Style Watch: making sense of Fall trends

September Issues are flooding into mailboxes and newsstands across the country, and fashion fans are flipping pages looking for the hottest ‘trends’ of Fall 2009.  And while every publication is jumping on the “shop smart” bandwagon and advising readers “to look in their own closets and buy only high quality pieces with long term value”, somehow MUST HAVE TRENDS are still being toted.  So do we shop, or do we hold off? We took a look through the pages of some of our favorite glossies and came up with out own savvy style shopping plan.

Fall Trend: Black + Brights ( as seen in Marie Claire, ELLE)

DKNY Fall 2009 Ad/Image via DKNYThe best aspect of this trendis that it builds on last year’s retro 80's neon looks. We love that opaque tights are sticking around for another season, but are wary of buying anymore day glow hues. Instead of investing in more soon-to expire pieces we suggest reworking Fall 08 pieces with new accessories (belts , purses, shoes), or shopping vintage stores, and discounters for a light weight neon-hued dress that can be worn alone now or later in layers. Buyer Beware this 2 year old fad is bound to have a 2k10 pull date as muted tones and softer hues come in for Spring.

Fall Trend: Animal Print + Skins (As seen in InStyle, ELLE)

Valentino Leopard print coat featured in ELLE Magazine/ Image via Elle

From super sexy to terribly tacky, this trend has the potential to make or break your wallet, and your personal style. Done right with a subtle piece or a well cut coat it's a fun upgrade for your little black dress, done wrong, it's a hot mess, so proceed with caution. Great fit, quality fabrics, and one print at a time styles are essential for making this trend spend-worthy and multi-season fresh. Buyer Beware: while animal prints show up nearly every season, cheap animal prints are never chic. Avoid polyester pieces like the plague, and always assess quality of sewing and fit before buying.

FALL TREND: Hippie Chic ( As seen in Women's Wear Daily)

Photo: Talaya Centeno for WWD/via WWD

Forty years after our parents ( or grandparents) got their rocks off at Woodstock, hippie style is once again worming its way into the fashion forecast. Relaxed, comfortable, and super flattering elements of this trend, be it a maxi dress of a turquoise necklace can be added to almost any wardrobe for an insta-boho flair. Buyer Beware: too much boho can turn even the most stylish femme fatal into a Mama Cass, with this look a little goes a long, long way.

Fall Trend: The High- Waisted Crop Pant (As Seen in, Sadly Everywhere)

Photo: Fabio Chizzola for Marie Claire/via Marie Claire

Be it the 1980's fad gone crazy, or a cruel joke played on the consumer public, the harem pant's equally ugly sister, the high waisted crop, has been showing up on pages everywhere. While following trends deemed 'hipster' can be tempting, make no mistake, these are the pants we laugh at in high-school reunion nostalgia videos. These are the pants that make everyone look fat. These are the pants you will hate yourself for buying by mid November. Unflattering cuts that emphasize all the wrong parts, and incredibly hard to incorporate into everyday life ( where one isn't in a constant marionette pose) this trend was past it's prime the minute it showed up on the scene.  BUYER BEWARE, YOUR BUTT WILL LOOK BIG, AND YOUR BRAIN WILL LOOK SMALL IN THESE RIDICULOUS PANTS.