It’s a flashback to the 90s with Ingrie’s top Fall picks (from left to right): Zara metallic leather jacket, LOFT Wildflower babydoll dress and J.Crew Italian cashmere boatneck tunic.
With childcare, groceries, oh and you know, life, eating into my clothing budget, it’s safe to say that this former fashion-industry gal needs to ramp up her wardrobe for Fall. I’ve tried to keep up with all the runway shows and trends to figure out what I’ll need, but it can become overwhelming when you’re also trying to remember what thing-a-ma-jig you have to get for your daughter’s art/dance/music class this week—or was that next week?… So I decided to cheat and ask fashion stylist Ingrie Williams for a breakdown of her three top fall trends that’ll work best on my mom-bod (no body-con dresses here). And while Ingrie’s not a mom (yet), she’s styled Brooke Burke-Charvet and Meghan Markle for Best Health and sounds off on style on Chatelaine.com. Here, her curated list of what we all need right now.
INGRIE’S FALL (AND SUPER-WEARABLE) FASHION HIT-LIST
1. Moto-style jacket. Sure, there’s still merit in a cardigan as a basic cover-up, but hands-down, the motorcycle jacket has turned into the season’s go-to topper. “It elevates any outfit—especially if it’s in leather—and is more unexpected than a blazer,” says Williams. Proving that it really is the ultimate jacket for fall, our cofounder Juliette has already nabbed one for herself. If you already have a basic black in the mix, or if you’re looking for a more modern approach, Ingrie recommends trying out a colour, print or metallic version. “Thanks to its classic cut, owning one in a bold red, animal print or rose gold is similar to wearing a neutral, and you can truly where it with everything.”
TEST THE WATERS: Make your jacket an investment piece and stick to classic black.
JUST GO FOR IT: Experiment with bolder colours and touchy-feely fabrics (suede styles are our fave!)
2. Floral print dress Dark floral prints in easy-to-wear shapes have cropped up at every price point. Ingrie considers it the ideal, one-and-done garment. “Add black tights and booties or flats and you’re good to get out the door, plus they’ll also work well into cooler weather. Just layer a stretch t-neck underneath,” she says, recommending a t-neck in a matching colour to the print for a polished aesthetic, or try a contrasting tone or even a print (i.e. heather grey or fine stripes) for a more eclectic look. (We know; we’re seeing memories of 20-something Jennifer Aniston too).
TEST THE WATERS: Dark shades and a classic dress style keep patterns from becoming overwhelming.
JUST GO FOR IT: Why stop at a floral explosion? Choose shoulder or waistband details to kick up the wow factor.
3. Something pink “I would have to say it’s time to join Fall’s shade parade and pick up something pink. All varieties of this shade is on-trend, from soft pastel to punchy and bright. This sugary-sweet hue has made an unexpected seasonal shift and it’s easy to pull off,” says Ingrie. You can even keep it to a casual basic, like a t-shirt, sweater or a scarf. The best part about wearing pink is it does the fashion heavy lifting for you. “You don’t need much else to feel like you made an effort to create an outfit. The colour pops against all of our favourite neutrals: black, grey and white, and it looks super chic with navy, camel and brown.” And whether you choose a bold tone or a soft pastel depends on your comfort level, but know all shades of pink are #trending.
TEST THE WATERS: Play up this pretty hue by choosing it in a classic piece such as a sleeveless top or flat, or simply layer it with a neutral.
JUST GO FOR IT: Opt for a brighter pink or add a statement bag or shoe, or even an embellished blouse, to make your outfit really stand out from the crowd.