Ahhhhh, can you smell it? It’s the sweet smell of September and you all know what that means. Yep, it’s time to ditch your itsy bitsy bikinis and teeny tiny shorts for sassy coats and sexy thigh high boots because fall is finally here.
It’s safe to say that I’m the only crazed individual in all of San Diego who has no problem waving bye-bye to summertime. Oh stop your bitching and whining. I was at the beach on New Year’s last year. We live in San Diego people.
Any true fashionista knows that - aside from boots - there's one item that is absolutely pertinent to make the perfect fall wardrobe. It’s the can’t-beat staple of a perfect wardrobe, the ultimate one-piece, and a working girl’s raison d’etre. You know what I’m talking about:
the jacket. Among many of our decade’s most iconic and emerging designers,
Marc Jacobs,
Helmut Lang,
Rag & Bone,
Alice + Olivia,
Theory and
DSquared2 have unveiled some seriously edgy and exotic trends for their 2010 Fall collections, and I’m already hooked.
Let’s take a look at the hottest fall coats and cover up fashions in our runway spotlight.
Chunky Sweaters & Cardigans
Dear Alice + Olivia, thank you for sweeping me off my feet and simultaneously breaking my heart into tiny pieces every time I peruse your drool-worthy website. In reality, my paychecks will never be able to afford any of your impeccably glamorous clothing, but my severe case of denial and problematic online shopping addiction convinced me a long time ago that credit cards make the world go ‘round. With that being said, I simply cannot stress the necessity of acquiring at least one (if not twelve) A&O cardigans for your closet this fall.
Must Haves: Monastic simplicity at its finest, the Long Fringe Cardigan with flowing ribbed wool sides pairs perfectly with skinny jeans and your favorite peep toes. If you want to jazz up that simple black mini dress, the Steph Sequin Cascade Cardigan featuring a draped, open placket and an asymmetrical hem is a perfectly embellished touch. For a hot fall night out on the town, the Ruffled Cascade Cardigan is a fashionably fierce complement to sleek leggings and a pair of sexy black leather booties. Shop for these trendy styles at Barney’s Co-op or online at
shopbop.com.
Motorcycle Jacket
What I love most about motorcycle jackets is that they retain an air of gritty authenticity. The epitome of no fuss and no frills, you don a sleek leather jacket and you instantaneously feel like a badass. The motorcycle jacket dares to cause drama by adding an innovative and dynamic edge to any fall look. Best of all, if you want to tone it down you can always offset the hard edge of a cropped leather topper by pairing it with a flowing floor-length skirt and oversize chunky jewelry.
Must Haves: I cannot get enough of the Kaban Biker Leather Jacket and the Fryda Biker Leather Jacket from DSquared2. Team either of these hot numbers with gray skinny jeans and a simple white button up or a mini skirt and boots and you’re guaranteed to look badass and superiorly sexy. Shop for these dynamically edgy styles online at
dsquared2.com.
Boyfriend Blazers
Spring was all about the boyfriend blazer and thankfully for my closet, fall decided to stay on board too. Whether you're a girly girl or a jeans queen, a simplistic or sassy blazer can add some tomboy style to any look. Blazers are the perfect must-have casual garment for any woman that can be worn at the office or for a fancy night out on the town. But the rule of thumb with blazers is that you have to pair them with a girly blouse to create a stunning combination of feminine flair and lusty masculinity.
Must Haves: You can never go wrong with the elegantly chic Riding Blazer by Rag & Bone. This classic lightweight wool jacket features a suede overlay and topstitching at the notched collar, perfect to pair with slouchy silk shorts and an oversize sheer shirt dress. Shop for these styles at San Diego Bloomingdale’s department stores or online at
rag-bone.com.
Trenches
The trench coat fashion trend has captured everyone's attention trough the variety of designs and styles, which allow women to be diverse and underline their fashion style and body perfectly. Leather trench coats create a chic and sophisticated look that exudes an air of sensuality, style and confidence while printed trenches vie for an interesting and eye-catching look.
