Winter Trends
This Winter's Hottest Trends All In One Place
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How do you Shine?
"In the words of Rachel Zoe, 'I loves me a sequin'" quotes Sandy, our dress buyer, "it's shiny and happy! Nothing says holiday like a little shine."This holiday season we're expecting it to be covered in the shine trend from sequins, lames, satins, brocades, and metallic foil prints.
"Sequins can go from day into night" adds in Jessica, our women's collection buyer, "details on knits, mini skirts, blazers, leggings- just depends on how bold you want to go."
However if you're not in the mood to sparkle Jess suggests matte sequins. But 'never sequins on sequins' chimes in Sandy.
What brands can we expect to bring a little shine in our lives? Romeo & Juliet, Samantha Dru, Alice + Olivia, Laundry by Shelli Segal, Nicole Miller, Mason by Michelle Mason, and BCBGMAXAZRIA, just to name a few.
And what will our buyers be wearing when the ball drops into 2010? Jess will be sporting all the hottest trends with a sequined black mini, white pocket tank, opaque tights, a plain boyfriend jacket and heels. While Sandy, even if she's just ringing in the New Year on her couch, will be donning a long sleeve sequined dress from French Connection (soon to also appear on Bluefly) with 4'' heels.
What will you be wearing for 2010?
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Getting Your Prep On
"Taking the look and making it younger. Roll the sleeve, undo the tie" that's how our men's buyer, Ben, defines the newest trend of rough edge prep. From skinny or prep stripe ties to jeans with a blazer, whichever way you decide to wear prep, you can make it your own.Grab a plaid Woolrich blazer with a modern edge Original Penguin vest, jeans and "pair your look with sneakers versus shoes" Ben adds in. It's all about taking classics and adding an edge with unexpected distressed jean or blazer.
As for blazers, they shouldn't be wool or your traditional suiting blazers, try one from Hickey.
Once you've got the look down, what sort of shoes should you rock? Ben suggests, boots from John Varvatos, Gordon Rush, Harry's of London and even a classis pair of chucks.
To complete your look, try a military inspired jacket with slight distressing from PRPS, Cockpit, Generra to go with your rough edge prepster look.
"You can buy the blazer, tie and vest" says Ben "it all depends how you trick it out."
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Some Like It Tough
Going bad seems to look really good these days, especially with the awesome rocker girl trend that has been taking over the fashion scene. "The look is all about having a little toughness," notes our sportswear buyer, Jessica. "Think Joan Jett or Taylor Momsen." You might see these irreverent beauties out and about wearing pieces like distressed jeans, graphic tees, and studded boots. Jessica continues, "Anything with leather, ripped detailing, zippers, or texture is key. Texture is very important," So much so that designers are taking advantage of the opportunity to embellish as much as they can. "Designers are churning out pieces that are metallic, shiny, furry, fringy, and textured in some way."
Like a true rocker, the best way to obtain the look is to throw caution to the wind and mix and match as you please. Our knitwear buyer, Kate, chimes in "It's so easy, you can just throw a leather bomber by Doma on for a bit of edge," Or some studded jewelry or a faux fur vest. "There are so many great things from designers like Twenty8Twelve and Diesel that can transform your look." Layer up with lizard printed leggings by Plan B, a sequined blazer by Priorities, and a graphic t-shirt by Torn. There's no limit or rules when it comes to rock n roll chic. Whether you add a little fringe here or a lot of studs there, one thing is clear- the rocker girl trend has us all wanting to go bad!
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Mixed, Matched & Laid Back
Wanderlust, also known as the boho look, is like the cozy little sister to the rocker girl trend. "Wanderlust is like the Mary Kate to the rocker's Ashley" our sportswear buyer, Jessica, playfully adds. "It's very laid back and messy." Knitwear buyer, Kate, further explains, "Think mother earth. It's like what you would wear walking in a forest,"- if you've never walked in a forest, don't worry, obtaining the look is much easier. "All you really need is that one signature chunky sweater to start the look." Mélange, Fair Isle, and popcorn stitched sweaters with a comfortable fit are best. "It's all about cozy knits." Kate asserts. "And if you really want to get into the trend, pair the Fair Isle sweater with a plaid button up from Shirt by Shirt, lace-up boots by Jeffrey Campbell, and printed leggings by Romeo & Juliet Couture."
Mixing prints and patterns is the essence of the wanderlust look, especially when the colors are "earthy or neutral like wine, taupe, brown, and moss." The ease and organic nature of the trend is a nice alternative to the edgier sister styles of the season. "It's just a really carefree, easy look. You can grab your chunky boyfriend cardigan on the weekend and totally look great without the effort."
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Boys Will Be Girls
"Menswear-inspired" and "Boyfriend" are two totally different trends.
"Menswear evokes tweeds, pinstripes, suiting - an ultra-masculine look," Bluefly's sportswear & denim buyer Jessica clarifies. "The 'boyfriend' look is much more girly." It's about playing with proportions, t-shirt buyer, Kate chimes in, describing the quintessential boyfriend look as pairing a "borrowed from your boy"-fit tee or slouchy "Granddad" cardigan with skinny jeans or leggings. "You don't want everything you're wearing to be oversized," Jessica warns.
That said, the boyfriend look isn't limited to baggy basics. Kate lists plaid, "tuxedo-inspired" lapels on otherwise traditional blazers, and t-shirts with rolled hems, and v- and scoopnecks as extensions of the trend.
"What I love about the boyfriend look is it fits any body type," Jessica adds, "and works well with the season's other big trends." '80s sequins, studded accents, and military details look just as fly with a boyfriend blazer as '90s grunge-reminiscent plaids do - one of the reasons the designers behind brands like Priorities, Twenty8Twelve, Torn, and Mike & Chris are creating boyfriend looks that reference fashion's current fixation with the recent past. (See Priorities' studded boyfriend jacket and Torn's military-inspired scoopneck tunic)
"It's an easy trend to pick up," Kate agrees. "Throw on a slouchy tee, blazer, and skinny pants and you've got an instant outfit."
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Coat of Charms
"When it's cold outside, the coat is the first thing you see. Designers really got that this season," Bluefly's outerwear buyer Joanna says noting the plethora of statement coats and jackets that starred on the Fall 2009 runways. Whether they presented toppers in primary '80s colors, ragamuffin chic plaids and houndstooth, retro babydoll shapes, mod funnel-neck styles, or schoolyard reminiscent toggle-button hoodies, designers presented one lust-have coat after another - and we haven't even started talking about the leathers.Luxe quilted patterns, bombers slashed with zippers or embellished with studs have become the season's musts. "Every girl needs one in her closet," Joanna advises, "for the warmer winter days and those cooler spring nights."
That's the great thing about a coat, Joanna continues. Not only do you wear it everyday ("So it pays for itself!"), but you can wear it season after season. Precisely why she suggests taking advantage of fall's wow selection. "Everyone needs their go-to basic coat," Joanna says, "but this season, especially, a coat is a great investment."
