It's not easy being green

COURTESY ABERCROMBIE.COM "Yo! My pants are dope, but I want that guy's commandos!"

Although fashion may be regulated by season, the two never seem to coincide. The timing of runway presentations and the desperate search for a sweater at the end of July prove that the concordance of meteorological events to what is actually in the stores, magazines, and our closets is non-existent. Indeed, an article about fall and winter fashions would be sorely out of place in Bazaar or GQ at the present time. But a firmer grip on reality, in conjunction with my duty to this publication and to the student body as a whole, allows me to present to you in full faith the necessary accoutrements for fall/winter finery. In other words, if you are not in the Berkeley dining hall and the headlights are on—or however you would like to phrase a state of nippular arousal—chances are you need to start thinking about keeping your wardrobe current in the colder months. With this in mind, I am pleased to present a highly palatable briefing of the trends to embrace and erase as the temperature drops in the coming months.

Color: Fashionistas normally reserve the colder, darker season as God's justification for wearing so much black. Designers and street style gurus have thankfully presented the general public with a wide range of hues that not only protects them from the inclement weather, but also keeps them from looking morbid. This would be wittily encapsulated as "Color is Back!" in fashion-speak. Under the general assumption that color has always existed, there have been a few titans of tint you should consider incorporating into your wardrobe for winter.

Loden, a rich and earthy green, is being touted as the color of the season. High-fashion presentations from designers such as John Bartlett and Miuccia Prada have soothed the eye and warmed the soul with sweaters, pants, and accessories in this comforting shade. Keeping in mind my ignorance regarding economics, the "trickle down" of loden items into highly accessible but fashion-forward labels such as Club Monaco and Donna Karan's DKNY is a rousing testament to the alacrity with which you can incorporate this color into your wardrobe.

Loden green, however, is not the only superstar on the haute hue front. Orange, much to the chagrin of retinas everywhere, has made a rousing comeback this year. Utilized as a futuristic and aeronautical touch to clothing in seasons past, this color ensconces everything from ponchos to purses. Orange makes a statement on lauded designer Helmut Lang's leather moto-cross pants as well as Aberzombie's ubiquitous roll-up cargos. Although that statement may be, "Don't shoot me, I'm not a deer!" think of it as fashion's latest take on safety chic. Personally, I am an ardent supporter of both loden and orange but I stress that these colors might not work for everyone. If, for example, I were to sport an inordinate amount of orange with my skin tone, I would definitely look like a huge piece of feces walking into the room.

Sweaters: Because let's face it: sweaters are the only other part of winter fashion that anyone should really care about. As the one and only thing that separates your summer wardrobe from your winter one, you should truly take advantage of the wide range of sweater options that are available. Last year, if you didn't have a turtleneck you were subsequently sent to fashion hell (which looks remarkably like the Gap but with even worse music, like Matchbox 20 or the Goo Goo Dolls).

Your souls are safer this season since there is no one particular sweater you must have. Right now, the essence of cold weather comfort is in the details. Skew the utility of a thick sweater, à la Michael Kors and Daryl K, by keeping the warmth of a turtleneck and lopping off the sleeves. Trim an otherwise sedate sweater by edging it with vibrant colors, such as orange or yellow. Plastic leaves at Prada and Tom Ford's leather blooms for Gucci are the most overt displays of fashion's obsession with bedazzling and the wonders of appliqué.

While not as translatable, sweater subversion can be as simple as a smattering of sequins or embroidery for women and pops of color for men. The real choice lies between sleek and sophisticated—think cashmere or fine merino wool—and cool and comfortable. The ultra-chunky knit has renewed its power in the skilled hands of Marc Jacobs and John Galliano. Its versatility is key. Chunky sweaters can look hearty and traditionally American when combined with a pair of corduroys. They also exude a remarkable amount of good ol' sass when paired with well-cut wool pants or a fitted skirt. Just keep an eye on the chunk factor. You want people to think "luxury," not "Stay-puft."

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