In a word, fall fashion is all about (drum roll, please) …leather.
Wardrobe essentials like bomber jackets and knee-high boots; crush-worthy colors such as Marc by Marc Jacobs’ deliciously berry lambskin pants; supple accents polishing go-to leggings or trimming men’s collars – from faux to the real deal, leather hit last weekend’s runway night after night for Fashion Week at the Bellevue Collection.
“People love leather,” said Cara Crowley of Vogue and co-host of Saturday’s Front Row Fashion Show. “It’s sticking around.”
Speaking of sticking around, a couple tried-and-true Northwest style favorites also found new life at Vogue magazine’s trend-focused presentation: plaid and monochromatic palettes. So go ahead, dig up last year’s (or decade’s, really) plaid shirts and give them 90’s-inspired punk swagger with goldtone hardware – like gleaming necklaces lavishly layered, metallic-burnished buckles or a studded biker jacket (see, more leather). For added texture play, complete the look with cropped jeans and suede ankle booties.
If rebel-meets-hipster isn’t quite your scene, don’t fret. The catwalk teemed with chic, monochromatic ensembles refined by understated textural contrasts and layered-on versatility. Start with a simple cotton tee and your favorite leggings, add a plush knit vest or velvety turtleneck and top it with a draped cape-like coat – all in varied shades of grey or deep navy. Want to take it up a notch and move out of your cloudy Seattle comfort zone? There are no rules against dressing head-to-toe in jewel-tone blues or wine-drenched reds as evidenced by the lush offerings in the Color Wheel line-up from a Hugo Boss emerald suede coat, Marc by Marc Jacob’s punchy two-tone blazer or puffy Banana Republic vest in brilliant blue.
According to Crowley’s partner-in-crime, style aficionado and TV personality Lawrence Zarian, the key to staying in step with this season’s trends is to keep it simple. A feat easier said than done when everything from animal prints to metallic finishes to head-to-toe leather is crowding every nook and cranny of your closet. Step back. Stick with your base. And add thoughtful accents – python (swoon) print shoes, a leapord-spot bag, or ritzy silver and gold. Not all three.
Whichever trend most strikes your fancy, one theme remained constant throughout the evening’s mix of ready-to-wear outfits: red-stained lips. It’s timeless. It translates effortlessly from punk to Americana to pretty and proper. And it’s the easiest way to take your look straight from the office to night-out revelries.
Now if you’ll excuse me, it’s time to reapply a little rouge and ditch this swivel chair.