Putting on the glitz

From glitter to snakeskin, fall accessories will help you amp up your wardrobe. Thigh-high boots are being kicked to the curb in favour of much more wearable but still sexy knee-high boots, while practical yet chic shoulder bags resplendent in details are must-haves.
"Accessories are very luxe and polished this season," says Anna Alfonso, senior marketing manager of the West Edmonton Mall in Alberta. Designers have liberally sprinkled glitter, sequins and rhinestones over their creations. "We're also seeing lots of dimension and texture, such as snakeskin, crocodile skin and alligator skin, as well as animal prints."
Put your best foot forward this fall beginning with the hottest trends in footwear. Alfonso lists some favourites:
- Lace-up booties with wedge heels look great paired with a dress and tights
- Harness boots featuring plenty of buckles, ideal with jeans for a casual look
- Dramatic shoes featuring detailed heels (spikes, bling, animal prints and bows) and bright colours like fuchsia and royal blue ramp up a conservative suit
- Heeled loafers offer a new take on the penny loafer with stiletto and stacked heels for a polished look
- Riding boots, always a classic look
There's also a new bag in town this fall: the structured handbag in rectangular and square silhouettes. Its strong and crisp clean lines are a welcome break from slouchy hobos and can be worn in both sophisticated and casual settings. "They're very chic and we're seeing them in rust, a red-orange mix perfect for fall," says Alfonso. Jewellery is making a bold statement this season, with big, unusual and colourful pieces. "We're seeing lots of intricate details, with gems, jewels and shine," she says.
Fashion expert Janette Ewen, a stylist at Vaughan Mills, a shopping centre just north of Toronto, identifies several strong accessories trends:
Snakeskin: It's being used in unique ways this season. "It's definitely on footwear. We're seeing lots of brown and red dyed snakeskin," she says. "It has an edgier feel than in seasons past. Shoes are chunkier and stronger. It's also kinda quirky, such as snakeskin socks."
Navajo: This earthy-cool style is evoked by fringe, beading, feathers and denim. "It's so pretty," says Ewen. She suggests pairing a Navajo print wedge and a necklace with a feather with an all-black outfit. It's sure to inject any ensemble with a dash of cool. Southwestern cowboy: A bit of a different spin on the Navajo look, this new fashion frontier won't mark the return of cowboy boots, but instead features more sophisticated accessories like Western-style fedoras. "It's a really new trend that will probably get bigger next spring," Ewen says.
Sequins and sparkle: What makes this trend fresh is that it's no longer for evening only. Think sequined shoes worn with jeans and an off-the-shoulder sweater. "We're also seeing a sparkle shoe mixed with velvet for a very brocade, Baroque style," says Ewen. "Shoes are layered with sequins and lace in jewel tones. We're also seeing velvet booties."
As with most trends, the key to pulling off the hottest new looks is to never go overboard, style experts warn.