Shopping in Winnetka

Though it's been months since Anna Sui and Zac Posen debuted their fall collections at New York Fashion Week, the coat-and-scarf weather necessary to don their looks has only just arrived. The trends that emerged on those runways ran the gamut from grunge revival to stark gray minimalism. Some pieces may prove to be gleeful impulse purchases you only wear twice, while others become timeless classics that transition easily from one year to the next. Find both this season with these high fashion–inspired looks. The Look: Shades of Gray This look combines two trends into one outfit: gray and the rounded-shoulder coats seen in collections from Gucci, Jil Sander, and Céline. Pair a chunky sweater with a mini underneath, being careful not to match your gray tones too much. 1. Cold Picnic erosion stud earrings; Penelope's ($60) 2. Graphite sweater; Mango ($24.99) 3. Jersey skirt; American Vintage ($138.84) 4. Grey City boots; Wave ($219.95) 5. Collarless coat; Eva Pazola ($1,650) 6. Burgundy handbag; Brooks Brothers ($598) The Look: Emerald Green A green-and-blue plaid capri pant ties the vibrant pumps to the rest of the look. A crisp, long blue blazer keeps things work appropriate, and metallic accents both complement the shoes and toughen up the look. 1. Navy blazer; Mango ($54.99) 2. Embellished emerald pumps; Ted Baker ($195) 3. Fortuna necklace; Laura Lombardi ($200) 4. Studded gold envelope clutch; Francesca’s ($34) 5. Chelsea Flower blouse; Intermix ($188) 6. Plaid pants; River Island ($46.80) The Look: Grunge Revival While many of us grew up with, and out of, this trend, it’s back with a glamorous spin. A classic anorak jacket toughens up a sweet black mini dress paired with—what else—combat boots. Plaid-patterned tights subtly reference flannel, and a veiled beanie adds an air of playful mystery. 1. Anorak jacket; American Eagle ($89.95) 2. Cross-body bag; Francesca’s ($38) 3. Veiled beanie; Topshop ($28) 4. Combat boots; Lori’s Shoes ($254.95) 5. Slip dress; Stolen Girlfriends Club ($264) 6. Plaid tights; Francesca’s ($12)

