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As usual, Baton Rouge times fashion a little differently than the rest of the country. While the East and West coasts sport the latest fall trends, scorching heat and more conservative tastes keep many locals in summer pastels and open-toed shoes.

There is an advantage to this, however: We get to foresee trends in action before they arrive here.

Some distinctive trends emerged this fall in New York: bold colors, classic fabrics with fresh twists, and distinctively different fits and cuts in men’s clothes. But which of these trends will make it here?

We asked boutique owners, tailors and style-conscious Baton Rougeans for the inside skinny on fall trends in Baton Rouge.

For Her

Color

For several years fall fashion has meant dull neutrals, but this year the fashion pendulum swings back to color. For example, Pantone’s color pallet of passionate hues like burnt ochre, chili pepper, lemon curry and purple wine are in. Other colors we should expect to see more of this season are navy, gray and black.

“Bold colors like yellow, cobalt blue and some red are really big for fall, as well as metallics,” says Katie Jacob at Stella Boutique. “We have a lot of purples and yellows coming in, which will be perfect for us for football games.”

“Colors are coming through in accessories like reds and oranges,” says Pam Petite at Carriages. “For eveningwear, midnight colors like navy, which is ‘the new black,’ are in,” although it’s bolder than traditional “flight attendant navy,” she says.

Fabric

Fall staples like wool and tweed remain popular this year, but they’re coming with fresh twists. Tweed, notably Chanel’s fabric of choice, is loosening up. On New York runways it’s been seen in everything from toggle jackets to accents in skirts and dresses. Tweed also is turning up in wide-leg trousers paired with lighter fabric shirts and scarves. Also making headway are chunky cable knits, plaids and leather jackets.

“The jackets will be a bit shorter this fall, more waist length, and they will be paired with gold hardware,” says Lauren Bailey at Angelique & Victoria.

Petite also expects fresh tweed twists. “Right now, boyish school chic is in. We will see a lot of plaids with a gray background. The plaid looks great in a jacket paired with jeans, or the plaid skirts are cute with leggings and a crisp white shirt.”

Flair

Sequins, popular last year, have proven stamina, thanks in part to their appearance in the film Hairspray. This year’s sequin expression tends toward tasteful moderation. For example, sequin shirts paired with jeans, or for dressy occasions, sleeveless black sequin mini dresses with black tights.

Don’t look for sequins to dazzle all of Baton Rouge. “Some trends will translate in Baton Rouge. As far as the sequins and embellished details on necklines and cuffs like the ’80s style bedazzled gems, that will depend on the clients’ individual style,” says Heather Gahagan at Vertigo Clothing.

And here’s some sound advice: “When wearing sequins keep your other items simple. Sequins should enhance, not overpower your outfit,” says Shelley Messengale at Ted & Daisy’s.

Fits and cuts

Puffy sleeves are in, as are cabby hats and booties. According to Vogue magazine, urban women everywhere will be stomping away in these fashionable high-steppers this season.

“Ankle boots (aka booties) will be very popular the season. However, I am waiting to see how well Baton Rouge will receive them,” says Susan Holliday at Head Over Heels.

Change is in the air when it comes to silhouettes, says Pam Rabalias-Vinci, LSU instructor and curator of LSU’s textiles and apparel museum. “When sleeves are very fitted for an extended period, we as consumers are ready for another silhouette—the puff (the bubble skirt prepared us)! I think that booties will translate to Baton Rouge because shoes are a safe trend to follow as they are not as noticeable as a cabby hat or the 1920s cloche hat seen on runways for this fall. Even the more cautious can participate in this fashion. In addition, I expect these to be available at various price points—at discount and high-end shops—whatever the consumer’s pocketbook will allow.”

For Him

Color

The usual drab fall lineup of earth tones got a fresh coat of color this fall in New York. The usual earth tones are more vibrant. Will purple and gold—Baton Rouge autumn staples—get a run for their money from bright reds, deep purples and grays, moss green, dusk blues and dark chocolate browns?

“We do see a trend toward sports shirts with a lot of color. A lot of browns, olives, tans, taupes, blues—darker blues but not navy—and a lot of pattern mixing within those colors. And that goes also for suits and sport coats,” says Ed Bernstein at Cohn Turner.

Keith Kimble at Loft 3H also sees plenty of colors this fall. “Bedsides the browns, lots of dark, deep blues are popular like blue and plaid designs. We have a lot of olive colors. Various shades of green—a lot of green is in. Really, it’s just rich dark colors.”

Fabric

This season we’ll see plenty classic fall fabrics but with a modern spin in cashmere and corduroy. Of course, the Baton Rouge climate will keep fabric weights to their standard minimum. But for those who dare to be different, the fresh take on corduroy jackets may just invigorate the wardrobe.

Kristin Duncan at Avatar says: “It’s about the hand and the feel of the cashmere. It’s just soft and feels good against the skin. In our hot weather, it’s better to have less percentage of cashmere in a garment.”

Adds Loft 3H’s Keith Kimble: “Frayed edges are popular for the fall, and a lot of embroidery is still in. Corduroy jackets with built-in hoodies for guys are pretty popular right now too. It’s like a jacket, but it has a built-in sweatshirt with a hoodie.”

Fits and cuts

Guys who tightened their abs and got in shape this summer will be glad to see clothes coming out of New York on the slimmer side. Tapered slacks, skinny ties and fitted sweaters are in. Will our men be showing off their newly slimmed physiques?

“What we’ve done, which to me is definitely an ’80s fashion coming back, is the skinny tie. It’s a skinny tie, but for us, we have to pair it with the smaller collared shirt, or it doesn’t look proportional. … [Men] have to know how to put it with the whole ensemble, so it’s more thought-out,” says Cristy McNabb at Style Lab for Men.

“People, in general, are getting more healthy, which causes them to become a little slimmer, and they’re wanting their clothes to show that,” says Sam Willard at Harper’s Haberdashery. “People want their clothes to fit. They want it to be trim. The bagginess is over.”

Suits

This year’s New York’s suit hot trend: the classic double-breasted suit. From high-end designers like Michael Kors to cost-friendly retailers such as Target, the style David Letterman has worn with aplomb for more than a decade is strong again. Will Baton Rouge men double down with pinstripes, or stick to the more traditional single-breasted suits?

“We’re seeing a lot of two-button center vent [suits]. And for the fashion-forward person, we’re seeing two- and three-button [suits] with side vents,” says Jim Mayer of the Mayer Co. “Double-breasted suits are less than 2% of the market. But a lot of my customers who are multiple suit buyers, we encourage them to add a double-breasted suit to their wardrobe.”

“The look young people are wearing is the Milanese style, very narrow shoulders, plain front trousers—very slim,” says Manuel Martinez of Martinez Custom Clothiers. “The coat is a one- or two-button front. It is almost the rebirth of the ’70s. The look [for executive gentlemen] is going to be more refined, elegant and classy. Two-button front coats and some double-breasted as well.”