Fall Season Has Something for Everyone

It’s a jungle out there.

This fall, animal prints are everywhere: skirts, shirts, dresses, jackets, belts and hats. If you’re not wild about the leopard look, that’s the bad news.

The good news is that there are a lot of other choices. Designers and manufacturers--still stinging from the consumer rebuff of the miniskirt--are bowing to shoppers more than ever and offering a wide selection for career women.

As with every season, a handful of key looks predominate. This season, animal prints, menswear suits, wrap jackets, jewel colors, narrow pants and the Western look are strong styles that will probably stay hot through this year and into the next, according to several Orange County fashion experts.

But unlike previous years, the choices are more plentiful and the number of options within a certain look are diverse. The seasons of singular hem lengths, pant widths or skirt styles are as passe as the granny gown.

“We’re calling it the season of choices,” says Gail Sekiguchi, fashion director for the Nordstrom stores in Southern California. “You see it in skirt lengths, pant widths and patterns. (It’s) wonderful to see so many options.”

Take hemlines. Most outfits are cut to the knee, although nearly every store has a selection of skirts and dresses that fall mid-calf, according to Jo Lawley, spokeswoman for the Broadway.

“The skirt length is determined by the top you put with it,” she says. “If you are going to wear a shorter cropped jacket, you’d select a longer skirt. The assortment is there.”

“The exciting news in skirts is that any length can work,” depending on what you wear with it, says Sekiguchi.

The same goes for pants and jackets. Unlike a few seasons back when everyone wore hip-length jackets, this year the story is short and long. Variety is the word for pants as well. Legs are narrow or wide, offering the versatility to match the variety of jacket lengths.

“What’s important about jacket lengths is that because there is such a great range and so many options, the customer should be aware of balancing bottoms with tops,” says Sekiguchi. “There should be a full fluid bottom balancing a more fitted jacket. When the jacket is more fluid (unconstructed), a pencil-slim pant is appropriate.”

Billur Wallerich, fashion director at Saks Fifth Avenue in South Coast Plaza, says the unconstructed jacket and blouse, the kind that wrap around the midriff or hip, are a hit this season.

“We call them ‘trapeze tops,’ and they’re catching everyone’s attention,” she says.

Another big look for fall is the Renaissance influence of rich colors, luxurious fabrics--such as brocade, velvet and tapestry--and gold or metallic trimmings.

“We feel the rich, jewel-like colors--ruby red and hunter green--will continue to be very important,” Wallerich says.

The shimmering trims that offset the rich colors can be found in gold braid, fancy studs or unusual metal buttons, say the experts, who attribute the look to Chanel’s continuing influence.

“Luxurious trims--that is the fashion statement of this fall,” says Mary Rubenstein, owner of the Mi Place boutique in Laguna Niguel.

“For day, you’re seeing the gold buttons, the Chanel look, on suits and tops, dynamite sweaters with gold braiding, and lots of fancy trim. I think women want to look a little more glamorous.”

Ellie Hotmann, a spokeswoman for Bullock’s, agrees.

“One of the biggest trends is details: tassels, fringe, quilted items, coin trims, Chanel-style gold buttons, pleats, anything metallic is wonderful right now,” she says.

For night, the froufrou gets fancier.

“We’re seeing velvet-trimmed jackets, luxurious fabrics, tapestry, gold braid,” says Hotmann.

As for animal patterns, nearly every store has its own pack of prints, although leopard is most plentiful. Wallerich says the prints are seen on dresses, skirts, pants and jackets, but most often accessories.

Two other styles, Western and menswear, are also key looks and can be found in skirts, pants, suits and dresses, says Sekiguchi. The Western look, which first appeared several seasons ago but has remained strong, is achieved with fringe jackets, bolo ties, cowboy boots and silver accessories.

The menswear style is seen in pinstripe or plaid suits with pants, tailored jackets, patterned vests and lace-up oxford-style shoes.

As Sekiguchi points out, most of these looks can be adapted to even the most conservative office environment.

“The conservative dresser can take a Western jacket or blouse and pair it with a bolo tie instead of a stickpin, to suggest a Western look without being overdone,” says Sekiguchi.

With the menswear style, the lace-up oxford shoe, a stickpin and perhaps a pinstripe suit with a white blouse add up to the perfect office look, she adds.

So don’t worry if you look terrible in leopard. Or if tapered pants are not your thing. Or if short skirts make you look like a string bean.

As Hotmann says, “whatever a woman is comfortable with is OK now.”