September’s fashion magazines are just hitting the mailboxes now which means two things; hernias for postal staff and a frenzy for fall clothes for the rest of us. As wonderful as the summer’s been, at this point in the season I seek out any coolness in the air as an excuse to pull out a little lightweight cashmere sweater.
Since stylist to the stars Rachel Zoe is a little too busy being a mom these days to advise us all on what we should be wearing, I turned to Erin Nadler. Erin’s a fashion consultant with BetterStyled, who works with regular women like you and I to offer honest advice, personalized service and the expertise to fit newer trends into our existing wardrobes.
Many women are intimidated by the idea of a fashion consultant, but the right one can save you a lot of time and money, by getting to know your needs, identifying and filling the holes in your closet.
I asked Erin about Fall’s biggest trends, and how we can get a head start on our fall shopping and incorporate those pieces into our wardrobes now without looking like we’re rushing summer out the door.
Detailing
Fall’s showing all sorts of pieces with chains, zippers, embellished shoulders and lace overlays. While we may not all be ready to buy a tunic or t-shirt with this type of detailing, Erin suggested we buy a dramatic chain necklace or embellished cuff. I found this one at Reitmans for $16.
Wear it now with a tank top and jeans; wear it in the coming months with a sweater and suede leggings.
Leather and Fur
Hot, hot, hot…not only the trendiest fabrics for fall, but also how you’ll feel if you try to go overboard with these pieces for summer days. However, the nights are getting cooler, and you could pull out a piece like this pleather jacket some evenings. It’s also from Reitmans and only $85.
Wear it now with a striped tank and cargo capris; in the fall add a turtleneck, skinny jeans and boots.
Mixing Masculine Style with Feminine Flair
Erin said to watch for a lot of mixing of men’s styles with punches of feminine detail. We’ll see a boyfriend blazer, with a ruffled shirt underneath, or men’s style trousers with a blouse with ruching. Pick up this pleated ruffle-front shirt at Old Navy on sale right now for under $20.
Wear it now with cropped pants and sandals; in the fall pair it with a faux fur vest and skinny cords.
We can’t all afford to buy an entire new wardrobe with every season, but a professional fashion consultant can help us look on trend and seasonally appropriate without breaking the bank.