Knitch Magazine

The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting longer, and there’s starting to be an occasional crisp feeling in the air. Add the changing hues of our favorite leaves from green to gold to red to brown, and we realize it’s no wonder that we’re looking forward to the sensational days and evenings of the fall season. We’re also looking forward to making wise investments for our autumn wardrobes plus adding some new life to pieces we already own with well-chosen accessories. So what do the runway shows of the top designers foretell as all the latest hot trends of the season?

The Retro Ladylike Look Continues, and the Cardigan Reigns Supreme. Once again the runways of Paris, Milan, Paris and New York were filled with styles reminiscent of the ladylike fashions of the 1950s and 1960s. From the full skirts and sweetheart necklines of Luis Vuitton to the classic suits of Dolce & Gabbana and from the clean lines of AMC’s hit TV show Mad Men as interrupted by American design house St. John to Fendi’s and Bulgari’s ladylike bags, the retro, feminine styles are here to stay.

But one thing has become abundantly clear this season – the classic cardigan is back with a bang. Donna Karan celebrated her 25^th anniversary with some wonderful cardigans teamed with classic white shirts, and also the unstructured boyfriend-cardigan is the staple for any weekend outfit. So no matter what your taste, you’ll want a new cardigan or two in your fall arsenal.

The Caped Crusader Is Strutting Her Stuff with a Vengeance. Capes, especially cape-styled coats, are hot, hot, hot for the autumn, and the latest trends are both fashionable and functional. From the draped, flowing elegance of the capes worn as jackets by the models of Yves St. Laurent to the chunky-knit capes from DYNK, a cape is a great investment for your fall outerwear. We also love the funky fur capes of Marc Jacobs, but when you’re looking for the widest range of choices, check out the cape collections of Halston and Preen because both have numerous options and styles from which to choose.

Salute the Military with Leather, Subtle Styling and More from Head to Toe. We’re not sure if the military influence has ever truly gone away, but this season the trend ranges from classic leather to subtle touches in ways military fashions have never been done before. Even Chanel has joined the military bandwagon with an aviator-jacket-inspired coat, but hers is quilted with a furry bottom to give it that special Parisian flair. It’s also as common in footwear as it is in clothing options so at least for the autumn it’s a dominant feature. From Isabel Marant’s asymmetrtical version of the classic leather jacket to Dior’s modern take on military boots to an olive-drab belt from J. Crew, it’s easy for you to enhance your wardrobe with military touches and be in style all season long.

Say “Howdy” to the Urban Cowgirl in All Her Glory. From sophisticated British equestrian styling to Spanish gaucho-inspired lines, the urban cowgirl this fall has many devotees in the fashion world. Burberry and Ralph Lauren bring us marvelous examples of how shearling-lined vests and tailored riding jackets can be both elegant and fun. And the gaucho-inspired styles of Roberto Cavalli and Brunello Cucinelli are striking yet functional. Fringe and suede are two other ways to show your cowgirl spirit, and the funky fashions of Blumarine and Vince Camuto’s lovely suede boots are just two examples of how you can incorporate these trends in to your collection.

Bring Out the Fur Lover in You with a Variety of Options. It seems as if fashion designers this season have released their inner animal spirit and have used fur and faux fur in everything from jacket linings to shoe heel accents and from coat accents to full-length capes. We’re intrigued by white, knee-high, full-fur boots featured in the Chanel collection, and we adore the elegance of Gucci’s fur trimmed vests. A fur hood from Michael Kors is an instant attention grabber, and J. Mendel’s fur shrug shows us just how dramatic such an accent piece.

Camel & Denim Are the New Dynamic Duo This Season. The resurfacing of the camel coat – sometimes as the traditional, double-breasted trench and sometimes with less classic lines – began last winter but has really taken hold for this autumn. The collections of Max Mara and Michael Kors both feature the camel coat in its various interpretations as do most of the fashion elite this season. So if you prefer the classic, traditional approach, go with the coat or a camel bag or tote from Bulgari.

But now the new twist is to pair camel in various ways with denim for a more casual approach to this fashion. Phillip Lim does it with a sophisticated pairing of a denim cropped jacket with a camel waist-length cardigan, while for a more casual look, Chloe teams a chambray shirt with a camel jacket and pleated pants. Or you can add your camel through your accessories as with Ralph Lauren’s take on the camel loafer – yes, this loafer has the classic tassel and fringe but has an open toe, sling back and three-inch heels.

The Top 10 Colors Combine the Best of Jewel Tones with Subtle Neutrals. Then, of course, you want to make sure that your brand-new outfits and accessories are in one of the Top 10 colors for fall. This season fundamental basics are well balanced by sensational jewel tones for plenty of variety to suit anyone’s skin tone and personal preferences. Intriguing and exotic Purple Orchid with fuchsia undertones adds a bit of magic and vibrancy to the color palette and is featured in many cosmetic collections this coming season too especially for eye makeup. Lagoon is this season's darker, richer version of spring's turquoise for a touch of the tropics, Lipstick Red gives you a deeper, more dramatic accent color to balance out the ever-popular neutrals especially in cosmetics, and Living Coral adds its own special touch for enhancements and embellishments.

In terms of new takes on the neutrals, Chocolate Truffle is a rich brown with a touch of plum that's elegant and delicious, Woodbine is an extraordinary version of avocado that takes spring's neutral greens to greater heights, and crisp Endive is an enlivening yellow-green to add freshness to the whole palette. Rounding out the Top 10 are beautiful Golden Glow that combines well with the purples, reds, browns and greens in the collection plus classic Oyster Gray and flattering, romantic Rose Dust.