Fall Fashion Finale: Lauren Wilner & ELLE Editor Malina Joseph

I cannot believe that our Fall Fashion Finale is here already?!

We love our friends over at ELLE magazine! I love working with their editors and talented team. Malina Joseph, Fashion Editor, over at ELLE will be here with us all week to help decipher all of the trends and make sense of all of the fabulous Fall fashions! I sat down with her to ask her her favorites from this season…

ELLE Editor Malina Joseph

Malina:
Fall is my favorite fashion season!  After months of simple flirty dresses with a laid-back ease and gladiator sandals, I crave fall’s more glamorous, richly textured and original way to dress.  Some of my favorite trends this season would have to be menswear-inspired, or Belle Brummell, Lieutenant Chic and Retro Glam.  First off, Retro Glam.  This trend ushered in a new silhouette, a modern version of the “New Look” which was popularized in the 1950’s and showed a cinched waist and fuller skirt.  I love this silhouette because it looks good on all figures, whether you are an apple or a pear or have little to no shape at all.

The Retro Glam trend was not exclusive to just fashion but also was seen in accessories.  Top-handle bags, opera leather gloves, kitten heels and leopard, leopard, leopard!  Did I mention leopard???  At ELLE, we are all about accessories and if you cannot afford to indulge in all of the trends of the season, invest in the basics and update each season with accessories.  For example, I love the top-handle ladylike bag this season; it instantly adds glamour to even the most basic silhouette.  For a great weekend look, try pairing a pair of skinny denim with a striped tee and trench coat, accessorize with a leopard ballet flat and a top-handle bag and voila! Instant retro glam.  If you are more of a daring fashion maven, I love this season’s full skirt with a chunkier knit sweater cinched at the waist with a skinny patent belt.  Or try adding a touch of leopard, whether in a bag, shoe or belt over a simple LBD.

Lieutenant Chic

My second favorite trend of the season, is Lieutenant Chic.  I think that a military-inspired parka should officially be nominated as a classic wardrobe staple and is on my fall 2010 must-have items.  This utilitarian style outerwear adds an air of cool to both weekend and weekday looks.  I love wearing this look with a a white crisp button down, jeweled toned cardigan, statement necklace and riding boots for shopping with my friends on the weekends and paired with a feminine winter floral long dress, or update your wardrobe and bring your summer dresses into the fall, and belt for an evening out with my boyfriend.

Brummell

Finally, I love the return of menswear-inspired fashion for fall.  Like I mentioned before, to update your wardrobe each season, invest in the basics-your LBD, crisp white button down shirt, skinny denim, trench coat, etc. and update with accessories.  These Belle Brummell pieces are your investment pieces that every woman needs in their wardrobe, a great pleated trouser, button down and blazer.  One important note for this trend this season is the color palette, it is navy and camel.  If you already have the basics, try playing with color by going tonal by pairing like colors-beige and camel or navy and baby blue and accenting with gold jewelry to give this men’s-inspired trend a luxe feminine touch!

Thanks Malina!!

Lastly… I had to ask Malina, “In all of this craziness, what is your ultimate Must Have for the fall season??”

Malina:  This season, my fall must-have item is something in leopard print, whether it is a leopard scarf, bag, belt or shoe.

–Lauren Wilner

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» Fall Fashion Series presented by Elle
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