FINAL TOUCH: GO FOR GOLD

Go big or go home. With the 70s trend staying alive this fall, here’s how to rock wide-leg.

Don’t let the extra fabric fool you. While the bold look-at-me aesthetic of the wide-leg trouser seems incongruous with summer temperatures, the airy cut is far more breathable than the deceivingly-stuffy fit of skinny jeans and cigarette pants. With ‘70s throwback fashion still in full effect this coming fall after bursting onto the scene last season, the wide-leg is still the new-wave for designers who’ve resurrected their love affair with everything from Woodstock-worthy bell-bottoms and hip-hugging statement flares to billowing black jumpsuits and breezy satin palazzo pants.

There’s no better way to transition out of cut-offs and into the pre-fall street style than by investing in a high-waisted wide-leg trousers in a neutral tone like blue-grey. Opt for a pair with structured hemlines for a look that’s both sophisticated and laidback, especially when paired with a simple white t-shirt. Trendsetters like Amal Clooney, Olivia Palermo, Victoria Beckham, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Diane Kruger are all fans of the casual-chic vibe of an understated wide-leg trouser. Save the flashy throwback 70s flamboyance for your feet by tying on a pair of metallic gold flatforms with 2-inch bold white-soles. Top off the look with a vintage-inspired black fedora for a look that’s both on trend and timelessly versatile.

FINAL TOUCH: STYLE UPGRADE

Statement shoes. Shoes that grab your attention and say, hey, look down here, I’m kind of a big deal. You’re not going to wear them everyday, or for every occasion, but you need some in your closet. A funky sneaker, maybe, or a rugged pair of boots. Once in a while it’s good (and fun!) to go to extremes to punch up a look, or to smack your sense of style awake.

We concede that Cognac-colored penny loafers aren’t flashy, per se. But, and this is important, they do draw the eye. Regular black dress shoes can’t say the same. Now there’s a fine line between drawing the eye, and jarring the eye. But when a statement shoe, and a classic one at that, demands notice and is complemented by the right duds? That’s magic.

So what to wear with brown penny loafers? Pants-wise, it’s got to be slim-fit, and cuffed. Blue chinos, even denim, will do nicely. For a polished impact, class it up on top: a dress shirt with a narrow, tapered blazer rounds it all out. Think about your accessories’ color scheme–belt, necktie–and match them with those shoes. Boom, done. Preppy penny loafers: you can’t mess with them.

FINAL TOUCH: BOYS CLUB SHOE

Leave the shoulder pads and stilettos at home. The new power-suit is relaxed and pairs best with flats

Perhaps both the oxford and the pantsuit were originally designed with the gents in mind, but thanks to legendary style icons like Marlene Dietrich and Coco Chanel, they’ve long since become style staples in women’s wear too. That said, if pantsuits once required pumps to have sex appeal the way oxfords, likewise, once required a miniskirt to seem feminine, the old-school notion of the “sexy tomboy” has fortunately expired. The new face of androgyny in fashion has a more sophisticated grasp of gender fluidity and understands that unisex fashion isn’t necessarily devoid of sex appeal. In fact, there’s nothing quite as sexy as oxfords paired with a pantsuit, whether you’re Tilda Swinton or David Bowie.

With fall just around the corner, there’s no need to sacrifice cutting-edge style for practical wardrobe investment pieces. Start with a pantsuit in a four-season hue like royal blue and lighten the look by leaving the jacket unbuttoned and donning a ribbed white turtleneck underneath.  Opt for a casual chic and breathable pant-leg that’s cropped and cuffed well above the ankle—drawing attention to your patent silver oxfords. Whether you’re hitting the boardroom, the boardwalk, or band practice, go sockless to keep the focus on your feet, and top off the look by donning a black backpack with gold zipper details in lieu of a purse.