This season's runway shows certainly weren't low on drama.
There was mod. And Victorian. A little bohemian chic. Some futuristic minimalism. Then menswear.
It all made for great theater for fashion followers. But then there's always that question of how these fabulous trends will trickle down to stores where we live and shop and into closets where we hang clothes that we'll actually wear.
Which is why, in addition to throwing the most exciting and over-the-top new looks onto models for each issue of Her Scene magazine, I also make a point of trying new but relatively wearable looks on real women.
Both experiences tend to be eye-opening in different ways. For instance, trying clothes on models makes me realize how very short I am. (Insight that's not particularly useful to the rest of you.) And how fashion really does have the power to lift spirits, start a conversation (it almost always does with passersby on our fashion shoots) and change human interactions.
It also makes me want to beg women in their 20s and 30s to be more fearless with their fashion choices because those years when you can get away with just about anything are fleeting and should be embraced by every one of us.
But what I learn from trying trends on real women tends to be very different -- and more instructional. What I found this fall by bringing half a dozen friends of the magazine into our studio, for instance, is that fashion -- even in its most fantastical incarnations -- is becoming more user-friendly.
IMAGE coral bridesmaid dresses
Maybe it's the fact that fabrics have become high-tech and more forgiving, or the fact that so much of the construction is being borrowed and influenced by shapewear. But, this fall, the "yes" pile in our fitting rooms easily beat the reject rack.
That means the other broad lesson learned by our agreeable fashion testers is that you really should take some chances in the fitting room. It's a harmless risk that's completely reversible and it just may result in a striking new look that delights even your toughest critic -- the one in the mirror.
Here, a few other specific, fall 2015 fashion facts we picked up:
1. Metallics can go anywhere.
"I was a little afraid to try a gold top and metallic (bronze leopard print) pants, but when you wear them together, they're almost neutral," said Stacey Robinson, senior vice president of operations for the Kentucky Derby Festival and Her Scene advisory board member. The trick, we found, is going for a tonal look like we did here with shades of bronze, brown, gold and tan, rather than using metallic as a bold pop of bling in your ensemble.
2. Suits get the thumbs-up for evening.
And we're not talking strictly about those perfectly-tailored (and very expensive, very situation-specific) tuxedos from the runways.
Dana Robinson, president of Pursekeyper, tried on a body-hugging Joseph Ribkoff jacket, and raved, "I wasn't sure until I put this on, but this jacket is all about the fit. It looks dressy enough for after work and cocktails because of the shape."
If you choose suits with a slimming fit, you can consider them day or night basics.
3. Coats (especially capelets) are the new statement necklace.
With fur trim, splashy patterns and dramatic silhouettes, this particular coat season is a great opportunity to play dress up and add drama to any look, any time. I've never seen women have so much fun trying on outerwear. "I've never worn a capelet, but the cinched waist makes it really flattering," says Kristi Getsfred, retired AT&T sales executive. We decided the houndstooth capelet she tried on with sleek leggings would also look amazing worn open over a long dress with elbow-length gloves. Robinson was wary of a fur-trimmed capelet on the hanger but fell in love with it as soon as she slipped it on: "I'd wear this to the opera or a show," she said.
4. Leather has no age limit and can fit almost any dress code.
It's all about how you wear it. Our testers (all adult women) rocked leather or leather-y tops, jeans and leggings, and they looked age-appropriate and up-to-date.
When you pick leather pieces that fit well (not too tight) and pair them with with not-so-slinky counterparts and sophisticated jewelry, the fabric looks more chic than counter-culture. It can even go to work.
5. Don't fear waxed denim.
Our testers tried it and loved it. For one thing, it's a lot like leather, but typically much cheaper.
The finish makes it dressier than basic denim and gives it a little more structure that tends to slim and smooth everything just a little without having the punishing squeezing action of, say, Spanx. It's like photoshop for your bottom half. And who couldn't use a little of that?
READ MORE red bridesmaid dresses