Must haves: I have always been completely and utterly obsessed with the timelessly classic designs by Theory. Embellished with leather, the full-length Cedrica Trench boasts more than a beautiful fit – oversize pockets and rock-worthy trim give this trench a personality push. Not quite as heavy as its wool counterpart, the Ellery Coat is an always elegant and classically refined option that pairs perfectly with leggings and lace up boots. Shop for these styles at San Diego Nordstrom’s department stores or online at
theory.com.
Shearling
Forget fur, shearling (aka sheepskin) is the sure way to stay warm this fall. From colored to classic to just a trim, shearling has been used in an extraordinary number of fall collections this year. Luxurious fabrics, extravagant details as well as classic cuts are combined to give “life” to unbelievably fashionable outfits. Whether you are looking for classical white or grayish colored shearing, or you want to opt for a bolder dye, shearling jackets effortlessly enhance your fashion style while awarding you the warmth and comfort you need this fall.
Must haves: Make a rich, textural statement every day with the Chasm Shearling Jacket by Helmut Lang. Opt for earthy undertones with the olive green Skye Shearling Jacket by Marc Jacobs where Sumptuous shearling enlists in the military trend with an army-inspired color and double-breasted construction. Shop for these styles at San Diego Bloomingdale’s department stores or online at
shopbop.com.
Now let’s go shopping in San Diego at some of our favorite department stores!
Though we love obsessing over the latest runway looks, it’s even more fun to buy your new fall wardrobe right here in San Diego. From Bloomingdale’s and Sak’s Fifth Avenueto Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus, our favorite San Diego malls feature all the top department stores, each overflowing with dozens of stylish coats and jackets.
Neiman Marcus – Fashion Valley
Neiman Marcus has grown over the years to represent status, class, and a grand shopping experience. Recognized as one of the country’s premier luxury retailers, the department store vends upscale collections of apparel, accessories, beauty products, jewelry, and decorative home products to its affluent customers. While its biggest competitors are Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue, the store dominates the façade of Fashion Valley, dwarfing the clothing boutiques nearby. Among the designer lines available are Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Armani, and Chanel, and private shopping hours are available for the store’s most esteemed clientele. For the latest details and directions, please visit
Neiman Marcus.
Bloomingdales – Fashion Valley
Bloomingdale’s showcases booming high-fashion trends from cutting-edge designers around the world. Although not a San Diego native, Bloomingdale’s New York base blends with San Diego style—threading truly innovative results. Bloomies, a common nickname known by many, is one of the original upscale department stores housing boutique quality merchandise in warehouse size stock. As one of the exclusive 36 locations in 12 states, San Diego shoppers are lucky to stuff all that style into an infamous ‘big brown bag’ without leaving city lines. Bloomingdale’s offers clothing for men, women, and children, as well as shoes, handbags, jewelry and accessories, and beauty products. Bridal Registration is also available. For the latest details and directions, please visit
Bloomingdale’s.
Barney’s Co-op – Fashion Valley
As the offspring of Barneys New York, the San Diego Barneys Co-op offers apparel by the same great designers in a more casual and hip environment for the younger market. Co-op began as a department within Barneys New York, but has expanded to and is now its own fashion enterprise. Barneys Co-op approaches everything with “Taste, Luxury, and Humor,” in merchandise ranging from clothing to shoes, accessories, jewelry, and beauty products from only the best in upscale designers and product lines. Brands such as Stella McCartney, Marc by Marc Jacobs, 3.1 Phillip Lim, 7 For All Mankind, Sigerson Morrison, and Rag & Bone are available at San Diego Barneys at Fashion Valley. For the latest details and directions, please visit
Barney’s Co-op.
Nordstrom – Fashion Valley
You know the name. You see it whenever you try to take the shopping world by storm: Nordstrom is the icing atop every cake of a mall. Seeing as how Nordstrom originally got their start back in the early 1900s selling only shoes, you can imagine how spectacular the shoe section is. But it doesn’t stop there. Nordstrom offers everything from cosmetics, high-end perfumes, designer handbags and sunglasses and dozens of brands including Marc Jacobs, Betsey Johnson, David Yurman, Elie Tahari, L.A.M.B, Juicy Couture, Theory, Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors and many,many more. For the latest details and directions, please visit
Nordstrom.
Discover more San Diego boutiques and follow our
shopping blog for tips and trends.
