FALL--It's finally here!
My anticipation of the fall fashion season is so feverishly
deep-seated that I once went on a date wearing my new fall jacket OVER my new mock
turtleneck sweater even though it was still a bazillion degrees outside! I just
couldn’t (and can’t ever) wait to wear my new fall finds! Fall presents the most
amazing opportunities for style thanks to the ability to layer beautiful,
richly-colored fabrics... once it cools down a bit at least. Can't wait for some actual #sweaterweather!
I’m so excited to share with you this fall’s latest and
greatest trends by way of flat lay looks that I’ve curated using beautiful,
practical, and affordable finds from The Market Common’s ensemble cast of
retailers. I've been sitting on this collaboration for over a month and I am so glad to finally show you some of the amazing outfits you can create when you mix high and low pieces from The Market Common's shops. Not every item is available online but those that are I've linked to. Just click the pictures to shop or head out to Market Common and see for yourself what's in store!
Before we get started, thank you to the fantastic Crystal Lee Photography for photographing the looks I've styled. Crystal is awesome! We've worked with her on Iris's first year milestones package and couldn't be happier with her work.
Come along with me and see my take on Fall's best trends and how to style them in a way that works for your lifestyle.
In a word
If I had to sum up this fall’s fashions in just a word, it
would be DETAILS. This season’s looks are rich in texture, notions,
embellishments, and embroidery, all made to be admired up close.
Color
The fall 2017 color story includes something for everyone.
If you love blush, give this season’s dainty ballet pink a whirl and pair it
with gray, olive, or plummy port shades. You’ll find warm tones in maple,
buttered rum, and grenadine, my personal favorite pop color. Plus there are
coolly elegant jewel tones by way of spruce and navy peony, which has a bit
less red in its composition than traditional navy blue.
Luxe fabrics
This Fall is also punctuated with beautiful textiles of
varying weights, from light-as-air lace and illusion fabrics to more
substantive corduroy and velvet. And you can expect the unexpected when it
comes to fabrics, like satin and velvet sneakers, from Charming Charlie and
White House Black Market respectively, which raise your comfort classics to next-level
chic.
Embroidery
Like a tattoo for your clothing, embroidery is such a fun
way to spotlight your personality, and there are so many beautiful options to
do so this fall. You’ll find jackets, blazers, jeans, and button downs all
elevated from staples to stand outs thanks to intricately stitched designs.
One of my favorite pieces right now is the Ferrah
Embroidered Dress from Anthropologie, designed by Eva Franco. This is a “get noticed”
kind of dress with its colorful embroidery, fit-n-flare silhouette, and flutter
sleeves (even our flat lay is fluttering! It’s so romantic). The vertical panel of flowers down the front of
this dress will elongate shorter frames, which is an added benefit in my book!
I love that this dress can be worn now while the days are still warm, and it
will layer perfectly as temps drop by adding black tights, a cardigan or
blazer, and booties. The Ferrah dress can even go out on the town for a
cocktail event or to a fall wedding. As I’m telling you all of the wear that
you’ll get out of this fabulous frock, I’m also adding it to MY fall wish list!
J Here I’ve styled it
with a suede obi belt, also from Anthropologie, and lace-up wedges to lend an
edge to the feminine detailing of the dress. Swap the wedges for a daintier
ankle strap heel when you want your look to read full-on pretty.
Here I’ve styled the Ferrah dress a bit more casually with a
gold-studded mini backpack from Bijuju and shoes and accessories from Charming
Charlie. This look works well for creative workplaces, and the dress is both
interesting and timeless, so it could look amazing on a 20-something (add a
leather moto jacket), a beautiful silver-haired fox (elegant dinner party
anyone?), and every age in between.
Florals
I can’t help but think of Miranda Priestly in The Devil
Wears Prada when she sarcastically clucks, “Florals for spring?
Groundbreaking.” Because while florals for spring are certainly expected (and
beloved), florals for fall are indeed groundbreaking! Everywhere you turn this
season you’ll be enveloped by a heady rush of lush blooms in rich hues like
red, fucshia, and plum, reminding me of vintage Victorian Valentines (say that
three times fast!).
This mustard floral dress from Francesca’s is a fantastic
wear-now, wear-later piece. Paired with this Band Jacket from White House Black
Market, it’s perfect for the workplace. I love that the Band Jacket looks every
bit as professional as a blazer and will also look equally chic with denim. The
stitching and antique hardware on the jacket are great examples of this fall’s
attention to detail. I paired this look
with cabernet-colored studded heels from WHBM and a dusty olive handbag from
Charming Charlie to pull out the beautiful colors found in the floral print of
the dress. Even though this fall frock is sleeveless, your LFD, little floral
dress, will keep blooming as temps drop, simply by layering a silk turtleneck
and textured tights underneath or by adding an over-the-knee boot, another hot trend
for the fall.
