By Stephanie J. Hiltz, News Correspondent
The release of Vogue’s September issue is like Christmas morning for the fashionistas of the world. It serves as the holy scripture of fashion – preserving past triumphs and predicting emerging trends.
If the September issue of Vogue is the bible, then I am a disciple of the fashion god, editor of Vogue Anna Wintour, sent to spread the gospel of style. Base your fall wardrobe on the fashion commandments, and you are guaranteed a spot in fashion heaven. Some knowledge before reading: You will be damned if you wear pajamas to class.
Thou shalt raid Grandma’s closet. I’m talking peter-pan collars, embroidered cardigans, fuzzy sweaters and always lots of floral – minus the scent of mothballs. These autumn staples will never get old.
Thou shalt explore the inner goth-girl you kept hidden in middle school. No, not the Marilyn Manson fan girl (but that’s cool too). I’m talking about the non-conformist rebel with an inner punk-rock piss-off attitude, that is outwardly composed, elegant and mysterious even. It’s all about long lines, dark colors and lots of metal accessories.
Thou shalt embrace lace. A trademark of gothic fashion, lace is resurrected this season to make a daring, yet sophisticated statement.
Thou shalt flaunt Tweed – lace’s exact opposite. Fashion loves contradiction. Find the balance between sassy and stripper by pairing a lacy top with a tweed skirt.
Thou shalt layer. Flannels on flannels on flannels is one of the best things about fall fashion. This season, however, shawls are making a serious comeback. Choose a chunky cable-knit for a graceful transition into the cooler months. Even better: knit your own shawl. DIY is always in style and your bank account will thank you.
Thou shalt wear dark lipstick. Fire-engine red was the traffic-stopping shade of last year. Most of us have since debunked the myth that bright red lipstick is flattering for all complexions – unless you’re a geisha. This year, the trend is updated with more muted, darker tones like brick-reds, deep-plums and rusty-browns that were popular in the 90s. A tip: watch a few episodes of “Beverly Hills 90210” to match your color choice with the character you look most alike. Are you a Kelly? Or a Brenda?
Thou shalt indulge in the warm, classic colors of autumn. Make like a tree and leaf – or something – by using the fall foliage as a color-palette inspiration.
This is the only season when maroon becomes a neutral. That’s something worth coveting.
Thou shalt not wear Uggs ever (I mean, ever) again. I’m all about throw-back style, but these shapeless space-boots are one of my worst memories from high school. Last year, Uggs were slightly less prevalent than the year before. However, the rate of extinction is painfully slow. Please, leave your Ugg boots back in 2007 with your hair gel and glittery lip gloss.
And I don’t care how comfortable they are – beauty is pain, ladies. However, that does not mean that thou shalt wear stilettos to class, either. It’s college, not a club. Which leads to the next commandment:
Thou shalt embrace the “flatform”. God and designer Jeffrey Campbell teamed up in recent months to create the miracle platform/flat hybrid known as the “flatform.” They combined the best parts of each shoe – the comfort of flats and the vertical benefits of platforms – to make a super-shoe that can be both casual and dressed up. My personal favorite take on the style is the Linea flatform sneaker by Italian brand Superga.
The nine aforementioned commandments are all meaningless without the final and most fundamental commandment: Thou shalt not let the clothes wear you.
The perfect outfit can tell a story. The challenge lies in the ability to tell your story. College is a time of personal growth and discovery. The opportunity to translate that into fashion is a power and a luxury that is unique to our demographic. Long gone are the days of high school conformity and we must not yet we worry about business casual. Remember: a person with style can make a burlap bag look like haute couture. A person without style wears Uggs.
