Fringe Me Baby

Fringe has been playing an important role in fashion for the last couple of seasons, so imagine how delighted I was to find that one of our best selling lines had brought the trend into their spring collection.  I absolutely love the new fringe group from Sympli we just received for spring!  It takes fringe to a new level of classy.

The jacket, pictured on the left, can be worn open as shown or buttoned for a modified double breasted style.  The long vest, pictured in the center, is a year round piece that looks great over white but would work equally well over charcoal grey for colder months.  The fringe tunic, pictured in the middle, offers great movement and would look stylish in head to toe navy or contrasted against white.  All three pieces add some vavoom to your wardrobe that is sure to put a smile on your face!

While I would not usually recommend two pieces of fringe worn together, I saw the jacket and the maxi skirt (not pictured) worn together during a Sympli fashion show.  The two were set off with a white tank, and the whole ensemble was just gorgeous.  Admittedly, head to toe fringe might be reserved for the more adventuresome at heart, but if anyone can make that look classy, it is Sympli!

And just in case you have never tried it, Sympli is a travel knit line with a patented fabric that won’t fade, stretch out or wrinkle.  It is designed by women for women with an amazing fit and beautiful drape.  It fits women’s bodies from a size 2 to 18 with expert design to hide our flaws and emphasize our assets. Fashion Crossroads is the largest retailer of Sympli in the Rocky Mountain States.  Find out more about the line on our website.

Rock A Vest This Fall

Of all the trends for winter 2016, the one that is best suited for fall is the vest.  It is a perfect alternative to a coat on a cool fall day, and it looks so stylish with skinny jeans and boots.  Don a hat and gloves, and you have a rockin’ fall style.

With so many vest styles to choose from this season, you can really have some fun with this look.  (These three styles from She + Sky should be on our online store  by the end of the week so you can even shop from your couch!  Find them in store as well at Fashion Crossroads).  So let’s take a look at the styles that are popular right now.

I’ve already talked about how big of a trend plaid is this season.  It is showing up everywhere from blouses to handbags to leggings.  If you can’t see yourself wearing a plaid top or bottom, why not choose a plaid vest, like the one pictured on the left.  The unstructured styling of this vest makes it seem like you just threw it on, giving any pair of jeans a casual and easy feel.  The faux shearling lining makes it seem cozy for a cool fall day.  Because of the loose styling, this vest pairs best with slim or skinny jeans and boots, either short or tall.

Like a little fur?  Shaggy vests, like the one pictured in the center, are also popular this season and go from relatively tame shagginess to something that looks like you are wearing an unsheared sheep – smile.    I like this soft ivory style from She + Sky because it is tunic length, making it workable for leggings as well as jeans and even slacks.   It is also very soft, so it feels great on.  Ivory looks really nice paired with jeans that have vintage acid washes for an alternative to dark denim.  Wear some nude colored shoe boots, and you’ll have a great fall look.

Or maybe fringe is your thing.  The vest pictured on the right brings the fringe trend front and center with its fun trim.  With a suede look and feel, this vest is soft to the touch and has a rich texture.  Again you can see the unstructured styling that seems to be the dominate body shape for vests this season.  This one is less bulky than the plaid, however, making it a fun option to wear inside as well as outside.

Vests are great trend that any age can wear.  They are a fun accessory that you can pair with what you already have in your closet, so they are a practical addition to your fall and winter wardrobe.  Why not give one a try this season?

Key Fall Fashion Trend: Fringe

Fringe jacket from Blu Pepper.  Available on our online store.

Fringe jacket from Blu Pepper. Available on our online store.

Fringe is a key fashion trend this fall, and you’ll see it on everything from jackets and sweaters to purses and shoes.  In the picture to the left, I am wearing a fringe jacket with a full length sleeve, soft sueded polyester, and fringe that lines the asymmetrical hemline on the front of the jacket and then the straight hemline on the back of the jacket.  I paired it with a hunter green tank because I like how the colors compliment each other and a boyfriend jean and sandal.  This is a great example of a fall transitional look that gives you a jacket for cooler mornings and a tank for warmer afternoons.

One important thing to remember about fringe is to restrict it to one item in your outfit.  A fringe jacket, purse and shoe, for example, worn altogether would be overkill.  Better to understate the trend than overstate it.  This keeps it classy.  You don’t want to look like a seventies throwback.  Restricting the amount of fringe will prevent you from making this mistake.

I had a blast the day I wore this outfit.  I am not a child of the seventies (leggings and leg warmers are way more my speed), but I enjoyed the soft feel of the poly suede and had a ton of compliments on the jacket.  And, In Wyoming, suede and fringe always feel right, regardless of whether they are trendy.  We are rugged outdoors people with cowboy and Native American roots, after all.  For all the rest of you who don’t get to live in the west, right now is your time to try on some fringe!

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Key Trends for Fall 2016

  
Of the many trends I noticed dominating styles at market this fall, the most consistent were fringe, suede, southwestern motifs, military jackets, plaid shirts and the color merlot.  You can see all of these trends reflected in the picture above and the way you can combine them for smart fall style this season.  The key accessory is the floppy hat and beanie.  

1. Suede and Fringe

Suede and (faux suede) was everywhere at market.  Often combined with fringe, suede and the seventies are a strong influence in fall fashion for 2016.  Look for suede especially in vests, dresses and on handbags.  I saw everything from saddle brown and light tan classic suede colors to blush pinks and merlots.  Embrace this trend as a child of the seventies by combining fringe and denim, headbands and bohemian tops and dresses.  Wear a floppy leather look or sueded hat with these styles for a modern version of this seventie look.  Avoid head to toe fringe to keep the look fresh.  Pair fringe with other sueded pieces but restrict the fring to one clothing item or accessory.  

2.  Southwestern Motifs

Southwestern prints are still dominating fall like they did for spring.  Find them combined with fringe, in sweaters and on tops, and, of course, on handbags.  Take this sweater as an example.   With its southwestern diamond print in merlot and grey and its fringe bottom, it combines several key tends in one style.  

 Look for grey to be the new neutral for fall and give black a run for its money as the go to basic.  Additionally, grey looks amazing paired with melot which is the color of the year from Pantone.  

Military Jackets:

Seperating itself distinctly from the previous two trends, military is the utilitarian trend of the season and is expressed in one key piece – the military jacket.  I saw some companies combining southwest motifs with miliary which was a unique twist, but military jackets are a key piece that you will want to have in your wardrobe.  Don’t feel you must have the trend represented by a army green jacket.  I saw very cute styles in black, grey and tan as well.  A great military jacket paired with a beat up boyfriend jean and lace up boots is a killer look for a casual outfit.       
Plaid Shirts:

Plaid is officially a key trend.  You will need to buy yourself a cute plaid shirt to pair with boyfriend jeans this season.  Wear a benie and puffy vest with this look for a fun casual look for a cold day.  The strongest plaid trends is reds or burhandy plaids, but I also saw lots of black and white versions as well.  Keep it cool by wearing your plaid shirt tied around your waist for a fall day when its not too cold.  Again, wear this look with lace up shoe boots.