'Falling' into fall's hot fashions

By: Emily Abbate

Posted: 9/3/08

Students are wearing their favorite summer dresses and shorts around campus now, but soon enough, the fall weather is going to set in. Don't be ill-prepared for the upcoming season. Here are some suggestions to "fall into" the fall line in no time.

For Girls:

Man-up

This season, women are able to man-up, in a fashionable way of course. Masculine pants suits with a wider-set leg, tailored toward the hip are hitting shelves, with designers including Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren offering tweed varieties.

"Add a crisp white blouse and some ultra high heels to show off the slinky shapes," according to suite101.com.

It's okay to be a little dated

Nautical designs have been dominating stores' accessory racks, however now is the time for the post-war era to really take over the clothing sections. High-waisted styles, dating back to the post World War II era, have gained attention from numerous celebrities including Mischa Barton and Scarlett Johansson. Now, these styles are moving toward skirts and dresses, where the empire waist commonly flatters and hides numerous undesirable flaws. If you are brave enough to rock the high-waisted pant, then "wear them with fitted tops, tucked in preferably," suggests about.com.

Medieval trends are also hitting the shelves with a little old school flair.

"Fashion accessories also receive a medieval makeover, with chain-mail purses and jewelry," according to suite101.com. "Wear some of this season's sexy, slouchy boots with a medieval-inspired tunic or mini dress. Marc Jacobs features a number of draped dresses and tops with hoods, influenced by the Middle Ages."

For Guys

Not every guy wakes up in the morning and immediately thinks of ways to be a fashion icon before class. However, there are a few key things you can add to your wardrobe in order to be on top of your game.

It's time for a cardigan

Whether thin or thick, a cardigan can be an easy piece to throw on over a T-shirt or dress shirt.

"It's one of the most versatile items you can have in your wardrobe," according to about.com. "And for an extra kick, try a cardigan with small pockets or some sort of patch on the elbows."

"I used to have a cardigan sweater thing," said Daniel Utset, a 3rd-semester economics major. "But that was when I was younger. I usually just wear zip-ups now."

It's all in the jeans

All right, so most every guy on campus owns a pair of jeans but finding the right fit for you can be the difference from a lonely night in to a night out with a date.

Some of the most basic stores are offering higher end, often pricier, lines of jeans for guys which makes better fashion more accessible.

First think about where you will be wearing your jeans.

"If, for example, you only wear suits to work, your jeans might be reserved strictly for going out or for lounging around the house, which means you have few restrictions when selecting a look and style," according to askmen.com.

"If your work environment allows jeans, however, denim might be everyday wear. In that case, you might have to consider more conservative styles, as even in the most casual workplaces, subtlety goes a long way. Either way, always ensure your jeans look good with sneakers, boots or dress shoes."