Fall 2010 Trends

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Despite all the whines and utter mania swirling around New York Fashion Week, when it winds down, there really is nothing more fun than poring over all the shows at once. Because fall/winter collections always seem to present more opportunities for designers to go a little wild (the layering! the crazy hoods! the plaid!), this season's risk-taking was still measured—but in a good way. Instead of cartoon-like volume, we got big graceful trousers, and in place of unwearable textures, we scored lush and yummy velvets and patchwork. In fact, some of our favorite themes were in fact really old ones, only this time tweaked and tailored just enough for us to see their allure in a new way. So, here they are for 2010....the 10 trends we couldn't get enough of—and the designers who got them just right. However, if you are ready to see what fall fashion trends are in store for 2011, click here.

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1. The Sexy Turtleneck
We see this layering basic every season, but this time around it was sexy, interesting, and anything but boring.

Above, from left: Temperley London; Preen; Proenza Schouler; Alexander Wang.

2. Velvet & Velour
When velvet shows up in all the right forms, like it did at Karen Walker and Thakoon, it makes us wonder why we don't wear it more often.

Above, from left: Alexander Wang; Ralph Lauren; Karen Walker; Thakoon.

3. Capes & Ponchos
Either tiny and tailored or big and dramatic, the cape is definitely our new fall cover-up of choice.

Above top, from left: Paris 68; United Bamboo; Temperley London; Altazurra.
Above bottom, from left: 3.1 Phillip Lim; Alexander Wang; Rag & Bone; Vena Cava.

4. Big Beautiful Pants
As longtime fans of Katharine Hepburn trousers, we're always excited when big pants return...and thanks to Zac Posen and Richard Chai, we've got them in spades.

Above, from left: Richard Chai Love; Richard Chai Love; 3.1 Phillip Lim; Zac Posen.

5. Patchwork
Instead of feeling awkwardly retro, the season's patchwork came off with a fresh, almost edgy vibe.

Above, from left: Rag & Bone; DKNY; Rodarte; Yigal Azrouel.

6. Artful Graffiti Pants
There's really nothing new about graffiti'd pants, but somehow designers like Tory Burch managed to give them an artful modernity we're totally obsessing.

Above, from left: Diesel Black Gold; Proenza Schouler; Tory Burch; Proenza Schouler.

7. Fantasy Ox Blood
This rich, old-world shade is the oldest winter trick in the book (SO '70s), yet, we loved it courtesy of Rodarte and DKNY just the same.

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Above, from left: DKNY; Rodarte; Diesel Black Gold; DKNY.

8. Classic Camel
With all the focus on purple and emerald green (again), fashion's most reliable neutral almost felt revelatory in the hands of Rachel Comey and Victoria Bartlett.

Above, from left: DKNY; Rachel Comey; VPL; Derek Lam.

9. The Winter Crop Top
Because it wasn't really cool the first time, or even the second, there's no reason a crop top in winter should work—but Rag & Bone and Timo Weiland got the proportions and the layering exactly right.

Above, from left: Rag & Bone; Diesel Black Gold; Timo Weiland; Proenza Schouler.

10. The Tough Pleated Mini
While a few designers did pleated micro minis that came off like cheerleading costumes (you know who you are!), others like Alex Wang and Derek Lam fashioned theirs for the tough (ie: cool) girls.