Fall 2013 is a good season to be alive, if only for the fashion. Autumn usually gets a bad rap for its darker colours and heavier fabrics, but this time, we’re at no loss for bright hues and bold shades.
Of course, there are a few colours to be put on hold, but to help make the transition easier, we’ve listed ten hues you should either embrace now or leave in your closet until spring. Get set (and layered – it’s kind of cold out there).
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Fall Fashion 2013 Trends
1. Keep: Pink
What type of pink? Literally any shade you can imagine. Topshop showcased a very light, feminine pink in their collection, while Oscar de la Renta opted for a bubblegum hue in-step with the season’s ‘60s theme. Regardless of shade, you can’t go wrong, so don’t be afraid to keep looking bright despite autumn’s descent into darkness and early sunsets.
2. Keep: Black
The day somebody tells you black isn’t "in" for a season is the day you know you are being lied to. Like seasons before, black ups the ante in terms of formalwear, with designers like Viktor & Rolf using the shade to make a mini-dress and cape combo black tie appropriate. However, it’s the matte shades of black you can pass over if you want to focus on trends: leather was used in droves this fall, so look to J. Mendel and Rebecca Minkoff when hoping to keep the black modern.
3. Keep: Purple
Fall 2013 is particularly exciting in terms of fearless colour, and the season’s obsession with deep, rich, and vibrant purples attests to that. J. Crew saw bright purple tweed blazers paired with red printed blouses, while Rag & Bone saw a purple jacket used to brighten an otherwise neutral ensemble. However, it’s in makeup where purple shines the most: dark lipsticks (like Maybelline’s fall line), coloured eyeliners, and eye shadows will add a much-needed colour pop to any dreary day.
4. Keep: Emerald
Heaven forbid you don’t drape yourself in emerald, the season’s sanctioned “it”-colour. Fortunately, you can wear it anywhere, with anything, almost all the time, as proven by Jason Wu, who used it on a party dress, and Phillip Lim, who debuted a two-piece emerald suit in his Fall/Winter collection. Pairing even a pair of emerald flats or an emerald belt with an otherwise neutral outfit will help carry off the trend, while if you’re a little more daring, you can layer emerald with a lighter mint green for the full colour experience.
5. Hang Up: Powder Blue
As you can tell, it’s the bright, electric colours defining the fall fashion colour spectrum, so shy away from pastels and power blues – a.k.a. the go-to tones of spring and summer. Instead, replace with indigo (as seen in Paul Smith’s show) and cobalt blue (featured in Michael Kors’ F/W collection).
6. Hang Up: Beige
There’s nothing “calming” about this season – and we mean that in the best possible way. Instead, think nude tones; colours that would fall under the “brown and neutral” umbrellas, while still a little “feminine.” Case in point: Isabel Marant’s mix of nudes and metallics, and Chanel’s RTW two-piece suit (you could pair with boots for a less delicate feel).
7. Keep: Red
Does anyone remember when red was reserved for holiday parties or pieces about what to wear to holiday parties? Well not today, friends: red (in all shades and sizes) is everywhere on the fall fashion 2013 landscape, ranging from sweaters and skirts (as seen in Burberry’s collection) to Jonathan Saunders’ mix and match of pink and sparkly red pieces. Holiday parties be damned! It’s time to wear red now.
8. Keep: Pastels
We know we just told you to hang up powder blue, but hear us out. While a few winter coats showcased the hue (it’s not like we said it was a bad hue – let’s remember that), the shades that were really seen were tones like light yellow (in Celine’s pre-Fall collection) and, as previously stated, light pink. Granted, this also depends on the look you’re going for: do you lean towards the delicate looks of the 1920s? Then embrace pastels wholeheartedly. However, if you like the dramatic fall vibe, use pastels to compliment your outfit via nail polish, accessories, or eye shadow.
9. Keep: Yellow
We almost included Coldplay lyrics here, but then I realized we’ve all moved on from that, and we’re wasting valuable time. Pastel yellow exists this fall, but like with purple and blue, the brighter the better. Everyone from Wes Gordon to Kate Spade used yellow as the ultimate highlighter, so follow their lead and pair it with black, with brown, with red, and with anything else you think looks great.
10. Keep: Grey
Autumn days may get dreary, but not even grey themes in Fall/Winter collections can make the season seem bleak. Designers like Victoria Beckham used a sleek, shiny grey on a short-sleeved pencil dress, while Burberry showed off a grey coat dress seemingly straight out of the 1950s. Don’t be afraid to add on: if you think you’re wearing too much neutral, punch it up with a bright accessory, or shirt, or skirt, or any other layer. The best style is always eclectic, anyway.