Email Article

Printable Page

For Fall: Vintage Fashion With an Urban Twist

By Dayna Lovelady
Black College Wire

Photo credit: The Meter Ashley Troupe and Meghann Hill display what's in style at Tennessee State.

School is back in session, and with it a new wave in fall fashion for men and women.

Skirts are popular for ladies. Pleated tennis skirts we wore when we were little girls are back in style. The miniskirt is a sexy number that can be paired with a plain shirt to dress it down or with a silk or satin shirt for a dressier look. A-line skirts with a fitted waist and flared bottom are also red-hot. A-line skirts provide a three-dimensional look that is flattering for almost any figure.

This is also a big season for vintage fashion with an urban twist. Some popular items from the '50s and '60s, like round-toe pumps paired with jeans and a funky urban T-shirt bring this look to life.

The hot look for men is the classic, button-down dress shirt left unbuttoned, with a plain white T-shirt underneath, a pair of jeans and Air Force Ones or any plain white shoes to match the tee. Blazers are becoming more and more accepted for everyday wear, and is a more popular choice among some men due to such fashion trendsetters as Kanye West and Usher. Wearing blazers with jeans is one of the top fashion trends for men this fall.

Some people love to be different and push the fashion envelope, but some rules are not meant to be broken.

Here are a few rules of thumb:

Ladies

• Miniskirts are great for showing off legs, but not other unmentionable assets. Always remember to keep the skin moisturized when wearing skirts, shorts, sleeveless shirts or any other garments that show skin.

• For important functions, such as job interviews, clothing should fit loosely and fall at least one inch from your knees.

• When wearing sandals, keep nails freshly trimmed and polished, and save sandals for 60-degree and warmer weather.

Gentlemen

• If you prefer the style of slightly sagging your pants, be sure to wear undergarments that are clean and in good condition.

• White T-shirts should not be worn too tightly, and should fall at least two inches past your lower back. Freshly cut hair, neat twists and braids, or a nicely shaped Afro can enhance any look.•

Dayna Lovelady is a student at Tennessee State University who writes for The Meter.

Posted Sept. 24, 2004