Runway rundown

Too busy to catch up on the latest trends for the coming months? If the list of potential looks for the holidays seems too daunting to tackle, fear not. YStyle did all the heavy lifting and rounded up the latest looks from the biggest labels so you won’t have to lift a finger.

Here’s a summary: Layers and chunky footwear are heavy hitters for fall. Check out Louis Vuitton’s fur-laden collection. Big is good unless you’re referring to weight or bone structure. Check out Nicole Richie and her emaciated figure. Barring that, oversize pieces are chic and add dimension to an otherwise basic silhouette.

Too much to take in? Check out the trends listed below with some pleasing word-to-picture ratio to keep you from falling asleep. Cut out what you like the most and post it on your fridge. Who knows? Maybe one of these days, you’ll have the time – and money – to update your wardrobe. Till then, keep reading.

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Gucci, Salvatore Ferragamo, DKNY, Tod’s, Laundry by Shelli Segal, Burberry, Anne Klein, Kenneth Cole Reaction, Episode and Lacoste are exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc. Gucci, Salvatore Ferragamo, DKNY, Tod’s and Burberry are located at Greenbelt 4 while Lacoste is located at Greenbelt 3. Laundry by Shelli Segal, Episode, and Anne Klein are located at Rustan’s Makati. Louis Vuitton is located at Greenbelt 4. Swarovski is exclusively available at Rustan’s Makati, Shangri-La Plaza and Gateway.

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E-mail comments or suggestions to oohbea@gmail.com.

Prep’s cool

Collegiate is the new cool. Just check out the video of the song Tea Partay on YouTube, a hilarious send-up of gangsta videos. Instead of the usual black kids in oversized tracksuits and cornrows, the rappers are dressed in smart polos, sweaters and khakis. The opening line "G-unit, where my WASPs at?/ Martha’s Vineyard hollaback" is enough to turn anyone into a white Anglo-Saxon Protestant.

To bring out your inner WASP, turn to Lacoste, purveyor of all things preppy. The brand recently released several new bag lines, the preppiest among them being the Sailing collection, a series of tri-color bags utilizing yachting colors and materials like canvas, leather and chrome hardware, and Sport Retro, a set of sporty bags in old school styles in black or green.

Gucci’s high-heeled moccasins in patent leather, and a selection of sandals embellished with the label’s signature porpora in black and red, add a pretty touch to a secretary blouse and pleated skirt, while Tod’s T-bag in mosto is the bag du jour for celeb prepsters like Reese Witherspoon. Anne Klein’s ode to preppy chic is some menswear-inspired tailored pieces, like a houndstooth coat and navy pants. Other like-styled ensembles are check pullovers and flared tweed skirts.

Burberry’s version of the WASP is a proper English schoolgirl. Instead of the usual accoutrements – low pigtails and brief pleated plaid mini – the label took a more sophisticated route and created something fit for some highbrow English lit major in some swanky college. A gray cashmere cardigan over a white oxford shirt spells comfort and class while a muted navy flannel pencil skirt speaks of sophistication. Paired with a wooly striped scarf and a riding hat, there’s enough British refinement here to turn a horde of girls-gone-wild-esque college coeds into proper, elegant women.

You go, girl

Sweetly feminine pieces returned to the spring 2007 runways with YSL’s flora-bedecked runway. Models sauntered over a garden of blooms as Stefano Pilati sent out bold pieces inspired by the flowering plants. Same with Alexander McQueen whose runway was taken over by pale-faced nymphs, their hair covered with clusters of blossoms.

For fall 2006, Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton had structured dresses in bubble shapes. Some utilitarian black ensembles were toned down by large pearl necklaces. Other feminine touches included jackets with flounced collars and dresses playfully decorated with latex bows.

Burberry turned out ladylike ensembles in loose wool pencil skirts and prim chiffon blouses.

Bold star

Colors went haywire with some distinctive designer pieces. Louis Vuitton had bright pink trousers and a scarlet bag for good measure while DKNY had some fancy sporty footwear with flashes of violet and lime green.

While it’s photogenic and memorable, it’s certainly not for the faint of heart.

Larger than life

While celebrities get tinier by the minute, their accessories seem to quadruple in size. Call it the Rachel Zoe effect. One can only wonder what paparazzi-hounded people like Nicole Richie or Kate Moss are toting in their huge satchels. A beer bong? Remnants of the Titanic? One of the Olsen twins? One thing’s for sure: You won’t find a Big Mac in there.

Pack rat city dwellers are rejoicing in the return of the oversized bag – this means they can include an extra outfit and shoes, natch, without looking like runway parole violators on the lam.

Louis Vuitton’s fall collection includes monogram totes large enough to comfortably fit your great-grandmother and her wheelchair. The monogram leopard and monogram embossed Stephen bag probably outweighs most teeny celebs, but the bag definitely packs a stylish punch.

DKNY has oversized hobo bags in sturdy leather in utilitarian taupe and deep green, while Gucci’s accessories collection includes large overnight totes in varying skins.

Katie Holmes wisely paired wide-leg pants with a large Tod’s Miky Nomade Grande in brandy to set off her plum satin blouse.

For the vertically-blessed, Louis Vuitton’s latest fall collection includes oversized pants that’ll set off your height to perfection. Chic sailor trousers in tweed made their way down the runway with wide-lapel coats, along with paper bag-waist cropped pants and shiny button-down shirts. Marc Jacobs paired the latter with a sleek minaudière in the label’s signature monogram in silver.

A note to celebrities: When it comes to oversized pants, proceed with caution. The pants might swallow you up faster than you can say "red-carpet no-no."

Asia minor

Not since Bai Ling flashed the paparazzi her nipple at – count it – more than three red carpet events have Asians made such a splash. But thanks to seriously talented thespians like Zhiyi Zhang and Ken Watanabe, along with runway regulars Hye Park and Jenny Shimuzu, Asians are finally taking center stage. A recent Miu Miu campaign featured beautiful Chinese actresses lounging in the label’s lampshade dresses.

Swarovski recently joined the Asian gravy train with its latest collection of Asian-inspired jewelry with art nouveau elements. Necklaces fringed with fine chains were decorated with Japanese characters embellished with Swarovski crystals. Red lacquered ruthenium red bamboo pendants were distinctly Chinese, while delicate chain tasseled neckpieces and earrings in merging chains dressed with red and black pendants represented Zen spirit. Gucci took up the Asian gauntlet with bamboo bracelets and rings in white and yellow gold.

Laundry by Shelli Sega’s autumn collection features some Asian-inspired dresses with reinvented kimono sleeves and obi waists. Japanese prints abound in Zen-like floral prints on satin.

Make no mistake. Asians are on the rise.

Animal instinct

Designers have been gravitating towards animals of late. Aside from Gucci’s python tote bag and large hobo in mink, there are Louis Vuitton’s monogram totes edged in leopard print. That same print was transformed into a disco-fied pattern in red, which became popular after the label used it on a scarf draped over Kate Moss (and nothing else) in a recent ad campaign. Marc Jacob’s pulled a head-to-toe look with the Stephen Sprouse-designed print in a charming dress.

Elsewhere, jewelry designers made animals their muses with Swarovski’s dragonfly necklace and Gucci’s horsebit flora dragonfly and beetle necklace.