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Ask the Experts by Aug 12, 04:08PM in Shop

Bloomingdale's Fashion Director on How to Pull Off the 'Bright Bottom' Trend This Fall

On Thursday, Bloomingdale's fashion director Stephanie Solomon (center) visited from New York to talk fall trends. Near the top of her list of musts: jewel tones.

On Thursday, Bloomingdale's fashion director Stephanie Solomon (center) visited from New York to talk fall trends. Near the top of her list of musts: jewel tones.
Solomon: "Keep your T-shirts at the bottom of the drawer and try a silk ladylike blouse in a print or a color." This one is by Aqua, which is paired with a Diane von Furstenberg pencil skirt. Photo: Chantal Gordon/The Feast
Another one of Solomon's fall essentials: A coat in a bright color, like this scarlet one by INC. Photo: Chantal Gordon/The Feast
If you're wary of the bright denim trend, Solomon recommends pairing it with a fur (real or fake) up top for extra coverage. Above, the jeans are by J Brand, and the Vince coyote vest is already a fall sell-out for the store. Photo: Chantal Gordon/The Feast
Solomon's also loving understated ladylike bags, like this maroon style by Ralph Lauren. Photo: Chantal Gordon/The Feast
"Fur is synonymous with glamour," says Solomon. Shown here is a vest by Maximilian. Photo: Chantal Gordon/The Feast
For fall, Solomon recommends trying "a pencil skirt in a longer skirt. I’m not talking knee length or maxi, just longer than you normally wear. If you’re used to wearing a miniskirt, try three inches longer than you normally wear. You’ll see that it looks sleeker." Shown here, a blouse by Theory and a leopard-print pencil skirt by BCBG. Photo: Chantal Gordon/The Feast
Solomon: "Color is just now beginning as a cycle in fashion — jewel tones like purple, emerald green, magenta, and shocking pink. Women look better in color." She recommends archiving the little black dress in favor of a bold frock like this one by Diane von Furstenberg. Photo: Chantal Gordon/The Feast
This Aidan Mattox midnight blue sequined dress injects color into a Studio 54 silhouette.
“I started out as a kindergarten teacher, so I was well prepared for fashion,” Solomon quips. “I had the afternoon free to style mannequins and models. One of my accounts was Bloomingdale’s; when a job became available I applied to Kal Ruttenstein, a legend in the industry who said to me, ‘I’m going to hire you not because of your styling experience but because you were a teacher.' That’s how I got the job.” Photo: Chantal Gordon/The Feast

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Bloomingdale’s fashion director Stephanie Solomon recently made her first visit to S.D. since the outpost opened back in 2006 for a runway show and some fall fashion demystifying. Clad in a black Michael Kors dress, Solomon was as no-nonsense as she was charming.

Unruffled despite getting snared in Chargers traffic on the way in, Solomon took the time to tell The Feast about five specific things shoppers will need to look on-trend come September, as well as the trick to pulling off brightly-colored pants.

Sum up Fall 2011 in five words:
I’ll give you three: Glamour is back.

What piece from fall that you think will do gangbusters here at Bloomingdale’s?
I think it will be something in fur; a fur vest, a fur boa or chubby. Fur is synonymous with glamour — real or fake. The $1800 Vince coyote fur vest has already sold out here.

What piece are you taking a chance on?
Want to hear irony? Fur. Fur’s controversial, but we’re offering as much fake fur as real fur.

What fall pieces will give women the most mileage through spring?
A colored sheath dress will take you into the spring season. Color is just now beginning as a cycle in fashion: jewel tones like purple, emerald green, magenta, and shocking pink.

What five things do women need in their wardrobe for fall?
Something in a color like a sheath dress or a pair of jeans, fur, a statement coat, a ladylike blouse, and a pencil skirt in a longer length. I’m not talking knee-length or maxi, just longer than you normally wear. If you’re used to wearing a miniskirt, try three inches longer than you normally wear. You’ll see that it looks sleeker. Also, keep your T-shirts at the bottom of the drawer and try a silk ladylike blouse in a print or a color.

Which designers that surprised you this season?
Rachel Zoe and Alice + Olivia are two contemporary lines that ordinarily you’d imagine designing hipster-inspired lines, but in fact they’re designing clothes that are very dressed-up, elegant, and glamorous. They’re addressing the customer that’s never dressed up. Rachel Zoe did evening dresses that are inspired by the haute couturiers of past; She’s introducing a whole new point of view for that new customer.

What's the trickiest trend to pull off and how to do it?
The brightly-colored jeans. Most people think they look bigger in them, but in fact they don’t. But if you have that fear, try a vest over it to hide the most unflattering part of your figure. [Bright pants] actually look really fresh and hip -- rather than your standard blue jean or black jean. I just bought a pair of J Brand cobalt blue jeans, and I wear it with a red silk shirt by Equipment. Sometimes I wear another shade of blue with the cobalt blue jeans -- I have no fear of color. Color makes women look better.

And as far as accessories go ... ?
The hat is back in a big way thanks to Pippa and the Duchess of Cambridge. Hats haven’t been this important since the 1940s. Ladylike pumps and a high-shaft boot punctuate the ladylike polish. Gone are the references to aggressive footwear, studding, and rock and roll. In its place is a dressed-up glamour.