The Triangle

Issue date: 11/21/08 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Media Credit: Karl Kuchs

Media Credit: Karl Kuchs

Media Credit: Karl Kuchs

All you need for fall is a closet filled with updated classics. Designers this season decided to put a fresh spin on structured classics. Unlike previous seasons with intense volume, the fall season brings a tailored look with classic lines. Designers showcase volume in the sleeves and adorn the collars. Say goodbye to the stuffy fashions trends of the past. The look that will prevail this season is still ladylike - yet in a Herculean powerful way. Trends such as "Country Chic," "Long and lean" and "Belle Curve" are presently popular. Also fabrics such as tweed, velvet, and plaid were splashed all over the fall runways. Forget flowing frocks. One must focus on sharp, architectural lines.

Ladies, dust off those cowboy boots because "Country Chic" is all over the runways this fall. Plaid and tartan were prevalently used in form fitting dresses, long jackets, scarves, and even pants. Plaid remains a fall fashion staple, however mixing it with boots and tartan make this look strong in country influences. Exciting plaids can spruce your wardrobe for the fall and is a hot trend that is not going anywhere anytime soon. Designers also layered a combination of tweed, velvet, fur and shearing, taking fashion from the city to the stable at full speed. Dolce & Gabbana proved that tweed jackets aren't limited to your grandfather's closets - they are essential to any "Country Chic" ensemble. Fall hues such as mustard yellow, deep reds, and royal purples are popular colors for country themed garments.

The freshest appearance on the runway this fall was the "Long and Lean" look. Designers displayed mid-calf to floor grazing garments, keeping each piece minimal and structured. Shying away from full volume pieces, the current trend emphasizes collars and sleeves with extra volume. For this season less is more and the only embellishment comes from a more composed and defined look. The structure of this trend shows maturity that is stunningly elegant. The "Long and Lean" tailored image is a refined look for job interviews, at work, or if you desire to take on a feminine, sophisticated force for the day. Erin Fetherston used black to sharpen the classic feel of this trend. My personal favorite fabric is velvet - used to create form fitted jackets with sleeve details and shoulder volume. This autumn, designers put the spotlight on the waist. Jackets, dresses, suits and skirts are cinched at the waist. By belting garments at the waist, designers sculpted natural curves in fresh silhouettes. Unlike the wide belts of previous seasons, belts are now thin and embellished. To create a similar look, layer a top with a high-waisted pencil skirt, or you can find a dress with a cinched waist. The silhouette creates the bell curve, which flatters a woman's curves by accentuating the smallest part of her body, the waist. Belting a jacket over a knitted skirt is one of the best ways to stay warm this fall. Another flattering way to create the bell curve is volume. Most designers shaped the hips of the garment, but others like Emporio Armani chose to add chiseled collars to balance the final look.

Everyone can find classic pieces to add to their wardrobes. Streamline body conscious silhouettes are in and baby doll frocks with too much volume are out. This fall is about textures. Dress in a plaid shirt with a tartan scarf, leggings and finish it off with cowboy boots. You'll be sporting the "Country Chic" trend. When going on job interviews, keep in mind the "Long and Lean" trend - streamline elegance with engineered accents of volume. For a feminine approach to fall trends, show off your waist by pairing a thin belt over a jacket to create the "Belle Curve" look. Remember to cinch at the waist, layer, keep it minimal, and experiment with texture in the fall season.

All fashions provided by: Smak Palour, 219 Market St., 215-625-4551

Model: Madison Fiedor

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