Cheryl Shops

The Cheryl Shops Fall Shopping Guide
Now that the temperature has dropped comfortably into the 60s, you should totally be in the mood to start your fall shopping, if you haven't already (for those of you who were in the mood when it was still in the 80s, my apologies). The two major schools of trend this fall are Russian/Goth/Edwardian and Mod. The former is kind of an extension of summer's prevalent bohemian look, but with more luxe details like tons of ruffles, velvet, embroidery, lace, and the like. To counterbalance all this detail and luxury, there's the Mod look, which tends to show up every few years when there's a backlash against too much embellishment. A lot of people dislike Mod because it tends to be flattering only on thin people (which is true), but I've always loved the look; in fact, I've come to the conclusion that my style tends to be more boho in summer and more Mod in fall, and I attribute this to the fact that I let my hair be all wavy and free in the summer while blowing it straight October through April. Anyway, so here are my 10 major trends for fall; some are Russian/Goth/Edwardian, some are Mod, and some are neither. But all of these items are on my shopping for fall regardless. For each must-have, I've provided generally three examples (sometimes less depending on availability) at each price point: Bonus is usually $500 and up, Basic is about $125-$500, and Bargain is generally under $100 (these price points may vary for such categories as coats, where it's hard to find a decent coat for under $100). So, without further ado...

wide-leg cuffed trousers
bonus
When I was in Spain this past summer, I saw this gorgeous pair of super-slouchy, straight-from-grandpa's-closet, pleated-front cuffed plaid pant. I am still kicking myself for not having bought them. Thankfully, there are a lot of similar styles here, whether you prefer pinstripes, solids, or plaids. Of couse, when you've got money to burn, Chloe is the perfect choice. This pair is a versatile solid gray, while the glen plaid style reminds me more of the style I saw in Spain. And this pair has a nice, subtle pinstripe.

basic
For the more adventurous gal, this Charles Nolan style is navy with a subtle orange pinstripe. Ka-ray-zy! For those who aren't so crazy, and who maybe aren't so into wearing a grandpa-size pair of pants, this Calvin Klein style takes the trend and makes it just a bit more subtle and long-lasting. And back to the crazy gal, this Trina Turk pair has Lurex for subtle sparkle.

bargain
This plaid style by Free People is great for those who qualify as "autumns" in that whole seasonal-coloring thing. Aside from the plaid Chloe pair, this Lux style from Urban Outfitters is my second-favorite. And leave it to good ol' Newport News to produce several takes on the trend, my favorite of which is this glen plaid style.

vests
basic
We have Sienna Miller to thank for the reappearance of vests--in this week's Us Weekly, in fact, they point out how frequently she likes to wear her vintage denim style. And while Sienna can make anything look cute, the vest is actually quite versatile. But to avoid looking like 1994, just think fitted and feminine. Another nice thing about this trend is that I couldn't find one for more than $200, so it's an affordable one too. This Elie Tahari vest is just what you'd expect from that designer--clean lines, fitted, and menswear-inspired. Meanwhile, this 12th Street by Cynthia Vincent style is more feminine, with a cropped fit and a low neckline.

bargain
Of all the vendors I write about at work, Necessary Objects is one of my favorites. Nordstrom has three styles that my employer doesn't happen to carry, and they're all different yet supercute. This one is cropped and pinstriped--a nice combination of masculine and feminine. This one is also menswear-inspired, but still cute and fitted. And this one is a bit more festive, in velvet, the big fabric for this season.

striped sweaters
bonus
We can sort of thank Sienna Miller again for this one. Very Mod, the trend kind of extends from the Fall 2005 Christian Dior show, which was inspired by Edie Sedgwick, who was party of Warhol's Factory and who will be played in an upcoming biopic by...Sienna Miller! Anyway, the striped sweater dresses in that collection inspired me to choose the striped sweater for my little shopping guide. So aside from the Dior dress, which, sadly, isn't available online, eLuxury also has this awesome Marc Jacobs cardigan, which is a month's rent for many people and, well, just an awesome sweater for others.

basic
Ella Moss is proving she can do a lot more with stripes than those handkerchief-hem skirts, and this empire-waist sweater is a prime example. This topsy-turvy Paper Denim & Cloth style is very unique and looks more expensive than it is. But for the traditionalists, you can't beat APC's classic.

bargain
If you're not really into black and white, this moss green/lavender tunic from Delia*s is a cute alternative. Ditto for this colorful--and glamorous--sequined style, kind of like the Mod sweater goes out on the town.

