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Fall fashion: Peace in, neon out

Erica Dahl of Boulder's savvy dishes on what's in, out

Monday, August 25, 2008

WHAT YOU NEED

Women: Fringe and feathers on boots, purses, sandals. Moccasins or earthy, knit boots. Colorful scarves and pashminas paired with black jackets. Tweed and herringbone jackets. Gladiator sandals.

Men: Flannel or woven-collared shirts. Edgy, preppy looking clothes. Sanuk Surfers. TOMS shoes.

Everyone: Peace signs.

Grab a trash bag. Throw out those brightly pattered hoodies. While you're at it, toss the slip-on, rubber-lined sneakers.

Now make a list: peace signs, fringe, feathers and flannel.

Erica Dahl -- owner and buyer for savvy, 1114 Pearl St., Boulder's chic downtown fashion store -- says clothing that is Native-American-inspired is what's in for this fall's trends.

"Anything that has fringe and feathers is going to be in," she says.

Yes, that means moccasins, feathers, fringed boots, fringed purses, headbands worn around the crown of the head and simple, earthy colors.

That '80s neon look? Looks like it's heading for the door.

"I can see one trend that you aren't going to see nearly as much as last year," Dahl says. "It's the all-over, brightly colored, printed hoodies. I think that trend just came and went, and now people are back to just more basic items."

Basic like earth and jeweled tones, she says, and not so much neon.

"The '80s trend . . . it was like the brighter, the better," she says. "That look may still stick with streetwear, but I think mainstream fashion is going to be a bit more earthy."

Dahl says some things to hold on to from last year's wardrobe are comfy sweaters, leggings, skinny jeans, pashminas or colored scarves paired with a black jacket, and, of course, Uggs.

Oh, and hold onto those gladiator sandals from the summer; Dahl says that look will hold well into the spring.

"Any kind of scarves or neckwear are going to be big," she says. "I think leggings will still be in with oversize, tunic-length tops. Uggs, always. Uggs have already been flying off the shelves for us."

Tweed and herringbone jackets will be big again, she says.

And those skinny jeans. You didn't buy them for nothing last year.

"A lot of people will be wearing tall boots, so you need jeans to tuck into your boots."

She also says we'll see a lot of a "more cleaned-up" version of the bohemian-chic look.

Dahl says preppy -- with an edge -- will also be big this fall. That means knee-length socks paired with skirts for the gals and collared polo-type shirts for guys paired with Sanuk Surfers.

Sanuk Surfers, footwear for guys, sell like crazy at savvy.

"The whole theory behind the shoe is that (Sanuk) took their most comfortable sandal footbed and built a loose shoe around it," she says. "So those are going to be really big. And there are already a lot of companies who are coming out with something similar to the surfers."

Sorry guys, Vans seem to be making their way out.

"I think you're not going to see nearly as many of the vulcanized sole -- like Vans, or any slip-on -- with that chunky, rubber stripping on the bottom of the shoe."

Dahl also says guys should look for flannel shirts.

"Flannels are coming back in," she says. "Or even woven, collared shirts with plaid print. Flannel became pretty big with the skateboarding community."

TOMS shoes for men are a hot commodity at savvy, too. Dahl says she has a ton of requests from men for the shoes. TOMS has a comfortable, lightweight design, and the company gives away one pair of shoes to the needy per pair sold.

As for accessories, it's all about the peace sign.

Dahl says it's everywhere.

"I think that's going to be huge. Almost everyone has something to offer with a peace sign on it -- whether it be bags, or jewelry or T-shirts."

So grab dad's Visa -- it's time to get fashionable.

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