Trends: Fall 2002

It's time for the trends report for fall 2002! So pack your bags and let's get on our way to the first destination. Africa!

The runways this season are stocking up on wild abstract colors and breaking out the safari gear, as we all take a trip to Africa to dig deep into the roots of this wonderful continent. The clothing is pulling the deepest emotions from people with all of the vibrant colors, original graphics, all capped with the occasional shell and leather accessories. Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche showed nifty safari looks and cropped embroidered tops, while chic safari themes turned up at Oscar de la Renta and Ralph Lauren. Chloé and Blaak also got into the groove with vivid, African-inspired patterns and colors. While any trend can be taken way too far, this could not be more true with this trend! While you do want to send off the vibe that you are a part of this new era in clothing, you do not want to appear to be an extra for the Lion King sequel. But fear not! This is still a fairly easy look to pull off! That said, there's a lot of fun to be had with the trend's super-saturated colors, like sunset orange, citrus yellow and deep crimson. They're most effective when paired with khaki, their natural counterpart, rather than urban black or classic navy. Throw on a safari jacket, jeans and an orange T-shirt for more casual outings, or wear a soft animal-print blouse to enliven a serious suit. Earth-tone sandals, chunky beads, a soft bag with a bone handle or maybe just a pair of Tom Ford's wraparound sunglasses (to cut the savanna's glare) all add a final perfect polish. So go get um tiger! And show the streets of New York what you're made of!

Well, here's the scenario, you just had one of the roughest nights of your life partying till the sun comes up, and you wake up in the morning, not really feeling like trying to dress to impress. Fear Not! When taking a look at the runway, it appears that the PJ look is a ok to some huge designers this fall. From loose, easy separates at Gucci by Tom Ford, to flowy nightgown-based numbers at Louis Vuitton and Dries Van Noten, to a retro revival at Prada, they all are taking the cozy course to midnight paradise. But be warned! There is a fine line of what is fashion, and what is considered to be just plain lazy! Loose drawstring pants are best when balanced by a skinny knit top or shirt-jacket. A flowing, floor-length dress needs something weighty to anchor it-try a big leather bag worn bandolier-style, or a chunky pair of platforms. If you're going the retro-print route with a piped-and-printed pajama jacket or pants, be sure to keep at least half the outfit firmly in the present-otherwise, people may start to think you've confused Dries Van Noten with Rip Van Winkle.

Calling all Ex-Hippies! The time has come to get up in that attic and break out all of the fringe that you have stored away! You knew that it would all come back to haunt you again didn't you! Well, this time it is taking the runways by storm. The top designers of the world are bringing back the fringe, and they are not doing it lightly! But I cannot stress this enough, unless you are so famous that you have people kissing the ground you walk on, LIMIT yourself to one item of fringe per outfit! Nothing could be worse than an over blown trend. If you are all fringe, people will view you just as flakey as your outfit. One of fringe's great advantages is that it can tip the scale of any outfit. A straightforward jeans-and-tee gets an Almost Famous attitude with the addition of one of Ralph Lauren's luxe suede Annie Oakley jackets. A simple dress goes new romantic when concealed beneath an oversized Spanish shawl. The more daring among us will access their inner Stevie Nicks with floppy fringed boots or even a sheer chiffon poncho. More subdued enthusiasts will get the feeling via one of the new gang of oversized, befringed shoulder bags or a discreetly dangling tangle from a sexy stiletto. For minimalists yearning to try the trend, there are even bags (akin to last year's cult Balenciaga) with a single, over-long leather thong dangling off one end.