Missoni | Thankoon Pre-Fall 2015 | Sportmax | Opening Ceremony | Trussardi 1911

Way back in the first grade, tying a sweater around my waist was my go-to styling trick. How else would you deal with weather that fluctuated between cold in the morning and warm and sunny in the afternoon while still maintaining optimum mobility (the better to run around)? There was a long while when I had outgrown my childish fashions and decided that tying a sweater was soo immature, but now I'm in college and back to tying sweaters around my waist or over my shoulders. Seriously, middle school me was very wrong about many things when it came to style.

Tying a sweater around yourself is the best. Because, seriously, who wants to tote a sweater around once it warms up when you can integrate it into your outfit?

In the world of high fashion it seems that tying a sweater around your waist (or elsewhere) is totally en vogue again, as collections like Missoni and Thankoon are taking to the styling trick in new and inventive ways.

If tying around the waist is too pedestrian, you can do an asymmetrical shoulder tie à la Missoni or Trussardi. Opening Ceremony has an off-the-shoulder take if you want to show off your shoulder bones. Or, if you have a pullover, you can just stick your head through the top and leave the rest of the sweater as a makeshift scarf, like Thankoon does it.

No matter how you tie a sweater, it adds a certain cool factor that will make everyone envious of your look!

Look De Pernille | Style Du Monde | Pop Sugar | WhoWhatWear | Diego Zuko via Harper's Bazaar | We Wore What

Bottega Veneta | Thankoon | Tracy Reese | Christian Dior | Wes Gordon

Most of the items from the Spring 2015 collections won't be available for another six months (if you ignore the fact that brands like Moschino and Burberry released pieces immediately following their runway presentations, or that sites like Moda Operandi allow eager fashionistas to pre-order the spring collections) but that doesn't mean we have to wait until next year to start wearing the trends.

The floor-length coat gained a lot of traction during the marathon fashion month, with models at Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Dior, and elsewhere dusting the floor with their maxi coats. The coat styles themselves were quite varied—from Tracy Reese's classic trench coat loosely belted around the waist to Raf Simons' structural outerwear at Christian Dior—so there are varied ways to wear this style.

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For fall, a monochrome shirt-and-pants combination or a sweater dress can go wonderfully with a longer coat. Especially if your coat is heavy or printed, a monochrome inner layer creates a slimming effect and keeps a larger coat from drowning you.

Come spring, however, play with proportions! Peter Som and Tracy Reese threw floor-length coats over form-fitting bodysuits. Margiela used a belted coat as a top, strategically cinching it at the waist and pairing with shorts. Thankoon and Emilia Wickstead showed minidresses with long coats, creating a high-low hemline effect.

Shop Floor-Length Coats

Light pinstripes are the new print you need to have.

Zara Striped Blazer With Belt ($99)

What I hate about Resort collections is that the clothing for once actually fits the weather outside -warm, sunny, tropical prints and fabulous swimsuits- so it is tres difficult to realize that the clothes won't hit the shelves for another six months. Regardless, I found myself in love with several collections. What I enjoy is that many designers are going away from a strictly vacation-centered resort presentation and focusing on the overall time of resort wear -November/December is a busy time, and many women are bouncing between end-of-the-year business meetings, family gatherings, and festive parties.

Designers like Derek Lam and Reed Krakoff, known for their downtown-easy looks, stayed within their niches for resort by focusing on urban staples. 10 Crosby Derek Lam, a diffusion line, featured patchwork plaid and cool, Brooklyn-ready Saturday night ensembles, while Lam's signature line dealt with a sort of "urban explorer" style. Krakoff adorned his boxy dresses with neon oranges and blues and glitzy embellishments, making each look worthy of a gallery opening. 

10 Crosby Derek Lam

Derek Lam

Reed Krakoff

Others, like Thankoon and Gucci, took softer approaches to their resort presentations this year, opting for pastel hues and feminine touches. Both used pinks and baby blues, but Thankoon's bold silhouettes and Gucci's straight lines all help to give these looks some teeth.

Thankoon

Gucci

Another favorite was House of Holland, whose quirky prints and fun takes on fashion I have grown to admire. Pinks and blues reigned supreme here too, but Holland went for a more playful look. Even a simple white shirt dress is livened up with bright pom-pom trim.

House of Holland

Elsewhere, The Row made editors swoon once again with now-signature straight-leg pants, boxy coats and jackets, and elegant drapery. The modest footwear and fabulous, streamlined bags will sure to be knockouts. A few personal favorites: the embroidered black evening jacket, the fuchsia velvet-covered box bag, and the plastic navy and black skirt. The Olsen Twins sure do know their clothing.  

The Row

What started off shaky has ended as one of the best fashion weeks in a long while. We aren't even out of winter yet and already I am dying for fall again because I can't wait to see these fabulous clothes in action. There are so many things I noticed, so keep checking back for more fall fashion recaps. I plan to dedicate a full post to Oscar de la Renta because it was possibly the greatest show thus far. But right now here are some other shows that I couldn't get enough of.