trends

Street-Style Trends of Summer 2012
Street Style

We Break Down Summer's Hottest Street-Style Trends

The real test of a trend's likeability and longevity can be narrowed down to one factor: are people wearing it?
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The real test of a trend's likeability and longevity can be narrowed down to one factor: are people wearing it? This Summer, there's no argument as to what pieces have been coveted most and what staples will most likely live to see the leaves change — as showcased (brilliantly, we might add) by a global batch of street-style pros. This chic crew has proven in stylish spades that the loudest prints are in demand, that the '90s-Americana denim jacket was made for complementing your most romantic dresses, and that your edgiest leather accents certainly have a place in your warm-weather wardrobe. From statement hues and dynamic bottoms to crisp, all-white ensembles and ultrafeminine details, we're breaking down the Summer's best (and boldest) trends with some help from our favorite street stylers.

Your shortcut to street-style trendspotting:

Source: Phil Oh, Getty, and Adam Katz Sinding

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Best Cigarette Pants For Fall 2012
Trends

Smoking Hot — 14 Must-Have Matchstick Pants

For the Fall transition, we're excited to slip on a pair of matchstick pants to pair with our fresh crop of sweaters, silky boyfriend tops, and blazers.
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For the Fall transition, we're excited to slip on a pair of matchstick pants to pair with our fresh crop of sweaters, silky boyfriend tops, and blazers. Cut close to the body and cropped right at the ankle, matchstick pants are universally flattering and add a slightly more formal touch to your everyday look. Designers like Jason Wu, Etro, and Isabel Marant — we love her fringed rendition, seen above — showed a wide array of saturated colors and textured fabrics that's sure to add an unexpected element of sleek splendor to any Fall look. Style them with suede ankle boots or a pair of pointed-toe pumps for a decidedly retro cool tilt on Fall dressing — shop our editors' picks at all price points now.

Additional reporting by Robert Khederian

Smoking Hot—14 Must-Have Cigarette Pants For Fall 2012 Smoking Hot—14 Must-Have Cigarette Pants For Fall 2012 Smoking Hot—14 Must-Have Cigarette Pants For Fall 2012 Smoking Hot—14 Must-Have Cigarette Pants For Fall 2012 Smoking Hot—14 Must-Have Cigarette Pants For Fall 2012 Smoking Hot—14 Must-Have Cigarette Pants For Fall 2012 Smoking Hot—14 Must-Have Cigarette Pants For Fall 2012
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Floral Prints For Fall 2012
Fall Fashion

Fall Trendspotting: Take Your Flower Power to the Dark Side

From left to right: Rag & Bone, Christopher Kane, and Valentino Not so fast — if there's one Summer trend that shows no signs of wilting, it's the floral print.
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From left to right: Rag & Bone, Christopher Kane, and Valentino

Not so fast — if there's one Summer trend that shows no signs of wilting, it's the floral print. Taking on a distinctly moodier refrain, this cooler iteration of flower power has everything to do with getting the best of both worlds. With just one look at the Fall 2012 runways, you'll instantly notice that a new batch of darker floral prints have cropped up. Rag & Bone showed off a slick tapestry floral in tailored coat silhouettes, Erdem sent out a graphic lace-infused bouquet design on everything from ladylike sheaths to structured suiting, Valentino put an overtly romantic spin on floral-embroidered gowns, and Christopher Kane made his flowers as bold and as oversize as the collection's rich color palette. Rest assured, your favorite floral prints have been given a new seasonal lease on life. To prove our point, we've handpicked some of the moodiest versions to shop now.

Gryphon New York Floral-Print Shirtdress Liberty perfect shirt in floral Suno Scattered floral print skirt Free People Floral Cardigan Cynthia rowley Zigzag Floral Bonded Leggings
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Menswear Trend Street Style | Fall 2012
Fall Fashion

10 Borrowed-From-the-Boys Styling Tricks Every (Cool) Girl Should Know

When we get right down to it, a lot of the favorite things in our closets were the guys' first.
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Menswear Trend Street Style | Fall 2012

When we get right down to it, a lot of the favorite things in our closets were the guys' first. Pants, for starters, now blazers, oxfords, loafers, suits, and ties all originated with them before we came along and gave it our own spin. So, we're giving credit where credit is due — and looking once again to the fellas, who most recently inspired a few of our favorite Fall styles. That's right, this batch of street style is all about the men, well, kind of. We handpicked a few of the guys' most dapper looks, then culled styling tips to outfit the look for ourselves — think cool kicks, polished button-ups and bright blazers — to give our Fall wardrobe a menswear-inspired cool. The photos may be about the guys, but we promise, this shopping is all about you.

