3 Fall Fashion Looks to get you out of your Jean rut!

Fresh Fall Styling Tips and Inspiration

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The season of Pumpkin Spice and Apple everything might have you thinking ‘blue jeans and flannel shirts’ but here are 3 simple, cute, non-denim outfits that you can put together quickly for instant style! (Bonus points for following along with the September NY Runway show trend points!)~ Ready? Here we go!

*All 3 Looks refer back to emerging trends on the September 19 New York Runways, and to Pantone’s F/W 19/20 top 12 Color Trends!

Look 1

This season’s Pantone color report named Eden (the dark green) as one of the top 12 colors for Fall 19. It’s accented beautifully here with black and a neutral beige.

Tucking in a light weight a sweatshirt/sweater into a clean a-line skirt adds a new level to an otherwise basic top. A heavier sweatshirt will create too much bulk but you can opt for a cropped top as an alternative if you hate to tuck in.

For a bonus stye point: add a belt to the waist! (*The NYFW September19 runway was full of belted waist silhouettes).

Pair this look with black suede ankle booties and top it off with a fringed scarf! (Fringe was another trend on the September NY Runway).

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Look 2

There’s no such thing as a fall color pallet without some form of orange, right?! (This season’s rust tone in the jumper below is actually named ‘Sugar Almond’ by Pantone. What a cute name!)

For this fun layered look, pair a printed chiffon blouse under a button front corduroy jumper. Make sure to select a print that doesn’t have too many colors. When combining a print with a textured fabric like corduroy, the outfit’s balance is very delicate and can easily be swayed. If you’re unsure, you can safely go with a solid.

The top here has a peasant sleeve with a gathered cuff. (Voluminous sleeves are another key trend point for this season!)

When you choose your accessories, go back to your color pallet of reds and rust tones, and of course black. The hanging chain feathers and the leaf pendant included here play up the fall theme!

Adding a black belt to the waist, not only cinches the look, but ties back into the black top (and refers back to our runway trend!)

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Close up on the floral print. Notice how it doesn’t fight with with the texture of the jumper — Also, how cute is the print this invisible girl is holding ;)

Close up on the floral print. Notice how it doesn’t fight with with the texture of the jumper — Also, how cute is the print this invisible girl is holding ;)

 

Look 3

It’s gotta be plaid for Fall! This season is drawing inspiration from the woven suiting plaids of menswear.

(Pantone’s deep red for F19 is named ‘Biking Red’. ) In this third look, its incorporated as a pop of color in the plaid dress and appears again less prominently in the plaid infinity scarf topper.

The black suede jacket is preferable to a bulkier leather here because its got a slimmer, more sleek hand and doesn’t add extra weight to the look. It has a soft sheen. The shine fabric is another S19 runway trend and doesn’t overpower the brushed texture of the plaid dress here.

Keeping this look strict to its minimal color pallet of black, red and white, the metal hardware adds the final touch.

Wearing the jacket open shows off the metal zipper for some added shine. This leaves a great opportunity to match a pendant and some boot hardware to tie the outfit together even more.

Adding a harsh moto bootie here helps to toughen up the look. This boot has a very styled pointed toe! (and remember that belted trend?—well in this outfit, its on the shoe!)

 

Now you’re totally ready to put together your own looks! Keep in mind color, silhouette, texture, print and balance! — and most of all, have fun!!

 
Behind the scenes: In the photo studio with Photographer: Meg Zano — and yes, that’s a bag of real apples!

Behind the scenes: In the photo studio with Photographer: Meg Zano — and yes, that’s a bag of real apples!

Fall Fashion Photo Shoot Credits:

Stylist: Deanna Kei + Photographer: Meg Zano

[Never heard of Pantone before? Pantone Color Institute releases seasonal color trend reports that set the industry standards. Designers and factories often use Pantone color standard chips/codes as a means to manage color values during the dyeing and printing processes. ]

Which of the three looks was your favorite? Would you like to see more outfit inspiration in the future? Leave a comment below and let me know!!

How NY's Most Vibrant Fashion Blogger Does Fashion Week..

You've probably already heard of Caroline Vazzana, author of best selling book Making it in Manhattan, and of her site with the same name, MakingitinManhattan.com, which shares style, career and fashion tips, and more. If you haven't yet, you'll want to! This 'Stylist/Writer/Editor/Influencer' also happens to be the most vibrantly dressed Fashion Blogger in New York!! In a city that's famous unofficial uniform is black, she's bringing something fun and fresh to the streets!


Inspired by her rainbow of style, and designer aesthetic, I felt she'd be the perfect woman to feature for my NY Fashion Week Illustrated Style Profile!


.....Okay! Are you ready to see what she wore to the September 2019 New York Spring Shows?

Look 1

Dress: Leaf Xia

Contrast plaid midi dress with a ruched bodice and flared skirt.

Shoes: Celine

Ribbed flat wedge sandal with ankle strap.

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Look 2

Entire Outfit: Laurence and Chico

Denim and lace collared vest with ostrich feather fringe.

Draped asymmetric cropped textured denim pant.

