Fashion Trends for Fall

After seasons of subtle refinements in style, this Fall marks a “whoa baby” moment for women's fashion. Forget everything you’ve known and prepare yourself for the reworking of splashy 80’s looks in the Fall of , both grunge-inspired and sophisticated layering, leggings and sweater dresses, punk looks and – in place of teeny jackets, skirts and slacks – new, swingy numbers with lots of volume. The best part about Fall fashion’s about-face? A chance to “Fall” in love with style all over again…

Sweaters: Seasonless and Stylish for Fall Fashion!

There are many choices on the knitwear front: chunky sweaters worn with feminine dresses, knitwear skirts, oversized sweaters, sweater dresses and knit tunics over skinny leg jeans or leggings. You know your body, if chunky knits make you look...chunky, then opt for the finer gage knits or try a knit dress

Sweaters (or knits) are a staple in every man and woman's wardrobe in the Fall of '07. They are seasonless (cottons for summer, wools for winter, cashmere year round) and versatile. I have to say that knits (as I like to call them) are my single favorite thing to wear. I wear them often and throughout the year. I like how comfortable they are and how they add texture and richness to an ensemble. With that said, let’s review what makes sweaters seasonless and stylish.

Cashmere Sweaters – The Ultimate Choice
Cottons and wools have their place, but cashmere is one of the most luxurious things you can have in your wardrobe in the Fall of '07. Not only is it ultra soft, it can be worn year round. For your first few cashmere sweaters, go with neutral colors such as black, navy, and charcoal. Oh and by the way, if you are having trouble justifying what you have to spend on a cashmere sweater, just remember that women love to touch it. It happens to me every time I wear it.

V-neck and Crew-neck Sweaters
I love v-neck and crew-neck sweaters. They are so easily worn over a tee and with some jeans for a more casual look. The same sweater can be worn with slacks and over a button up shirt for the office or a date. They are a must in every woman's wardrobe for Fall fashion choices. It is usually a personal preference thing when it comes to v-neck vs. crew-neck. I like both.

Cardigans
Before you judge cardigans too harshly let me emphasize that I’m not talking about the kind of cardigan your dad or gramps would wear. More modern versions are made of cotton, merino wool and cashmere. They can be thin enough to wear under a jacket and have a double zipper allowing you to pull it on or off with ease, or to unzip the bottom slightly when you're sitting. They are simply ideal for layering and there are so many ways to wear them—over a tee, over a button down, under a sport jacket, with jeans cords, and slacks. Give one a try for Fall fashion if you haven’t in a while.

Polos
In the summer you can find polo style sweaters. More often they are made with cotton and have short sleeves. They are a perfect compliment to khakis for those casual Fridays at the office. I have many polo knits for the summer months since they are easy to wear and look more dressed up than a typical pique polo.

Turtleneck Sweaters
Turtlenecks are obviously reserved for the colder months. Lightweight merino-wool or cashmere turtlenecks look stylish under suit jackets and are casual enough to wear with jeans or cords. A chunky cable-knit also goes great with jeans for Fall fashion choices. The fit of a turtleneck looks best when more fitted to the body and neck. With that said, avoid them if you are even somewhat heavy, it only accentuates your less than perfect physique.

Sweater Dresses

Soft or swingy for women; plunging necklines or cozy turtlenecks; cabled or striped…sweater dresses are about luxury. Play them casual or sexy. Stripes add pizzazz to this sultry style. A turtleneck makes this ultimate cold weather wear. Deep v’s allow for sultry dare-to-bare styling.

A few tips on caring for your sweaters
Generally speaking you should have your sweaters dry-cleaned once a season (that is if you have been able to avoid splattering pasta sauce all over yourself). This would include cottons, wools and cashmere. However, wool and Cashmere sweaters can be hand washed with a gentle detergent like Woolite. In fact, I highly recommend hand washing your wool and cashmere sweaters since they come out feeling softer than if you dry clean.

Fashion for Fall fashion choices: Must-Haves to Wear to Work This Season!

Polished, Professional Looks

Getting dressed for the office doesn't mean leaving your personal style behind. Find out which looks give you a polished, professional look and which fashions can be a career killer for Fall fashion choices.

Polished, Not Fashion Victim

Your goal to getting dressed for work is to project a professional, competent image, regardless of your employment level or career path.

