To me, ‘good’ layering can be loosely compared to ‘good’ art because both are difficult to define and mostly subjective.

Don’t worry, I’m not about to play the role of the style authoritarian (not that anyone would let me) who dictates what you ‘must-have’ for fall or the meticulous ‘rules’ of fall layering or the ‘latest trends’ you should follow. However, I do believe in gathering seasonal designer inspiration that I can translate and integrate into my own personal style.

Though fall may not be my season of choice, I enjoy dressing for it because I often feel there is something rather charming about autumnal layering. Maybe it’s something about piling on earthy-toned separates that so happen to complement the changing leaves…or maybe it’s feeling like I stepped onto the set of Love Story as Ali MacGraw playing witty Jennifer Cavalleri. Whatever that something may be, it strikes a fine balance between barely-existent spring/summer layering and barely-breathable winter layering.

Speaking of Love Story, I could picture a modern-day reincarnation of Jennifer Cavalleri wearing several looks (maybe minus the fur-adorned boots and bags) from Vanessa Bruno’s Fall 2010 collection. Particularly characteristic of the Radcliffe college girl were the looks that consisted of an elegantly structured coat over a careless yet polished prep ensemble. It goes without saying that I’ll be taking layering cues from Vanessa Bruno’s fall looks.

If you’re ‘fall’-ing short on layering inspiration (pun intended – I had to), you may want to check out these Fall 2010 collections that were a notable source of inspiration for me and might be for you, too:

Rag & Bone
Dries Van Noten
Jeremy Laing

–By Charmaine Li
Vanessa Bruno Fall 2010 (photos courtesy of Style.com)