Fall is taking a muted approach for 2006, playing off the neutral colors popular this spring: dark blues, greens, blacks and heather greys are combining with power suits, sweater dresses and dramatic outerwear for next season's fashion. Based on attendance at New York Fashion Week and at the MAGIC show, here are some key trends for women's wear for fall 2006, broken down by category:
* Outerwear: Capes, capelets, hooded trench coats and toggle coats were seen on the runways of designers like Marc Jacobs, Derek Lam, Lacoste, Tuleh and Cloak. At MAGIC, long, wool jackets and pea coats with exaggerated collars were seen in nearly every fashion show. Blazers made out of velvet and corduroy also made prominent appearances.
* Ready-to-wear: Sweater dresses, both at MAGIC and at FashionWeek, were huge. The runways of BCBG, Lacoste, Y-3, Michael Kors and others all had their own interpretation of this piece, which seems to be taking over where last year's wrap dress left off. Vests and power suits (minus the giant shoulder pads) were also key items on the runway.
MAGIC had its own touches of elegance at its show: one of its fashion shows ended with an eveningwear segment, and dress designer Badgley Mischka had a booth for the first time at MAGIC this year.
Bubble skirts made appearances again oil the Calvin Klein, Doo Ri, Twinkle and United Bamboo runways. Not many of these skirts appeared at MAGIC; instead, some vendors seem to be trying to reinvent the bohemian peasant skirt that has been popular in seasons past.
Fashion is finally moving back to age-appropriate dressing, and the youth contemporary section of MAGIC had its own inspiration: the rock rebel culture. Denim mini skirts, off-the-shoulder slouchy shirts and embellished, tattoo-inspired tops pervaded the collection of contemporary offerings, at booths ranging from Everlast to Free People.
* Details and silhouettes: In the youth sector, some hardware (in the form of studs) and embellishment (in the form of embroidery) is still being seen on denim pieces like jackets and pants. Fur as accents on outerwear, or as an entire jacket, loomed even larger this year than in the past. MAGIC showed several fur outerwear pieces on its runways, and traditionally all-denim companies, like Silver Jeans, introduced fur-trimmed bomber ski jackets in an attempt to cash in on this style.
On the runway, plaids, chevron detailing and Asian-inspired looks were also important. Low-rise paints are being replaced with high-waisted ones, as seen at the Calvin Klein, Zac Posen and Richard Chai shows.
* Accessories: Leggings and stovepipe cigarette pants will be important in both the teen and women's markets. Cropped leggings were spotted at the Pepe Jeans booth at MAGIC and on the runways of nearly every designer this season.
Look for small and square sunglasses to replace this season's bug-eyed look. Chain handles will bc the latest look for handbags. Hats will be hot this season again too, ranging in style from berets, to newsboy caps to floppy chapeaus.
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