32 Walnut Creek Magazine

Right now fashion pops decades of influences into a blender and pours out gorgeous results. Fall designs play with volume and proportion. Look for boxier

jackets, belted coats, full skirts, pencil skirts, bell sleeves and wide-leg pants. Hemlines are up in foxy mini lengths and short balloon shapes and down in flowing bohemian dresses and maxi coats. We’ve talked with some of the top fashionistas in town-from representatives of big box retailers to jewel box boutique owners-to ferret out the most fabulous fall finds in Walnut Creek.

“Folk-romantic, sleek and sporty, tailored retro and arty bohemian are all looks that inspired this season,” said Jennifer Uglialaro from H & M’s New York office. “Mix a couple of styles or go in all directions. That’s the way to make fashion work this fall. Global folk culture and the art world are important influences this year.”

According to Gregg Andrews, Nordstrom fashion and creative director, general themes reference the ‘40s (standout shoulders), the ‘50s (highlighting the waist) and the ‘60s (swingy go-go shapes). “These are the influences from the decades that merge together,” said Andrews.

But South Main Street is not South Market Street. “We don’t dress like San Francisco here in Walnut Creek,” says Joan Wray, a longtime sales associate with the classic boutique Alexis H. “Our climate dictates what we wear.” Wray, El len Emold and Alexis H owner Marie Krumland outfit many of Walnut Creek’s most prominent female citizens including Mayor Gwen Regalia and former mayors Sue Rainey and Kathy Hicks. Their hot – or shall we say cool - pick for fall? A breathable bamboo sweater by Blue Ice (available in muted abstract and animal prints $89).

Shopping Walnut Creek for Fall’s Hottest Fashionsby Deborah BurstynPhotography by Mike Thompson

fall style

Neda Whitney, mother of six year old twins, taking time to shop the WC boutiques.

Joan Wray in fall look from Alexis H

September/October 2008 33

Back to BlackBlack may be back but it is anything but basic this fall. Look for interesting textures and sculpted silhouettes. “Black is timeless, classy, chic, sexy and always elegant,” says Haleh Kimelman, owner of the boutique Jeu de Jupe. She points with pride to a bouncy short black skirt with a balloon hem by Marithe-Francois Girbaud ($476) and a black pencil skirt with contrasting white stitching by Debbie Shuchat ($130). Black takes on an appealing shape in a sleek 60s-influenced drop-waist cotton coat by major de*lema ($167) or a CC Couture little black dress ($150) both at Erica Rae. Ruffled and Ready

For instant fashion update for fall, try a ruffle-front blouse. Irrefutably romantic with long billowing sleeves, it’s perfect with gypsy skirts and sweaters or tweed flannel trousers. We found a champagne-colored silk ruffled blouse (Debbie Schuchat $151) at Jeu de Jupe. For a more casual look, try a ruffled hoodie with ruched pockets (Prairie Underground, $189) in burgundy heavy-duty cotton, at Erica Rae.

Fancy PantsHitch up your pants. After years of riding low, waists are high. Legs are wide. “It’s really very slimming,” explained Cristina Moe, owner of Hush. “I put my curvy customers in high-waisted pants.” The “Ralph Lauren meets Burberry” equestrian look is also favored for pants this year. The riding pant is interpreted in black and white pinstripe inset with black panels and red stitching (Indies, $315) at Jeu de Jupe. A navy cotton twill riding pant at Hush features a chunky zipper on one pocket (Philip Lim $285). At the other extreme is that 80s staple – leggings. They’re back and your best bet, according to Jeu de Jupe’s Kimelman, is to invest in one well-made pair and they’ll wear like iron. She carries black by MC Planet ($100).

Little black dress from CC Couture, $150, at Erica Rae

Haleh Kimmelman, owner Jeu de Jupe, wraps up fall style

Neda shopping Diva

34 Walnut Creek Magazine

fall style

Purple Rein

If you’re going to buy one new thing this fall, make it purple. “Every designer is incorporating purple in some shape or form,” commented Hush owner Cristina Moe. Standouts in the crowd include a cropped wool purple pea coat by Fillmore at Diva ($190) and a soft mohair purple mini-dress with metallic gold belt by Phillip Lim at Hush ($478). Or swirl into a deep purple alpaca wool cape accented with silver buttons at Lililiana Castellanos ($605).

How Tweed It Is

An old school English look surfaces in this season’s taste for tweed. A herringbone wool vest with brass buttons and rivets nods to the 70s menswear revival (Level 99, $114). So does a cinnamon brown gaucho pant with flat front panel (Level 99, $119). Both at Erica Rae. Free People offers a kicky ruffled herringbone tweed skirt in both brown and black ($98) and a wide-legged pant in tweed woven into brown and white denim ($98). At Diva, look for a nubby tweed knit fitted jacket in black and white (Alberto Malaki $211).