The styles, colors, lengths and fit of your fashion choices will speak volumes about your ability to do your job. If you are concerned about your career, you'll be more concerned with looking professional than looking cute or trendy.

In general, the more distracting a piece of clothing or jewelry is, the less appropriate it is for office wear for women.

More guidelines to looking polished:

• Color plays a big part in professional image for Fall fashion choices. Traditional career colors include red (aggressive), navy (trustworthy), gray (conservative) and black (chic). Most of these colors work well in pantsuits, skirts and shoes and mix back with softer feminine colors that are appropriate like ice blue, lilac, soft pink and ivory. Loud colors like hot pink and wild prints are much riskier in the office, but some creative types can still pull them off.

• Jewelry that jangles (chandelier earrings, stacks of bangles) is distracting. Opt for stud earrings or single bracelets.

• Slouchy handbags look sloppy. Choose structured styles that project an organized image for a woman.

• Most of what constitutes a polished image is in the details: manicured nails, run-free hose, scuff-free shoes, neat hair.

• Fit is everything when you are talking about tailored work clothes. Pants should be fitted, but free of visible panty lines. Skirts, especially straight styles like pencil skirts, should be loose enough to sit down in comfortably. Jackets for women should be able to be buttoned for Fall fashion. And blouses shouldn't gap between buttonholes.

• Designer labels are great, but heavily logoed clothing and accessories look cluttered and frivolous in the work place. A small designer bag is fine; a logo trench coat looks ridiculous. Choose well-made items that are free from obvious designer labels for the most professional look.

Dress Like Your (Female) Boss

Don't know where to start working on your career image? You're not alone because most companies don't have specific guidelines about what to wear to work.

One of the best clues to company dress codes is what your boss wears. Just think about the styles that the highest-level woman in your organization wears and use them in your wardrobe for Fall fashion. Does she wear mostly skirt suits? Or does she rely on pantsuits? Does she wear hose or bare legs? Open-toed shoes or pumps?

If you don't have a reliable female executive to emulate, then trade on what the men are wearing. If they don suits and ties every day, your best bet is to use pantsuits and skirtsuits as women: the most formal of business looks.

Some organizations encourage employees to dress as well or better than their customers, especially for sales people and others that meet clients outside the office. For information technology professionals, this may mean corporate casual (more on this below), for pharmaceutical sales it may mean a pantsuit, for a lawyer it may mean a matched skirt suit. One way to always be prepared is to keep an extra "meet the client" outfit at the office for surprise meetings.

Career Killers

Unlike a fashion faux pas, a career killer outfit can do your professional image permanent damage.

Looks to avoid in the workplace:

• Too sexy woman: see-through lace, miniskirts, spaghetti straps, sheer sundresses, strappy stiletto sandals.
• Too casual woman: jeans, shorts, T-shirts, hats, sneakers.
• Too sloppy woman: wrinkled clothing, too many layers, baggy-fit clothing.

Business Dress Codes

• Formal Business Attire- For women this constitutes business suits (a matched skirt and jackets) and, in most workplaces, pantsuits (matched pants and blazer). Closed-toe shoes (no sandals), blouses, hose and conservative hair, jewelry and makeup are expected.

• Corporate Casual Looks-Working women have interpreted this to mean everything from shorts to sundresses, but in its most literal sense it means "smart business." Dressy pants and a blouse, sleek jersey knits and skirts and tops are all examples of corporate casual for Fall fashion choices. Denim, T-shirts and flip-flops -- all '90s phenoms -- are only acceptable in the most casual of work environments.

• Casual Friday - Depending on the business, this can mean anything from corporate casual instead of formal looks or "Wear your company logo polo and jeans." If in doubt, ask a superior.

Best color of the Fall Fashion season: BLACK!!

Easy to wear and accessorize!

Black - 5 Rules to Live by When Wearing Black Clothes for Fall Fashio

If you like to wear black as much as I do, listen up. I have become quite aware of the way different fabrics hold black dye and with this in mind, I live by these five rules when wearing black.

Why I Love Wool and So Should You
Wools for women are always a deeper black than cottons (wool holds dye better) which is why when I'm buying black trousers, sweaters and of course suits, I stick to wool. And what's even better is wool doesn't fade like cotton does over time.

