ArtsEtc.

Colder weather brings hot fashion

As Halloween weekend nears, a couple things cross my mind: I think about what to wear, how cold my half-naked self will be and the end of warm weather. For me, Halloween is the ultimate turning point: my summer clothes are taken off their hangers, pulled from my dresser and tucked under my bed, where they will wait until warm weather returns. My fall clothes resurface to the frontlines of my closet.

To start off this year's women's fall fashion "must-haves," let's begin with the true Wisconsin "must-have”: coats and jackets. The military-inspired jacket or coat is a popular one this season. This should be snug fit around the waist and well-fitted around the bust. For taller women, a coat that hits above the knee would be most flattering. For the petite ones, try waist length, or right below the tush. Fur trims on collars or luxurious coats are also in this season. If you're not a fur fan, try faux fur. No one can tell, there is less guilt and it is definitely less expensive. Another great coat is the fitted velvet jacket in any rich deep color. Layer a soft, sheer blouse underneath and this look is great for a night out at a bar or a nice dinner by the Capitol.

Instead of plain denim jeans, funk up your lower half with a pair of embellished denims. Look for jeans with embroidery on the back pockets or down the side of the hips (no bedazzling — stay away from sequins or rhinestones).

This fall, New Yorkers definitely got lucky. Black is making a huge comeback. The always chic color is popping up everywhere from jewelry to outerwear. Spice up the black look; mix in some metallic pieces or cool accessories from the summer. For tops and purses, other hot colors are rich teals (also known as peacock) or Moroccan blue. Mix this color with any earthy tones, and you're set. Add in rich browns with accents of burnt orange, moss and ginger.

An excellent investment for your fall and winter accessories would be tall, to the knee, flat, heeled or wedged boots in brown, tan or black. Tall boots can be worn with pants, skirts and cropped pants. Also, forget those under the arm tiny purses and go big bag! Structured and leather would be ideal. Thick woven belts and bold jewelry are trendy accessories for the fall. The rule with accessories is one piece only, please. No crazy earrings paired with a crazy necklace. Pick one per night. Your accessories should never wear you. You wear them.

For men, the "must have" list starts again with a true must: tweed sport coats. Choose any pattern jacket and pair with any pants, a vintage logo tee or button-down solid-colored shirt, and you'll be stylin'.

The western style shirt, that seems to be never out of style is, well, back in style. These front pocket shirts are great for day and night. But don't wear this shirt under your tweed sport coat (way too much going on). Plaid, checkered or paisley patterned shirts are in vogue. Trade in the oh-so-popular stripped button down for one of these babies instead. For a sophisticated bar look, add a blazer and jeans.

Argyle sweaters, either v-neck or crewneck, are great to have in the closet. Other popular sweaters this fall are thick cable knits, cardigans and sweater-vests. And trust me, I'm not talking about your daddy's clothes; beige, navy and black match with almost everything.

Boys too can upgrade their denim wardrobe. Faded or dark gray jeans are hot. These jeans can also work in the winter and look fabulous with almost any colored shirt. Another different kind of pant in this season is the black chino. They are easy to dress up for a professional look, and even easier to dress down for a more casual one. They are a fabulous substitute for traditional wool dress pants.

With all the hot new items hitting store shelves this season, the object of price is sure to come up. It is, however, possible to not buy an entirely new fall wardrobe and consequently have to suffer the shock of a ridiculous credit card bill. Integrate some of your past season's clothing into your current fall one. The Bohemian look is still going strong. Keep your tiered skirts and pair with a cropped jean jacket and tall boots. Layer shrugs over long tanks and wear with jeans. Instead of wearing fabulous heals with your cropped pants, wear tall boots. The trick to avoid looking like a hobo and still keeping the boho look is to always mix a full piece with a slim one. Metallics are still a hot item, along with chunky ethnic jewelry. For guys, think layers. Pull out last season's sport jacket and layer an open, button down, patterned long sleeved shirt and solid colored tee on the bottom. Just remember, only one of these items should be patterned — you don't want to look like a quilt. Boys can accessorize too. Refresh your look by adding a funky belt.

The best fashion advice I can give is to wear what makes you feel good and comfortable. Don't wear something just because someone is telling you it's "hot." I encourage you to have fun with your fall style, don't spend a fortune and stay warm this autumn.