Fall/Winter Fashion for Teens - 2004-2005

The fashion mood is mix-and-match with girly looks such as ruffles, embroidery, fringe, sparkles, creative colors, playful patterns. This is a departure from the hard-core sex appeal from seasons past.Satin is not just for evenings anymore...bring it into the light during the day by pairing a satin camisole with a fitted jacket or wear a satin skirt with a knitted cardigan. This fabric also looks great with denim. Bottom line, the best way to wear it is to highlight just one piece: a little satin goes a long way.Best example - pink satin cami under a blazer.

Ponchos, capes and wraps continue to make news. There are lots of quirky tweeds, funky mohair and slinky jeans, shrunken tweed blazers worn with pleated mini-skirts or faded denims.The shrunken tweed blazer is the height of cool...pair it with some faded denim, but push up the sleeves or it may look a little too country. A black, velvet, bracelet- sleeved jacket looks chic with a simple camisole and jeans, or cropped cords and worn with a fabulous mohair poncho, a drape-necked sweater, or a flirty tweed skirt, skin-tight pencil skirt. Try a candy-pink, silk shell top, printed with miniature horses. Leaf and tweed corsages are dotted all over lapels and shoulders.

Layered Ts and sweaters have a definitely boyish bent. Snug tops and contrasting colors are in. Wear a button down shirt with untucked hem under a V-neck sweater or layer a long-sleeve T under a short sleeve tee. A blue Oxford shirt, a pair of beige chinos and a really classic trench reflect the current trend.

Pants are more fitting now, so they feel more current. They are slimmer through the thigh and waistlines are creeping back up...superlow jeans are out. Try something new like ankle crop pants with boots for a fresh take. Super skinny black pants and darker denim are cool - but without the whiskering, or excessive creases, etc.Pants usually push out skirts, but not this season, when skirts are stylish for coolweather. In addition to miniskirts there are A-lines, knee-length or mid-calf skirts in everything from worn denim to crisp menswear. Legwear is back with everything from bright tights to fishnets covering up gams with skirts.

Dresses are paired with matching short coats, and are a super-feminine look. Worn short and graphic they are hip and mod. Black dress rules in everything from satin to silk to lace.

A matching fitted jacket and skirt is an ultra-feminine silhouette that harkens back to the retro chic of the 1950s and is still an easy way to look elegant and polished. Suits are also a smart investment because of the their versatility; pair the jacket with jeans, wear the skirt with a sweater - for a less formal look. A pair of wide-leg tweed or wool pants can be dressed up with a camisole and jacket or can be worn casually with a simple cotton tee.

Fur, real or otherwise is being seen everywhere. Indulge yourself with a jacket, or look for accessories such as scarves, mitts and bags. Don't wear all of them together - a touch of fur is all you need to look stylish.

Hair is being worn in a variety of styles; Textured and shaped to allow control over your hair style or sleek and smooth pulled away from the face to give a clean look. The messy, tousled look is still in. Layered, razorcut styles allow for whispy, sexy strands. Ends are flipped up [but not curled] using a blow dryer and paddle brush. Flipped back layers look great on brunettes as well as blondes.Shoulder length hair with waves and curls allows hair to fall naturally. Deep brunette and auburn shadesset the trend for Fall and Winter hair color.

For makeup choose rich, jewelled shades like berry, plum and emerald to complement all the tweeds and browns you'll be wearing. Natural daylight becomes grayer in the cooler months so subtle shades may fade out.

Models are showing smudgy, smokey eyes accented with blue and green in lieu of the basic charcoal gray we're used to seeing. The new liquid eyeliners are not harsh, as those of the past. Avoid black, but instead try a new burgundy or berry shade or a shade of brown, bronze, blue, green or silver. In lipstick 'Plum' works for a variety of skin tones. Look for soothing ingredients such as lanolin, petrolatum, aloe vera, jojoba or macadamia nut oil or beeswax on labels. Although many come with their own moisturizing gloss, it's best to save them until next summer.