Source: Lookbook.nu

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Fall Pink Trend 2012
Trends

The Power of Pink — Fall's New Color Crush

Fall is usually a time when we swap out our bright colors for a darker palette but before you start storing everything away, leave out your pink pieces.
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Fall is usually a time when we swap out our bright colors for a darker palette but before you start storing everything away, leave out your pink pieces. From dust, powder hues to bold neon, designers like Marc Jacobs, Jil Sander, and Bottega Veneta embraced the color as a new Fall staple adding a much welcomed jolt of color to our cold weather wardrobe. Try pairing tailored pink wool shorts with a blazer and booties for a tailored transitional look, or simply amp up your ladylike style in a printed pink shirtdress. Even if you're not traditionally a "pink girl," our editors' picks just might sway you the other way.

Additional reporting by Robert Khederian

The Power of Pink — Fall's New Color Crush The Power of Pink — Fall's New Color Crush The Power of Pink — Fall's New Color Crush The Power of Pink — Fall's New Color Crush The Power of Pink — Fall's New Color Crush The Power of Pink — Fall's New Color Crush The Power of Pink — Fall's New Color Crush
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Top Trends For Fall 2012
Trends

Our Ultimate Fall Trend Report

We're only weeks away from ushering in a new season — and the wardrobe that comes with it.
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Top Trends For Fall 2012

We're only weeks away from ushering in a new season — and the wardrobe that comes with it. The industry's best delivered a lineup of bright ideas and bold inspiration to get us in gear for Fall 2012, covering everything from luxe statement furs to slick leather, ladylike peplum, and a hint of the Far East. Now, we're prepping for the autumnal shift with a recap of the biggest trends that took the runways (and are about to takeover our closets). Consider this your all-encompassing guide to getting to the bottom of the season's top trends.

Lace Appliqués Lace Appliqués Lace Appliqués Lace Appliqués Lace Appliqués Lace Appliqués Lace Appliqués
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Best Shoes Summer 2012
Celebrity Style

Shoe Stalking: The Footwear Stars of Summer

The final Summer stretch has us preoccupied with our final days of Summer style.
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Best Shoes Summer 2012

The final Summer stretch has us preoccupied with our final days of Summer style. Before the weather cools (and we have a little while before that happens), we're taking inventory of the biggest trends to hit the streets and the red carpet, quite literally, on the feet of our favorite celebrities. Consider this bit of shoe stalking your guide to the biggest footwear trends of Summer — and the style setters who made them famous. There are, of course, the obvious seasonal favorites like espadrilles and walkable flat sandals, but we also watched a few standouts rise to the top; Givenchy's ankle-strap heels may just have been the silhouette of choice for fashion fixtures and Hollywood style stars, while high-tops and ankle boots from Isabel Marant rounded out every cool-girl's Summer wardrobe. Click on to see the celebs who rocked our favorite footwear — then shop the trends for yourself. And keep in mind, some of these styles work just as well for the transition to Fall.

The Trend: Flat Sandals The Trend: Flat Sandals The Trend: Flat Sandals The Trend: Flat Sandals The Trend: Flat Sandals The Trend: Flat Sandals The Trend: Flat Sandals
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Trends For Fall 2012
Trends

The Trends You Should Keep — and Stash — For the Season Ahead

With a new season comes a fresh crop of clothing and accessories to lust after — but what if your budget doesn't allow for a closet full of brand-new Proenza, Dolce, and (Vera or Alexander) Wang?
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With a new season comes a fresh crop of clothing and accessories to lust after — but what if your budget doesn't allow for a closet full of brand-new Proenza, Dolce, and (Vera or Alexander) Wang? Luckily, there are many items in your current wardrobe that can transition seamlessly into the new season with a few simple tweaks. Adding layers like chunky sweaters, textured tights, and a wool or leather jacket can easily turn your Summer favorites into Fall staples. Here are the trends you should think about keeping (or stashing) for the seasonal shift.

