Dare to Wear

By Chris Frey
October 21, 2011

Don't worry—we're not suggesting that you sport fur-trimmed sunglasses or a kitty cat mask. Rather, as we leap full-on into fall, we ask that you dare to wear a few of the season's boldest trends—ones that might just take you out of your fashion comfort zone. We just can’t help but think that adding a dash of the unexpected into your cold weather wardrobe will do wonders for your mood, not to mention your style quotient.

Sheer Black

Black Sheer

Fall 2011: Chanel (photo by Chris Moore/Catwalking/Getty Images), Marc Jacobs (photo by Chris Moore/Catwalking/Getty Images), Louis Vuitton (photo by Karl Prouse/Catwalking/Getty Images)

The sheer trend is carrying over into spring with lots of pale, delicate translucent looks, but for fall, it was all about black. Designers used provocative sheer fabrics to create a peek-a-boo effect that made more modest with higher necklines and longer hemlines. Marc Jacobs combined sheer black with demure peter pan collars and lace for both Louis Vuitton and his Marc Jacobs collection. At Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld used sheer, patterned chiffon for gloves and pants that were layered underneath ballet-inspired black sheer overlays.

Get the look on eBay.

Roll over items for details

New Comme des Garcons Bolero Jacket

(buy it now price, $365)

New Shakuhachi Sheer Long Dress

Jenni Kayne Sheer Tunic Dress

(buy it now price, $125)

New Fendi Sheer Mesh Skirt

(buy it now price, $99.99)

A Bold, Bright Coat

A Bold Bright Coat

Fall 2011: Burberry Prorsum (photo by Chris Moore/Catwalking/Getty Images), Prada (photo by Chris Moore/Catwalking/Getty Images), Jil Sander (photo by Chris Moore/Catwalking/Getty Images)

With color making a huge impact on the runways last spring, it's no surprise that for fall, designers embraced vibrant hues for outerwear. There were loads of fur in neon shades and deep, saturated jewel tones, but we feel that the wool coats shown at Burberry, Prada and Jil Sander (to name a few) are just as visually bold, and for that matter, much more wearable. Our favorites reflect a classic-meets-mod vibe, with streamlined cuts and minimal flourishes. We know it’s hard to imagine splurging on a cold weather coat that you might not wear every day, so with that in mind, we kept our picks under $100.

Get the look on eBay.

New Orange Tulip Coat

(buy it now price, $299)

New Poncho Cape Coat

(buy it now price, $99)

New Piko Wool Scarf Tie Coat

(buy it now price, $57.85)

Wool Swing Coat

(starting bid, $42.99)

Edgy Leather Dress

Edgy Leather Dress

Fall 2011: Balenciaga (photo by Chris Moore/Catwalking/Getty Images), Prabal Gurung (photo by Karl Prouse/Catwalking/Getty Images), Bottega Veneta (photo by Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty Images)

Lightweight leather crept onto last spring’s runways and continues to be a force in fashion. From mini shorts to floor length duster coats designers, can't get enough of the luxurious fabric. For fall leather made its way into daywear, particularly dresses that were a bit edgy. At Prabal Gurung studs and soft black toughened up an otherwise ladylike retro silhouette; Balenciaga used black patent paillettes to add texture to an otherwise simplistic shell shape; and at Bottega Veneta, a minimal top with structured shoulders transformed a cherry red dress into urban armor.

Get the look on eBay.

New Diane Von Furstenberg Leather Dress

New Leather Dress

(buy it now price, $120)

New Jenni Kayne Leather Shell Dress

(buy it now price, $199)

Leather A-Line Mini Dress

Solid Gold

Solid Gold

Fall 2011: Stella McCartney (photo by Chris Moore/Catwalking/Getty Images), Balmain (photo by Chris Moore/Catwalking/Getty Images), Calvin Klein (photo by Catwalking/Getty Images)

Metallics are a mainstay in fashion, but we love that gold made runway appearances for fall that were fearlessly head-to-toe and without embellishments or accent colors. Balmain's Christophe Decarnin showed cropped trousers and a structured blazer that created a futuristic kind of tuxedo. Calvin Klein also went for a space age-y vibe with a matte gold ladylike shell and matching platforms. Stella McCartney showed several full-on looks, including gold-dusted sweaters and coats that resembled pods or cocoons. She also played with a trompe l’oeil fabric that looks like high sheen foiled metal but is in fact just a pattern intended to trick our eye.