New York : East Coast Designers Preview Trends to Watch For This Fall

Fall fashion trends that showed up on European runways a few weeks back are apparently about to surface in New York. Here’s what to watch for on your big fall shopping spree (it’s never too early to plan ahead):

Long skirts: Either flared or crystal pleated, they’re often below the calf and frequently shown with long jackets (fitted or loose) and low-heel shoes or flats.

Short skirts: Still with us. At knee length or shorter, these are often teamed with long, loose jackets and opaque stockings.

Big coats: Long and swaggy, they top slim skirts or wide pants.

Princess-line coats: They’re lightly fitted through bodice and waistline and then flare out to long, wide, swirling skirts.

Sweaters, singly or in pairs: In linen, silk, cashmere, wool, the knits team with sporty pants, wool skirts or evening skirts.

Peplums: May be a small, trendy detail, but they emphasize a curvy hipline, and they make slim skirts look slimmer.

Broad shoulders: Extended slightly beyond the body line and frequently rounded off.

Shoes: Many designers show flats, even with evening wear.

Belts: They’re on almost everything.

Hair: Many designers’ models wear shoulder length or longer.

Fake hair: If you can’t grow it, buy it. Hairpieces, falls, long fake ponytails made their mark in Europe and will soon be showing up in local stores.