Matching Your Blacks
No matter what the fabric, shades of black differ so be careful when putting an all black outfit together. For example, when pairing a black shirt with black trousers, the black shirt might have a purple cast while your black trousers have a brown cast. These differences are subtle, but important.

Cotton - Proceed with Caution
When it comes to cottons, they fade rather quickly which is why I like to buy black cotton shirts that have a touch of lycra in them. The synthetic fiber helps cotton hold the dye better. I also like to buy mercerized cotton shirts since the blacks are deeper and richer than other cottons.

Caring for Your Black Clothes
If it is black (or dark), dry clean it. Even if you launder your shirts, dry clean the black (or dark) ones. It will keep the color from fading as quickly. When it comes to washing black (or dark) cotton items at home, use a cup of vinegar the first time you wash a new article. The vinegar helps set the dye. If that sounds unappealing, you can use WOOLITE Dark Laundry Fabric Wash which is specially formulated to minimize the fading of colors and maintain color intensity. Also, always use cold water with your dark items.

Know When to Say Goodbye
Retire clothes when they start to fade. Faded blacks just make you look tattered and we don't want that now do we?

Complete Fashion Trend List

All of the hot trends for Fall / winter -

Fall has always been my favorite time of year, for the season changes, but more importantly - the fashion changes. While you're shopping for all things fabulous for women for the colder seasons, keep the items on this list in mind to be on top of all of the Fall fashion trends.

Every Fall the fashion landscape changes. Which trends will work for you? Knowing your body and your own unique style are the best ways to weather the trends for Fall.

Late summer the stress begins. What do I need to buy for Fall and what can I continue to wear that I already own? Most importantly, which trends do I know won't work on me and which ones can I embrace openly? Everywhere you turn, there are conflicting reports on the new "it" trends of the season. Fortunately, I love culling the Fall fashions as much as I do breathing, so I have done the research for you.

 The color scheme for Fall '07-'08 is a little murky, and by that I mean the color pallet. Black is back as is brown, gray, moss, navy and white. There are punches of color like red and deep yellow. Metallic is still hot, but in smaller doses, so opt for either shoes, a belt or a handbag and make it gold for Fall fashion choices.

This page can be found by googling 33niohsaf (fashion33 spelled backwards).

Wide Leg Jeans/Pants for Fall Fashion

I love a woman's wide leg jean – I've been wearing them since the 90's and am so glad they are front and center for Fall . The contrast between a wide pant and a fitted shirt just does so much for me... not to mention it hides any flaws I might have.

Buy the Trend: Lane Bryant “Houston” pant

Skinny Jeans for Fall Fashion

This is a trend that very few can pull off – it's a look best left to celebrities, models and the very thin among us. It's not a look I particularly enjoy, but can work on some. The skinny jean made its debut a while ago, but is still hot for Fall '07-'08. The darker, the better. Make sure you pair skinny jeans with an loose fitting top.

Buy the Trend: Gap's Skinny Jean

Animal Prints for Fall Fashion

Leopard and Cheetah print is everywhere this Fall fashion season. The best way to rock this trend is to wear it on your feet. Animal print heels and flats are going to add depth and a quirky twist to a great pair of women's jeans for Fall fashion.

Buy the Trend: Issac Mizrahi for Target animal print flats

Plaid – British Inspired for Fall Fashion .

I love all things British.. and to know that the Brit look is big for Fall just delights me. Use the plaid trend to add a bit of funk to your closet with a cool plaid skirt (a la Catholic schoolgirl), or a plaid purse (which will add so much character to a jeans and sweater combo). You can even be brave and go for a plaid shoe.

Buy the Trend: Burberry Scarf, Juicy Couture Flanel bag

Chunky Shoes for Fall Fashion

A heavier shoe is a hot look for Fall fashion choices. But no, we're not talking Spice Girl heavy, we're talking wedges and retro inspired platforms. Don't look away from an open toe shoe, you can pull them off in the Fall with a great pair of tights, another Fall 06 fashion trend.

