While it’s no New York Fashion Week, the Loveliest Village on the Plains still has trends to offer for the local fashion scene.
Auburn boasts one of the most competitive fashion merchandising programs in the country, ranked third in the south by Fashion-Schools.org, along with a multitude of thriving downtown boutiques.
As the air cools down and new trends make their way to the Plains, here’s what Auburn’s favorite boutiques are stocking their shelves with this fall.
Leather:
Chloe Floyd, General Manager at Behind the Glass, said that whether you prefer the real thing or a faux version, leather is the favored choice for this fall. From pants to jackets to bodysuits, the boutiques are stocking up on this material.
Floyd said she expects the “graphic tee and leather short” combination to be a hit for game days. Auburn as a whole has been getting “trendier and trendier as the years go on," said Floyd. Boutique owners believe this characteristic is thought to be stemming from the fashion merchandising program’s national pull.
Smocked Everything:
Although the boutiques collectively say that Auburn may be getting edgier, they don't believe it will be letting go of traditional best-sellers just yet. Shelby Cohan, the General Manager and buyer for Charming Oaks, said the classic smocked waist skorts are “still really big.”
Cohan said the boutique is excited to be bringing new colors and textures to items that are “tried and true.” Fans of the texture are in luck, as Elisabet sales associate Katie Kendrick said the trend extends to tops as well.
“Smocked detailing around the chest is really big right now,” Kendrick said.
Wide-Legged Jeans:
The general consensus is that the fashion industry is having a 90’s revival, and denim is no exception. “We’re seeing a lot of dad jeans and distressed jeans,” Floyd said. “The 90’s look is really back.”
Although multiple boutique representatives say that the slouchier shape is oddly reminiscent of eras past, others believe the wide-legged denim is simultaneously manifesting itself in a more polished shape. Keeping with a wider leg, Cohan said the trend can also be seen as a “cropped flare” for a sleeker, more streamlined look.
Utility Wear:
In keeping with the 90’s throwback trends boutique owners have been pushing this fall, Ingram Zuber, assistant manager at Fab’rik, said utility-inspired pieces will also be making a comeback. Zuber said she believes that this trend will present itself in rompers and jumpsuits.
The monochrome utility look is “super in right now,” Zuber said. Multiple boutique representatives said this trend will extend to footwear as well, with combat boots leading the pack.
Accessories, Accessories, Accessories:
The boutique representatives agree that the best outfits are never complete without a finishing touch, and this fall it is all about jewelry. Colby Martin, sales associate at Ellie Clothing, said she’s seeing more people gravitate toward statement jewelry this season.
It’s all about “dressing up a basic outfit to make it pop a little bit,” Martin said.
Kenzie Saunders, sales associate at Therapy Boutique, said gold jewlery, in particular, is going to be huge this fall.
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Sabina Crisitello, junior in journalism, is the assistant culture editor at The Auburn Plainsman.
