Summer is now little more than a memory and pictures in scrapbooks for many students. While students have to say good-bye to summer flings and sleeping in, one thing they won’t necessarily have to bid adieu to is a summer wardrobe.
“This fall, you can pretty much get away with any color,” said Martha Harvell, sales associate at Melange, a boutique in Eugene.
Ashley Matthews, owner of Eugene boutique Lemon Juice, agrees.
“Colors such as emerald, pink and purple are big this fall. Lots of color is big unlike in other falls,” Matthews said.
Even though brown is typically a color worn in the fall, Harvell said this fall there is an especially abundant amount of brown being seen everywhere, and that “brown is almost replacing black.”
The days are getting colder, and although Matthews says miniskirts are still in this season, colder days create the need to cover up a bit more. Matthews suggests denim. For both sexes, it is argued that a pair of jeans can make any
outfit complete.
“Men’s jeans are getting nicer,” Matthews said. “There are more men’s designer jeans being made. The dark wash looks good on men. A man’s jeans do not have to be
expensive, just something they can go out in.”
Senior journalism major Stephen Weeks, who describes himself as fashion-savvy, said the hot jean brands for men who are willing to spend the extra money are Seve For All Mankind and Paper Denim.
Matthews said for women, the must-have jean this fall is Joe’s Jeans, which she carries at her boutique. She said they are especially popular because they are cut for
different body types. Regardless of the brand or designer, Matthews said, in general, low-rise jeans are becoming more out-of-style this fall.
While it appears that many colors are in this season, there are other things that are going out of style. Weeks argues that Von Dutch is going out of style, and that Billabong and New Balance have been out for a while, but Puma is still popular. Harvell said for women, Trina Turk and Nanette Lepore are popular.
Matthews said overly revealing clothing, along with tight shirts, are going out of style, and that tweed and corduroy are in, as well as cropped pants with tall boots. Matthews said she expects the Paris Hilton-esque short frilly/flippy miniskirt to disappear and be replaced by skirts hanging just above the knee. She said that for men, the style right now appears to be sweaters layered over collared shirts.
Given the current season, it could be time for students to upgrade their schoolbags. Weeks said messenger bags are in and that Jack Spade and solid-color Coach bags are must-haves for students.
Sometimes, an old trend makes it back to the clothing racks, such as bell-bottoms and glitter. Right now, however, Lacoste has made its way back to the mainstream. Harvell and Weeks both said Lacoste is hot. In high-end department stores, Lacoste appears to be everywhere.
Not everyone has the money to purchase all the hottest trends. Right now, high-end fashion is definitely on the rise; a person does not need a $78 polo shirt to look trendy.
“It doesn’t matter what you’re wearing as long as you look showered, clean and put together,” Weeks said.

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