Good morning, Wednesday. I'm feeling that end of Summer thing- what's to come for Fall? How bad will our Winter be? When will those damn mosquitoes stop biting me? Most of all, I'm trying very hard to look forward and not look back at the past- it's my first Fall back in New York and it's my absolute favorite time of year (and not just because there are pumpkin spice lattes). Not only do I love chilly air and the smell of leaves and the crunch they create under my feet, I absolutely love Fall clothes- the colors, the layering, the cocooning they provide. And this Fall, we're all going to be wearing a lot of pants- sure there are dresses and skirts around, but this Fall, pants are the thing and I'm not at all talking about skinny jeans.
I remember a time in the mid-late 80s when pants suits were all the rage- I had some lovely ones even though I was a teen and was not exactly going to an office every day. Wearing a men's inspired look was very chic back then, and with all of our renewed interest in tomboy chic, it's no surprise that this look is very much going to make a resurgence. And with many women wearing those proverbial pants at home and at work these days, why not have the wardrobe to go with those power plays?
I myself am a huge fan of menswear on women- I think it's the sexiest thing around and almost all women are well suited to looks like this. As a woman whose figure is more Joannie than Betty (Mad Men reference), I sometimes find girly dresses make me feel frumpy and too over the top in the curves department. I love how a menswear look can tone down some of those curves and create an elegant silhouette- I know some of you out there may not want to minimize curvy figures, but I for one feel more comfortable in boyish looks with a bit of a feminine touch- a peek of a pretty bra, a lovely scarf, some beautiful shoes. And for those of you out there that are skinny Minnies, a great trouser looks equally as great on you- you leggy, long types out there excel at wearing long trousers with those legs for days (I. Hate. You.).
One of my favorite ads for Fall is this shot from Balmain, whose rock and roll aesthetic has a Gucci in the 90s kind of coolness that I can't quite get enough of. I love the idea of a simple sweater (tomboyish also) with these embellished and amazing pants- so good.
And how can you not love how classic and sexy and amazing this black and white look is? You could invest in a good suit and white shirt and wear them forever and ever. Timelessly and effortlessly cool and chic. I fantasize about packing one suit for a trip and a few tops to switch on and off to keep things minimal and easy and ultimately stylish.
And there are silhouettes for every girl- from wide legged, paper bag waisted numbers to more slim and flat front cuts that resemble a man's tuxedo pant. Regardless, you can still rock skinnies if you must- they are still in fashion, but now we've got some options and some looseness for those of those feeling that skinny pants feel more like sausage casings than leg coverings. And if you need some more inspiration for this boyish/mannish trend, check out my Pinterest board on such topics for some ideas. I am loving Emma Watson's story for the New York Times mag last weekend, which is also shown there:
http://pinterest.com/sherimaven/boy-meets-girl/
So if you're beginning to budget for some fresh Fall looks, definitely consider a well cut pair of pants and perhaps a jacket to go with if you're feeling bold. Pants are making a big resurgence for Fall 2012, so why not wear the pants for a change if you're not already? And that's what's up this perfectly pantsed Wednesday in old New York. XO