Different stores sell to different people, but this fall there seems to be a unanimous agreement among stores and designers that this season will be a mix of preppy, East Coast vintage and grungy ’90s styles. Even stores such as Hollister, generally known for sticking to California casual and wardrobe staples, is a little grittier. American Apparel recently reinvented itself with a lot of lace, a lot of button-up blouses, and what could be called “Nantucket chic.” They’re now selling the sort of clothes one would imagine JFK and Jackie Kennedy wore during summers at Cape Cod.
Urban Outfitters is mixing preppy and vintage as well as bringing back new staples, like silky floral dresses for girls. H&M, probably the closest many college students on a budget will get to wearing French designer duds (Lanvin for H&M comes out Nov. 23), is bringing the fall runway trends of camel and knitwear to the masses. Here, each store lays out its predictions for the top five trends for men and women for fall 2010.