Patch Picks: Fall Fashion

Fall is finally upon us and so is the cold-weather ready fashion. Luckily, this season’s must-haves can be found right here in White Plains.

“Fall is the most exciting time of the year because this is when men and women begin to build their wardrobe—what you’re purchasing in fall is what you add to in winter and then even in spring—it’s a great jump off point to [fill your closets],” said Marketing Director of and  malls Paula Kelliher. 

Here are the trends to look out for (and where to shop for them) this fall season:

1. Fur, metal and leather trim – You’ll be seeing fur and leather trim on almost every basic essential this fall: jackets, leggings and even knits. Studs will outlast this season as well, and are best worn on accessories such as shoes or handbags. Sequins and metal trim are still in season, as well as suede-leather fringe. 

The more festive the details, the better.

“Our fringes, our sequin tops – those are the best sellers [for fall],” said Diana Makaj, owner of at 257 Mamaroneck Ave.

Prices range from $49 to $189 for full-priced clothing items in the store.

The malls in White Plains have also picked up on this trend. Many stores, like , carry fur or leather-accented pieces at affordable prices. 

“You can walk into anywhere from 40 to 50 percent of retailers in the mall, and there’s 150 stores, and you will see some fur trend, [like] fur vests with knit or leather at every price point,” Kelliher said.

2. Bohemian flair – This fall will continue to see past season's fringe and psychedelic silhouettes. Think muted colors, like mustard and rust (burnt orange): these two colors don’t have the most appealing names in the crayon box, but work well for modern womenswear. 

“We’ve seen a lot of 70s bohemian looks that are still paramount in the stores – you’ll see a lot of ponchos, cape-like [jackets]” Kelliher said.

Head to stores like or to find this trend. 

"[You can] walk into and see a large collection of Frye boots – which have been around since the 70s, all styles, shapes and sizes. It’s a great comfortable boot for women to wear,” she said. 

3. Daring denim – Denim has become more fun and relaxed in the last few years, with the key rule for wear being to know what fits. The tailored, wide-legged silhouette is back, but there’s room for skinnier and more distressed styles.

“You’re going to see a lot of wide-legged denim that you can find anywhere from to 7 for all Mankind,” Kelliher said. “It’s all about choices, what looks best on the body – denim at various price points."

4. Maxiskirts and ladylike dresses – The maxiskirt will follow us from summer into fall, along with last season’s "ladylike" dress silhouettes that are still very much in style.

“You’ll see this trend for fall and winter, right into 2012, a lot of the skirts have gotten longer. Probably a good percentage of manufacturers are at least making skirts to the knee – or to the ankle – skirts [and dresses] in various materials: jersey, wool, knit and corduroy,” Kelliher said. 

Throw a comfy sweater or tee on with your long skirts and, to finish, pair with a dainty flat or chunky heel – depending on your mood. Maxiskirts look best in warm, neutral colors, which does not necessarily mean black. 

"Neutrals are huge this fall – a warm, very soft looking gray is the neutral for 2012," Kelliher said. 

Longer-length skirts and dresses will be found at many retailers this fall, including BCBGMAXAZRIA and . 

5. Color-pop pants – Red and yellow and bright blue pants are no longer just for summer months. This fall, you’ll be seeing a bright crop of colored pants all over stores. Ease into this trend by pairing the pants with a simple white or black top or, if you’re an expert in color-blocking, try mixing and matching different top and bottom shades for a head-turning look. 

“ [carries them], as well as – there are those women who do think outside of the box and do look for something that's different and they definitely [wear this trend],” Kelliher said.