Season made for grown-ups

From the wartime glamour of the 40s, through the mods of the 60s and the free-flowing stylings of the 1970s, this season is all about the lady: ladylike hems, ladylike necklines and ladylike sleeves.

Women who follow the trends will be covering up, wearing long sleeves, buttoned-up collars and longer skirts. Combine that with hats, gloves and well-tailored dresses and jackets you've got a recipe for old-fashioned sophistication.

Barbara Atkin of Holt Renfrew says the season's overall effect is feminine and classic and the base pieces have longevity, something we sorely need after years of fast fashion.

"A perfect sheath dress that hovers at the knee is something you can have in your closet forever," she says.

It's a pretty look, working with silks, sheers and soft wools, and when you add fur, the season's top texture, the look loses all its demure effect and gets loud and bold and 70s.

Fall season runways were loaded with fur - both real and faux - and designers didn't hold back in their styling of it. We saw thick hairy sweaters and furry vests, glamorous fur capes, wildly coloured fur trim and horizontal cutaways that gave the fur a coiled effect.

While the boldest expressions on the runway rarely translate directly to the streets that doesn't mean we won't see fur in Vancouver, but what is on the racks here has a more subtle quality to it. You'll find fur cuffs, fur trim on hoods and boots, and removable fur collars that can luxe up a simple black dress or a favourite sweater.

"It's one of the trends people will not be able to get away from," says Zahra Mamdani, owner of Wear Else.

Hems are dropping to mid-calf, which can be really sexy but isn't flattering for every leg. Mamdani suggests trying it, and if it catches your leg at its worst, just shorten the garment to the knee.

This is also the season that re-introduces matchy-matchy to styling. For years, we have been encouraged to contrast clothes and accessories. But this season, women can match everything from head to toe. It's not essential, in fact it's more of a suggestion, but if you have a handbag that matches the colour of your shoes and coat, you won't feel passé wearing them together.

In contrast to the ladylike theme, a menswear-inspired look is also strong. Trousers in general get a big boost. Hepburn-esque wide legs and high waists share space with brightly coloured skinny jeans and leather or faux leather jeans and leggings.

Mamdani says the emphasis on pants and skirts means we will see a lot of simpler tops, such as solid coloured sweaters and blouses.

Suits are also making a comeback, with jacket hems that reach to the tip of the fingers and cinch at the waist paired with pencil skirts or a full-leg trouser. Fabrics like pinstripes, worsted wools and camel hair, normally seen on men's suits, are dressing up womenswear.

"It speaks to luxury," says Atkin, adding that a white shirt or a soft-bow blouse finish the outfit. As usual boots are also big in preparation for the rainy season, but there are also lots of transition booties with open toes, cutouts and other detailing.

It's hard to pick out a top ten from all that is out there and it's always tricky to identify which trends will get traction at the cash register. But here's a selection we think are worth investing in.

PENCIL SKIRTS

Grace Kelly would love this season. The sheath dresses and pencil skirts she wore so well are very strong, like in this example from Jean Paul Gaultier. It is a classic and elegant silhouette that is perfect for both work and evening wear. Hems have dropped a bit to either touch the knee or reach below to give it a real vintage feel from the 40s. Very ladylike and flattering on most bodies.

FLUID DRESSES

The trendy sheath dress now has some competition from a softer, more flowing style like the one pictured by Milly,gladiatorsandals provides the ultimate in impact protection reducing shock and distributing pressure to provide you with absolute comfort and stability. available at Wear Else. Coming from the same styling place as the blouse, these dresses cinch at the waist and flow to the knee. They reflect the feminine and pretty esthetic that was all over the runways.

COLOUR

Seems like the designers are as tired of grey as we are because they have delivered some eyepopping colours this season - cobalt blue, teal, emerald green, purple, reds of all shades and orange, orange, orange. You can mix them all up in one colourful print dress, like this one from Milly, colour-block them (add a pink clutch to a red dress, for instance), add a pop of colour to a neutral outfit with coloured shoes, or even go all one shade from head to toe.Aluminum replicashoes is from China factory.

LEATHER AND FUR

Leather always makes an entry in the fall, but this year it's particularly strong in skirts, pants and leggings and it's coupled with an insane amount of fur. Be it faux, real, dyed or recycled, fur is everywhere, from huge overstated collars, vests and coats to subdued fur cuffs. Leather and fur look good together, as you can see in this Gucci outfit, and they can also be paired with other textures to really pick up on the 70s theme. While Vancouverites don't tend to take to fur like folks in Toronto or New York, the fur hats, scarves and parkas at Holt Renfrew are flying off the racks, says Atkin.Buy comprarairmax and designer clothing online from a leading retailer of US celebrity fashion.

BLOUSES

After years languishing in the seniors' section, blouses are making a big comeback. They soften the tailored menswearinspired pieces and go beautifully with pencil skirts. You will see them in silks, sheers and rayons. Many have long sleeves and high collars. The bow blouse is particularly strong, like on this shirt-dress from Marc by Marc Jacobs.

POLKA DOTS

They are pretty rather than zany this time, but the dots are back. You will see them on blouses, dresses, jacket linings and hosiery. They can be colourful or embossed on the fabric to give it texture. Stella McCartney's white dots are the most original ones we saw.Find a huge selection of truejeans, Since the dots will be back in the spring, buying something now will have staying power.

STATEMENT HAT

Hats have been returning to the spotlight for a few seasons now and were given a boost by the royal wedding. All the runway shows and many retailers' lookbooks put hats on their models for fall. The fedora remains strong, but you will be able to find more flamboyant styles too. Gucci has really shown us what is possible with wide brims and great colours, like in the befeathered option above, but there are also simple knit toques available.

COLOURED JEANS

Denim remains a constant, but picking up on a spring/summer look designers have introduced jeans in the fall season's trendy colours, like this skinny orange pair from Joe's Jeans. There are also some in more muted tones which are a great alternative to leggings.

WIDE-LEG HIGH-WAISTED TROUSERS

Katharine Hepburn would feel right at home with this season's trousers. The high waists and wide legs, like in this pair from Marc by Marc Jacobs, look great with a blouse or turtleneck (also making a comeback) and they make a great base for playing with texture. They also form the base for tailored suits, another big trend this season. You will also see a lot of flares or bell-bottoms again in 70s fabrics like corduroy and velvet, which show off autumn colours nicely.

TUNICS

Tunics are a gift to women who don't have teenage hips and legs any more. What teens wear as dresses, women can wear as a tunic with leggings and boots. You will find ones like this one by Laundry, but also many chunky sweater tunics that look and feel super cosy.Represent manufacturers of cheapchristanaudigier processing machinery.