Fall is Here and So are the Trends

Fall is a great time for fashion in the Chicago area.  You can transition your summer pieces over to fall with a light jacket.  I love fall jackets: leather, denim, knit, sweatshirt material, a little sherpa, a little faux fur.  And fall weather is cool enough for a sweater, yet usually warm enough that you don't have to cover up that sweater with a coat.  Plus, the down parkas are still way back in our closets, and it's too bad they cannot stay there.

Yesterday, I took Tory for a walk and saw some beautiful fall color.  The leaves are just starting to change, and I saw lots of reds and yellows.  Fall colors are the best.  Who needs the pinks and mint greens of spring, when you have the fall neutrals?  This year, I am crushing big on burgundy and maroon colors.  The magazines have told me that other big colors are sky blue and shades of green.

For today's post, I am featuring five huge fall trends that I have seen all over.  Since I am a slave to fashion trends, I think that I have embraced them all.  Drop me a comment either on this blog (below the post) or on Facebook and let me know what trends you are into for fall 2014.

The first trend I am loving for its comfort and versatility is the slip-on sneaker.

I purchased mine above at Nordstrom, and they are by Steve Madden.  But everyone is making these from Vince to Tory Burch, Sam Edelman and Michael Kors.  I chose a classic navy color with quilting, but you can even get calf hair slip on sneakers too.  This is a great trend for moms on the go.

Speaking of quilting, that is big again too.  I have seen lots of cute quilted sweatshirts, handbags and shoes.  Check out this great quilted dress from Loft.

You know, I am going to mention the pleather trend, which is back again for fall 2014.  Cute sweatshirt alert below:

This sweatshirt by MinkPink is from Rock N Rags in Highland Park, IL, one of my favorite new boutiques for unique trendy fashion.

As far as sweaters go, thick chunky sweaters are also a big trend.

The sweater above is from Alice B. in Buffalo Grove, IL and is a patterned sweater with fringe (also big trends).

Also in vogue, zippers on the side of sweaters.  Below is a cute sweater from Evereve (although not a chunky one) with the zipper detail.

The final trend for today, which I have mentioned before, is plaid.  Plaid is everywhere.  I found this cute plaid with a sherpa lining at Rock N Rags and also the one on the left by Dex as well.

 

This is just the tip of the iceberg.  Hopefully tomorrow I can carve out some more time to blog again about fall trends.  Until then, Happy First Day of Fall!

Moms: Don't be Afraid to Rock the Latest Styles

I had a birthday on Friday.  Let's just say that it put me into my mid-40s.  My teenage son says I am a "middle-aged" mom and should dress like one.  I am not sure what that means.  I don't even think he knows what that means since I still pick out his clothes.

For my birthday, my husband took me on a surprise get away to South Beach, Florida.  I had a chance to survey the local fashion scene and pick up some fall fashion as well.  In my next post, I will blog about five big fall trends and show you some of the damage I did while in South Beach (yes, it was 88 degrees there, and yet I managed to buy a cashmere sweater at Nordstrom in a Miami mall).

Today, I am blogging about a cool store I found last week but had to delay this blog post due to the birthday weekend.  Rock N Rags (1821 St. Johns, Highland Park, IL) is a hip trendy fashion boutique that caters to both the high school/college set and, also their moms.  Rock N Rags carries some great  brands with affordable prices.  The store has a cool vibe to it.  The front of the store is filled with trendy fashion, and there are vinyl records for sale towards the back of the store.  Trust me, it is in no way like you are shopping at the junior department in a mall department store.  Most of the fashion I saw was not too young for any of you moms out there, even us 40 something ones.

See for yourself some of my favorite fashion finds at Rock N Rags:

Great jackets with a little faux fur collar:

Cute sweaters:

Love the bottom of this one (see below):

This sweater has the mock layered bottom I talked about in a previous post.  Huge trend!!!

Simple, yet adorable:

I love the pattern on this blouse, which you can see in the close up in the second photo below:

The dark floral trend is hot.  I think I am going to have to get these great leggings by Dex:

I am still seeing a lot of the skull trend so it is to too late to jump on the bandwagon.  This cute sweater has a hood and the skull on the back:

I am embracing the plaid trend, and this plaid shirt has an awesome floral back.  Check it out!!

Lastly, Rock N Rags is about music and fashion.  Love this top!

You can check out Rock N Rags on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.