WHERE RUFFLES & BOMBER JACKETS MEET
Eclectic fall season all about exploring fun side of fashion,
Fall is serving up a melting pot of fashion trends and styles.
While it’s not quite an anything-goes smorgasbord, shoppers should be prepared to face a seasonal retail menu that’s refreshingly diverse.
From the continuing popularity of “athleisure” elements such as hoodies and bomber jackets, to menswear-inspired silhouettes in the form of wide-leg trousers and strong-shouldered blazers — all the way to the opposite end of the sartorial spectrum with feminine details such as silky-satin blouses and ruffles — the season ahead is all about exploring the fun side of fashion.
Despite the mash-up tendencies of fall, the must-have item of the season, according to Suzanne Timmins, senior vice-president and fashion director at Hudson’s Bay, is a simple piece that anchors most women’s wardrobes: a great shirt.
“Shirting in all its iterations is a major trend,” Timmins says. “It is also one of the most versatile wardrobe workhorses out there. You can’t go wrong with a (menswear-inspired) oversized white shirt, or try a new variation on the classic, such as one boasting shoulder exposure or a ruffled hem.”
Timmins says shoppers should prepare to see several classic items trotted back out this season, including the back-infavour turtleneck.
But the familiar pieces won’t be exactly as we’ve seen them before.
“Trends rarely come back exactly the same way; there is usually some sort of twist,” Timmins says. “My advice would be to wear it in a new and different way.”
For turtlenecks, that means opting for a luxurious fabric such as cashmere for a new take, according to Timmins.
The popularity of the conservative, tothe-neck style is a direct contrast to the dressed-down, slightly rebellious feel of one of the prominent themes spotted on the fall/winter runways, which Timmins and her team are calling “street smart.”
“The infusion of streetwear, athletic influences and a punk attitude into designer collections is a key fashion message,” she says. “The esthetic conjures an anti-establishment feeling that, once broken down, reveals so many desirable and commercial items such as big bombers and puffas, oversized hoodies, deconstructed denim, moto jackets, and tough boots.”
A further study in contrasting themes is the popularity of ruffles, which are shaping up to be a popular embellishment in many fall fashion collections. Timmins says the airy additions like those seen in designer Guillaume Henry’s collection for Nina Ricci offer a feminine glamour that’s a welcome contrast to some of the season’s edgier trends.
“All things lingerie-influenced will be a surefire hit — lace, silky satins, velvet, shine, and ruffles are key fabrics and details that will resonate with customers who prefer a prettier, more traditionally feminine take on apparel,” Timmins says.
“Slip dresses, camisoles and pyjamastyle tops and bottoms will be strong items for the season.”
Try pairing the slinkier pieces with hyper-masculine garments such as silky tanks paired with wide-leg trousers and printed pyjama pants worn with a strong-shouldered blazer. For inspiration on how to merge the somewhat quarrelsome trend categories of fall, Timmins recommends shoppers look to the runway creations of design duo Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen of The Row.
“The Olsens have developed such a forward thinking luxury collection with The Row,” she says of the minimalistchic designs. “Their fall collection was a complete reflection of their esthetic: simple, clean and modern — nothing superfluous, and absolutely in sync with how women want to dress now.”
While clothing staples such as blouses and trousers are allowing for style exploration, coats are playing it a little more safe. “There is a trend today for simplicity and fail-safe styling,” says John Rea of Edward Chapman Woman. “Fail-safe styling is loaded with style, but not affected year to year.” He says popular outerwear styles for this fall will include many we’ve seen before such as double-breasted car coats in navy rather than the basic black and grey, classic trench coats, and down vests layered under a wool mainstay. And, of course, rain jackets. “Rainwear styling includes the very important hood for our climate,” Rea says. “Also trending are ‘SOS’ hoods, (which are) hidden from view in the collar but immediately available should you get caught in the rain.”
The shift away from basic black in the outerwear category is something Timmins says shoppers will notice in other departments, too, as designers embraced the idea of breaking winter tradition. In short: shades will be a lot brighter than seasons past.
“The big story for fall is all about new colour combinations and interesting palettes,” she says.
Timmins points to “leafy” and armyinspired greens and “winter wine” shades such as burgundy and bordeaux paired with striking scarlet red.
And for fashion fans who are looking for a way to update their wardrobe without adding a pile of new garments to their closets, consider donning something with a little DIY embellishment such as a patches on a T-shirt, denim or a jacket.
“Pins, patches and brooches are a fun and fast way to update your jackets and jeans,” Timmins says of the affordable, more-is-better trend.