s we’ve come up with!

STATEMENT JACKET A great outdoor coat will go over last season’s jeans, and the leggings and turtleneck you’ve been wearing for years. Get creative with your choice this year.  Consider a vintage find.  Try belting it with a wide leather belt. 

SOMETHING LEATHER For me, I will be going for a leather skirt, leather tank-style top and leather trimmed leggings. Oh wait – I said one thing leather didn’t I? OI!  Look at your lifestyle and see what fits in best and will be the most wearable for you. The best thing about this season’s leather pieces are that they aren’t REALLY leather…they are pleather (and most are washable!). 

CUTE SASSY SWEATSHIRT This will be something you can DIY very easily.  The trendy style these days is a sweatshirt with a lace insert on the back, sheer sleeves or interesting detail on the seams. Check out ideas how to DIY from Pinterest. This trend is available at every price point, and is something sassy business execs and moms on the go definitely need in their fall wardrobe. 

BOOTIE The shoe boot is back with a vengeance this season!  This season feel free to wear that shoe-boot (or bootie) with EVERYTHING!  Skirts, pants, jeans, leggings - and dare I say shorts?  Opt for one with an open toe, and wear it with tights. Yes…I said open toe and tights! 

 
GREEN and BLUE - when Pantone named Emerald the color of the year, they weren't kidding!  Hues of greens and blue-greens are everywhere. The great thing about these tones is they look great on just about everyone! If you are a traditionalist (and by that I mean someone who only wears black), then accessorize in the season’s hot hues.

Fall 2013 Trends…get a little new fashion now

(from Sassy Magazine)

Early Season Trend Report

It’s that time of year again, the season change, our closets change, and our hankering for a few new things in our wardrobe goes up a notch! Here are a few quick ideas how to start feeling trendy as we transition into fall. Here is a glimpse into what to be on the lookout for as we transition into fall.

PRINTS and TEXTURE 
For fall 2013, prints go back to basic. Hounds tooth, plaid, pinstripe, leopard all make a bold entrance into boutiques and malls. The IT pattern this season will be hounds tooth. This pattern will be seen in many color combinations. Noteworthy tip: many of these prints have a distinct menswear feel. Try to shy away from wearing these prints as structured office pieces, but rather choose a menswear print with feminine details.

This pattern trend has a very Americana feel – think Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Burberry.
To contrast the masculine feel of hounds tooth, polka dots will be seen, and look super cool in a contrast color next to the neutral menswear feel of the season’s other masculine-feel prints.
Mixing this season is about hard and soft pieces and mixing pattern and texture (like in Spring/Summer).

HOW TO WEAR IT: To balance the masculine feel to prints is a strong screen print feel to bold patterns. Look for this in shirtdresses and blouses.

Mixing solid colors to create color blocked looks was seen on a lot on runways during fashion week. Try the color blocked look with one unexpected color, like Koi or Vivacious (see colors).

COLORS
Kermit might think it is not easy being green, but I think we’ve all come to love Emerald and all hues of green this summer. If you’ve embraced and come to depend on those greenish hues in your wardrobe, fear not my green loving friends, it’s back – or rather it’s here to stay! The difference between the spring/summer greens and the fall/winter greens is simply in saturation. The cold weather greens will be – well, more green. Darker warmer tones rule fashion this season.

Listen up! Grey is the new black! Let’s be honest, grey has been the new black for a few seasons now. Grey paired with hot green hues is a fresh take on an old favorite combo.

Another key look this summer was monochromatic white…we are seeing that again only done in a cold weather way with winter white.

Red is a popular hue this season as well (we are calling this color Samba). The monochromatic feel in all red is very chic.

Blue is an important color this season too, and honestly – this season’s blue looks good on everyone! Bright cobalt blue that Pantone has named Mykonos Blue.

HOW TO WEAR IT:  First, know what colors look good on you. This season many of the hues have distinct undertones that may not be the best on everyone. The blue trend we’ve seen on the runway is one that everyone can run with. The blue-greens are also hues that will be good on all skin tones. If you are one to love monochromatic dressing, and are a black-addict – try moving to deep lichen green as a neutral. This grey-based dark green can have more of a black look to it, and will be a good transition for those trying to add some color into their wardrobes.

SHOES 
The boot/sandal hybrid will be making a bold statement in early autumn. Once the weather gets too cold to show your toes, just pull on a tight with this statement look.