Buy the Trend: Alloy.com's collection of heels and wedges

Tights / Leggings for Fall Fashion

Tights and leggings are such a fun and fresh look that made it's debut last year. Wear them under mini dresses, or shirt dresses and with open toe wedges and platform shoes. But please, for the love of all things stylish and sacred.. don't pair them with a denim skirt. That's one look that was overdone this summer. Leggings and patterned tights are wonderful with dresses and tunics. Be careful, because this is a hard trend to pull off. First, if you are going to try leggings, make sure they are black. If you are over the age of 25 do NOT wear leggings with a skirt or you will look like you stepped right out of the movie "Flashdance."

Buy the Fall Fashion Trend for women: Urban Outfitters Leggings Section

Belts for Fall Fashion

Waist cinching is huge again, and you can find big belts just about everywhere from Neiman's to Target. Use them to glam up dresses, button downs and big sweaters. Make sure you wear them higher up on your body, and not low slung.

Buy the Trend for women: Xhilaration® Extra-Wide Contour Belt

Chains for Fall Fashion

But not on your wallet – that's a bit too 90s grunge. Go for the look in necklaces, bracelets and belts. I especially love chain necklaces, paired with a simple top for Fall fashion. They really stand out that way.

Buy the Trend for women: Ben Amun's Chain Ribbon Necklace

Dresses and Tunics for Fall Fashion

Dresses are carrying over from Fall and I couldn't be happier. For one, it's easy ...all you have to do is toss on a dress and you are ready for anything. For another, the choices are infinite. From feminine silks to wrap dresses to knit tunics to loose jersey styles to kimonos, the dress is it for Fall fashion trends.

Belts for Fall Fashion

Wide belts were shown by most of the designers on the Fall runway. Belts were over dresses, coats and suits. Look for obis, wrap styles and wide leather belts. Choose bright colors, gold and leopard prints. The belt is best worn at the waist or right under the breast bone, not at the hip for Fall fashion trends.

Layering for Fall Fashion

Notice a trend in oversized clothing? Thanks in part to Marc Jacobs, sweaters, jackets, pants, shorts and shirts have become larger. They have also become longer for a leaner silhouette. When you find that your look is just too basic and boring, a great way to enhance your look is by layering. This is one of the easiest things both men and women can do to any typical piece by adding some flair!

Menswear Inspired Prints for Fall Fashion for Women

Plaids, pinstripes, hounds tooth are huge this Fall. You may notice that the scale of the print is huge as well. Do NOT wear prints from head-to-toe and consider choosing less tailored and more feminine pieces.

Boots and Booties for Fall Fashion

Tall boots are big again this year and look best with skirts and dresses according to the Fall fashion trends. However, you may notice that the bootie is making a comeback. Best worn with skinny leg jeans and drainpipe trousers, be careful not to wear them with skirts unless you have terrific gams and are under the age of 30. Don't be afraid of color, make a statement with your footwear.

Oversized Handbags for Fall Fashion for a Woman

We all love our Louis Vuitton and Gucci logo printed bags but this season its time to bring out the oversized handbags. The color handbag for the season is winter fresh white. Try purchasing handbags with embellishments and rhinestones, which can accentuate your look. If you're feeling daring,  black and gold bags,  black bags with gold chains, black suede boots with patent leather and gold buckles, big gold chains, gold earrings. Think early 90's (without the bad hair).

SO OVER – Trends that have kicked the bucket.

Over accessorizing

Wearing every necklace you own with the biggest pair of earrings and piling on all of your bangles is a tired and done look according to Fall fashion trends. Move on to one show stopping piece and subtle, accentuating accessories. What does that mean? If you're going to wear a heavy chain necklace, make sure your earrings are little hoops or studs, and your bracelets and rings are minimal.

Super Low Rise Jeans

Hardly anyone could pull these off. Long gone are the days where butt cleavage was in, and pants are so low in the front you need a bikini wax. Go a little more conservative – and let's face it – classy and opt for a low rise, or a mid rise jean.

Being Generic

Looking like everyone else is never a good thing according to Fall fashion trends. Stand out, be yourself and take risks – don't follow the herd into Abercrombie and Hollister. While they have their moments, paying $40 for a thinner than paper t-shirt to wear with overpriced destroyed jeans is so over, and really silly. Just remember that preppy can be creative, and not always being a slave to a label.

Uggs

Are you still wearing these?! While they are helpful in the winter, you wouldn't want to be caught dead with Uggs and a mini skirt on. This is one trend that is completely dead for women.

