It is a well-established fact that high fashion has a tendency towards the impractical. It’s certainly nice to be trendy, but unless one wants to live on a diet of Mr. Noodles and cigarettes, students have to be a little price-conscious when it comes to dressing well. But by God, being frugal doesn’t mean being boring! To end H&M’s homogeny, put away the predictable and venture into vintage, which is way cooler and less expensive.
Kensington Market is a veritable goldmine for value-vintage, but Planet Aid (160 Baldwin St.) is where you’ll find the majority of the cool items seen here. Not only do they stock a myriad of highly affordable duds, but all their profits are donated to charity projects. Now, who said the world of fashion was a moral void? Luckily for you, we’ve sifted through this season’s latest catwalk trends and got rid of all the taffeta bubble skirts and stiletto hiking boots to give you the student-friendly heads-up on the looks that will turn heads-for all the right reasons.
Women
Lovely layers
Designers decided to pile it on this season. Think subtle juxtaposition of colour, cut and fabric, with a sprinkling of hats, scarves and accessories. This look is great as it allows you to make interesting combinations, but is also practical as layering is absolutely key to keeping toasty. Do as Marc Jacobs (who commandeered the Goth/Grunge flavour of the season) did and sport leg warmers over leggings. Fold the tops over ankle boots for an added touch. Alternatively, take some inspiration from the more suave Hermés and team up cardigans with long scarves over blouses. The oversize trend is highly appropriate for layering items. Use the mannish pant under a knee-length sweater, but don’t be a tent: nip in your waist with a belt.
A word of warning: the line between ironic contrast and clashing costume is a thin one. Tread with trepidation. With this look it’s all about being clever and knowing what works to display your individuality.
Natural nuance
Get back to nature this fall and bundle up in something fit for a cosy night by the fire. Chunky wool never looked so sexy, as Pringle got a much-needed revamp and produced some truly voluptuous knitwear. Mix with fabrics inspired by ages past: velvet, tweed are back and even fur has had a controversial revival this season. Designers seemed to have a more demure attitude (overt sexiness being so yesterday), covering up with turtlenecks and androgynous pants, leaves something wonderful to the imagination. Colours here are muted and melancholic, echoing the falling leaves and greying skies, so keep to colours that look like they come from the land: robin’s-egg blue, rusty red and chocolate brown. Sounds a tad drab? Follow the likes of Alexander McQueen and Balenciaga and take a trip to the Highlands by embracing all things tartan, checked or ‘dog-tooth’.
Dress to impress
It not news that over the summer the dress fell back into fashion’s favour. Fortunately, it’s not a passing fad suited only to balmy summer strolls. The dress has evolved into something a little more practical this season. It’s more versatile and still every bit as sexy. Wearing a dress is quite different from wearing jeans and a tee. Its firm, feminine statement sets an easy, free and playful mood. Integrate it with other elements of your wardrobe: wear it over skinny jeans or leggings, under a shrunken jacket or teamed with killer boots and flashy accessories at night. There are many different shapes out there to choose from, too. Cutesy pinafores, unfussy tunics or cosy sweater-dresses mean that there’s really no excuse to dress drab this season.
Precious metals
All that glitters need not be gold this fall/winter. Why not delve into the rich world of metallics? From slinky skinnies at Basso & Broke to all-out decadence with Gucci’s stunning gold column gowns, models were literally sparkling down the catwalks. The muted bronze trench was interpreted by many trendy fashion houses, with spectacular executions by Donna Karan and Gucci. So bling it up-but avoid looking like you’ve rolled around in aluminium foil! Be subtle and use metallics to embellish rather than overwhelm. Mix into your wardrobe by choosing more ‘bashed about,’ tamed tones, stream-lined statement accessories or a juxtaposing fabric like a chunky wool sweater.
Men
Pretty Preppy
While this look is as old as the schools from which it draws inspiration (well, in fashion terms at least) it is still more than welcome. The sexy schoolboy got a re-vamp this year. Gone are stuffy monotone tweeds reminiscent of nutty professors. Instead, designers such as Dsquared and Bottega Veneta were playful with ironic, clashing patterns. Think of bold college scarf stripes with a plaid blazer, complete with a Harvard crest. To funk things up, dichotomize by mixing stuffy cable-knit cardigans with scruffy jeans (hint: the reason remains unknown, but men in cardigans rock, so if nothing else, go granny this season). And while you’re at it, don’t forget your aroma it’s utterly imperative to smell your best on those cosy nights in. Burberry’s ‘London’, with its infusion of leather, tobacco and port wine is quite appropriate. To Accessorize, the Mulberry ‘Barnaby’ bag proves that the man-bag is nothing to smirk at, (especially when compared to the hump-back knapsack, which many a misguided male has been seen sporting). And for the, ahem, modest among you, what could be more utterly pretentious than writing in a $295 Prada notebook? Pretty much nothing.
Frontier Man
Think “grown-up and surprisingly well co-ordinated cowboy.” This season designers were jumping on the pioneer band wagon with a ton of modern takes on a traditional look, from smart dust-coloured tweed suits at Polo by Ralph Lauren, to a scruffy yet sassy gun-slinging mood set by Marc Jacobs. John Varvatos pushed boundaries with his collection, the homesteader influence producing some truly scrumptious numbers, namely his clompy Demolition Boot, which at a whopping $398 proves that cowboy boots really are for sissies. A smattering of bandanas brightens things up and reminds us that cowboys can still be fun. So be a Southern gentleman in a 19th century waistcoat, but then contradict this with battered jeans and a lumber jack flannel.
