By Emily Kopec

 

The Fall 2012/Winter 2013 fashion season can be summed up in one word: LAVISH! Patterns are so elaborate they could be framed and hung in your living room. Fabrics are so soft they beg to be touched. And everything just comes together like a kaleidoscope of colors and textures that scream intense, serious, and sexy. Va-va-voom!

LADIES

 

Go for Baroque. This one reminds me of the Victoria’s Secret catalogues (no, that “u” was not a typo) circa early ‘90s ~ picture my girl Jill Goodacre posing in a lavish gold leaf pattern blazer and looking smoking hot. Well, this decade’s baroque is still as ornate as ever, in all its swirly glory. Draw your attention to intricate, refined patterns (Jacquard! Royal crests! Chains and ropes!) that would make Versace jealous. Bonus points for luxurious fabrics like velvet, gilded gold and black lace all worn together. So 17th century luxe!

 

Fifty shades of red. Keeping with the baroque theme, deep burgundy (aka oxblood red ~but that sounds a bit gory) is THE must-have hue this season. Your new BFF Burg looks brilliant in an everyday piece like a lapel jacket or handbag, and there’s a bonus: it goes effortlessly with both brown and black. You could even call this intoxicating wine shade the new neutral, and you won’t be able to get enough of it! Also on the red radar are brighter shades like rose and cherry, which translate less va-va-voom and more moody/dominant. Got it?

 

Luscious leather. Leather has been going strong for many a season, and there’s no sign of it backing down. In addition to our well-loved tough ‘n sexy cropped leather jacket and leather skinny pant, we’re seeing a sharp trend in leather skirts. Decidedly more girly, skirts of all cuts done in supple leather look unexpected and really break up the more romantic trends ~ in fact, pair a leather skirt with a feminine, flow-y shirt and you just set the sexy-chic bar all the way up. And last but not least, shiny patent leather is showing up everywhere, too!

 

Mix ‘n match prints. Simple patterns are cute and all, but when they’re more intricate and fancier they practically become art. Busy prints featuring several vivid colors are a welcome change of pace from the ho-hum, as are bold graphic patterns that add street cred. This is a trend you can play around with, as there are no hard and fast rules. Pretty much any gutsy pattern will get the fashion rubber stamp. Bonus points for ~ gasp ~ mixing tops and bottoms of different patterns. While it’s admittedly not an easy feat to do, if the patterns are of similar styles and have a common color you can completely rock it. Live a little!

 

Snakeskin sophistication. You usually don’t hear those two words in the same sentence, right? Well, the new and improved snakeskin is cool and refined. Keep it neutral (no rainbow prints please, leave that to the Jersey Shore cast) with shades like gray, cream and black. While snakeskin accessories are always en vogue, the reptilian pattern is now being used in creative and exciting new ways such as chiffon tops(!), cigarette pants, and wrap skirts. Jean Paul Gaultier showcased a tailored snakeskin skirt suit in his fall 2012 Collection and it looked surprisingly business-like. So go on, slither into a pair of gray skinny jeans with a snakeprint pattern. You know you wanna.

 

Vintage elegance. This season, vintage looks less hippy and more ladylike. Mod leisure suits? Yes, please. Shift dresses are just fab, too. Neon colors and geometric patterns lend themselves perfectly to these well-loved looks of the past. Tunics are really hot this season as well, and with good reason: they’re easy to wear and have a perfect mod-meets-modern vibe. It’s all about the free-spirited, swinging ‘60s, baby! Channel your inner Twiggy and wear a blouse with an exaggerated collar and pop on long drop ball earrings to accentuate the look!

 

Gilded gold. Just when you think gold might be getting overplayed, it comes back shinier and more sophisticated than ever! Tops and bottoms alike are dripping in the yummy 14K goodness, and there’s no reason to wait for the holidays to put on the glitz. Liquid gold slouchy tops look ah-mazing with neutral-hued skinny pants (a look Kate Moss recently rocked in Paris). Another super chic pairing is a shiny gold leather belt with a khaki dress. Metallic dresses are causing a commotion too, especially long maxi-style ones you wouldn’t expect to see in gold. Vegas who?

 

Oriental opulence. The beautiful staples of fashion from the Far East are being interpreted into strong-yet-cool looks. Oriental prints like graphic florals and dragons command the spotlight (the bolder the better!). Satin, flow-y materials are a no-brainer, but don’t overlook more androgynous looks like mandarin collar jackets and sporty quilted pieces featuring color-blocking and exotic motifs. Likewise, anything vibrant, high-shine and high-necked brings on the mandarin flair. Wearing orchids in your hair as an accessory is a beautiful way to finish off your awesome Asian look.

 

Schoolgirl dorky-chic. Over-the-top sexy schoolgirl get-ups have historically raised the pulses of men everywhere. (I don’t know if there’s a study, but I think we can all agree to agree on this one). This season, forget about the stereotypical sexy schoolgirl Halloween costume and think Zooey-meets-school-uniform. The staples are still there: the pleated skirts, the layered jumpers and even the knee socks. But there are also plenty of comfy knit sweaters and sweater vests with cartoon-inspired prints, peter pan collars, high-necked tops, varsity jackets and skirts with longer hemlines. So look a little disheveled, muss up your hair and wear your black-framed dork glasses. And if you go with a short skirt, just make sure you’re covered up on top!

