Top 10 Fall 2008 Fashion trends: Chic is in

BOLD COLORS

Designers embraced the bold and deep colors this fall season - the richest we've seen in a while. Saturated dark colors - the hottest being rust, followed by deep shades of blue, green, burgundy and purple - ruled the runways in Proenza Schouler, Donna Karan, Badgley Mischka, and Tommy Hilfiger shows.

Another hot trend this fall is Ombre. Ombre is essentially a technique of dyeing from light to dark creating beautiful gradients of color. Designers, such as Herve Leger, Oscar de la Renta, Thakoon, all embraced ombre in their fall shows.

CLASSIC SUITS

Masculine tailoring continues to be popular in today's fashion and this season is no exception, as Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs, and Tommy Hilfiger showed. This year it's all about the classic long-silhouetted suit. Lapels and shoulders are more prominent, which along with some of the other trends this season (chunky sweaters, ruffles and western) remind me of the 80s. These manly jackets (single or double-breasted) add an edge to the flowing skirts, dresses and slouchy pants, all in season too.

Not all designers followed the classic suit to a tee. Phillip Lim, BCBG, Diane von Furstenberg and Calvin Klein decided to go for a sleeveless jacket.

LIFE IN PLAID

Plaid never really left the runways - it seems to get reincarnated every fall, at least for the last 4 years. Ralph Lauren, Preen, Peter Som, Dolce & Gabbana and Marc by Marc Jacobs all incorporated the preppy print in their dresses, jackets, pants and even accessories.

Some designers - Charlotte Ronson, Thakoon - updated the country life look with a playful spin on watercolor washes and chunky eclectic accessories.

OVERSIZED CHUNKY KNITS

This is the season to feel cozy. The return of an almost architectural, oversize cable knits and off-the-shoulder cashmere sweaters is a sign of the warming temperatures, both in the air and on the runways. Gone is the typical wool coat.

Try the knit styles with different belts and be brave about colors (see the first trend). Sonia Rykiel, Donna Karan, Carlos Miele all featured the bulky knits in their fall collections.

Offset the chunky look with skinny jeans and a tall stiletto boot.

BLACK IS BACK

I can't say black ever left, but many colors have since been named "the new black". Well, fall of 2008 black is the new black. It is the season of simplicity - of less is more. So no surprise that many designers, including Alexander McQueen, Derek Lam, Jill Stuart, Rodarte, Anna Sui and Lanvin had Goth girls on the runways.

The tailoring is very precise, almost architectural and the shades are simple. The look is chic, clean and elegant.

FALL FLORALS

A few of the spring 2008 trends continue into the fall. Derek Lam, Michael Kors, and Anna Sui spruced up their runways with beautiful blooms.

The bohemian trend is a little more sophisticated now, as appropriate in the colder months, seen on Diane Von Furstenberg, Carolina Herrera, and Oscar de la Renta models.

The dress is still in, but goes beyond the simple floral to a more artistic look. The print dress also transitions nicely from spring to fall, especially when paired with a chunky sweater or a tailored jacket.

BOWS AND RUFFLES

This is the season for simplicity. Gone are the embellishments and chunky necklaces. They are replaced by the voluminous bows and ruffles.

The Proenza Schouler show featured almost all of their blouses with beautiful puffy bows, while Thakoon had more ephemeral ruffles for his feminine styles.

This trend is not just feminine; it's dramatic, almost stage-like. This season's ruffles are layered, over the top and paired with edgy pants and sleeveless jacket, or a simple jean.

COUNTRY WESTERN

As country music continues to reign over billboard charts, western styles are more and more pronounced in fashion.

This season it's a hot look - from Navajo prints in the all-American Ralph Lauren collection, to fringe boots and sweaters from Anna Sui, cozy textured ponchos from the Rachel Roy show, and edgy cowboy hats on Christian Dior models.

It's easy to go overboard with country western styles, so keep it simple.

EMPHASIS ON WAIST

Skirts and dresses of the fall season are voluminous, womanly and layered, to accentuate the waistline and curves. Prada, Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton, Chanel all showed original pleating and rich, vibrant fabrics and tones for the season.

The length is just at mid-knee. But many flapper-style dresses are a bit higher.

Add a cardigan to soften the look or spice it up with a mink coat for the night.

A-LINE COATS

Many belted coats were present on fall's runways. However, it was the A-line, cocoon-type coat that was the talk of the season. Several designers including Marc Jacobs Proenza Schouler and Narciso Rodriguez trapezed their coats, flowing away from the body, alike a cocoon.