Fall Fashion Must-Haves

Fashion is something that can bring people together. Think about it. Do you have more fun at the mall when you're shopping by yourself or with one or two friends and getting their opinions of different outfits? When we can get the perspective from someone whether it's another expert or a loved one who's voice means the world to us, we can learn a lot ourselves.

This blog post is a collaborative effort. For my radio show, I got the chance to sit down and chat about Fall fashion must-haves with fashion expert, Cristina Ehrlich.

Cristina's career began as a dancer, she even studied dance at NYU, but she also grew up with a mother who was a showroom model and interior designer and a grandfather who was a clothing designer. So when she turned 27, it's no surprise that Cristina hung up her dance shoes to pursue another passion...fashion. Since then she has had the fortune of working with some of Hollywood's finest including Penelope Cruz and Amy Adams and most recently she has announced a partnership with QVC.

I'm very excited to share the Fall fashion must-haves that Cristina and I came up with:

Jeans are a great place to start. Every woman, no matter what her lifestyle is always looking for a great pair of jeans. There certainly is a big trend going on right now with printed jeans, whether it's a brochette ankle jean or a Jacquard slim leg jean. These are jeans that are going to add some texture and print to your wardrobe. A lot of the prints are done in darker hues which are very elongating to the leg and flattering.
Colored cords. Whether it's in rich jewel tones like teal, mulberry, or cranberry or in great earth tones like slate grey. Colored cords are a nice way to break up the regular jean for everyday. They are a great way to transition the colored pants and bright colors from summer so that you're wardrobe doesn't end up filled with the blacks, browns, and greys typical for winter. Cords are super comfortable and easy to pair with a great ankle boot, loafer, or pump. They are definitely a key piece that can mix and match with already existing pieces in our closet.
If you go for an earth tone or a color like oxblood red or poppy persimmon, it's really easy to pair on top with something like a print or texture or even a solid chunky sweater.
You can also try pairing colored cords with a tweed blazer and a little camisole underneath.
Texture. Adding texture in addition to color can give the outfit a little more pop and there's also a new freshness to the style.
Color blocking. We are seeing a lot of color blocking, and what Cristina and I love about that is that it breaks up the monotony of always having dark tones up against the face. As women we sometimes forget that there are different colors, tones, and shades that are going to flatter us. When you have color up against your face, it's very warming and flattering. Then you can even try mixing it with gold/silver jewelry or a statement necklace. Color blocking can even show off your curves while adding a little pop of color.
If you're a little hesitant to try color blocking for the fear of looking like an Easter egg, Coldwater Creek has a great color blocking sweater. The whole front base is done in jewel tones, then around the waist it has a slice of dark grey and the arms and back of the sweater are also grey. With this sweater you get the curve of the waist and also the richness of purple or another jewel tone. It becomes easy to find a pair for the bottom whether you choose cords, jeans, or leggings.
Prints. Cristina and I like adding a print on either the top or the bottom and balancing it with something solid or textural on the other part. For instance if you choose a printed camisole, you can try pairing it with something like a black jean and a black blazer for a nice polished look.
Make accessories the focal point. Often times this is the case, but at the same time most women forget that just by taking a simple printed scarf and tying it around their neck or even to the arms of their handbag or even through their belt loops, it adds a pop of color, sophistication, and a little bit of flare.
Play with lengths. Every season boots make a big splash and a great pairing with boots can be a skirt. We are going to see a nice trend where people will play with the length of the skirts like boots skirts. Boot skirts are A-line on the bottom and pair very well with boots.

No matter which trend you choose to embrace, remember that fashion should be a seamless flow. What you want to do is choose your focal point and where you want the solid to be. Don't feel like you have to mix and match. If it's meant to go together, it will flow together.