In this weekly feature, InStyle’s Senior Market Editor/Digital Correspondent Dana Avidan-Cohn shares tips and tricks on how to tackle the latest trends. Look for it on What’s Right Now every Friday and be sure to try out the trend yourself and tweet your look using #HowToWearIt.
With so many androgynous shapes in stores right now it can feel like some of the femininity is missing from your fall shopping list.
One styling tip that helps to create a bit more of a shape is a wide structured belt over a menswear coat or knit. Even a cinched robe coat can create a curve on a well-tailored piece.When you adhere to a rich fall color palette, a wide belt can look incredibly modern and lux even if you are shopping a mix of high low to create the look. Belts of the season are meant to be layered at the waist (not through belt loops) and should hit at your narrowest part. My favorite is minimal with a touch of flat hardware. For styling, either loop a longer belt like Louis Vuitton (above) or shop for that perfect waist wielder with just the right fit.
As you assess which coats, knits or blazers will work best for belting, consider your outerwear with the littlest details such as hardware or buttons. The cleaner the coat, the more seamless to belt. I like the idea of shopping one accessory that can update a coat from last season. If the jacket is fitted enough you can even transform it into a dress silo like Jason Wu created for the fall 2014 Boss collection (below). If you want to belt separates, a knit and longer skirt are two key pieces for fall that you may have already acquired. The same knit that you love to wear with denim on the weekends can turn into something polished for a workday.
Read on to shop my favorite pairings!Recreate the Hugo Boss fall 2014 look: Zara coat, $399, zara.com; Mackage bag, $495, mackage.com; Cos belt, $41, cosstores.com; & Other Stories loafers, $204, stories.com.
Recreate the Theory fall 2014 look: Theory skirt, $575, theory.com; Zara sweater, $20, zara.com; Zara belt, $20, zara.com; Loeffler Randall pumps, $325, loefflerrandall.com.
Recreate the Altuzarra fall 2014 look: Reiss jacket, $465, reiss.com; Sandro skirt, $315, us.sandro-paris.com; Schutz booties, $200, shopbop.com; P.A.R.O.S.H. turtleneck, $184, yoox.com.
Plus, follow Dana on Twitter (@InStyleDana) for more expert fashion advice and tweet at her anytime using #AskDana for a instant style advice!