Faux fur vests, leopard prints & the color purple are major fall fashion trends

What will you see on the runway at Simon Fashion Now’s runway show Thursday night at the Galleria?

I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek of the latest trends for fall at a recent blogger event. We embarked on a “sip and shop” tour of the Galleria where we met with fashion experts and makeup artists who dished about the latest trends — and I have to say, this year’s styles don’t disappoint — unlike last year’s massive shoulder pads!

We started our cross-mall journey at Nordstrom where style expert Scotty Smith shared looks from Versace, Valentino and St. John. Shades of purple, from lavender to aubergine, are fall’s hottest colors for clothes and accessories followed by gray, perhaps a nod to our stormy economy. Gray is that wonderful neutral that will add some versatility to your wardrobe of black pants, dresses and pencil skirts. The deep eggplant color of a Versace bag on display was simply stunning and a welcome change from our default black fall/winter handbags.

Faux-fur vests are also a must-have this season and after watching Rachel Zoe practically die over the pretty vests she tried on in Milan on the last episode of her reality show, I think we can all agree that this trend is buh-na-nas! An updated way to wear a faux-fur vest is to belt it at the waist. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly version, Zara has some great choices.

There’s nothing worse than jewelry that looks like a sweater set, so thank goodness this season it’s all about mixing and matching metals and textures. I was delighted to see that gold is here to stay and I’ve also seen designers like Michael Kors using rose gold in their accessories (which I love!) The days of matchy-matchy jewelry are over, so retire your sweater-set-style jewels and metals and mix, match and layer for an updated look.

Houston has always been in synch with its wild side and I know locals will appreciate a return to the wild with this season’s offerings of leopard and animal print luxuries (though, I can’t really say that animal prints were ever out of style, they are kind of a constant, especially here in H-Town).

If you’re looking for a more subtle way to wear a bold animal print, pair a great leopard stiletto with a black dress, or carry a fabulous printed clutch instead of your standard black or metallic one for a flash of jungle fever no matter what you’re wearing. Runways will also reflect the gorgeous oranges and reds of falling leaves, adding much-desired color to the cooler weather’s darker palette.

Our final destination was makeup-heaven, Sephora, where we were treated to a lovely presentation of the latest beauty looks by makeup artist Sheila Hernandez.

This fall, purple rules the runway and your makeup collection. Makeup Forever’s bright indigo purple (#92 in the collection) is highly pigmented and delivers a punch of color that ladies who are tired of neutrals can try for welcome change. Hernandez recommends creating a purple eye with a pop of peach- like Makeup Forever’s #5.

With galas and holiday parties just around the corner, you’ll appreciate a technique that transitions your look from day to night with just a quick swipe of color. Line your bottom lash line with a colored liner (or shadow) for an unexpected pop of color that makes eyes sparkle.

A makeup trend that I just can’t get on board with this season is the red lip. Though it’s a classic, I can’t seem to abandon my soft pinks for a bolder lip look, but Hernandez asserts “there’s a red for everyone.” If you’re new to Gwen Stefani’s signature lip look, head to your favorite beauty counter and have a pro help you select a shade that will complement your skin tone and make your teeth look whiter (I swear!).

Thicker liner is also back, as is a prominent cheek. I love a beautiful, bold pink cheek and was delighted to find that Stila has created a custom-color blush, the first-ever pH-based powder that takes the guesswork out of picking the perfect shade. A fellow blogger at the event snatched up the sold-out product a week ago and her cheeks were positively glowing.

Want to join the fashion frenzy? Thursday night's runway show is by-invitation-only, but you can watch the runway show from the upper level with a rink-side view. Friday is Trends & Friends Night — an evening of fashion, cocktails and special deals beginning at 5 p.m. The open to the public event will offer fare from Chili’s, Daily Grill and Zucchini’s plus live entertainment. Runway fashion show seating will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Click here for more information.

Veronika Javor Romeis writes about fashion and beauty at Veronika's Blushing!