If you aren’t big on dresses but still want to show some
floral-love this fall, then this garden-print top from Bijuju with tie
trimmings on the neck and sleeves is a stylish choice paired with WHBM’s
bi-stretch button-hem ankle pants. With a pop of red on your arm and your day planner
or tablet safely tucked inside, you’ll feel both feminine and fierce. What
would be your shoe of choice? I left this slate blank so you can envision your
dream office shoe: a pointy-toe pump (I’m imagining cobalt or candy apple red!)
or maybe you’re more of a brogues gal, a la Katharine Hepburn?
Don’t discount these work-worthy pieces for the weekend
either. Undo the neck tie and pair this blouse with dark denim for casual
brunch. Throw your coziest sweater over these ankle pants for Saturday
errand-running. These pieces can keep up with you no matter where you go!
Statement sleeves
If you loved summer’s
statement sleeves, you’ll be relieved to know that the romance continues for
fall as statement sleeves become one of the major style players of the season.
Think ruffles, pleats, and bells of dramatic proportion, plus sleeves with beautiful
embroidery and contrasting fabrics.
Thanks to the statement sleeves trend, we can also add a new
word to our fashion vocabularies: lantern sleeves. This applies to any top
where the majority of the volume falls below the elbow and the wrist is banded or
elasticized, creating a shape similar to a Chinese lantern. I love the Berry
Bouquet top from WHBM because you can pair it with all sorts of bottoms—denim, a
maxi skirt, a pencil skirt, slacks—you name it! The banded wrist is great because
you won’t have to worry as much about dipping your sleeves in your dinner like
you do with bells. Tell me I’m not the only one who does that? Hey, how about
the dash of pink with this studded clutch? I love that fall and spring are
blending their color palettes so playfully! This clutch from Charming Charlie
also has a crossbody strap, one of my favorite inventions ever.
Denim: Embellished
and Distressed
My hands-down favorite thing about fall is new denim. Yours
too?! I guess it is ingrained in us from all those years of back-to-school
shopping. I always kick off fall by treating myself to new jeans because denim
is the perfect foundation to build outfits for tailgating, chili cook-off-ing,
beer festival-ing, hayriding, and heading up to the mountains to take in the
autumnal fireworks of the leaves changing color. So many gerunds, so little
time.
Add to your fall shopping list a pair of beautifully
embroidered jeans that you can dress up or down and can style edgy or elegant,
depending on your mood. I spotted these embellished jeans in the window of WHBM
and it was love at first sight. Dress them down with a quilted vest and
sneakers or glam them up even more with a kimono or blazer, heels, and a
clutch.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, you’ll find fancy
denim’s alter ego, 90s grunge-inspired distressed denim, available in dark,
medium, and light washes. Pick your poison and wear them with your favorite
vest or jacket. While some of fall's denim styles are uber-distressed with expertly placed tatters, many simply give the look of being perfectly broken in through thoughtful washes. Here I’ve paired Chico’s Coated faux-suede moto jacket with their
So-Slimming Girlfriend Jeans and a flame-colored tank that’s reversible (get
out!) to a fall-tastic flame orange for two shirts in one. These jeans have the perfect rise for modesty without feeling like Mom jeans, and they give the look of being well-worn and still street appropriate.
Fashion note: Head-to-toe
red is a major fall trend, but it you feel intimidated wearing the
traffic-stopping shade all over your body, take a cue from this flat lay and
layer a textured candy apple red necklace over a red top. It’s a great way to
dabble in the trend while staying true to your style. This necklace is also
from Chico’s.
I also encourage you to mix textures liberally this season.
Here were have a soft-as-butter suede jacket mixed with a vegan leather bag and
perforated faux suede booties. The pieces give off varying levels of being worn-in
so your look feels curated and relaxed, which makes you look incredibly self-confident
like a lady James Dean.
The So-Slimming jeans also mix well with leopard print. Here
I’ve played with proportions using a trapeze tee from Bijuju (the entire back
panel is leopard and it’s amazing) layered under Ivy & Leo’s cozy perfect shawl
vest which comes in a million gorgeous colors for under $30. Hello, perfect
weekend outfit! Add a moody berry lip and a sleek low ponytail and you’re out
the door in under 20 minutes! Side note, a feminine silk scarf (this one’s from
Athropologie) lends a sophisticated note to your leather backpack. Pop on a
pair of glamorous oversized shades like these ones that remind me of Iris Apfel
and no one will know that you had a late night with your besties, babies, or
your beau!
For a casual outfit that delivers the same comfort as
wearing pajamas, I’ve styled a pair of distressed jeans (they have a few
intentional rips and holes not visible when folded) with a crimson puffer vest and camel-striped tee
for a look that’s perfect for the park, playground, or tailgating. Ribbed knit
insets down the sides of the vest offer the perfect amount of stretch to
flatter your figure. This tunic-length tee also Ivy & Leo has an
asymmetrical hem which I love knotted in the front or slightly off-center
around hip level for a jaunty touch. You could add a tartan headband and small
hoop earrings to make this outfit feel preppy or layer on some 90s-inspired encrusted
jewel-tone pieces on a base of heavy metals. Think the jewels on Madonna’s Like
a Prayer album cover. Google it. I’ll wait! J
Oh, you’re back. Yay! Let’s talk purses.
