Fall fashion gets back to the '50s

Brigitte Bardot

Fashion is having a bit of an identity crisis this fall. The military-tough, almost street-warrior vibe is still going strong with cargo pants, utility jackets and tailored coats, while fur (both real and faux) is aggressively adorning almost everything from boots to anorak collars. But on the flip side is the season's 1950s aesthetic, inspired by the ladylike look of that decade.

Call it a yearning for simpler times, when women wore skirts that hit below the knee and the only boxy thing was a pillbox hat. Fall collections from Louis Vuitton and Marc Jacobs look to this woman, with skirts that fit at the waist and fall full to the shin. Cozy sweaters in pastels and neutrals wrapped around the bodice of a floral cocktail dress inject some sex appeal and conjure up images of Brigitte Bardot's and Sophia Loren's effortlessly alluring style.

"Fashion is always influenced by some time or another," says fashion stylist Jen Rade. "It always jumps around, from the '90s to the '50s to the '60s, and I think that right now people are generally feeling like they want to go back to a simpler time."

Sophia Loren

The sentiment is manifesting itself in the form of below-the-knee circle skirts with waists that hit truly at the waist, for a sleek and clean line through the hips and torso. Sweaters contour to the body, showing off curves but not necessarily skin.

"I personally find it sexy when someone doesn't show a lot of skin, but rather the curves and shape of the body," says Rade, who implements this technique flawlessly on her client Angelina Jolie. She warns that to wear this season's longer skirts, you must balance the overall look with something smaller or fitted on top and perhaps accentuate the waist with a bow belt.

Also consider tempering a shin-length skirt with a flimsy silk camisole and lightweight cardigan. Fuzzy sweaters can be layered over cocktail-length floral skirts and dresses to push summer pieces into the cooler months. Leopard-print accents will add charm to a solid gray or black sweater or a tweed dress.