Crochet bag with ostrich feather trim

Matching lace and denim trim pumps

Look 3

Dress: Tadashi Shoji

Multi colored floral dress with sheer lace inserts

Clutch: St Xavier

Handcrafted fuchsia clutch embellished with red roses

Shoes: Cecelia New York

Beaded, heeled sandals with bold red flowers

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Look 4

Dress: Asos

Slit front belted dress with keyhole neckline and placement floral

Shoes: Charles Keith

Cyan buckled heel

Look 5

Outfit: Cinq A Sept

All over sparkle sequin set with draped peplum and wide leg pant

Bag: Louis Vuitton

Vintage Contrast Logo Bag

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Look 6

Caroline and her mother

Outfits: Nicole Miller NY

Polka dot printed midi dress with front neckline twist and flutter sleeve

Floral printed midi dress with smocked bodice and tall cuffed sleeve

Yellow Bag: Lutz Morris

Shoes: Manolo Blahnik , Carel Paris

Look 7

Top: YSL Pants: Sachin and Babi

Printed contrast top with peasant sleeve tucked into a wide leg fuchsia pant

Shoes: Manolo Blahnik

Printed flats with a pointed toe

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look 8

Outfit: Farfetch

Floral dress with a v neck, flutter sleeve, and sashed waist

Shoes: Balenciaga

Square toed, squared heels with a golden emblem

look 9

Outfit: Anna Sui

Fuchsia and Plum Skirt suit with matching handbag and square toed fuchsia cut out pumps

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look 10

Top and Skirt: Noon By Noor

Wide ribbed sweater with cuffed sleeves, tucked into sheer, layered flared skirt with tiered trims

Bag: Ming Ray

Double buckled handbag

Shoes: Manolo Blahnik

Red kitten heels with a pointed toe

look 11

Top and Pant: Sally La Pointe

Brushed sweater with fur cuffs and a turtle neck, tucked into a wide leg pant

Shoes: Kenneth Cole:

Silver metallic sneakers

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look 12

Dress: Cynthia Rowley

Combo placement printed maxi dress with slit

Handbag: Koree Loo

Shoes: Sophia Webster

Look 13

Dress: M Missoni

Marled knit dress with long sleeve and side slit

Fanny Pack: Lutz Morris

Contrast snakeskin box bag

Shoe: Sophia Webster

Black and White loafer

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and that’s a wrap on NYFW! Follow Caroline on instagram to continue her style journey through Milan Fashion Week!

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Do you have a favorite look here?! Which outfit would you totally wear?! Let me know ~ Leave a comment below!!! <3

Deanna Kei is a NY based Fashion and Beauty Illustrator. She works with brands to create unique and engaging content featuring their products and collections. To commission illustrations for your brand please write to deannakei@gmail.com

New York Fashion Week S20 RTW - Trend Review Part 1

Have you been keeping up?

The NYFW Spring20 shows are in full swing! This year’s fashion week calendar is looking a bit different than usual as more designers are straying from the regular schedule, but the energy in NY around this time each year is still unmatched!

We’re barely halfway through, but the trends flying off the runway are so fresh that I’m popping in early with a quick trend report to get your appetite wet.

Future Vision: Looking at Spring 2020

At a quick glance:

The usual spring neutrals are making a reappearance. Denim is especially strong again for this 2020 season. Boxy tops, long skirts, wrap overs and belted waists are just some of the patterns to be found in many of the shows.

Now on to the sketches! (Pay attention to the bold trend words below!)

Mara Hoffman and Nells Nelson - Spring 2020 NYFW - Sketch by DeannaKei

Mara Hoffman and Nells Nelson - Spring 2020 NYFW - Sketch by DeannaKei

Sketch Above:

Mara Hoffman

Mara Hoffman’s Spring Line had me thinking ‘Vacation in the tropics’. She used a beautiful parrot print and many warm colors—but the outfit I pulled out to sketch is this sage safari dress with a utility vibe. (Do you have a parka in your closet right now that sort of looks like this?—I think most of us do). I want to note the sleeves here. It’s a sleeve shape I’ve also seen in many of the other designers shows. I’m sure you’ll be seeing a lot more of it too now.

Nells Nelson

Nells Nelson showed some clean cut, gorgeous long wrap skirts. I loved the d-ring sashed belt here— and of course, the cargo pockets.

Alexander Wang and Red Valentino - Spring 2020 NYFW - Sketch by DeannaKei

Alexander Wang and Red Valentino - Spring 2020 NYFW - Sketch by DeannaKei

Sketch above:

Alexander Wang

Alexander Wang is always on the top of my list. His collection took two different directions. I tried to sketch a piece from each so you can get the gist of it. Wearing fringe and denim, his models came down the runway with long dark braids. There was definitely a western vibe. He also showed a lot of leather and suede. This black look above is a studded mock wrap skirt paired with a masterfully draped cowl neck top. Many of the looks, the above two included (though it may be hard to tell in the sketch), were topped off by multiple layers of belts around the waist.

Red Valentino

My favorite piece from the Red Valentino line was this beautifully seamed dress. Doesn’t it look like it would fit like a dream? Tonal denim blues are pieced in to create the A line shape. The bodice has a multi-seamed bow panel, which ties back into the more obvious bows sashed across the waists of other items in the collection. The thin strapped black dress next to it has a sheer over layer and oversized bow belting the waist.

Tadashi Shoji- Spring 2020 NYFW - Sketch by DeannaKei

Tadashi Shoji- Spring 2020 NYFW - Sketch by DeannaKei

Sketch Above:

Tadashi Shoji

Tadashi Shoji showed a beautiful spring gown collection in iced pastel tones of pinks, blues and greens. The floral embellishments and tonal sheer layers carried the very essence of spring down the runway as the models walked in them. His pastel gown collection was mixed with some darker looks and also included beautiful satin brocades. Many of his looks had cuts and shapes reminiscent of the kimono. This inverted black and wine colored look has a high low wrap skirt with a contrast liner. (The sleeve shape here matches up with the Mara Hoffman dress above, doesn’t it?)

A zoomed view on my favorite Tadashi Shoji Look

A zoomed view on my favorite Tadashi Shoji Look

Do you have a favorite look from the Designers shown above? —a trend you’re already in love with? Sound off in the comments below!!

Deanna Kei is a NY based Fashion and Beauty Illustrator. She works with brands to create unique and engaging content featuring their products and collections. To commission illustrations for your brand please write to deannakei@gmail.com