Bag it: A Tale of Two
Purses
Move over bucket bag. The current 90s revival has given the
Lazarus treatment to the mini backpack! (Alexa: play “Wannabe” by the Spice
Girls…) I don’t know about you but I love going hands-free, especially with my
toddler in tow, and I think most of us can agree that everything is cuter in
miniature, bags and babies included. My personal pick for fall is Bijuju’s gold
studded backpack in a perfect neutral shade, which is pictured with the Ferrah
dress from Anthropologie at the beginning of the blog. That clever bag even has
a sleek gold handle on top in case you want to casually carry it like a
satchel.
I also love Charming Charlie’s mini backpack, which comes in
nearly every color of the fall palette and holds a surprising amount inside.
Whether you pick a pop color or a neutral, you’re sure to love tossing it over
your shoulder. Plus a backpack is good for your posture—shoulders back, head up!
If you prefer a traditional kind of bag, this season is all
about beautiful ladylike purses. Large or small, you’ll find that feminine
detailing and shapes similar to handbags carried by HRH Queen Elizabeth will reign
supreme. Look for structured frames, clasp closures, and a wrist strap or
handle. These smart bags will make jeans and a sweater look infinitely more
put-together.
To change up the look of your signature bag, tie a square
scarf around the handle for a look that is gracefully unfussy. This is a smart
and affordable way to add another layer of color or pattern to your look.
Square scarves also look great tied around your ponytail or knotted like an
ascot above the collar of your favorite shirt or jacket. I also like them tied around the wrist in lieu of a bracelet. Just keep the knot small and neat so it doesn't look like a bandage.
Of course you can never, ever go wrong with a catchall tote
in a pop color, especially if, like me, your purse pulls double duty as a
diaper bag and mobile toy box. Or if you’re like my college-age neighbor and
basically live out of your purse. You need a fab bag to keep the important
stuff on your person! While styling these flat lays, I got the exclusive sneak
peek at Charming Charlie’s collaboration with the fashion-forward Kardashian-Jenner
sisters, Kendall & Kylie. ;) What I love about their collection is that
even though their fanbase is younger than my favorite pair of boots, they still
offer this goldenrod tote with matching wallet included so that I can sit at
their lunch table too, so to speak. ;) I’ve styled it with another stunning
silk scarf from Anthropologie and looped my favorite cat-eye readers from
Charming Charlie clipped over the edge for a look that’s ageless.
Ornate Shoes
Shoes are another platform (pun alert!) for self-expression
and drama this season. Shoe trends have moved to colorful, ornate, dainty, and
daring this fall. The cabernet studded heels from WHBM that I’ve pictured a few
times are a must-have, and I am really excited about the retro-glamour of these
velour leopard heels from Francesca’s. (A word from the Wise, you’ll be seeing
more red roses this fall than on an entire season of The Bachelor!)
On these
purrrfect shoes, the rose embroidery is so beautifully 90s, and I confess that
while I was styling these, I asked Alexa to serve up Seal’s “Kiss from a Rose.”
(#methodactor)
Open-toe shoes are also a huge trend for fall so keep up
your pedicure. Just be sure to swap out your summer nail polish for an
autumn-approved burgundy or sparkling navy blue. Check out the circle of
sole-sisters I styled below for six of my favorite open toe styles.
Rock, paper, scissors:
what’s new for jewelry
For the latest in accessories, Charming Charlie and Bijuju
have you covered. The mainstay of the fall trends is geode jewelry, a stunningly
organic intersection of ombre and texture. Expect other mineral and gemstone
jewelry to take center stage as well. Did you see the amazing purple agate collar that I
paired with the lantern sleeve top? It’s a major statement piece!
On the paper front, expect a wave of folksy, homespun
accessories using raffia, rickrack, and patchwork elements.
As for scissors, you’ll find swingy fringe everywhere this
fall from earrings to pendants to trimmings on purses.
Which of the fall trends are your favorites? I’ve rounded up
a checklist to help you keep track of your fall finds!
Fall Style
Checklist:
□ Floral top
or dress
□
Wear-everywhere jacket
□
Embroidered top, tee, or vest
□
Embellished and/or distressed denim
□ Statement
sleeve top
□ Mini
backpack
□ Ladylike
handbag
□ Small
square scarf
□
Conversation-starting shoes
□ Fringe
details
□ Geode and
mineral accessories
I can’t wait to see how you style your fall looks! Tag us
using #marketcommonmb to show off your favorite outfits of the season. For
style questions, drop me a line at SaraWiseStyle@gmail.com.
Stylishly yours,
Sara
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