Monday, November 5, 2012

Five Fall Essentials


  The closer we get to Thanksgiving, the more excited for fall we here at Click get, or at least I get.  Fall is my favorite time of year:  the clothes become snuggly, the colors grow richer and the shoes grow more material.  All in all, the fall fashion of layering unexpected fabrics, pairing mismatched textures and prints, bringing out chunky boots and finally wearing deep alluring colors wraps up one of the most expressive seasons of fashion. 
  Here in the South, the summer heat is energy draining and in my opinion limits expression (through fashion).  Shorts are not always office appropriate and crop tops alone aren’t always flattering.  Clothes worn by fashionista celebs in the summer don’t always translate into real-life style. Throughout the summer I miss my jackets and boots.  At the very first cold snap I breathe a sigh of relief and my mind immediately goes to my comfy fashionable fall outfits.  This season I’ve found a few essential pieces I could add to my closet and continue to wear throughout the fall and winter weather.  All of these pieces come in a variety of choices – it all depends on your personal style.

One, Two, Three, Four, Five
One, Two, Three
Corduroy and Velvet Pants
Skinny, boyfriend, high rise and flare.  Bright, pastel, jewel tone and neutral.
These bottoms don’t have to be a certain kind—whatever flatters your body type (and pocketbook) is best.  This texture in and of itself brings so much to the table the rest doesn’t really matter.  In my opinion anyone and everyone can wear this trend and look fabulous.  If you aren’t a fan of the corduroy, you could try velvet.  Both bottoms have a rich texture to them that gives the same effect.  However, I definitely wouldn’t mind having both in my closet.  I absolutely love the rich look, especially paired with a chambray shirt or even a vintage t-shirt and, of course, some amazing boots.

Boots
Sparkly, chunky, spikey.  Tall, short.  Zip-up, lace-up, slip on.
Boots are another accessory that changes an outfit.  Pair a chunky boot with a delicate dress and you get a careful, cool-without-trying look.  Add a sparkly boot to a t-shirt and colored jeans (or some corduroy/velvet jeans) and plain clothes start to instantly become more interesting.  Personally, I have large calves which make tall, slip-on boots more difficult to wear, but once I find a pair that work I wear them out.  No matter which you prefer (tall or short), if you find yourself one or two good pair of boots you can wear them with pretty much any outfit you put together (just like Uggs only the final look is more put-together and not so slouchy).  I’ve included a few high heel booties because they have become another classic.  Black booties (especially with black tights or black leggings) tend to make your legs look that much longer.  But don’t take my word for it, try them yourself.

Cardigans
Thick, thin. Printed, solid.  Long, regular and cropped.
Cardigans come in all different shapes, sizes and weight.  Your body type should dictate what type of cardigan you buy—but watch out, don’t get stuck on a few specific types.  Flattering cardigans of all lengths and types work well with different tops.  For example, if you’re wearing a loose top (that you might think adds bulk) a simple cardigan that hugs to the curve of your waist can draw the eye in and mask any troubling body feature.  Long and flowy cardigans can add some beautiful definition over a snug shirt.  But these are not the only combinations.  Experiment with different cardigans over (and under) different pieces.  After a while, you will get the hang of pairing tops with specific cardigans.  Sometimes I think a cardigan will work with an outfit until I try it on.  It just takes experimenting and finding a few favorites.  Remember, even if it has buttons, you don’t have to keep it closed, open can look just as good.

Leather Jackets
White, gray, brown, black and every color in between.  Studded, cropped, modified, embellished and established.
You can never go wrong with a leather jacket.  There are even faux leather and vegan options.  One slices the price and the other slices nothing—except maybe animal cruelty.  Depending on the style you choose this jacket can make any outfit a traditional classic or on the edge trendy.  Both types are usually worth the price.  A leather jacket can look luxurious and sophisticated or just the opposite.  Color choice can play a large factor in this.  A darker color can look more expensive in a number of materials while white can cheapen certain materials.  However, that can be an effective look, but not if you are looking for a more traditional and classic feel. For established simplicity, stick with blacks and browns and forgo the hardware.

Scarves
Light, heavy.  Solid, printed.  Tassled, ruffly, fringed or straight edged.  Knitted, crocheted, cabled, patterned, silk or cotton.  Square, triangle, infinity.  Glittery, bejeweled or matte.
Another accessory that can will not only keep you warm, but also change your look, is the mystical scarf.  This accessory can be lovingly homemade, thoughtfully given as a gift or bought on a whim.  In the end it doesn’t matter how you acquire it but it does matter how you wear it.  There are the traditional ways of wearing a scarf:  tied in a knot, looped around your neck, hanging straight down.  But don’t be afraid to experiment with new looks.  We came across this diagram that explains 15 ways to wear a scarf.  Handy, no?  You can wear this accessory with pretty much anything especially as cooler weather approaches.

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