Gotta Have That…Fall Fashion Preview!

It has arrived…Our final edition of “Blast” and thus the close to our celebration of the summer season. While the first day of fall does not arrive until September 22nd, I’m here to prepare you for that inevitable transition from a bikini and floppy brimmed hat to a light cardigan and jeans. Here, I proudly present a sneak peak preview of the fall fashion trends you can expect to hit the streets after it comes time to officially ditch the beach.

1. The Statement Collar
The bedazzled collar continues to thrive as a trend on and off the runways. It instantly makes any outfit look polished, and can be a total DIY trend. Snag a basic detachable collar and attach your own selected accents such as studs, gems, or beads. Then, pop it around your neck with a casual top to add some glitz to an everyday look. For a more tone-downed look, stick to plain tops and knits to pair with a collar.

2. The Continued Reign of Brights
This is stupendous news for Cape May County shoppers looking to take advantage of awesome end-of-summer sales. This summer’s brights remain not only acceptable, but totally on-trend for fall 2012. The secret to making a bright, cheery color work in cold fall weather? As several designers did in their fall fashion runway looks, simply add black! Grab a bright summer tunic or shift dress, add a pair of shiny black tights, and voila, a chic fall look. But be sure to balance the ratio of black and bright color by experimenting with accessories, outerwear, and shoes. Head to a Cape May County boutique near you and snag all the on-sale summer brights you can get your hands on.

People People Boutique of both Stone Harbor and West Cape May and White Lotus of Sea Isle City are notorious for their extensive and reasonably priced collections of bright jewelry and accents. Moxie Boutique of Stone Harbor also features an impressive selection of bright summer tops and dresses. Heaven’s Apparel of Stone Harbor offers unbeatable deals on their remaining summer apparel through the month of September. Shore Couture of North Wildwood now presents its fall collection of apparel and features the perfect black leggings to pair with a bright summer top.

3. The Return of the Peacoat
Out with the bulky parka and in with the streamline peacoat…Designers debuted tons of fall runway looks complete with this outerwear staple. The “it” color for fall of 2012? Definitely navy blue. But peacoats of all colors and shapes have made a strong showing and are considered on-trend. For a modern twist on the classic peacoat shape, look for versions with big, exaggerated collars. And definitely do not allow yourself to suffer peacoat buyer’s remorse. Even when the moment ends, a peacoat will never look out of style.

4. The Pop of Texture
Fur (both real and faux) was big news on the fall runways, but angora, mohair and cashmere also made major statements. Find a textured fabric to suit your personal style and budget and revel in the chic it brings to your cold-weather wardrobe.

5. The Red, Red Wines
Dark red and purple shades were a huge statement on Fall Fashion Week runways. Be sure to find the shade that most perfectly matches your skin tone. And then rock it. Warm skin tones are best complemented by rich, brick reds, while a bluish plum hue is perfect for cooler skin tones. Don’t be afraid to mix your wine toned apparel with autumnal brights. While wines look great with neutrals, they look especially chic when complemented with mustard, cobalt, and emerald green pieces. Caroline Boutique of Cape May remains open through December and features pieces in several rich, autumnal tones. Marcellina of Wildwood will also remain open through October of this fall season and has already begun to debut their on-trend fall pieces.

By Megan Kummer