Jessica Martinez
Broadside Correspondent
In a recession, fashion is about shopping in your closet for classics and mixing them with new trends.
Inexpensive shopping is the new chic thing to do and it is all about investing in pieces that will last for more than one season. Romanticism in fashion trends and the transition into autumnal hues make fall an anticipated season.
The days of dropping a large amount of money on an item before it went out of style are long gone.
This fall, dress in warm attire and brace for the upcoming cold weather months in nothing short of chic classy style.
A crisp, white long-sleeved shirt always looks amazing, but this season, it is all about the collar.
“White Oxford button-downs from your closet can seem plain and outdated,” said Stefania Anthony, a self-taught Texas-based designer who defines mixing classic pieces with new accessories. “Update it a bit by folding the sleeves and adding a dramatic necklace.”
For an even trendier look, go for ruffles from the neck down, exaggerated bows and Edwardian-esque collars which make this staple piece one that transcends the seasons.
Anthony is among those who believe that while fashion changes, style remains. Investment pieces are not only timeless, but the building blocks of a good wardrobe.
With a cardigan, you never have to sacrifice fashion for comfort. Sleeveless or not, the right add-ons make the cardigan timeless.
Layer one over a dress with a skinny belt or for casual days, throw it over a racerback tank and skinny jeans.
The classic trench coat is also a staple item for fall. Invest in a colored one, preferably with a cinched waist. Vivacious shades of deep red, warm olive and honey yellow will do.
However, the ever-so-classy camel trench never fails to make a statement.
“Classics are meant to be tweaked to stay relevant and accessories are particularly important in updating them, like bib necklaces, [which are] the big rage this season,” said Anthony.
Following every trend often seems desperate and unoriginal. Instead, stick to classic pieces, but add on a few trendy items to stay current.
This season, the ‘80s trends will inevitably return. Whatever you do, though, stay away from acid-washed jeans: they are atrocious and need to stay in the past.
Sequins dominated the ‘80s, but keep them to a minimum during the day for a modern look—at night, be as flashy as you like with them.
Anticipate embracing the biker-chic look. Whether it is cropped or standard length, a motorcycle jacket worn over a white tank and jeans with strategically placed ripped patches can look effortless, yet sexy.
“Gap’s new 1969 denim line features the medium-washed, always destructed jeans that can give more edge to a motorcycle jacket,” said Helen Taylor, a Gap employee.
Menswear is also making its way into fall trends for women with the structured-shoulder boyfriend blazer.
The must-have look features the blazer paired with skinny jeans or a dress of the same length for a weekend night out.
Remember, width across the top slims the hips, but do not go overboard with a shoulder pad-like structure. A look from 1983 should not be the intention.
Underestimating a classic is usual for many, but only the wearer knows the potential to build several outfits around one piece.
These pieces are meant to look fabulous all the time without seeming stuck in a time warp, so throw them on and embrace this season’s trends, because a wise fashionista remains in style, despite the season.
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