A mermaid-tail designer and a full-time mermaid model explain why the year’s boldest swimwear trend is actually an environmentalist statement. For countless kids, Disney’s The Little Mermaid was just confusing. Who would want to give up life as a mermaid? they wondered. These kids soon realized the question was moot. Their dreams of accessing an underwater world—and of propelling themselves through it with a sinuous, scaly tail—were impossible. But for two such kids, the dream didn’t end there. In 2014, designer Eric Ducharme and model and environmentalist Hannah Fraser (pictured above) are pioneering mermaid fashion, a movement that’s just as healthy for the earth as it is for the imagination. Eric Ducharme, Merman and Mer-Outfitter Mertailor CEO Eric Ducharme doesn’t just believe in mermaids—he can help you become one. His shimmering tails are custom-made for clients and fully functional when it comes to navigating the briny deep. These tails and their accessories aren’t toys, however. They’re haute couture items, made in Ducharme’s Florida Gulf Coast studio from silicone ($600–$5,000+), spandex ($185.50–$300+), and real seashells ($37.10+). Their lifelike quality is responsible for Mertailor’s reputation as one of the world’s premier mermaid-tail designers. The company has drawn high-profile clients such as Lady Gaga, who unveiled a mermaid persona named Yuyi on French television show Le Grand Journal, and Flo Rida, who featured mermaids in the music video for "Can't Believe It." For Ducharme, mermaid tails are more than a statement piece. “[Wearing a tail] allows you to join in and feel that you’re part of the water element,” he said. And he should know—before he began Mertailor, he built tails of his own for swimming in Florida’s springs, where he’s felt at home since childhood. Today, he advocates for those springs. “[They’re] where we get our water from. If we don’t take care of it, we eventually destroy ourselves and our kids.” With Mertailor, he aims to draw attention to environmental issues that affect marine life while simultaneously fulfilling some people’s childhood dream. After all, “[making] something so beautiful definitely grabs people’s attention.” Hannah Fraser, Mermaid and Activist When asked about the growing popularity of mermaid culture, Ducharme named Hannah Fraser as one of its most influential stars. You may already know Fraser if you’ve seen the Oscar-winning documentary The Cove—she’s the model and activist who protested the slaughter of dolphins in Japan alongside actress Hayden Panettiere. Fraser has made a full-time job out of mermaiding. She wears her tail to draw attention to environmental issues, including ocean pollution and marine-mammal captivity. During excursions to desolate parts of the sea, she holds her breath for minutes at a time as she swims alongside the local wildlife: giant whales, manta rays, and even sharks. Filmmakers and photographers record her dives, and she shares the resulting media on her website, hoping to raise appreciation for the intelligence and grace of sea creatures. Fraser agrees that mermaid-inspired styles—sea-colored ombre “mermaid hair,” for example—are getting more and more mainstream. And, like Ducharme, she believes that there’s an environmentalist heart beating within these trends. “[They’re] rooted in a desire for humans to reconnect with nature,” she said. “The ocean is the birthplace of all life on earth, and the mermaid is a visual representation of the bridge between humans and the sea.” Wearing a tail might be the boldest way to show your environmentalist leanings, but it’s not the only way. “I love companies who are trying out alternative fabrics like bamboo, recycled materials, [and] eco-friendly dyeing processes,” Fraser said. In particular, she recommended Susan Rockefeller, an ecologically minded jewelry designer. Rockefeller’s cultured Ming pearl earrings ($190) and silver and topaz sea-urchin rings ($575) share Fraser’s foremost goal: to celebrate the beauty of marine life. Photos: top, Hannah Fraser photographed by Stuart MacLeod; bottom two courtesy of Mertailor

There’s hardly a more quintessential autumn day than one spent at an apple orchard. It’s crisp, yet sunny, and leaves crunch underfoot as you wander among branches hung heavy with sweet, ripe fruit. For those looking for more than just enough fruit to bake a pie that rivals Hoosier Mama's, many area orchards offer visitors a day full of fall festivities, from farmer’s markets and pumpkin patches to duck races and petting zoos. Though comfort is important on these long days spent outdoors, fall fashion provides ample opportunity to look both chic and rugged while layering against the October chill. (And if it’s unseasonably warm, you could always cool off with one of Edwards Orchard West’s infamous cider slushies.) His Look Simple chinos and a soft henley build a comfortable base for this outdoorsy outfit, but the classic bomber and pull-on Chelsea boots introduce a stylish edge. The printed scarf adds an unexpected pop of color, helping friends find you if you get lost in a sea of trees. The backpack, of course, is perfect for storing the edible spoils leftover after firing off a couple of fujis in Jonamac Orchard’s apple cannons. 1. Gray henley, Todd Snyder, $125 2. Filson backpack, Haberdash, $228 3. Wolverine Chelsea boots, Una Mae's, $270 4. Leather bomber jacket, Jack Spade, $1,295 5. Navy chinos, Jack Spade, $175 6. Graphic scarf, Suit Supply, $65 Her Look The burgundy hue of these pants updates this traditional sweater-and-jeans combo, and the pretty ivory shade of the cable-knit pullover is picked up again in the floral coat. Like the coat’s print, the cloche hat adds a uniquely feminine touch, though the leather tote prevents the ensemble from feeling too girly. Bonus: the riding boots will keep you looking cool, even if you have to have a kid show you the way out of All Seasons Orchard’s Scooby Doo corn maze. 1. Dayton floral coat, Tory Burch, $850 2. Baggu leather tote, Penelope's, $160 3. Cloche hat, Goorin Bros., $130 4. Cable-knit sweater, Jaeger, $291.65 5. Burgundy skinny jeans, AE, $39.95 6. Pink and Pepper riding boots, Francesca's, $64