Free Fallin’: 2008 Fall Fashion Trends

Fall is just around the corner, and soon we’ll have crisper weather, changing leaves and new fashion trends. The upcoming season is an interesting mix of sexy, classy and manly (yes, manly!) and the main color to watch for is purple.

As always, the trends come from the designers on the runway, but there are plenty of options out there for less expensive pieces that give you a similar look.H&M, Forever 21, Target and other regional mall stores (Charlotte Russe, Wet Seal, etc.) all carry up-to-date trends for inexpensive prices. Express, Nordstrom and Macy’s are other, slightly more expensive, stores to check out, and I’m a huge fan of discount stores (Loehmann’s, Filene’s Basement, Nordstrom Rack, TJ Maxx, etc.).

Without further ado, here’s a list of what to grab up this season…

Fall Trend #1: Dress You Up In My Love

Fall dresses are making a huge comeback this year and the waist has returned. (Yay!) You want sexy and classy, and whether you’re sporting a curvy dress, pencil skirt or a belted swing coat, it’s important to emphasize the waist. The trapeze shapes of summer are fading and the fitted shift style, which is sexier and edgier but not skin tight, is the way to go. Dress lines are styled to enhance the curves, and hemlines are both up and down. Pair one of these with patterned tights/hose (see Fall Trend #6) for the perfect fall outfit.

Fall Trend #2: She’s the Man

As we’ve seen in recent seasons, menswear-inspired looks are big this year. Vests, wide-leg trousers, spectator/oxford shoes, and tailored jackets are popping up all over the place. If you wanna rock the man-look, be sure to focus on your feminine assets/curves so as not to appear TOO masculine, but have fun “cross-dressing.” And for those of you starting the job hunt, new jobs, or the interview process, this is a great fashionable look that screams confidence.

Fall Trend #3: Buckle Up!

Yes, belts are being seen everywhere once again, so invest in a few great ones this season. The variety is huge – wide, skinny, different materials, colors, buckle sizes – and they’re all over the place -on coats, sweaters, tunic tops and dresses. They can be used to add some flair to your ensemble while accentuating that waist of yours, so have a little fun with it and venture out of the box with some interesting new colors and patterns.

Fall Trend #4: The Color Purple

Jewel tones are huge this fall, as are the usual grey and black, but the stand-out color of the season is purple. Some of the other rich colors we can be on the look out for are sapphire blue, maroon, deep golds, rusts, reds, chocolate brown and eggplant. These are rich, beautiful colors that look good on any skin tone, so there is no excuse not to rock ‘em.

Fall Trend #5: Ruffle It Up

Blouses – especially those with soft and feminine details – are a huge trend this season. The blouse to have is the ruffle blouse. These can look fantastic with skinny jeans and boots, or tucked into a pencil skirt with some oxford heels. Bows and oversized raw heavy silk blouses belted at the waist are also popping up everywhere. If you want to incorporate the menswear trend with this one, you can take a classic tailor fitted man’s shirt with long sleeves and belt it with one of those great belts you’ve invested in. The main key is to keep the look girlie!

Fall Trend #6: Hose Me Down

Patterned tights and hose add a ton of texture and spunk to an outfit and are a must-have this fall. Mix and match with different colors (including those aforementioned jewel tones) and pair them with some of those hot dresses and pencil skirts you’ll be sporting.

Fall Trend #7: Material Girl

There are a few different material trends to follow this season: plaid, florals, lace and exotic skins. Look around and you’ll find them on everything ranging from tops to shoes, bags to dresses. And don’t be afraid of mixing up the prints; as you can see below, it works.