Fall Function

By
October 2017 View more

Breaking out your fall wardrobe—and all the cozy sweaters, jackets and boots that come with it—is a welcome shift when the temps start to dip. For a primer on autumn trends we headed over to downtown Naperville shop Alixandra Collections (218 South Main Street, 630.548.9195, shopalix.com). Alix Chesno owns the store’s several locations in Illinois, California and Arizona; we chatted with local store manager Jessica Carroll to hear what she’s excited to see on shelves this fall.

CASUAL VELVET
“Velvet is going to be really big,” Carroll says. Look for this luxe fabric in casual pieces such as V-neck pocket tees and easy dresses.

COOL CAMO
“You’re seeing camo pretty much in everything: In joggers … T-shirts … jackets,” Carroll says. “Also, you’re seeing it in two different colorways: traditional, and grayscale camo is also big. It’s a little bit of a lighter, cooler take on camo.” Pro styling tip: “[The print] is already so big, we’re seeing it like a novelty item and then you accessorize it with daintier-looking things.” Think feminine booties and delicate, layered necklaces, she says.

BUTTON-FRONT SKIRTS
The classic ’70s A-line, button-front skirt that made a comeback in the ’90s is back again. In denim or corduroy, this is a versatile style you can match with anything from sneakers to over-the-knee boots.

DISTRESSED DENIM
Flared denim is starting to make an appearance again, but skinny distressed denim is still going strong. “If you’re taller, you can wear [flares], but I think for the most part, it’s going to be your dark wash skinny jeans, but then with a cool hem,” Carroll says. “The fringe hem, the scissor-cut hem, the high-low hem … anything to make it a little bit trendier, a little bit different.”

BELL SLEEVES
“Another thing that is really big for fall transition is anything with a sleeve detail like a flutter sleeve, bell sleeve,” Carroll says. “Those look really cute when you pair them with a skirt.”

CHOKER SWEATERS
Carrol says the choker-look neckline that was so popular in tees and tops this summer is showing up on sweaters for fall and winter.

MIXED METALS
Deep, dark, oxidized silver seems to be edging in on rose gold, which has been holding court as the trendy metal in recent years. “What’s big right now is still your bracelet stacks, as well as your layered look for necklaces: really thin and dainty, wearing more of a choker, a sixteen-inch and a longer one is still really big,” Carroll says. No need to stick to one metallic tone, either. “You can mix your silvers and golds.”

BOOTIES
You heard it here, ladies: “The bootie is not going away.” Carroll says last year’s ubiquitous ankle boot is here to stay, with fresh styles sporting embellishments such as cut-outs or studs.

SLIDE LOAFER
As for the “it” shoe of fall 2017, it’s the slide loafer, which is admittedly not the best match for unpredictable fall weather in the Midwest. “It’s hard here for fall because it’s such a short window [of appropriate weather],” Carroll says. “I’ll probably wear them in September, October and November, and even then, you can always wear your boots to work and then you change.”

Jewelry collections include Dana Reed, a Chicago mixed-metal artist, and B. Alli, a brand designed by the boutique owner, Alix.