Fall into autumn’s hottest trends

As August draws to an end, we’re squeezing in those last days of bare feet, lounging around without make-up, cold margaritas at the lake and all the glorious things we do during our short, sweet summer. Though I’m sad to say goodbye to my tan, I can’t shake that unmistakable first-day-of-school giddy feeling knowing that autumn is just around the corner.

Fall is my favorite time of year for fashion. The layers come out, colors calm down to more muted and sophisticated tones, and flip-flops are swapped out for ankle booties. As the “September Issues” arrive in my mailbox, I voraciously consume every glossy page.

This is fall. This is fashion’s new year. This is where it gets exciting. Buckle up, here’s what you’ll need…

Polka Dots. I’m a year-round fan, but I’m glad to see that they’re on the hot list this season. The best thing about polka dots is that they can be dressed up or dressed down. Wear them to work to add a little pizazz to a boring blazer, or on their own with a cute solid skirt for a more casual look. Make sure they’re not monstrous dots (that’s so 90s!), keep them cute and classy.

 

Colorful pants. Go ahead, be bold! This trend is going to be so hot this fall. Grab yourself a pair of bright orange, pink, red or green pants. Pair them with a neutral sweater — you can’t go wrong with  brown or gray. Also, keep the shoes pretty calm too. The key to owning this look is to make the pants do the work, everything else will have to take the back seat.

A touch of lace. This was an embellishment we saw all over the runways for Fall 2011 back in February. Try wearing a lace top (with a cami or tank underneath, of course) under a structured blazer. It will add a feminine touch to something otherwise boxy. Letting the lace peek out will be a super sexy way to balance out a more masculine looking outfit. Remember, though – the key to this trend is to accent with lacey items, not go over-the-top with an entirely sheer outfit.

 

Mustard yellow. Nothing screams “autumn” like mustard yellow. This will surely be the neutral of the season, so grab a cardigan and pair it with a green or a brown shirt, or get a skirt and put another fun color on top. Just make sure there’s not too much yellow going on — you’ll want to break it up with some other color.

What are you seeing in the stores for this fall? Anything you like? Don’t be shy, share your fall style secrets!