fallin'

Fall For Fashion

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Autumn is definitely in the air. If you haven't started fall and winter shopping yet, now is the time to hit the shops. For this fall season, fashion has taken a more ladylike turn with simple yet sophisticated silhouettes. Chanel, Christian Dior, Burberry Prorsum, Prada, Louis Vuitton and Gucci are leading the way in trends for this fall and winter. Designers have created a more polished, grown-up look for women, compared to the previous season's young and girlish style. Fall's color palette is predominantly dark, but gray is this season's "it" color. However, there are flashes of jewel tones such as royal blue and purple and touches of metallic that brighten up an otherwise dark look. Grown-up suits are back in fashion. Designers Bill Blass, Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton and Calvin Klein reinterpreted the classic skirt suit. Think suits worn by Ingrid Bergman in "Casablanca" and many of Hollywood's stars in the 1940s and 1950s. The prim and proper suits feature nipped-in jacket waists and skirts that stop just above or on the knees. Elegance is back as seen with Chanel's impeccable dresses and Dior's stunning evening gowns. Dolce and Gabbana's models wore tight corset-like belts to emphasize tiny waists. On the other end of the fashion spectrum, a trend towards a masculine look for women is emerging. Tuxedos and other men's wear-inspired suits are characterized by fitted jackets and tops paired with wide-leg pants. What to Wear The runways may dictate the trends, but not everyone can afford to stock up on fall must-haves from the top designer brands. Fortunately, many clothing brands have adopted these trends and turned them into affordable, yet still fashionable, items. Before you start shopping, remember to choose one or two trends to follow. Start off with last season's clothes, and update your look with key pieces. For example, flirty shift dresses can transition in fall, when paired with dark tights and ankle boots. The swingy dress look can be updated with platform shoes. Top Korean designer Im Seon-oc has created fluid one-piece dresses worn with bright tights. For example, her fall collection featured a model wearing a tulip-shaped dress and navy tights. One of the key items is the pencil skirt, which is in tune with the overall ladylike trend this fall. Wear these knee-length skirts with long, lean sweaters and thin belts, similar to the style spotted on Louis Vuitton's runways. Calvin Klein's fall collection features clean, pared-down silhouettes, with classic pencil skirts, asymmetrical tops and sculptured dresses. For example, the pencil skirt, made of fine wool, is paired with an oversized hooded lacquered nylon bomber. Korean designer Gee Choon-hee's Miss Gee Collection features crisp suits with feminine details. For a glamorous look, try sexy satin dresses in gray or jewel tones. Silky tops are an easy way to inject a bit of sexiness in one's wardrobe. Anything satin can turn an outfit into something more sophisticated. The verdict is still out on whether skinny jeans will remain a wardrobe staple for this season. Some fashion magazines are already urging women to throw out their skinny jeans, and replace them with the more figure-friendly wide-leg versions. You can still get some mileage out of skinny jeans if you pair them with knee-high boots or ankle boots. Wide-leg pants and jeans are popping up in many stores. These wide leg styles have higher waistlines. The style looks good with fitted, silky tops and cropped jackets. Be careful with the wide leg styles, because you can end up looking chunky with the wrong style. Korean designer Jain Song's fall collection balances masculinity with femininity, with straight loose pants matched with a flirty ruffled top. It also included a lacy mini-dress worn with a hooded jacket, as well as a plaid gray tailored mini-dress worn with dark green leggings and boots. Banana Republic's trousers can be worn with cropped swing jackets. Banana Republic's black skirt can be paired with white button-down shirt and black croc belt and lace-up booties for a sophisticated urban look. Knits are always a staple for fall and winter. Knit dresses are another figure-friendly option this season. Slouchy sweaters are a fashionable way to keep warm. Pair oversized sweaters with straight cut pants or tights to keep with the trend. You can also pile on the knits for a layered look. John Smedley's knitwear for fall features light and comfortable sweaters and dresses in tawny neutrals, black and gray, with vibrant red and pink. It offers sweaters in solid colors, stripes and plaids for a preppy look. For the sexy, confident lady, Korean casual clothing brand GGPX New York is sticking with mini-skirts, vests and funky tops. GGPX's fall collection looked sexy on supermodel Kate Moss. Moss modeled shiny tights with a tough-looking cropped leather jacket and studded ankle boots, in a GGPX ad. For coats and jackets this fall, it is a return to minimalism. Black tailored jackets are always a good investment, and can be used for several seasons. If you're looking for something different, there are other styles, from military to biker jackets, cocoon style to capes. Belts are key accessories this season. Burberry Prorsum belts added a feminine touch to otherwise tough-looking jackets and coats. Thick belts were spotted on Dolce and Gabbana's runways, while thinner belts were worn at Celine. Fall's coats and dresses seem more ladylike when worn with wide belts to cinch the waist. Thin belts can be worn around lean sweaters to create a sleeker look. Must-Have Accessories No outfit will be complete this season without the trendiest shoes: platform heels and ankle boots. Ankle boots returned to the scene last year, but it's finally catching on this season. These ankle boots are everywhere, in a wide variety of styles, colors and prices. There are patent leather booties, lace-up ankle boots, zippered ankle boots, bootie pumps and platform boots. Don't forget the season's "it" bags. Chanel introduced Coco's Croco bag, a luxe quilted satin bag with a chain handle. It is not actually made out of crocodile skin. The satin material is quilted to resemble crocodile skin. This updated version of the classic Chanel purse has already been spotted on the arms of Nicole Richie and other Hollywood celebrities. Not surprisingly, cheap versions and imitations of this bag are already out on the streets. Bags made out of exotic skin like crocodile and alligator, are among the season's most expensive items. If you're looking for real crocodile skin bags, you can choose from those by Dior and Bottega Veneta. Even more expensive are the alligator skin bags by Louis Vuitton and Chanel. Oversized bags are still hot, but this time in shiny patent leather and more structured shapes such as those by Miu Miu, Dior and Yves Saint Laurent. Black patent leather is always a good choice, but bold colors like red and blue will help you stand out from the crowd. For party girls, the colorful and embellished clutch bag is a must-have. Louis Vuitton's monogrammed clutch in metallic shades is perfect for a night out The most important thing to remember is to carefully pick which trend will suit your style and body type. Also remember to follow the trends in moderation. Don't pile them on, but try to balance them with classic pieces. There's nothing worse than being a fashion victim. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr