My Fall '11 Trend Must Haves :-)

Hey Divas, I was playing around on Polyvore and decided to put together a compilation of my Fall of '11 Trends Must Haves. Although I don't believe that anyone should walk outside of their home in head to toe trends (and risk being labeled a fashion victim), I am all for sprinkling your wardrobe staples with fabulous "trendy" pieces that you feel you will be able to transition with for more than a few months.

Since I've been doing a bit more styling lately and closet organizations, I've come to realize that one of the biggest mistakes that a lot of people make is investing in trendy items. If money is no object then I'm all for quality pieces (classic and trendy), but for most of us that have made the balancing of highs and lows a creative art (lol); my philosophy will always be invest in staples and spend sparingly on trends.

My Fall '11 Trend Must Have Compilation does include a lot of high end pieces, but these are just for inspiration. Although, there is absolutely nothing wrong with treating yourself to something that you really want whenever you can...as long as your staples are in check :-)

Fall 2011 Trends Must HAVES by songbirddiva featuring skinny leg jeans

*Every Diva should have a fur (faux or real) collard trench. It really sets it apart from your spring trench and adds an air of luxurious sophistication to your ensemble. The great thing about the fur collard trench is that with the right attitude to pull it off, it's always "in" when the Fall season rolls around.
*The fur vest has been around since the '70s as a bohemian staple, but now it seems that every diva can put her own spin on it. Worn oversized and open gives a nod to it's 70's roots, but worn a bit tapered with a cinched waist; then you have something so fashionable and stylish enough to wear from day to night.
*The motorcycle jacket has also been around for many decades and continues to make its rounds every few years as a must have "trendy" piece. This season, the motorcycle jacket is all about the fit (you won't be able to get away with wearing your husband's or boyfriend's jacket this season lol). This season your motorcycle jacket has to scream edgy and feminine at the same time.
*The cape is very on trend for fall 2011. It won't have you feeling like Count Dracula or your very own  caped crusader. This season the cape is all about a feeling of comfort and opulence (even if you pick it up at your local H&M). The cape is best worn with wide leg palazzo trousers or your favorite skinnies and high heels. You want to make sure that you've created as long of a silhouette for your body type as possible before wearing your cape because it does have the tendency to be a bit overwhelming and appear dowdy if not worn correctly.

Bottoms:
*Continuing with being right on trend for the past couple of seasons is the brightly colored skinny jean. I'm a huge fan of this trend for Fall 2011 because this is a great way to add color to the normal brown, green, and cream tones that so many of us associate with the fall season. It's also a great way to keep up with the color blocking trend that is also transitioning into the fall season. The must have colors for your skinnies this season should include red, cobalt blue, purple, and a burnt orange.  This is a trend that although I am a fan of, I do believe that you can spend sparingly on.
*The snake skin pant is another trend that I'm excited about. This trend screams DIVA because you have to posses some sort of confidence to pull it off. The pant is a statement piece itself so I wouldn't recommend pairing it with too many patterns or over-accessorizing.
*A well fitting Palazzo pant reminds me of everything that was good about Gucci years ago when Tom Ford was at it's helm. It's a nod to 70s glamour, femininity, style, and sophistication. The trick with palazzo pants is to try them on with whatever heel height you think you will be wearing with them. They should graze the bottom of your heel in order to give you a longer and slimming affect.

Skirts:
*The leather pencil skirt is edgy and sexy. It can be worn to the boardroom with a buttoned down shirt and blazer or you can amp up the sex appeal with a camisole and sheer blouse for a sexy dinner date. In order  for your skirt to be able to take you from the boardroom to a sexy night out, make sure that the hem at least reaches right above your knee and not your mid thigh.
*The pleated skirt is all about flirty femininity even though it reminds me a little of my parochial school days (lol).

Shoes, Shoes, Shoes:
These are the 5 shoes that I believe that ever diva should have in her wardrobe for the Fall/Winter 2011 season (leaving out the much needed but not very stylish galoshes and snow boots):
*The black suede almond toe pump- Every season tries to dictate to us weather pointy toes or round toes are in. I'm not one to follow trends to that extreme. I buy what I like (which for me is usually a classic pointy toe when it comes to a pump), but this season it's all about the almond toe pump. The almond toe doesn't have a severe point like the classic pointy toe, but it's definitely not considered a round toe. Think of the YSL Trib Too pump for reference.
*An embellished ankle bootie is a great must have this season. Whether embellished with spikes, glitter, or leopard print; an ankle bootie is a great shoe to have because it's the perfect combination of a boot and a pump.
*A leopard print shoe is a great way to add a statement to your outfit without doing much.
*A burgundy pump or heeled loafer screams "Fall... here I am!" It's a great way to make a statement by adding a touch of color to your outfit as well as stand out of the crowd of brown and black shoes synonymous with the autumn season.
*Every diva should own at least one classic pair of mid-calf boots with a heel of at least 2.5 inches. It's perfect for the Fall. It can be worn with jeans, skirts, and casual dresses. I suggest at least a 2.5 inch heel because that's a great height for the heel to do it's job of fixing your posture and giving a diva a proper lift in the gluteus maximus region (lol!)

Accessories:
*The satchel messenger bag
*The oversized fall clutch
*The leopard print scarf

What are your Fall '11 Trend Must Haves?