Welcome to Part II of my series on fall fashion trends of 2010: neutrals, graphics, and capes.
In preparation for the fashionable fall season to come, I’m taking a five-part series to look at the upcoming fall fashion trends for 2010. Since fall is the season of fashion, there are simply too many fabulous and important trends to cram them all into one article. I just wouldn’t be doing them justice.
I last left you with the trends from Part I of my series: military style, women’s suits, and lingerie as outerwear. In Part II, I’m going to talk about this season’s neutrals, graphics, and capes:
1) Neutrals. In an extension of a summer 2010 trend, we’re going to see lots of neutrals this fall. Camel, nude, stone, sand, khaki, gray – you name it: if it’s neutral, it’s in. They were all over the fall 2010 fashion runways several months ago, and pretty soon neutral tones will be all over women across the United States.
Is that really a surprise, though? Don’t we expect nudes from designers like Ports 1961, Burberry, and Chloe? Yes, we do. But when we start seeing them from designers like Cynthia Steffe, Herve Leger, and Max Azria (of BCBG fame), who either relish a black-and-white (Leger) or color-filled palette (Steffe, Azria), then it’s time to sit up and take notice.
Put your blues, purples, and greens (unless it’s army green, of course) in the closet and bring out the neutrals to look chic this fall.
2) Graphics. Neutrals and graphics, you say? How is that possible? Well, it’s possible when it’s not just colors, but textures, too – lace and tulle and tweed and silk and lace and pearls and anything else you can think of. According to the LA Times, Rodarte, Ohne Titel, and Michael Kors graced the runways with multi-textural confections.
But there is some splattery and graffiti out there, as well – J Brand Jeans, Hiroto Rashusko, and DKNY favor this style of graphic for fall 2010 (though DKNY also used a mixture of textures, primarily knit). So, feel free to let your whimsical side out and mix and match fabric and other texture types when you’re putting together fashionable ensembles this fall.
3) Capes. Is it any wonder that capes are in, given the macabre popularity of the Twilight series – not to mention TrueBlood? All things vampire are all the rage these days, and capes are no exception.
Often coming in camel colors this season, from designers like Zac Posen, Alexander Wang, and Phillip Lim, capes are both short and long, and frequently sport oversize collars (I’ll admit that the neutrals take a little of the vampire out of capes). Ponchos are also making a comeback in the same buff, neutral colors.
Looking for something a little more exciting, more avant garde? Check out the fur-adorned, thick shearling capes from Marc Jacobs, or the richly-colored, lady-like capes with embellished trim from Peter Som.
To be honest, capes really aren’t a favorite trend of mine, so I tend to stick with jackets, trenches, and coats, which I feel give a better line and a chic frame to your body. But if you’re into vampires, swirling mystery, and capes, then fall 2010 is your fashion season.
