fall for these looks

5 fave fall fashion trends and where to find them in Houston

Fashionistas who've been watching fall runway shows know that dramatic looks and eye-catching trends – think head-to-toe-leather, oversized denim, and moody hues — make for an exciting season.

With that in mind, we sat down with some Houston experts that know a thing or two about putting together a well-rounded fashion wish list. Here's their take on what to grab for the coolest fall look right now.

Sell the drama and love the '80s

This season, designer inspiration runs the gamut, from oversized suits, leather jackets of the cropped, bomber and trench variety and bold colors — and for those Barbiecore followers, yes, pink will still be in favor.

Color is a significant factor for Fady Armanious, creative director of Tootsies, who tells his ever-stylish clients to embrace oversized proportions and the epic, showy looks of the ’80s, saying, “The ’80s is back in a big, bold way. Black and old-school Valentino red are a dramatic color duo right now.”

Rock the color block — and let it flow

Armanious says color blocking — mixing two or three solid colors — is another fall trend that makes a bold statement. He advises mixing warm shades with cool tones for a “refreshing twist.”

In contrast, the soft colors and ruffles of modern femininity also dominate the racks. Zimmermann is a classic example of a soft, sensual brand with sheer fabrics. “Continue the look of a black bra and see-through slip dress for a touch of the unexpected,” says Armanious.

Go green for that timeless shine

Quality jewelry has staying power; it can be kept as an heirloom or worn as fashion cycles come and go. Long necklaces, stacked bracelets, and colorful gemstones are everywhere. This year, green is the color au courant. The hue is in fall staples from clothing to bags and now jewels.

“Green has been a hot color this year from watches to gemstones,” Segev Zadok, partner at Zadok Jewelers, tells CultureMap. “Emeralds are classic and timeless. They can be set in a classic way or with a modern twist, such as a bezel pendant on a paperclip chain or a tennis necklace with emeralds all the way around.”

Tennis necklaces are still great for layering with nearly every outfit, and according to Zadok, “big, yellow gold hoops and wide gold huggies are also very popular. They are a great way to elevate an everyday look.”

A top fashion have: the perfect hat

Autumn’s crisp weather is ideal for layering outfit pieces and bold accessories. The perfect bag (pillow bags are everything this season) and statement hats are great ways to elevate any outfit.

Teressa Foglia, the modern-day milliner who put luxury, custom hats on the fashion map, says this fall season is about playing around with textures like raw denim, linen, and canvas fabrics. At her posh boutique in River Oaks District, Foglia sells vintage pins and charms for her bespoke hats as a unique way to round out a look.

“Some of the trends that I’m loving for fall this year are jewel-toned hats in colors like burgundy, forest green and gold,” she tells CultureMap. “Wide-brimmed hats and rancher styles with flipped brims are always great in Texas.”

High-steppin'

Like clothing and statement accessories, shoe trends this fall have scaled up — way up. “In contrast to the stay-at-home minimalism we’ve seen over the past couple of years, this season, the shoe trend says the higher, the better,” says Armanious. “Simon Miller designs a great platform shoe that delivers the escalated effect of heels but allows for more mobility.”

Photo courtesy of Zimmermann

Go flowy and dramatic this fall with Zimmermann.

SUDDEN SHUTTERS

Saks Off 5th to close 3 Houston stores with blowout final sale

Saks OFF 5th/ Facebook

Saks Off 5th is closing its only San Antonio store.

Houston shoppers looking for the thrill of the deal might want to mark their calendar. Discount designer retailer Saks Off 5th is closing most of its U.S. stores, including three in the Houston area, as its parent company tries to wiggle its way out of bankruptcy. Liquidation sales will begin Saturday, January 31 at select locations.

The mass closures come after Saks Global — the parent company of luxury department stores Saks 5th Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, and Neiman Marcus — filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protections on January 14. The conglomerate has been buckling under the strain of $2.5 million in debt it acquired with the 2024 purchase of rival retailer Neiman Marcus.

"As we advance on Saks Global's transformation, we are taking decisive steps to realign our business to better serve our luxury customers and drive full-price selling across our core luxury businesses," said Geoffroy van Raemdonck, Chief Executive Officer of Saks Global, in a release. "With these actions, we will be well positioned to seize the greatest opportunities for long-term growth and value creation. We sincerely thank our Saks Off 5th and Last Call colleagues for the important role they have played in serving our loyal customers."

Saks will close 57 Off 5th stores and shutter the five remaining locations of Neiman Marcus’ off-brand shop Last Call. Only 12 OFF 5th units will survive the move. After the onslaught, Texas’ sole store will be at Grapevine Mills mall in Grapevine.

Many of the U.S. stores will kick off closing sales beginning January 31. An additional 23 stores will close outright on February 2. Here’s the full list of Texas shutters:

Saks Off 5TH locations holding closing sales:

Cypress, 29300 Hempstead Rd.
Sugar Land, 2745 N Town Center Blvd.
Katy, 5000 Katy Mills Cir.
San Antonio, 5819 Worth Pkwy.

Saks Off 5TH locations closing February 2:

Grand Prairie, 2950 W. I-20 #125
Dallas, 8040 Park Ln.

Last Call Locations holding closing sales:

Grapevine, 3000 Grapevine Mills Pkwy. #233
San Marcos, 3939 S. I-35 #1105

The overall primary market for luxury goods has been declining in recent years due to changing customer preferences, a perceived decline in quality in top brands like Gucci and Louis Vuitton, and a growing resale market led by sites like The RealReal and Vestaire Collective.