Fall/Winter 2009-2010 Fashion Trends Forecast

The surprises that have befallen our economy in the past year have ushered in a new seriousness in our shopping habits. “Do I really need that new item?” we ask ourselves. And often the answer is no. But despite the downturn and its accompanying deprivation, we press on, knowing that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that, as always, “this too shall pass.”

If you have been counting your pennies, clipping coupons and putting off that extravagant coastal vacation, maybe it’s time for a little reward! After all, even good girls just wanna have fun now and then!

Without a doubt, the most talked-about trend on its way for fall and winter is a pair of looooong boots! Some of the new boots creep just over the knee, while some rise all the way up the thigh. A pair of these beauties is definitely the must-have item for the coming season! Other emerging trends include capes and cloaks; (could Superman be far behind?) see-through clothing with slits and cutouts; and ripped tights and stockings. No, really. Ripped on purpose! It seems that the time for carrying clear nail polish in your purse to fix those tiny tears before they spread is over, girls! Let ‘er rip! In a related trend, ripped jeans, naturally, are also hot.

The cold shoulder is back for another season, with one-shouldered tops, dresses and even bikinis breezing around town. Speaking of shoulders… (and I can’t believe I’m typing this) the padded shoulders have escaped from the “fashion-don’t” vault and have made their way back onto the runways! They should be in a store near you very soon. Military fashion marches back from seasons past, too, sporting ornately embellished jackets ala Michael Jackson.

Moving into fall, you’ll see changes in beauty trends, as well. The classic look of matte skin continues, as it has all year, along with newly soft, rosy cheeks but eyes are beginning to smoke! The smoky eye returns in all shades of purple (velvet to blackberry to plum) deep blue (teal to midnight to navy) or neutrals (charcoal to chocolate to taupe). Glitter makes a comeback from the 80s and onto eyelids everywhere and brows will be darker and more defined. Lips are either pale, in shades of nude or soft pink, or dramatic in matte velvet red.

Once again, jewelry is big for the coming season – literally! Big necklaces, big earrings, big crosses… If you like your jewelry super-sized, you’ll love this!

• Make a statement! – Research on this season’s trends keeps revealing that the “statement necklace” is still the defining piece to own. Fortunately, there’s more than one fashionable way to make a statement with your neckwear. You can do it with multi-strand necklaces, bib necklaces or something long, bold and decidedly asymmetrical!
• Bold, ornate earrings – Chandeliers for your ears are back. Possibly inspired by the growing interest in Indian fashion, big, beautiful ear bling has returned to its rightful place in the jewelry box. All manner of bold ear adornment is in this season, especially styles with lots of detail and color.
• Cross your heart – One way to do that while celebrating your faith is to wear a big, heavy cross necklace! From shiny, simple pendants in solid, polished metals to ornate styles encrusted with crystals, all kinds of crosses await this season.
• Go green – Recycling has made its way to your jewelry box! More and more designers are dismantling vintage jewelry and reusing the beads in new pieces. In fact, many independent jewelry artisans will take your old jewelry and breathe new life into it for you! Another trend called “upcycling” takes items of no value, such as magazine pages, books, old unwearable leather items and fabric scraps and repurposes them into cool, new jewelry. Paper beads, for example, are part of this emerging art form.
• Architecture to wear – Pieces of jewelry with interesting lines borrowed from architecture are popping up more and more. These items are decidedly urban and modern, but no less beautiful than the curvy, softer-lined pieces we already love.
• Personalized and sentimental – In this fast-paced, often impersonal age where items are mass-produced by the thousands, personalized jewelry is becoming ever more popular. Pieces that carry names of loved ones or words of encouragement on them have much more value than the cost of materials alone. Charms that remind the wearer of special people or treasured life events are also an important trend. And if those charms are personalized, all the better!
• One-of-a-kind keepsakes – A return to artisan-crafted items has been happening for several years now and shows no signs of slowing down. Accessorizing has become a mode of self-expression for many and there’s no better way to express yourself than by wearing a one-of-a-kind, handcrafted piece that no one else owns!

So if you are weighed down by the coupon clipping and bargain shopping, remember that a something as simple as a lovingly handcrafted item can put a smile on your face and impart a new shine to your wardrobe – without the expense of overhauling your entire closet. And you might just discover a second wind to carry you through to that light off in the distance.