The best part of being a buyer at Tres Mariposas are, well, the buying trips — particularly the trips to New York City. My most recent visit, just last week, was marked by 9 degree weather, vintage bags, and of course, Fall fashion.
We’re gearing up for Spring in the Sun City, but the fashion industry is looking ahead to our autumnal wardrobe. Here, the top 10 trends to look forward to this Fall:
1 . Fall forward with fringe: Trends, by definition, typically fade away as quickly they’re introduced. Not fringe, not this time. Fringe is stronger than ever before, with its versatile appeal on handbags, evening gowns, apparel and even shoes! (As pictured below the LoveFringe suede heel by Stuart Weitzman). We will be seeing fringed cashmere cardigans from Repeat and Central Park West, and fringe on supple leather handbags we ordered from a line called B-Low the Belt. Fringe forward and keep wearing it, because fringe is not going anywhere.
2 . Jonathan Simkhai: Jonathan Simkhai is a New York-based designer that was introduced to Tres Mariposas by our New York buyer, Lucie Jordan. She was right on by leading us to his showroom in 2014. We loved the collection and carry it in store now, and it’s very exciting to see how this up-and-coming designer is now EVERYWHERE, as seen on celebrities like Chanel Iman, Jennifer Lopez, Alessandra Ambrossio and Gigi Haddid. Legions of Hollywood “It Girls” have been seen in Jonathan Simkhai, and I am proud to feature the collection at our store. The only thing better than the line itself is its price point—super affordable.
3 . Jewelry trends (my favorite): I am a minimalist when it comes to fashion jewelry, but I can assure you that these trends will have me decked out! Edgy, eye-catching pieces like body chains, hand chains, and ear cuff will be everywhere this Fall. Tres Mariposas owner, Nan, and co-buyer, Bobbie, discovered a new line called Goldish that makes necklaces into hand chains that are 14kt . (As pictured below)
This fresh and fun trend is a great way to play with fashion, and an inexpensive way to try something different. The best part is that you can mix it all together, these pieces look even better when worn together to create a statement outfit.
4 . Midi-Dresses/Skirts: The longer the better! This Fall look is called, “The Midi” referring to a hemline below the knee and above the ankle. There are endless ways to wear this style. Pair midi dresses with tall boots or heels, and midi skirts with anything from a basic tee, to a crop top. Midi styles can be pencil shaped, A-line or circular, but the length is consistent and everywhere this Fall.
5 . Vintage Handbags: Until now, it was impossible to purchase a Celine, Chanel, or Louis Vuitton handbag in El Paso. Three years ago at our Fashion’s Night Out event, we hosted a Vintage Chanel Trunk Show with our friends from What Goes Around Comes Around. We were surprised to find that their line had gown to carry not only vintage Chanel, but many other brands as well! “Vintage?” you might ask. Doesn’t that mean they’ve been used? Not necessarily. The vintage handbags from WGACA aren’t always pre-worn, in some cases, the bags may have been an older style; gifted and never used; or worn once or twice and in impeccable condition. Nan, Bobbie and I hand-picked each bag, ensuring all classic styles are still available regular-price in the designer retail stores, and in pristine condition. Each bag is certified and inspected, and less than the original price! We look forward to hosting a trunk show with WGACA sometime in the Fall.
6 . Helmut Lang: I was pleasantly surprised by the change in direction from Helmut Lang. Gone are the edgy twists on classic styles. His Fall line has evolved with his collection, and the designer has ushered in a richer, more chic aesthetic. A longtime fan of Lang, I am excited and curious about the change. It’s a risk for the designer, and a major departure from the fashion house’s previous looks, but our buying team loved the collection and look forward to receiving the new and improved Helmut Lang Collection for 2015: Clean lines, crisp blouses, tailored suits and jackets. Tré chic!
7 . 70’s-inspired denim: High-waited jeans and flare legs are back in style, but don’t throw away those skinnies just yet. Do add to add a few pieces of flare-legged denim to your collection. My favorite styles were from Rag and Bone who showed dark washes that give off a dressier, cooler feel, but also expect to see many lighter-wash denim options. Each showroom we visited offered at least one pair of flared pants or jeans.
8 . Dynamic sportswear: Make room for dressy athletic wear like sweatshirts, jogging pants, and football jersey-inspired tops. Athletic wear is definitely having a moment and we want to capture it! I ordered some great jersey-inspired sweatshirts donning celebrities names, like Cara Delevigne, Kate Moss and Beyonce. The items will be available this month, with Rag and Bone showcasing the best athletic-inspired apparel for Fall.
9 . Evening Gowns: As we saw at the Oscars this year, intricate formal dresses are back in style. Lady Gaga, Emma Stone, Lupita Nyongo’s dresses were works of art in their own right, and anything but plain. For Fall 2015, expect decadent, extravagant and over the top! I was happy to see this shift in evening gowns. Tadashi Shoji by far my favorite line I saw this market. (Picture of Tadashi designer) He showed leather, beads, fringe —you name it, he had it all! The most diverse, interesting collection by far. There was lots of jewels, beads and embroidery, all dresses were red carpet-worthy.
10 . 50 Shades of Grey: The color for Fall 2015 is none other than grey! This includes all shades, from heather to charcoal, slate to gunmetal. The color is clean and chic and pairs perfectly with a variety of other hues. Grey boots, grey handbags and grey sweaters— cozy up in your favorites shade of grey this Fall and mix it up with unexpected accent colors like burgundy, hunter green and even navy blue. Gray is neutral and basic and should definitely be in your closet this Fall!
