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cold weather sets in, it’s time to stash away those sundresses and unfurl your sweaters. With so many fashion trends hitting the stores right now, planning one’s winter wardrobe can be a daunting task! But never fear, fashionista friends, it only takes a little precise planning to incorporate a few easy trends into what you already have in your closet! 

To prove my point, I went digging through my own closet (and my college roommate’s as well, but more on that later!). I chose wardrobe items many gals already own, targeted four current trends, and figured out what ONE item I needed to amp-up each outfit. All the clothes you see here were either already in my closet, or graciously loaned by Piece Unique for the photoshoot.  

Here are the results of my fashion experiment:

1. “Menswear” trend. Off to an easy start! Do you have jeans and a white t-shirt or blouse in your closet? It’s so simple to add one basic item to rock this look: a well-fitting jacket! If you’re a jeans-and-casual-shirt gal, try switching out your running shoes for a pair of heels or wedges, and pile on some posh-looking jewelry. Whatever your style, find a jacket that fits you well, particularly across the shoulders, the sleeve length, and your waistline. Look for a feminine, curvy cut, and avoid baggy, stiff, boxy styles; “menswear trend” or not, you don’t want to look like a football lineman, unless you are one! 😉

2. Military fashion. Be careful with this one; wearing actual camo pants is really not a fashion statement! This look is meant to be inspired by strength, assurance, and battle-ready toughness. For this trend, balance an essence of military with your own feminine charm! Keep it subdued, unless you plan to jump out of a helicopter and set up base camp. For this look, I grabbed my green skinny cargos, a black drapey (uber-feminine!) top, and strong-but-clean-cut black booties. I felt so tough & fierce in this outfit – can you tell? 😉 Other easy ways to tap into this trend include choosing a military-styled jacket, or boots adorned with straps & buckles. Black, grey, brown, navy, and khaki green are colors to target for this style.

3. Fur. If you’ve stepped foot in the mall, or opened a fashion magazine in the last month, you’ve probably seen tons of cozy fur on everything from gloves, to jackets, to scarves and shoes. Much of what you’ll find now is synthetic fur; designers have worked hard to make this beautiful material luxurious, morally acceptable, and budget-friendly. Fashion models are snatching up fur vests to throw on with t-shirts, dresses, etc.. They know it only takes a tiny bit of fur to convey luxury and edginess! The most important aspect of this trend is to highlight the fur by keeping the rest of your outfit totally subdued. Fur stands alone; don’t put it in competition with fancy jewelry, statement shoes, or anything else!

Detachable fur collars are a great way to spice up a coat or jacket. I’ve even seen socks with fur at the cuff; wear them with your favorite boots, and the boots will appear to have a fur cuff! Check out these adorable socks at Fireworks. 

4. Feminine. When I saw the fashion spreads of Ralph Lauren’s new foray into vintage florals, I immediately thought of my favorite grunge dress in college. (Yes, I was “grunge” in college! Don’t laugh!) I texted my old roommate and asked if she still had “our dress,” the one we agreed to share because it looked so great (or so we thought!) on both of us! She still had it (thanks, Terina!). Slipping it on after all these years was an oddly nostalgic, and giggly, experience. 😉

I’m thinner than I used to be, so my first challenge was to make the dress fit in time for the photoshoot. The second challenge was to bring the look forward from the 90’s into 2010! I solved both problems with one simple solution: a huge belt! Back in “the day,” I would have worn this dress baggy, with a big sweater or plaid shirt thrown over the top, and scuffed-up Doc Marten boots at the bottom. To make the look more “now,” I cinched it in to highlight my waistline, and chose a lightweight, ruffled, feminine sweater and simple jewelry. Ralph Lauren is pairing his dresses with lace-up, vintage-styled boots, which I highly recommend. For this photoshoot, however, I just couldn’t help but pine for something “grungier.” I was so happy to find these burgundy Donald J Pliner boots at Piece Unique – aren’t they fun? And so very “me.”  🙂

As you face the new fall and winter trends, don’t be overwhelmed! There are many styles for every personality and body type. Look over your wardrobe, decide what trends appeal to you, and then work on incorporating a few key items into your wardrobe. Simple & inexpensive ways to update your style are with accessories: purses, necklaces, belts, gloves & hats are little things that add so much to an ensemble!

So dive into your closet, and see what you can remake for Fall & Winter 2010! FYI, fashion mags are predicting the “return of the floor-length skirt” for Spring 2011. Hmmm… time to call my college roommate again! ;-D

Special thanks to Piece Unique in downtown Boise for the fabulous loaner clothes, and to photographer Valerie Davenport for making everything look so gorgeous!! Check out her work at www.valeriedavenport.com!