Check Please

Nothing says fall like woven checkered patterns in earthy or jewel tones. The season’s best looks come together in a classy black and blue checked cropped jacket at Alexis H. A glint of metallic silver in the weave adds subtle shimmer, (J’Envie $385). Black and white houndstooth check peeks out of the neck and sleeves of a faux vest in a clever black dress at Hush (May Le $512). Or go big and bold in an elongated knit shell with slit neckline at Diva (Fabrizio Gianni $100).

Liliana Castellanos

Fall from H & MPhoto by Peter Gehrke

September/October 2008 35

Fall FlowersFall’s floral prints are dark, soft and muddled like a bouquet in an impressionist painting. A water-color muted dress, in purple and green abstract floral print and draw-string bodice, in a wispy cotton jersey (yemee, $93) gets it right, at Erica Rae. For a different spin, try the delicate telar knit floral-like pattern embroidered in white alpaca yarn on a black background on a fitted jacket ($525) at Liliana Castellanos.

Bohemian GroveGet your groove on with this fun retro vibe. The long paisley dress at Hush with sheer flounce sleeves (Philip Lim $963) could have gone with the Beatles to visit the Maharishi. At Liliana Castellanos, a flowing black maxi coat in brushed alpaca flaunts black crocheted lace at the cuffs and collar ($900). At Erica Rae, a sack brown corduroy print jumper is trimmed with velveteen ribbon (Miss Me, $71). At Diva, we were wowed by a green smocked “hippie chick” dress with bright fuschia embroidered flowers (JWLA $167).

Forever PlaidPreppy or punk – plaid’s got staying power. A subtle charcoal and black tiny plaid makes a compelling statement in wide-legged slacks with partially pleated cuff (Cop.Copine $209) at Jeu de Jupe. Thigh high argyle socks at Free People ($32) come in several earth-toned shades. A red plaid pleated flannel jumper ($148) in with white lace trim, also at Free People, can be worn as a dress or great with leggings.

Jeu de Jupe

36 Walnut Creek Magazine

From Cary Grant to George Clooney, a well-worn suit is an essential part of a gentleman’s image. This season’s trends are back to basics with classic blacks and dark blues. Add a splash

of color with a seasonal tie. It’s a timeless look sure to turn heads.

“It is the season of the suit,” says Jay Underwood, owner of Atlas on Main Street. We are seeing classic influences with a polished Las Vegas Palm Springs vibe, kind of like Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra during their Rat Pack years. Guys have been casual for so long now that they want to dress up a bit. We have a slim Ted Baker suit with a jacket that can be worn with a pair of jeans or with a French cuff dress shirt. We’re featuring more multi-use pieces that can be casual and business casual.”

According to Peter Baron, co-owner of Bartlett Baron, “This fall we’re seeing men’s suits with jackets that are single-breasted and feature wide lapels. But often we take what we

see on the runways with a grain of salt. To us they are fashion suggestions, not something to follow exactly. Our store is where fashion forward meets classics. We are the largest single store that carries Jhane Barnes designs in the country. Her designs are original and timeless, they always look current. They are ‘wearable art’. Our suits have a sophisticated style and workmanship comparable to Zegna for about a third of the price.” —Deborah Burstyn

style for men

Suit Up Where We Shopped in the WCAlexis H –1387 N. Broadway, 932 -1044

Sophisticated clothes for ladies who shop and run for office.

Atlas –1356 N. Main Street, 933-8058, atlasshops.com

Here’s a cool boutique for the guys.

Bartlett Baron –1501 N. Broadway, 930-9222, bartlettbaron.com

A classy store for men’s clothing-sportswear and suits.

Diva –1550 Olympic Boulevard, 287-0320

Hip LA-style boutique flaunting glitzy chic.

Erica Rae -1208 Boulevard Way, 934-1588, ericaraes.com

A haven for eclectic fashionistas.

Free People - 1540 Olympic Boulevard, 952-8426, freepeople.com

The pricier adjunct to Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie.

H & M – 1450 Mt. Diablo Boulevard, 935-2394, hm.com

Their mantra is “fashion and quality at the best price.”

Hush - 1354 N. Main Street, 944-4874, myhush.com

WC’s pioneering boutique keeps young professionals in high style.

Jeu de Jupe –1519 N. Main Street, 932-8122, jeudejupe.com

Euro fashions translate into clothes with refined dash.

Liliana Castellanos – 1414B N. Main Street, 402-4093, lilianacastellanos.com

Exquisite designs from South America.

Nordstrom – 1200 Broadway Plaza, 930-7959, nordstrom.com

Yes, we know you know!