Smarty Buzz – What’s Hot for Fall

By Guest Blogger, Maureen F. Meacham
Personal Wardrobe Consultant
Wardrobe Wonders

Every year, when fall rolls around, our house is buzzing about football. My husband and son walk around the house singing, “Are you ready for some football?” Not me! I’m walking around humming about the new fall clothing trends. I think the clothing industry needs to come up with its own fall jingle. It could go something like, “I love fall clothes and they love me. I’m going to look as fabulous as I can be”. Of course, this should be sung to the tune of I love Lucy.

I’ve always wanted to be like Lucy Ricardo. She was never afraid to take a risk and she always looked fabulous, even when she was cooking her husband breakfast (ok, I know this is not reality but everyone needs to have a dream!!). Psst, don’t tell anyone, but I DVR I Love Lucy and watch it when I need some time away from reality. I love looking at the style of clothing from that time period. Lucy always had the latest items in her wardrobe. It seems like every other episode had something to do with her buying a new hat or hiding a new dress from Ricky. Lucy taught me my favorite answer to the age old question a husband asks a wife, “Honey, is that a new dress?” On one episode she explained to Ethel that when she buys a new dress she leaves it in her closet for a while before she wears it. That way, when Ricky asks if she is wearing a new dress, she can honestly say, “No, it’s just something that has been in my closet for a while”. LOL, I love it!

As we move into the fall months, it is that perfect time to think and do as Lucy would. It is time to start thinking about our fall wardrobes but not time to start wearing them yet. I had a client call me yesterday to tell me that she couldn’t decide what to wear and asked for my help. She explained that she was frustrated with the transition season. She wanted to wear her linen dress and her white shoes but didn’t feel it appropriate because it is September. I explained to her that she needs to dress with the weather and not the calendar. It has been almost eighty degrees (and muggy) every day this week. I was shopping at the mall yesterday and actually saw a few ladies decked out in their fall clothes. Wow, I bet they were uncomfortably hot! So, as we shop for our new fall pieces, let’s keep them in our closet for a while. We can pull them out as the weather starts to cool off. That way, when our husbands ask us that age old question we can respond by saying, “This old thing, it’s just something that has been sitting around”.

So, what, you may ask, should we be buying to stock our closet for cooler days? Like Lucy, I like to keep up with the latest trends. If I had lived in Lucy’s time I would have wanted to look as Lucy had. However, in our time things are much different. Well, maybe not entirely. As I was out looking at the hot items for the season I noticed quite a bit of similarities between then and now. Every season has a few retro items that are on the “what’s hot now” list. This season I saw a few that were throwbacks to the I Love Lucy days. One of the hot trends for the season is the white blouse (do you remember the ruffled one that Lucy always wore? It was great!). The pencil skirt is another throwback item that is a fall must-have. In our modern time we update the look by wearing it with a tailored jacket (big item this season) over the white shirt (one with ruffles is always nice) and a thin belt over the two. I know, it sounds crazy, but check it out in the stores. It looks spectacular! Also, check out some of the other great trends for fall. You’ll love the boyfriend jeans (finally we can breathe, no more tight jeans), leather jackets, vests, boyfriend jackets, print dresses and studs (no, not the man kind, the metal kind. I know, darn!!). Looking for the hot colors of the season? Go with anything in the plum or berry family. Also, and this is especially hot, go with anything animal print. Throw some animal prints in with your oldies but goodies and you are sure to hear your wardrobe growl!

Now, hop into Bill and Ted’s most excellent phone booth and fast forward a few decades. We are still in TV Land but we have landed smack dab in the middle of The Cosby Show. Yes, you got it; we are visiting the 80’s. Hmm…it looks much different here than it did in decades past. Instead of hats and white gloves I am seeing plaid tunics and leggings. What’s that? Do I even see shoulder pads? “They’re back” I could hear myself thinking (yes, another reference to a great 80’s movie. Why not!). I remember wearing these trends the first time around. You know the old rule – if you wore it the first time around go lightly with it when it comes around the second time. I like to say TREND lightly (get it? Kind of like tread lightly. Groan! I know!).

Not every trend is for everybody. Pick and choose what works for you. Work the new pieces in with your staples and you will look and feel just as marvelous as Lucy did!

Photo Gallery and Shopping Guide

Pencil skirt with tailored jacket and belt – Kate Spade.com

Plaid pencil skirt with tailored Jacket – Nordstrom.com

Shoulder pads – Nordstrom.com


Print Dress – The Pink Hanger


Animal print vest – Chez Elle – 704.372.6612 – (no website)


Print dress and leather vest – Chez Elle


Plaid top with leather jacket – Chez Elle


Boyfriend jacket with studs – Black and Blue


Legging jeans with plaid – Luna


Love the eighties! – Civilian


Plum dress with studded Jacket – Civilian


Boyfriend jacket – The Pink Hanger


Plaid dress – The Pink Hanger


Stud bracelets – Civilian


Vest layered over coat – TRC


White shirt with vest – TRC

Like these looks and want to try them for yourself? Tune in next week to find out how you can have the fashion without the funds including exclusive CSP discounts at many of these local boutiques!

Thanks, Maureen, for all the great tips! If you want to learn more, check out Maureen on Facebook and become a fan of Wardrobe Wonders. Or you can contact Maureen at:
Maureen F. Meacham, Personal Wardrobe Consultant
704.661.6209
wardrobewonders@gmail.com
http://www.wardrobewonders.com/coming soon as well as a facebook fan page!