velvet jackets
bonus
Velvet is, in a word, huge for fall. (Or was that three words?) They're making everything in the fabric, from pants to skirts to dresses. But I think velvet blazers are the cutest way to wear it. For a super-chic look, you can't go wrong with YSL. For something a little more basic, I like this True Religion blazer, which has a funky psychedelic design on the back (okay, maybe it's not so basic). And remember how I mentioned the whole Russian trend? Hello, Oscar de la Renta.

basic
I like the three-quarter sleeves and the fitted, feminine styling of this 12th Street jacket. And it's not a Cheryl Shops Shopping Guide without any Marc by Marc Jacobs, so here's a great military-inspired jacket that's definitely on my wish list. And if you want a well-made jacket that's going to last you for years, I'd highly suggest this APC jacket, which has classic written all over it.

bargain
Here again is a cute style from Necessary Objects with a military-meets-Edwardian style. We've got a similar style here (full disclosure: I wrote the copy for this), and it happens to be on sale, which is nice. I also like this rich belted style from Newport News--it's a slimming cut, and purple is the color of royalty.

military coats
bonus
The big news for coats this fall is military-influenced. Think brass buttons, epaulettes, Mandarin collars, double-breasted styles, etc. It sounds kind of severe, but I think they manage to be feminine and flattering, not all, "Look what I found at the Army-Navy surplus store." Of course, spending a lot of money helps. Case in point: This Valentino Red coat is definitely military-inspired, but it's impeccably tailored and quite luxe. I love the asymmetrical construction of this Searle coat (at upper right). And this BCBG coat is probably one of the more expensive items for sale at Macys.com, but we all drooled over it when the buyer showed it to us. The fit is great too.

basic
This APC coat is a bit more "British detective" than military, but it's double-breasted and has cool button-flap details. Vince's military coat is a bit more obvious, but it has classic styling that will keep it looking stylish for longer than just this season. And I love the bold color of this Borne Long Distance coat, a kind of trench-meets-military coat.

bargain
Anthropologie's take on the trend is, as you'd imagine, more feminine, and this style also incorporates the Edwardian trend. This Cavalry coat is also a bit on the obvious side, but it combines velvet with military. And, best for last, check out this amazing Lux coat from Urban Outfitters--a bargain at $140, it deftly combines the military look with the Edwardian trend. I might just have to get it.

empire-waist dresses
bonus
Empire waists are showing up everywhere, in tops, sweaters, and even jackets. I like an empire-waist dress the most, though, because I hate shopping for dresses, but I know an empire-waist style is always going to look good on me, being a busty gal with a big tummy. The empire waist hides a multitude of sins without making you look like a slob. Like, for example, Marc Jacobs's Edwardian style, which is crisp and ladylike. And a bit Goth. The polar opposite is this Stella McCartney jersey dress, which has a super-loose look and a nice adjustable fit. Somewhere in the middle is this surprisingly sexy (for Chloe) halter dress, which is vampy without being trashy.

basic
This Harveys cocktail dress will look good on just about everyone, and I think I will definitely be adding it to my selection of all-purpose Little Black Dresses. On the other end of the spectrum, this Issa dress has a kind of psychedelic print and a Mod look. And I have no idea why this hot Stella McCartney dress is only $470, but it is, so let's not complain about it.

bargain
If you liked that last Stella but think I'm insane for suggesting that $470 for a dress is a bargain, I suggest this Primp style instead, a nice $110. I absolutely love the shape (and the emerald green color) of this Isshu dress and, once again, I'm stunned by the price ($68!). And this versatile, slightly Mod sequined mini looks hot with knee-high boots or cute with jeans.

embellished denim
bonus
Remember when Seven jeans came out and they were like $105 and everyone was scandalized? Nowadays it's hard to find a pair of Sevens on sale for that much, and $150 to $200 seems to be the norm. And now we have embellished jeans, which are patched, embroidered, or beaded, and can run into the thousands. Kind of makes you nostalgic for 2000, doesn't it? This Great China Wall for Seven style has certainly gotten a lot of attention and, well, it's a pretty hot pair. True Religion, one of the millions of brands to receive the "the new Sevens" nickname, created this cool Joey Ashbury jean, a psychedelic patched style. Or, if you're more one for "quite luxury," try this Roberto Cavalli jean with metallic gold trim along the outseam.

basic
My personal favorite is the True Religion Buddha and his Consort Bobby jean, a style which, as you'd imagine, has an embroidered Buddha on the back pocket. The butterfly-lover in me also likes this butterfly jean from Frankie B., which, to be honest, I didn't know was still around. But look what cute jeans they're making! People for Peace is one of the newest brands to receive the "the new Sevens" monkier; this cool Rose Bowl jean shows you why.

