Popular Fall Dress Styles for 2011
By Elizabeth Hannigan
, last updated October 21, 2011
Once the weather starts to cool down your attention might turn to the hottest dresses Fall has to offer. Whether you are still in school or already out in the real world trying to make a buck, something about autumn is conducive to new beginnings. In fact, you might say that autumn is the best season of the year for looking your sharpest. On the one hand, the weather is not so hot that you are just dressing to try to keep cool. On the other, it is not yet cold enough for you to be hiding in big, heavy winter coats. Fall is perfect for layering dresses with tights, sweaters and cute jackets. It is no wonder that you want to update your wardrobe. Put your sun dresses away for the year and try on some of this Fall's freshest looks.
Tweet
Go Long
This fall, maxi skirts and dresses still have a death grip on the United States. Just like the maxi dresses you were wearing during spring and summer, fall's maxi dresses mostly feature empire waistlines and hems that sweep the tops of your feet. Fall's maxi dresses are not identical to the ones you have been wearing all year. The newest maxi dresses all feature super sexy, super high slits up the thighs. These dresses, sometimes slit all the way up to a model's hip bone, could be seen on the runways at Marchesa, Jenni Kayne, Preen, Altuzara and Jeremy Laing, amongst others. Lest you think that a maxi dress with a thigh high slit cannot be worked into your fall wardrobe, consider following the examples of Rodarte and Doo.Ri and pairing the dress with a floor length, fitted duster coat.
Look to Scotland
Tartan plaids also made a huge splash on fall runways, showing up at Band of Outsiders, Rag & Bone, Thakoon and Chris Benz. These plaids could be spotted in bright, saturated hues on some runways and on others you may have thought you were seeing the same material you wore to Catholic school. Judging by the number of plaids on falls runways, you should not have any problem finding a cute plaid dress to wear as the weather cools. To avoid looking like a naughty school girl, you should look for your tartan either in a shirt dress or in fall's other hottest length, mid calve.
Get Mod
If you are looking for the latest in cocktail dresses this fall, you might want to try on a mod swing dress. The rage for all things Mad Men continues, but now as the show progresses into the '60s the clothes are taking on a modern edge. When you shop for your swing dress, do not think swing as in swing dancing but instead an old fashioned swing dress like the ones Mia Farrow wore in Rosemary's Baby. These dresses could be spotted at Bottega Veneta, John Paul Gaultier and Victoria Beckham. Many of fall's swing dresses combined a taste for all things '60s with a passion for luxury. You can try out your swing dress in a rich silk brocade or even leather.