Fall Fashion Forecast

A model walks the runway during the presentation of the Calvin Klein Fall collection, Thursday, Feb. 9, , during Fashion Week in New York.

A look from Carolina Herrera's Fall runway show in New York City at Bryant Park on February 6, .
 

Fashion Color Report

Steadfast and Stunning for Fall Fashion

The Top 10 Most Directional Women's Colors for Fall Fashion

Simply Taupe

Frost Gray

"Autumn is a time to transition back to more dependable colors," says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director, Pantone Color Institute®. "We’re looking for colors we can wrap ourselves in – a feeling achieved through classic neutrals as a base, accented with rich hues. Half of the palette, remarkably, is expressed in basic chestnuts – all very familiar, very approachable tones. It’s an inviting warmth not seen in the past few seasons that designers are now embracing according to Fall fashion trends."
 

Analysis of the Palette

Neutrals take center stage, as a soothing reminder of life’s many reassurances: from Frost Gray, evocative of a quiet winter morning, to Apple Cinnamon, the essence of freshly brewed tea. The neutrals, while simple, provide a landscape for complexity. The touches of rich tones in the palette add an exotic dimension to the neutrals – especially relevant as accessories continue to prevail. The combination of Pale Khaki and Red Mahogany tells the story of a classic book, bound with a velvet ribbon. Vetiver paired with Purple Magic is a plush couch decorated with a silk pillow. Warmth and vibrancy have found a way to harmonize. This season’s orange, Golden Ochre, goes to the warm side with an umber undertone and a touch of elegance. Mineral Red adds an inviting sense of intrigue when used against a background of Simply Taupe, a basic yet comforting neutral.

Strong through several consecutive seasons, noteworthy Bijou Blue gives a sense of constancy, a color upon which we can rely, according to Fall fashion trends. Leaning on teal, it is a rare shade that universally complements all skin tones – a beautiful color for flattering designs.

Straight from the Runway for Fall Fashion!

A brief insight on the Fall runway showcase

In the latest fashions shows all the models wore large necklaces and wrists-full of bracelets made of wood or shells and had their hair done in loose, gentle upsweeps. The black-and-white Beatnik style is back, aimed at the 16-25 age group, severe and pared down, a complete about-turn...gone is casual, throw-it-all-together, ethnic school of style, with last season's Bohemian look making but a brief showing. We saw sequined dresses, halters and shrugs in purple, green and gold; swimwear followed the metallic theme: women wore tiny silver and gold bikinis, while men wore shorts or swimsuits in colorful prints. Last season's Bohemian look made a brief showing.

Many of the formal dresses for women were updated versions of more classic styles, according to Fall fashion trends. A simple off-white knee-length strapless gown was accented with a skirt of tulle ruffles around the waist. A long purple evening gown was slit up the front with a cloud of feathers beginning at the knee.

Steer clear of flat black - the key element is the combination of black and white, such as a crisp, white shirt with a pair of well-cut black trousers, and look for rich fabrics such as satin, silk and velvet; black and white-striped mohair sweater-dresses, worn over tights or very fitted jeans, worn with black ballet slippers, patent slippers or with knee-high black boots; black wool cropped jackets and pea coats; Beatnik-style black caps; black eyeliner and mascara; sunglasses and straight hair. The hourglass silhouette is already a key look for this winter but if you don't have a tiny, well-toned frame, choose less fitted silhouettes, and add narrow, leather belts, retro-style shoes, vintage handbags and opulent fur, a striped Pompom scarf.

Pompom decoration is a designer look and very easy to make yourself. Back in style is the Sixties-inspired wool shift, with a Chanel touch and in solid colors such as a white shirt and oversized black blazer, and rather than a revival of androgyny it is simply a question of comfort and ease; black mini-skirt with over-the-knee boots; or a striped top or sweater [with a pair of skinny black pants.

Dresses have been the featured item in the latest fashion shows; 'The Wrap' dress is making a comeback, and is not in a boudoir-inspired style, but a dress with a waist, a neckline, a skirt and - most importantly - sleeves. The new autumn collections are full of dresses with sleeves of every shape and size - three-quarter length, cuffed, long and tight, full and belled, raglan and puffed, many in a print pattern such as paisley print, on a long-sleeved dress. Prints in shades of green, orange, pink and purple dominated the beginning of the show. Shorts and skirts came in bright patterns that echoed back to the 1950s and 1960s. Modern technology, with improvements in jersey fabrics and stretch, makes a dress really comfortable to wear. Many younger women want an all-in-one solution for work and business travel for women, rather than a skirt and top or a suit, according to Fall fashion trends.