Keep:

  • Colored and printed jeans. Spring 2012 may have ushered in the patterned denim trend, but it's not going anywhere for Fall. The trick is to pair your bright pants with darker hues and Fall-ready fabrics like leather, wool, and cashmere. Prints like paisley, polka dots, and vintage florals will look great for the season — we're especially loving the Looker Magical Forest Skinny Jeans by Mother Denim ($295) — as will colored jeans in rich shades like maroon, emerald, and cobalt blue.
  • Loafers. These menswear-inspired flats instantly give off a preppy-cool collegiate vibe, and a good sturdy pair will last you well throughout the season. We're feeling Rachel Comey's Admiral Loafers ($380) and these Suede Tassel Loafers ($40) from Gap.
  • Pleated skirts and maxis. Anything that covers your legs during the cold weather is a good piece to keep around. Even your frothy silk and chiffon skirts will look pretty when layered with long-sleeve tops and a leather jacket. Pleated skirts are always going to be sexy and schoolgirl-chic, so don't hesitate to pair yours with chunky sweaters and ankle boots. For chic examples, check out this J.Crew Collection Pleated Maxi Skirt ($198) and Topshop's Pleated Skirt ($30, originally $60).

See more of the trends you should keep this season (and the ones you should stash) when you keep reading.

Best Wrap Skirts For Fall 2012
Fall Fashion

That's a Wrap: Get Fall's Updated Skirt Silhouette For Under $200

From left to right: Lela Rose, Suno, Proenza Schouler, and Jen Kao It's time to put a wrap on the standard skirt fare, literally.
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From left to right: Lela Rose, Suno, Proenza Schouler, and Jen Kao

It's time to put a wrap on the standard skirt fare, literally. Sure, it was all about the retro ladylike full-skirted silhouette this Summer, but come cooler temps, we're taking definitive cues from the Fall 2012 runways. From structural samurai-inspired cuts at Proenza Schouler to a cocoon-like high-low wrap by Lela Rose, and a playful polka-dotted rendition courtesy of Suno, the voluminous skirt trend is taking a backseat to Autumn's formfitting shape. Need more proof of its dominance? We're pretty sure these designers wholeheartedly agree with us. We love the modern feel of this updated skirt — the curtained effect allows for more movement — and hey, a little more leg baring — and its wrapped detailing injects another dimension of texture and interest to your finished look. As far as putting the wrap skirt to the styling test, there's nothing cooler than a chunky knit sweater and ankle boots to complete your ensemble. To get a leg up on Fall's wrap skirt now, just shop our editors' budget-friendly picks below.

Pim + Larkin Scalloped Wrap Skirt Helmut Lang Front Wrap Skirt in Warm Bronze Sandro Black Wrap Effect Skirt Anne Klein - Double Weave Faux Wrap Skirt 3.1 PHILLIP LIM Faded Orange Wrap Skirt
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Sporty Fashion Trend Summer 2012
Trends

Sportif Fever: 21 Pieces Perfect For Playing the Field

We spotted more than our fair share of athletic influences on Spring's runways — designers made sure to work mesh details, hoodies, anoraks, and neoprene surf pieces in with their separates — and with the Olympic Games well under way, it's even more tempting to get in on this year's ultrachic sportif trend.
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We spotted more than our fair share of athletic influences on Spring's runways — designers made sure to work mesh details, hoodies, anoraks, and neoprene surf pieces in with their separates — and with the Olympic Games well under way, it's even more tempting to get in on this year's ultrachic sportif trend. Sporty looks took on many different versions, from Isabel Marant's cool, colorful layers to Alexander Wang's perennial sporty-girl swagger. Narciso Rodriguez and Helmut Lang both incorporated sleek black and white color palettes into track pants and sports bras, while Phillip Lim's pretty pastel collection gave way to tailored pants, clean-cut tanks, and vinyl rain slickers. Even the normally coquettish designs of Victoria Beckham gave a nod to sophisticated activewear — her minimalist silhouettes, exposed zippers, and strong colorblocking really brought the trend home. In an effort to show off our sartorial prowess (as well as our Olympic pride), we've rounded up 21 of the chic sportif pieces that you need now — click through to shop them all.

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