Southwestern style is all the rage as a hot fall 2011 fashion trend. For the past few years, fashion has favored brightly colored clothing and accessories and bold, ethnic and tribal patterns, and this season, the trend continues with a focus on Southwestern textiles and accents. American-Indian inspired looks from popular designers can be pricey, but you can achieve the style even if you are on a budget. Here are a few tips to get the Southwestern look.
Southwestern Style Tip #1: Moccasins
If you’d like to follow the western fashion trend, cute, stylish moccasins are one of the key pieces to add to your wardrobe this fall. Affordable moccasins are available in a range of neutral colors and styles, often decorated with beading and other embellishments. Minnetonka, a classic well-known brand famous for its moccasins, offers a variety of styles under $50.
Southwestern Style Tip #2: Feathers
As designers embrace Southwestern style, feather motifs are showing up on jewelry, handbags, shoes and other accessories this season. Fall fashion features delicate feather designs adorning necklaces, earrings, cuffs and silver bangle bracelets. For a fun twist on this trend, attach a feather accent to a Southwestern bag with handcrafted details (to ensure your look is animal-friendly, search for bright, inexpensive fake feather accessories). UrbanOutfitters.com has affordable western style feather jewelry for fall 2011.
Southwestern Style Tip #3: Navajo Patterns and Textiles
Navajo prints and bold textiles are essential to achieving the Southwestern look. American-Indian inspired fabrics and patterns are extremely popular this season, turning up on blouses, dresses, scarves, coats and sweaters. Try a bold, western print blanket coat or cape with fringe, or opt for a comfortable chunky cardigan embellished with Navajo accents, and pair your bright patterns with neutral or solid colored tops and pants to balance this strong look. Southwestern style clothing and accessories from trendy designers can cost you a bundle; get the look for less by scanning the racks of retailers like Macys.com, Urban Outfitters, Topshop.com, H&M, TJ Maxx and Old Navy.
Southwestern Style Tip #4: Turquoise and Silver Jewelry
Silver jewelry with turquoise accents is a hallmark of Southwestern style, and adding a handcrafted silver cuff or bangle with American-Indian accents can elevate jeans and a simple white T-shirt or black turtleneck to a “Southwestern look.” Search online auctions, flea markets and craft fairs for vintage and authentic handcrafted silver jewelry with western motifs, featuring stones like coral, turquoise, lapis lazuli and malachite. HSN.com has authentic Native American silver jewelry by Chaco Canyon, with some affordable pieces under $50.
Southwestern Style Tip #5: Fringe
Nothing evokes the American Southwest quite like acres and acres of fringe, and this accent is everywhere this fall, appearing as a fun trim on purses, boots and coats. Ankle booties and fringe are two of the hottest fall 2011 fashion trends, and they are often combined on adorable fringed ankle booties that have a definite Southwestern look. The trendy shoe brand Mia makes some cute ankle booties accented with cool fringe details that won’t break the bank (and the company makes a lot of faux leather boots, great for those who want cruelty-free fashion).
Remember to maintain a sense of balance when adopting the western style: don’t pile on too many southwestern prints and accessories at once, because it’s too much look! Southwestern style is definitely taking the fall 2011 fashion world by storm, but you can often get this trendy look for less. With some savvy clothes shopping and clever use of affordable accessories, you’ll be on trend with the hot western look without wrecking your budget.
Sources:
http://www.shoebuy.com/minnetonka-shoes.htm
http://us.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/category.jsp?popId=WOMENS&navAction=poppushpush&isSortBy=true&navCount=5&pushId=W_TRENDS&id=W_FEATHERS
http://jewelry.hsn.com/chaco-canyon-southwe_c-j_a-6092_xc.aspx
http://www.shoemetro.com/p-206141-mia-jester-boots-ankle-shoes-brown-womens.aspx