Fall/Winter 06/07 has accents of color combined with regal fabrics. Black is not minimalist black as in the 1990s; rich deep plush velvet, black satin, black lace and black just accented with white or red is the look for . Black silk, black gauze, Persian lamb, black taffeta, penne velvet black denim, black cashmere, black jet, corduroy, black suede and Shear ling add touches of sophistication and glamour to new trends. Main colors are deep rich violet purples, wine reds, burnt ginger tones, moss greens, mustard, and teal. The basic solid black and white can be very sharp and smart, plus grays and oyster shell tones, according to Fall fashion trends for women.

British country style tweeds have been out in force, but this year tweed is less textured, according to Fall fashion trends. It looks more like Harris Tweed, flat plaids or old familiar checks such as black and white hound's tooth checks. This is a look that can continue into night with sequins used to create the contrast; boldly vibrant colored checks, colorful tartans and tweeds are all used in coats, dresses and skirts that are loose-fitting with flowing folds of fabric, or with a Roman touch with lines of gold appliqué. Ironically, these heritage fabrics and shapes should be worn in a quirky way, jumbled up, mixing Argyle knits with tartans, plaids and stripes. Or you could borrow from the men, Ralph Lauren-style, and wear slouchy tweed trousers with brogues and oversized knits; and boucle tweed suits in the 50s style.

Intarsia in knitwear is back again, such as Fair Isle, ikat, bold abstract and paisley arrangements. Long cardigan jackets cardigan and asymmetric cardigan wraps and coats often have fur collars or a narrow fur edge; Aran knits, not usually in the traditional cream but in richer deep shades of creams, teal and rust feature in many collections.

Luxurious rich fabrics and antique brocade fabrics, often interpreted with Ombre dyed materials like velvets that move through related colors such as burnt orange merging with reds through to claret in Ombre dyed velvet. Such velvet is then over printed in toning colors or textured with embroidery. Velvet can also have texture and appliqué and is generally gorgeous this winter with an antique vintage feel, according to Fall fashion trends. Metallic luster and rich satins and the plushest of velvets bring a new opulence to winter. In addition to rich plush velvet there will be penne velvet, corduroy, suede, Shear ling, leather reptilian skins, boiled wool, suiting. Designer shoes frequently have lace and beading and if they are not velvet, they may just as easily be made of suede another luxury material.

The best styles to look for are wide-leg cuffed trousers, short, swingy jackets and slim skirts, totes and bucket bags, flat lace-up brogues, flora and fauna prints. The 'in' colors are black and white, beige, orange, gorgeous greens and often have crochet motifs added - also a lot of purple tones in tartan skirts, fur coats.

Just remember that black in 2006 is no longer the only look to wear. The fabrics in rich deep berry and gem jewel colours may do far more for your coloring than black ever might. Berry colors and purples will be a wonderful choice instead of black or as an accent color. Cubist paint techniques as prints will lead us into Fall and stencil print effects will be popular, according to Fall fashion trends.

Leave behind gypsy skirts, kaftans, tribal jewellery, military jackets, waistcoats, drainpipes, crocheted shrugs and warrior belts [finally!].

Paris Runway Roundup

Rundown of Famous Fashion Designers Hermès, Chloé, Alexander McQueen, and John Galliano

Hermès

Jean Paul Gaultier went sporty-chic—literally—for his collection this season, sending out models carrying fencing foils and riding crops alongside his streamlined looks. Sticking to a neutral palette, JPG featured leather, knits, and chic trenches—perfect for showcasing his luxe leather bags.

Chloé

This season’s Chloé collection had some critics missing Phoebe madly. Instead of Philo’s inventive girlishness, instead there was drab, droopy layers and oversized smocks. A few standout pieces included ruched tanks, jersey dresses, and babydoll shifts

Alexander McQueen

While McQueen presented a standout collection for Fall fashion trends, including neat tweed suits and feathered gowns, most guests will probably remember the show most for the finale: Kate Moss, in the form of a stunning holographic video presentation, spinning in a billowy, white gown. Bravo!

