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Students in the Introduction to Fashion course are always focused on what’s new, but the students, along with Kristen Samuels, owner of local fashion stop Ume Boutique, said they see a lot of the 1970s and ’80s in today’s trends. One of the major trends that both the students and Samuels identified was layering.
“Anything that’s like a vest or a shrug . . . something that’s like a layering piece that you can put over everything never seems to go out,” Samuels said. “Whenever I find a vest . . . whether it be a cotton-type jacket, like three-quarter sleeve, kind of cropped, I buy them (for my store), because it’s just a great layering piece.”
According to Samuels, the “in” colors for fall are jewel tones, like “mustard, eggplant purple and red.”
Desiree Cooper-Larsen, professor of sales and service technology and the instructor for the Introduction to Fashion course, said these colors could be seen in this fall’s trendy sweeper-chandelier earrings. Feather earrings and hair extensions, which were seen everywhere during the summer months, are predicted to stay around for fall.
“It’s died down a little bit, but I don’t think it will completely go away,” Samuels said. “I still think that’s something that will be a trend. I think it will ease up a bit . . . but I don’t see it completely going.”
Samuels said the bohemian, artsy look can be seen in the retro floppy hats, wide-leg trouser jeans and pants, and cropped, belly-baring sweaters. The fashion students also are seeing a lot of peasant blouses, smaller handbags and knee-high boots, alongside other trends like lace, animal prints, scarves, knits, pattern mixups and a more stylized grunge look.
A few students in the class were candid in their opinions of which trends are not as attractive. The top knot, which is a bun worn high on top of the head, was unanimously voted as unappealing, and just a “fad that will become a flop.”
“It’s bad,” said Brenden Border, a student in the class.
The other style generally labeled as unattractive was leggings.
“It’s OK if they use them underneath something else, but if it’s all they’re wearing, it’s kind of weird,” said fashion student Mack Genkins.
Samuels said she tries to steer away from selling cropped sweaters in her boutique because of their look.
“The reason why is because, depending on your height and your size, it doesn’t fit well on everybody,” she said. “If people have that pear shape or they’re bigger through their midsection . . . it makes them look bigger.”
Belts, she suggested, help to cinch the waist and draw the eye to the skinnier part of the body. According to Samuels, belts are currently in style this season and are selling out swiftly at Ume. Her female customers frequently wrap them over cardigans and sweaters.
“And that’s the bad thing about trends . . . sometimes the trend that is in isn’t the trend for your body type,” Samuels said. “It’s just a fine line of trying to find what works for your body type for the trend that’s in.”