A pointed toe is key this season in footwear. Out with those rounded toed pumps, and in with the leg elongating pointed toe stiletto. Many heels have a 1940’s uber chic feel.

We are seeing a lug sole on everything! This look has a rugged, masculine feel, and will be a big trend as the weather gets cold. Along this same notion, heavy heeled shoes will be popular as well.





WANT MORE TREND INFO? Get my complete trend report for FREE by going to: www.KathyFriend.com and following the clicks!

Back To School Trends The 80’s are back!

(from the August edition of The Family Magazine)

The old saying ‘what goes around comes around’ is more than a saying in the world of fashion.  The truth about trends is that most are reincarnations of things we’ve seen somewhere in the past.  Some bring back memories that we wish would have stayed in the past. 

For some of us the 80’s were a great time of hair bands, college friends and living life to its fullest.  For others, the 80’s were a tragic exercise of bad music, crazy clothes and an over obsessed generation of head bangers. 

Whatever your feelings on the subject, the bottom line is that the 80‘s is back in the world of fashion – especially in the world of “back to school” 2012!

Here are some things to be on the lookout for if you have a fashion –maven in the making within your household:

Neon

Remember the neon of the 80’s?  It came back this summer, and if following us into fall. 

LOVE IT: neon denim, shoes and sweaters.

CAN’T DECIDE: Try neon in small doses.  Maybe in a Chuck Talylor type tennis shoe or a handbag.

Bleached

We all did this in the 80’s.  We got a pair of jeans and bleached them.  Problem with our “home method” was that we then smelled like bleach for weeks. 

LOVE IT: Over distressed and bleached denim will be all the rage this fall

CAN’T DECIDE: Skip the jeans and opt for a bleached jean jacket

image from: http://blog.swell.com

 

Big shoulders

Big shoulders always make me think of the days of Dynasty and Dallas…and if you have no idea what I’m talking about, then you are probably under 35!

LOVE IT: Layer up your shoulder pads! Be sure to get some that you can add into every shirt and jacket.

CAN’T DECIDE: the good news is that shoulder pads have been making a come back for several seasons…and you probably didn’t even notice!

Stacks of bangle bracelets

Ahhh the memories of Madonna during her material girl days. 

LOVE IT: mixing textures and colors will be a key way to be on trend with this look.

CAN’T DECIDE: try a simple stack of maybe 3 at first. Trust me, this trend will grow on you and you will soon be stacking on the bracelets up to your elbows!

image from: http://www.atime4everythingblog.com

 

Granny boots

CONFESION: I loved my 80’s granny boots and wore them with everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING!  I am very happy they are back!

LOVE IT: Get a few pair with varying hardware.  Maybe a black pair with strong military details and a chunky heel…then add a brown pair with a slim heel, more feminine.

CAN’T DECIDE: all of the discount shoe stores will have a variety of this style in the Fall.  Try

Boat shoes

When I say Sperry Topsider, what do you think?  I remember a time in the 80’s I fondly remember as the ‘gator bowl’.  No, not a football event, but rather a ‘preppy’ contest between me and a few girlfriends.  Boat shoes were key to this middle-school event. Boat shoes of all colors!

LOVE IT: There are some of the cutest boat shoes I’ve seen out at the stores this season. Everything from a dressy metallic to a sporty tartan. Be sure to pick up a pair in your teams colors!

CAN’T DECIDE: this trend is one that you can be safe in trying.  I promise it’ll work well for you!  Especially at those times a tennis shoe is appropriate, but you just aren’t in the mood for an athletic shoe.

Boyfriend jackets

A boyfriend jacket is simply an oversize unstructured blazer.  I have many photos (that should be burned) of me and my girlfriends proudly wearing the boyfriend jackets with our granny boots and miniskirts. Yes, we thought we were amazing…Big hair and all!

LOVE IT: Then bring on the pins! The best way to don your boyfriend jacket this season will be to accessorize it with a plethora of pins and brooches a la 80’s style.

CAN’T DECIDE: Go basic with black or grey. There are some styles that have a bit more structure. 

image from: http://joli-world.blogspot.com 

Super skinnies

The super skinny is here to stay.  This season if you want to embrace all that is 80’s then do it with a granny boot and a boyfriend jacket.

LOVE IT: Bring on the skinnies in hot neon colors!

CAN’T DECIDE: If you aren’t sure the skinny jean trend is for you then skip it!  This trend brings a lot of attention to your bottom ½ of your silhouette.  

image from: http://www.sheknows.com