Don’t let seasonal fashion trends run your life. There is a way to manage them without becoming a slave to fashion or completely ignoring them and feeling out of touch. Adding seasonal fashion trends to your wardrobe helps to keep your style feeling fresh and new.  Knowing what to add and how much is critical otherwise you run the risk of buying things that just sit in your closet or wasting money on items that are out of style in 6 months. That’s where I can help!

This is my seasonal “Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered” trend update where I help you identify what trends to explore and which to avoid like the plague!

Bewitched

Colors: The colors you wear are vital to creating a truly beautiful look. If you wear a color that makes you look sickly or drab, then no amount of styling will save it. If you are someone who lives in black and gray, give it a rest this season and step into one of these fun, fabulous colors.

• Emerald green. Actually nearly every shade of green is in right now so take advantage (two years ago you couldn’t find a green item of clothing to save your life). A deep emerald/forest green looks great on most people so grab it while you can. (I am wearing a perfect example of emerald green in the segment I did on TV this week)

• Winter white is hot. It’s a softer version of stark white and, of course, as the temperatures cool down you’ll want to adjust your fabrics accordingly.  No linen and light weaves. More densely woven sweaters and weightier fabrics will let you stay warm while feeling light and cool.

• Deep plum is a seasonal favorite and back again this fall as is bright fuschia — although be careful with the fuschia. If you have ruddy cheeks it will clash and if your coloring is soft it will overwhelm you.

• When in doubt a bold, meditative blue can be lovely.

Animal prints: Animal prints never go out of style. They have been “in” for the past 26 years! I’m not complaining. I like them. If you are intrigued but don’t want to wear animal print head to toe, add a hint of it with a scarf. There are so many options out there from traditional animal print to colored variations.  Or, keep it simple with one of these:

or or make a statement with your handbag:

or even your nightgown:

Plaid: Another perennial favorite, plaid is everywhere. If it intrigues you, but you don’t want something screams PLAID, then check out this dress. Or, if you are feeling really adventurous, wear a pair of plaid tights (these come in black, brown or deep navy!). And of course, there are lots of other ways to wear plaid including as trim on an outfit, in your handbag or tote and even your shoes. Have fun with it!

Shoes: Both pointy and rounded toes are in so there’s something for everyone. And, over-the-knee boots are still popular.They can be fun. Just one word of caution. Unless you work in a very relaxed atmosphere, save these for leisure and fun – not to be worn at the office.

Velvet: Velvet is just so luxurious, warm and elegant that I invite you to add a touch of it to your winter wardrobe.  It’s still a bit early to see a lot in the stores, but watch for more as the season goes along.  And, if you are vegan and don’t want to purchase wool or cashmere because it contributes to animal suffering, velvet is cozy and can add another layer of warmth without hurting anyone! In the meantime, is this jacket exquisite or what!

High Shine: What they are showing on the runway is in-your-face shine. What I propose is a smidgen of shine to add fun contrast to those cold, gray winter days. While some of you might feel comfortable pulling off this much shine (photo on the left), I suspect that something that has a soft sheen rather than super high shine might be more appealing day to day (photo on the right). And, of course, jewelry is always a fabulous way to add just the right amount of shine for you!

Bothered

Oversized: Really? You’ve got to be kidding. Most of us will look three times our size when we wear these oversized sweatshirts (yes, that’s what they are suggesting!) or just as bad…oversized coats! Horrendous idea! Who thought this was a good fashion statement? — and in light gray, no less (one of THE hardest colors to look good in!). Or, this hideous style of oversized coat!

Rounded Shoulders: I have spent more than half my life trying to make my shoulders appear wider and less sloped. There is no way that this style appeals to me…ever. Stay far away from it if you have narrow shoulders and wider hips unless you want to accentuate your hips and look droopy or if you carry weight in your tummy and want to look like a balloon — this look will help you do that.  Here’s an example:

Bewildered

I really haven’t seen a lot of trends that bewilder me and make me wonder who thought that was a good idea. The ones that are truly horrible I put in the ‘bothered’ category. That said here are two that can be problematic.

Grunge: Mostly you will see this on the very young crowd. I am not a fan of clothes that look like they need to be washed (and that’s how most grunge looks to me) or the heavy soled shoes worn with dresses. But, when a couple of “grungy” pieces (maybe we could translate that tough girl or rocker vibe) are paired with something fun and feminine it can be intriguing. Again, with rare exceptions (and if you have to think about whether you’re an exception, you aren’t!) leave this to the under 25 (and that’s pushing it!) crowd.

Turtlenecks: The only reason turtlenecks are in this category is because for those of us over 40-ish they can be problematic by drawing attention to softening jawlines. If your jawline and neck are still firm and you enjoy wearing turtlenecks, go for it. If your jaw is slacking a bit and you don’t want to draw attention to it, then choose a turtleneck that’s wider and fuller than your jaw. Like this one.

This is a sampling of what’s out there this season. Menswear prints like houndstooth are also popular as are trendy details like metallic mesh, but I’m not seeing a lot of that in the store just yet.

The most important thing is that you LOVE the trend. If you don’t, then ignore it. Never wear something just because it’s in style. You have to feel and look great in it and you have to OWN it!  By that I mean, it has to feel like you and make you smile every time you put it on.

Remember, trends, just by their definition, are fleeting so choose one or two and wear them a lot while they are fashionable.  Fall shopping is just getting started so have fun!

If you are completely stumped or find you have lots of old trends in your closet you’ve never worn or simply don’t know how to incorporate them so you feel good, then email me – [email protected] — and we’ll set up a free 20 minute call.