John Galliano

Galliano channeled American country roots for his collection this season, blasting Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris on the sound system, and sending out clothes inspired by tattered Confederate soldiers, some featuring fragments of a frayed American flag.

Well-Heeled: Christian Louboutin

When notoriously comfort-oriented Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen started teetering around L.A. and NYC on four-and-a-half inch heels, it was clear that Christian Louboutin shoes were hot. If that were not enough of an indication, every time they are posted on high-end retailers' websites such as Bergdorf Goodman, the shoes--whether they are patent leather, cork-soled or wooden—sell out immediately. It does not matter, however, if you are an Olsen twin, Kate Moss or even Kelly Ripa--being well-heeled means wearing Louboutin for Fall fashion trends.

Christian Louboutin, although not quite a household name, is synonymous with exquisite footwear. It may be slightly ostentatious, but Louboutin's execution of the platform espadrille and peep-toe pump, among others, makes the shoes luxuriously one of a kind. While Louboutins may appear to have suddenly arrived onto the fashion scene, that is not actually the case. According to the International Herald Tribune, Louboutin founded his eponymous line of shoes thirteen years ago after designing footwear for dancers. Evidently the flamboyance and provocative aspects of stage-wear stayed with Mr. Louboutin, as the shoes he designs reflect a slightly scandalous undertone--which, let's face it, is part of the allure, according to Fall fashion trends.

So how does one create the aforementioned allure? Louboutin shoes do more than just complete an outfit, they create the meaning behind it—perhaps in part because of Louboutin's inspiration by dancers (Dita Von Teese is among his favorites), but really the allure is due to the fact that Louboutin takes elements of costume and incorporates that into shoes women wear every day. Whether the details of the Louboutin are delicate and understated or, as in the case of the very popular (very high) heel seen on a number of celebrities, more substantial and pronounced, they exemplify sophistication, according to Fall fashion trends. Louboutin has said, "'Women don't buy shoes--they look at themselves and their legs in silhouette--I saw that with the dancers'.” Indeed, the shoes not only act as adornment, they make the entire body a part of the design, making it alternately fluid, rigid, accessible, or aloof. In this way, the allure of such footwear becomes clear: it is not necessarily what stands before you, quite literally in the shoe, but the juxtaposition of the saucy shoe against an otherwise reserved appearance. As stated on Manolo's Shoe Blog, shoes "...can, in the hands of the master makers, truly be the art of the finest sort, the things that may bring us great joy through their beauty."

Louboutin boutiques in New York, Moscow, London and also Los Angeles, make it hard to keep a secret about how wonderful the shoes are. In addition to the Olsens, numerous other celebrities have been spotted wearing the shoes, all hoping to invoke the unusual glamour and sophistication of the line. That being said, Louboutin shoes are expensive. To love the design and own the design are two completely different things, which means, of course, that until the day we can drop $800 on a pair of Louboutin boots, we must hunt down those other designs that, while not the genuine article, do strive for the same look (sort of). Right now there are several decent pairs of shoes that are similar to the super-high platforms the Olsens have been seen wearing—a standout pair is the Steve Madden 'Lalo' and also the 'Risque', priced at about $130 and $90, respectively. Michael Kors' KORS bridge line also gives the Louboutin-lovers among us some low-priced options. The 'South Side Sling' is sort of like a Louboutin knock-off from the wrong side of the tracks. These are priced at about $98. Last but certainly not least is the patent leather cork heel from Urban Outfitters, priced nicely at $58 (pictured at left), according to Fall fashion trends.

Clearly there are alternatives to dropping a lot of money on Louboutins. Even though there are lookalikes that hope to evoke the same level of sophistication, their designers owe a debt of gratitude to the person who is first able to express his or her inspiration through design. So whether one has the freedom to buy Louboutin, or is required to buy something similar is irrelevant--when one wears anything resembling that deisgn, they pay homage to its creators, and elevate not only the look of the item, but the ideal of sophistication they represent.

Where To Buy the Shoes Featured:

Ready to take the plunge? Christian Louboutin can be found on the following sites: BergdorfGoodman.com , NeimanMarcus.com, Net-a-porter.com, Fred Segal Feet and Saks.com.