Holt Renfrew vice-president fashion editor Lisa Tant speaks at a recent public presentation about fall trends in Edmonton.
Photograph by: Greg Southam , Edmonton Journal
EDMONTON - The only good thing about the end of summer is looking ahead to fall fashion trends.That’s why, even though we’re still hanging on to August (by only the slimmest of threads), we sought expert advice for the coming season from Lisa Tant of Holt Renfrew[1] and Colleen Uncao of Marshalls[2] on the hottest looks they’re seeing for cooler weather.
Tant, vice-president fashion editor at Holt’s, was in town last week offering first-hand advice to shoppers at the Manulife Place store. Also last week, Marshalls opened its first Alberta stores with two right here in Edmonton, at South Edmonton Common and Manning Crossing, where you’ll find some of the trends Uncao highlighted for us.
What’s black and white and red all over?
The old riddle (the answer to which is either a newspaper — “read” all over — or an embarrassed zebra) is also the answer to fall’s fashion dilemma of how best to modernize a black-and-white palette.
“There’s a lot of big, graphic prints done with a bigger statement — big houndstooth, stripes, graphic zigzags — and then with shots of red,” says Tant.
Red is bold, but versatile, working well with almost any neutral — camel, black, grey or navy, she adds.
“If I had to pick one great piece in red, I think I’d buy a red coat,” she says. But for the less adventurous, a shot of red can come in a subtler form — a red tote bag, or even a red lipstick.
Check out plaids
Speaking of black and white and red, checks, plaids and tartans are a big trend for fall, say Marshalls spokeswoman Colleen Uncao.
You’ll find them in accessories, but also in wardrobe staples like plaid shirts and skirts, and even in home decor. “They’re traditional, but done in a contemporary way,” she says.
Punk Princess
The rebellious style of the ’70s has ironically become a classic trend, influencing everything from evening wear to work wear this season, says Tant.
Black, studs, motorcycle jackets — all have made the transition from fashion’s fringes to its mainstream. Studded shoes and handbags are appearing regularly in the office, as well as on weekends, and not just for the young. “I find it’s become a very popular fashion trend that anybody can wear,” she says.
“It can still be a very young, rock ’n’ roll look but I can see it on a 50-plus woman going to work with a great pair of studded shoes and a handbag.”
Even the classic cropped motorcycle jacket, done in a soft, coloured leather, can take the place of a blazer at work, worn over a printed dress for example, she adds.
Leather pleasure
When worn in all its glory, consider it part of the punk influence. But leather and its phoney but attractive sister, pleather, is showing up in subtler ways, in leather-trimmed details on sweater jackets, and in panels along the sides of pants, leggings and skirts, says Uncao at Marshalls.
“It’s emerging not only as something you’d wear on the weekend or evenings but we’re bringing it in to the office as well, making it really contemporary but really acceptable to wear during the day.”
Wearing more tailored bits of leather is a great way to get versatility from your wardrobe, she adds. “You get such great value for that because then you can wear it into your evening and casual looks and on the weekend.”
Faux leather is even more acceptable these days than real leather, and the quality is so good, it can be hard to tell the two apart, she says. Look for it in the traditional black, but also in other neutrals and in vibrant shades.
Fur, faux real
Like leather, fur is a huge trend this season, whether real, fake or recycled, says Lisa Tant. It’s popular in accessories like scarves, hats, gloves, bags and boots, and in trim on coats and jackets. While we’ll be seeing some shorter fur jackets and vests, don’t expect the “Dynasty, full-on, to the ground” fur coats of yore.
Tant says she’s also seeing lots of fur in pale pink.
Knitting pretty
For extra cosiness this fall, take advantage of knits, in sweater dresses, knit jackets and other work-appropriate woollies.
In addition to tailored knits for the office, there are plenty of big, chunky knits for layering on weekends, says Uncao. Open-weave knits are still popular and make good fall transition pieces. And as always, you’ll find lots of knitted scarves and accessories, she adds.
While knits are surfacing in traditional greys and neutrals, they’re also appearing in gemstone shades like cobalt blue and burgundy, she adds.
Skip the fine print
Think prints for fall, and think big, says Tant of Holt Renfrew. “Not little tiny florals, but big florals worn with a stripe or another contrasting colour.”
If you want to tone it down, try a print on one piece, like a floral pencil skirt, she suggest. Feeling more adventurous? Try it in a coat.
“When people say, ‘I don’t want to look like I got dressed in the dark,’ I always say, ‘make sure the tone of colour is similar. If it’s a pastel, keep all of it pastels, or if there’s more of a black running through both prints, that’s your unifying piece.’ That’s a good rule of thumb if you’re not too comfortable mixing florals,” she says.
Bold florals can be playful and high-impact, but they do take a bit of courage to wear, she adds.
Coat check
Longer, fuller and brighter are the watchwords for coats this fall.
Look for ones that fall just below the knee or mid-calf, cut looser in the shoulders and sleeves. “It’s just a bigger, looser fit,” says Tant.
While there are plenty of greys and blacks as always, you’ll also find the new silhouette in houndstooth, florals and bold plaids, she adds. “I love that look. It has a retro, kind of ’50s style to it that I think is really chic.”
The style works well on bigger women, but smaller gals might want to consider a trimmer cut, adds Tant. “Don’t get hung up on the trends; the very first thing is your body type. So if you’re petite and you love the look of a berry-coloured coat, buy the colour — but in the cut that suits you.”
For women who are reluctant to experiment with clothing trends, accessories can be a good alternative, says Tant. Try an oversized clutch or a Boston bag (like a doctor’s satchel) in a great colour like red, or purple.
“Just be really strategic. Look at what you have — where is the excitement missing? Could it be that you need a really great scarf? I’m a big believer in accessories. I also like to get either a really interesting top or a skirt because I can mix that in with all my basics and make everything look fresh again.”
To read Marta Gold and Amanda Ash’s blog, The New Black, go to edmontonjournal.com/blogs[5]
© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal
References
- ^ Holt Renfrew (www.holtrenfrew.com)
- ^ Marshalls (www.marshallsonline.com)
- ^ mgold@edmontonjournal.com (www.edmontonjournal.com)
- ^ twitter.com/MartaGold1 (twitter.com)
- ^ edmontonjournal.com/blogs (edmontonjournal.com)
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