 

GENTS

 

The rich, print-heavy look of the season lends itself well to the more masculine crowd. All you need to know is right here!

 

Preppy gentleman. The London Olympics may be over, but the fashion influence from the other side of the pond remains. The herringbone, checks, and tweeds of a proper Englishman look just as smashing on you Yanks. Cold weather is the perfect time to layer on these refined pieces that fit in perfectly with the huge pattern trend. A plaid wool vest looks dashing over abutton-up shirt, or try a checked shirt with a deep-hued pant like nutmeg brown. You can really up the ante by mixing and matching your prints. For example, a check and a preppy stripe can co-exit harmoniously ~ As they say, you never know until you try!

 

Jeans lighten up and get cuffed. Your closet is probably already crammed with dark jeans ~ a tried and true hue that goes with everything. Well, it’s time to introduce a new lighter-blue friend to your collection. Soft, light blue jeans are a refreshing change from the norm, and they’ll become your new go-to piece when you’re heading out to grab a drink. Wear them with a classic white collared shirt or a cool patterned sweater. Bonus points for cuffing your jeans and wearing them with short brown boots.

 

Color on color. Black and grey is so yesterday. Create your own color-block combinations by wearing multiple pieces in different vibrant hues. Don’t be shy to layer color on top of color, the more vivid the better. For example, an emerald green tie with a purple button-down shirt looks so right. If you’re the type who needs a second opinion before you head out the door, an easy way to pull off this look is to invest in a brightly colored scarf or two. Then you can simply throw it over your equally-bright shirt and there you go, you just color-blocked (Wasn’t that easy?).

 

SHOES

 

Woman’s best friend has gone less platform-y and decidedly more feminine. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a plethora of tough, sexy and classic looks to love. Fasten your ankle straps, ladies, here we go!

 

Pointy-toed heels. After a few years’ hiatus, pointy toes are back in a BIG way, so dust ‘em off and move them front and center! From the classic pointy-toed pump to newer looks like the toe area dipped in a shiny metallic with matching shiny ankle straps, they are pounding the runways like they never left the scene. Get my point? Heheh.

 

Ankle details. Ankle fixin’s are taking center stage in many of the latest shoe looks. That’s right, it’s an ankle party, y’all! Multiple straps with buckles, embellishments, dramatic tie-ups and the like all in luscious fabrics like velvet and satin ooze sex appeal.

 

Menswear. In a sharp contrast, loafers and boots are seeing more masculine details like tassels, classic buckles and wingtip dots. Lace-up booties are big as well. These styles look sophisticated with schoolgirl outfits, busy prints and long floral skirts alike.

 

Mixed materials. No need to decide on snakeskin or black suede when you can have them both in one shoe! Tall boots lend themselves exceptionally well to this mixed up look. Tall boots with the top few inches done in a different material (such as brown leather boots with silver metallic snake print on top) are genius, as is the vertical look of the front half and back half being completely different (think burgundy leather in front, black suede in back). I don’t know about you, but I love having it both ways.

 

Tough-girl chic. This look is perfect for those who never met a stiletto they didn’t like…especially if it has zippers, chains and studs! My my, even Rihanna would blush at some of these good shoes gone bad (sorry, couldn’t resist!). A favorite celeb look is just the back of the shoe decorated with an embellishment like studs (which sometimes look like weapons!).

 

Shearling queen. New England gals love us some shearling to keep our tootsies warm in the winter, and now it’s heating up the fashion scene big-time, too. Booties with turned-up shearling cuffs are fierce, whether the heels are low and chunky or tall and sophisticated. Tall shearling boots also have that earthy-but-cosmopolitan vibe.

 

Giddy up. At the start of every fall, I slip back into my favorite riding boots and they feel like a BFF I haven’t talked to in a long time. I know I’m speaking for many when I say the love of the classic riding boot is timeless. Jeans, dresses and skirts look so effortlessly cool with them.

 

Need an idea for a trendy going-out outfit? Here y’go!

 

Try a fancy mixed-material long-sleeve black top featuring swirly gold baroque with a knee-length burgundy skirt and black tough-girl stiletto booties with black lace socks peeking out. And of course, don’t forget the come-hither gaze!

 

Want a sneak peek at what’s heading down the runway for spring 2013?

 

Slouchy, longer shorts

Floral motifs

Black and white

Cut-away pieces

Tropical prints

Preppy/Sporty

Jailhouse stripes

Boho glam

…and just remember, if you feel good in it, that’s all that matters!

 

Photos by: Justin Mayotte of Flash House Studios – www.flashhousestudios.com

Models Courtesy of: Karon Shea Model Management

Special thanks to 7 Nana for letting us invade their beautiful restaurant!

 

All women’s clothes available from: JAMES HOGAN – 664 Pleasant St., Worcester

All men’s clothes available from: ARMANDO’S – 254 Grafton St., Worcester

Make up by: Izzy Morgan Makeup Artistry – www.facebook.com/pages/Izzy-Morgan-Makeup-Artistry/264065230316351

Hair by: Amanda Tasse