After numerous posts surrounding the wondrous topic of fall fashion, I figured that in one last hurrah, I'd do a final summarizing post complete with some advice from little old me. Without any further adieu, here are my "do's and don'ts" of fall fashion.

Do: Step out of your comfort zone. This season, the trend tables took a turn: the "classic" fall trends (read: utilitarian/military and equestrian) were nowhere to be found. Instead, bright colours and looks that mirrored what the likes of Bianca Jagger wore at Studio 54 took the runways. With that being said, don't fall back into your standard comfort zone this season...take some risks! I know for me, I tend to fall into the safety blanket of black and gray clothing. I plan on investing in some more tailored pieces (wide-leg trousers, silk pants, button-up shirts and lots of colour!



Do: Streamline your silhouette. Along with a shift in trends, you also see a shift in the shape of clothing. The Olsen Twins-esque trend of baggy, shapeless clothing (read: boyfriend blazers, super flow-y maxi skirts) have gone the way of the Dodo bird for the upcoming seasons. While a lot of pieces on the runways had an oversized feel, there was still a great deal of tailoring involved. For an example, the baggy leather trousers seen at 3.1 Phillip Lim had a tapered ankle, fitted waist, and seaming down the front to show off the wearer's shape. The ever-so-fluffy plumed jackets at Yves St. Laurent had a fitted bodice which balanced out the fluffy sleeves. If you're going to wear a flow-y blouse, pair it with tighter fitting bottoms, and vice versa. If a coat is a little baggy around the waist, belt it! It's all about creating a balance!



Do: Break the rules. A lot of fashion "rules", or faux-pas, are totally excusable this season. Wear white after labour day (well, I suppose nobody pays attention to this one). Wear multiple pieces in the same colour family (a maroon blouse with cherry red trousers). Match your make-up to your clothing! The aforementioned rule, in particular, is usually frowned upon. This season, set the life-long advice aside and choose lip and eye colours in the same colour family as your clothing. Take for example, Julia Saner at the Chanel F/W 2011 show (above). The charcoal smoky eye perfectly matches her dark gray tweed suit without looking too matchy-matchy. Feel free to pair teal eyeshadow with a teal silk blouse, a peach lip gloss with a peach shift dress, etc.



Do: Think about a purchase before you buy it. Willing to shell out $500 on a bright cobalt coat? Take the time to consider how often you'll really wear it. If you don't see yourself wearing it at this time next year, skip it and buy something neutral. You want to invest on pieces you can wear time and time again. If you can see yourself wearing a bright statement coloured piece, a faux fur coat, or a roomier pair of trousers, by all means, invest!



Don't: Wear something just because it's trendy. This is quite possibly the best advice I could offer. When you see a trend all over the fashion websites, in magazines, and on celebrities (read: the tragic clog plague of 2010 - see above), it's easy to be enticed by something you wouldn't normally wear. When buying something "trendy", consider two things: Will it look good on you? Do you really like it? For me, I know that I am far too short to rock a puffy feathered coat, despite the fact that I love the look at them. Therefore, it isn't in my best interest to buy one. I also know that I would never walk around in a sheer shirt with all of my goodies with my bra completely exposed! Always be open to trends; but don't be a sponge either.



Don't: Rule anything out. You may took a look at something and think "that colour will make me look washed out" or "that fit will swallow me whole", and disregard it completely. Everyone, including me, is guilty of doing this. When looking at one of these pieces, be sure to grab one in your size and try it on! Trying something on obviously won't cost you anything, and you may just find a fit that fits you! Two items I ruled out for the summer season were maxi dresses and jumpsuits. I figured that being 5"4, they'd swallow me whole. However, I found that the long hemlines elongated my legs and made me look even taller!



Don't: Skimp on shoes and handbags. While cheap clothing buys can sometimes surprise you and hold up over time, shoes and handbags rarely do the same. Look for items made out of a good-quality leather (or vegan leather!), suede, or a firm nylon, such as the nylon used in the Longchamp totes. Be sure that a pair of shoes has a comfortable sole and a strong heel that won't snap or kill your feet. Make sure that a purse has hardware that will stay intact overtime (nothing is worse than having a zipper toggle fall off and have to pull the zipper with the tips of your fingers carefully) and that the handle won't rip from over-wear or from being hung up. If a pair of shoes or a purse seems to be of poor quality, don't buy it and save your money for a better quality option. If you spend $300 on a handbag that will last you 6 years, you'll get a heck of a better dollar value than a $30 handbag that will break down after a few months' time.

(All images via various sources. None belong to me.)