bargain
The juniors department is a great place to find very detailed styles for less than $100. We all cooed over this Vanilla Star peacock jean at work (again, I wrote copy for this one)--it's super-cute, and I'm super-puzzled as to why it's so affordable. I also love this cool Koi jean with its trouser styling. And, hey, another peacock jean!

round-toe stacked-heel boots
bonus
Yes, pointy toes are dying their slow death, and round toes are now (semi-officially) where it's at. Flat boots are still super-popular, but this season, I want a little stacked heel. And I want a nice, buttery caramel color. The shape can be straight up, but a little slouchy is even better. Wear them with everything because, let's face it, all you really wear in winter is boots. Pretty much everything about this Chloe boot is perfect--color, heel, toe--except for the price (ouch!). I adore the slouchy, Pirates of the Caribbean look of this Studio Pollini boot. And with its slightly more tolerable 38-cm heel, I am already saving up for this beyond-perfect APC boot.

basic
Frye's classic Campus boot is all over the place this fall, but I like this pirate-y slouchy boot much better. This Miss Sixty boot is a bit dark, but I love the shape, and the price isn't terrible for a European-made shoe. And for the classicists, I could totally picture someone like Gwyneth Paltrow wearing this gorgeous camel boot.

bargain
Again, this Main Squeeze boot is a bit darker than what i'm after, but the heel is a great height, and I adore the bow detail on the side. This Urban Outfitters boot looks like something you'd find in a vintage store--the toe is perfectly rounded (i.e. not too cartoonishly round) and the tiny buckle detail is cool. And this Banana Republic boot is again too dark, but it's a very classic style, and I like the wavy stitching around the top.

wooden beads
bonus
Wooden beads--primarily kukui nuts from Southeast Asia--started to appear around the necks of starlets in August, and while they're kind of summery, wood makes a nice transition into fall. That and, for the most part, they can be had pretty inexpensively. Um, unless you shop at Neiman Marcus, where you can find this ornate (but cool) set of metallic-lacquered kukui beads. The next, new shape is a tiered wooden-bead necklace, like this multi-strand horn bead necklace. I also kind of like the haphazard, clunky look of this Erickson Beamon necklace--it kind of reminds me of found art or collage or something.

basic
Here's another take on the layered necklace that begs for a plunging neckline and strong collarbones. This Wendy Mink necklace is a bit more understated but luxe--the beads are from Nepal. I also like this lariat, for a different take on the trend.

bargain
While paying for good design is important, you can also look just like Scarlett Johansson for cheap, since wood is plentiful and widely available. This Puya nut necklace is almost straight out of Us Weekly. I like that this Seville necklace comes in several colors, including green. And back to tiers, these Bali boho beads are a versatile but unique choice.

slouchy hobo bag
bonus
The hobo bag is the trend that just won't die. It's been around for, what, six or seven seasons now, and shows no sign of going away. So, hey, it's a great time to invest in Devi Kroell's gorgeous python hobo, isn't it? Seriously, this super-slouchy bag is what got everyone all excited about the hobo again. I saw one at Barneys, and I can assure you, it's breathtaking. Slightly more realistic is this Be&D hobo, in a shape (uh, and price) that reminds me of Gucci. And I know the Kooba Sienna bag (hey, named after everyone's favorite trend-inspirer, Sienna Miller!) has been featured everywhere--and is also sold out in the caramel leather that I had wanted to feature--but it's just so awesome, I had to include it.

basic
I'm not particularly sure when Cole Haan stopped making Mom accessories and started making cool ones, but this hobo is classic but on-trend. Juicy Couture, too, has appeared to put the colored fur and the oversized charms away, turning out cute bags such as the Ruby Tuesday, which shares its name with one of my favorite Rolling Stones songs. And for those of you who like studs and bells and whistles on their bags, this Martina bag from Aaneta should do the trick.

bargain
I like the drawstring and the exaggerated half-moon shape of this very affordable (and, uh, not leather) hobo from Urban Outfitters. Again, for the embellishment lovers, this studded bow hobo is pretty cute. And I wouldn't expect something so understated from Paris Hilton's favorite store, but this studded hobo is actually pretty classic for boho, and it's real suede too.

Whew! So that's what I'm shopping for this fall. Please feel free to comment, or share what's on your shopping list--after all, everyone loves comments. Don't they?