affordable fall trends

On Friday night I was lucky enough to attend the first Fashion X Dallas runway show.  The show ran Thursday through Saturday but unfortunately my schedule only allowed me one night.  However, one night was more than enough to see multiple talented designers and enjoy Dallas fashion and nightlife.  

I choose to wear simple black and white... I mean really, it's my go-to.  I'm obsessed with high contrast and will just always love the combo.  It actually wasn't until after putting this outfit together than I realized how many fall trends it touched on, so I'd love to share my though process behind this look and a few really affordable ways to factor in some of these trends this season! 

 While on a hunt for faux leather leggings (another huge trend this fall... faux leather accents on clothing, great faux leather jackets and pants, even shorts and skirts), I found faux suede leggings from a Moto collection by Rock & Republic at Kohls.  Yeah I know, shocker!! I was shopping at Kohls! ;-)

They weren't exactly what I was looking for... they were better!  I love how soft they are and I love the seaming and interesting mix of fabrics.  The front is faux suede and the sides have mixed in accents of scuba-like material.  So these leggings are definitely stretchy and easy to pull on.  The seaming, especially across the knees, gives a great motorcycle pants feel without going over the top butch.

You may have noticed an abundance of faux leather (or real leather) "Moto" or motorcycle jackets this season.  And yes, this is a HUGE trend!  Especially when you take an edgy piece like that and mix it with a flirty skirt or lace or a feminine top.  But if you're not willing to invest in a jacket, which often times can be a pricier item, you should consider other ways to rock the Moto trend.  Enter, these leggings!  They are on sale right now at Kohls ($25 y'all!!!), and you know they always have extra coupons, so hurry and shop these FAUX SUEDE LEGGINGS HERE!

Obviously this outfit covers the black and white trend.  But what else?  Menswear for women.  It's really big this fall and honestly, it's really easy to achieve.  Who doesn't have a pair of black pants in their wardrobe?  Whether it's leggings like mine, or simply black dress pants, every women has (or should have) a black pant go-to.  Beyond that, all it takes is a simple white shirt and a tuxedo-inspired jacket.  I love this white blouse because, well first of all, it was on clearance.  Second, it's super simple and flowy and comfortable to wear.  I also love the zipper accent in the front as well as the pocket, giving it an edgier look.  (Have you noticed exposed zippers are everywhere?)

My tuxedo jacket is actually from a few season's ago.  It is LC Lauren Conrad from Kohls.  Since I can't link the exact jacket, I've rounded up a few similar looks below! Keep reading!  If you're not wanting to purchase a new tuxedo jacket, here's a few affordable ideas!...  check out upscale resale/ consignment shops and even thrift stores, shop garage sales and estate sales, pull a black blazer from a suit you already own, raid your boyfriend's/ husband's/ dad's/ brother's/ neighbor's/ friend's closet and borrow from them! ... it doesn't matter if it's oversized or a little boxy, that's another trend right now (I bet your mom or maybe even you have a shoulder-pad blazer in the back of their/ your closet.  Just make sure you pair it with more fitted and feminine items!  And don't forget, keeping the makeup and hair really fresh and girly will help balance any hard edges of the outfit.  I opted for a few soft curls accenting my straight hair and made sure to accessorize with lots of sparkle and big jewels.

 Here's my camera shy hubby... totally didn't want to pose with me until I made him... that's why I'm alone in the first pic ;-)  Such a good sport... you don't often see Marine Scout Snipers at fashion events!

The clutch and booties are other must-have items for fall!  Short black booties can be paired with so many items!  I love them with these leggings and since my booties (old, Issac Mizrahi) happen to also be faux suede, my leg-line was continued the entire length of my leg, which is a great trick to look a little taller/ more slender.  I'm also obsessed with pairing short booties with dresses, skirts and shorts this season, as you can clearly see on my Instagram feed!  I've tagged some super cute booties below!

 Working on my dreams!!

I loved the leggings so much, I decided to remix them again over the weekend.  Sunday saw my purple sweater, the leggings and my peep toes.  It's been a nice fall days of actual fall weather here in DFW!  Oh, there's that clutch again!

{Click the thumbnails below to shop these items!}