Issue date: 11/12/09 Section: A&E

Media Credit: Derrick Hawkins/Alestle

Media Credit: Derrick Hawkins/Alestle

Media Credit: Derrick Hawkins/Alestle

As the leaves fall from the trees, the bright colors of summer and springtime fade away with sundresses and flip flops to make room for fur-lined hoodies, skinny jeans and cowgirl boots.

Men and women alike push aside their shorts and T-shirts to free up space in their closets for the latest fall fashions. Setting aside those shudder shades and tanks leave room for this season's hippest fads.

Rue 21 assistant manager Laura Christensen said fur-lined hoodies and bright colored peacoats have sold well in the men and women's departments. In keeping with current trends, Freshman mass communications major Roderick Reed said Ralph Lauren V-neck sweaters are in.

Regardless of falling into the same clothing styles as Chandler Bing and Ross Gellar, sweater vests and cardigans have become an interest to men as well.

"Cardigans have been a big thing, which I'm surprised [about]. I hear cardigans, and I picture my grandpa wearing them," Christensen said.

Reed said he owns two fur-lined hoodies and speaks highly of the faux fashion both for show and comfort.

"I started [buying fur-lined hoodies] two years ago with the Hollister fur hoodie, and that was the first time I'd ever seen one of those hoodies," Reed said. "And that hoodie survives me throughout the winter."

Although he follows the trends, Reed said his style is all his own.

"I would describe my style as a new era. It's modernized now. I have a lot of colors; sometimes I vary on different colors, but it's more preppy and retro at the same time," Reed said.

Rue 21's coat selection, according to Christensen, encompasses a vast array of designs.

"Really bright colored peacoats, like the Houndstooth, the long trench coats - those have been really big for the girls and even the guys - we've sold out of all our guy's peacoats," Christensen said.

The demographic purchasing entire outifits from Rue 21 are from late teens into 20s because of that age group's adaptability to nightlife, according to Christensen.

"A lot of our clothes you can wear them out to go to the club and to bars and that's what a lot of people like to come in and get," Christensen said.

According to PacSun assistant manager Chelsea Terveer, both men and women rush to purchase denim, specifically skinny jeans and destroyed denim, while they also pick up some flannel. Terveer said flannels range in price from $19.50 to $50; the least expensive ones sell better.

"Fashion trends have changed toward flannels, and everybody wants them now," Terveer said.

Keeping with tradition, sweaters have held on to their spot in the colder months at stores such as Maurices and Kohl's. Maurices store manager Brandy Syzdek said short sleeve sweaters leave the store most frequently.

"Short sleeve sweaters [are] probably [our biggest seller] because you can layer them with long sleeves for the winter or you can leave them short," Syzdek said.

Kohl's hard line area supervisor Beth Cole said fashion petticoats and sweaters with leggings remain popular.

"We have a lot of the long sweaters right now, with the leggings … The vest with the long sleeve wovens under it are in now too," Cole said.

However, Terveer said PacSun's sweaters stay on the floor.

"For girls, it doesn't seem like they really want anything to do with [sweaters]," Terveer said.

If those trends do not bring up visions of the 80s, after seeing the latest acid wash jeans, one may feel like he or she is in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." Terveer said the acid wash style is selling better than she expected, and the male equivalent at PacSun is jeans of similar style with destruct colors that give the same appearance.

PacSun expects to get men's accessories in stock as the season progresses, along with new denim styles, according to Terveer.

"I'm pretty sure we're supposed to be getting some guy's scarves, and they're expecting those to sell pretty well. Guys are starting to accessorize," Terveer said.

According to Christensen, some of their high demand items are already out of stock, and Rue 21 will not get any more this season.

"Cowgirl boots, those have sold so quick," Christensen said.

Freshman civil engineering major Jessie Thompson said her semi-casual style encompasses hats, scarves and cowgirl boots.

"[My style is] a cross between sporty and nice-looking," Thompson said.

Sophomore special education major Denita Campbell follows the trends as far as scarves and leather jackets are concerned, but said she prefers to be different from everyone else.

"[I put] my own little twist on clothes … [what I wear] defines my personality," Campbell said.

Campbell accessorizes using layers, specifically double-layering scarves, which Syzdek said is a hot commodity.

"Layering is probably the biggest for the fall and winter fashions," Syzdek said.

Freshman speech communication major Julian Glover said he "layers like a maniac" in the fall.

"In summer you can't layer because it gets too hot, but I love fall and winter because that's when I can layer. And my weakness is being able to [layer] … when it gets cold," Glover said. "I'm able to put on a sweater, a shirt and then a blazer and some jeans and some boots. And then put on a coat over that."

Glover said fashion is art, and the way one wears clothes displays that art.

"I am a chameleon. Some days … I feel like I want to look like a punk. I'll put on a pair of skinny jeans, those fat, tall, high top tennis shoes … and go," Glover said. "Some days I feel very, very, very like Michael Jackson, so I'll put on skinny jeans that [are] a little short. I put on some boots underneath it."

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