Fall is the season of comfort. Picture this: You sip on hot apple cider with a mouthful of earthy pumpkin pie after a midafternoon stroll through the wooded paths lined with the season's foliage—warm hues of red, orange, and gold. Later, you wrap yourself up in an oversize cable-knit sweater, where fall's chillier temperatures can't get to you. As we pack up string bikinis and dig into packed-up boxes of traditional plaids and soft wools, we find ourselves falling into classic styles that—unlike autumn—will never die.
Chronogram's fall fashion photo shoot bundles up Hudson Valley shops and designers to showcase must-have autumn wears. According to Michelle Elise, owner of Ellipse in Kingston, fall is the least trend oriented of the seasons and has the most classic styles. "You can always count on plaids being part of the fashion landscape," says Elise. "It is perennial. It's just a question of how you style it, which can be anywhere between by-the-books traditional and überpunk." Ellipse's seasonal collection is inspired by nature's fall colors, featuring pieces like dresses with fitted bodices and flared skirts (but with a vintage twist). Ellipse, which opened in May of this year, refurbishes pieces from flea markets and has a growing collection of goods from artisans and designers from around New Paltz, Red Hook, and Saratoga.
Although Paul de Marchin, owner of de Marchin in Hudson, notes that black is a classic fall hue, he says more and more color is popping up this season. "The traditional blue jean is being replaced by oranges, reds, green, and purples," says de Marchin. Sarah-Maria Visher, owner of the newly opened Tailored Mermaid in Beacon, says that whereas summer features the lightest, most comfortable fabrics, fall is about layering luxurious fibers, such as wool and heavier knits. Visher has a handmade knitwear brand, Meerwiibli, whose autumn collection is inspired by her home in Phoenicia. "I went with a neutral color palette, but incorporated much of my signature reds. Knit dresses are my signature fall pieces," Visher says. "They are supercozy but a bit more dressy than a sweater."
Chronogram fashion photographer Kelly Merchant chose Omi International Art Center in Ghent as the backdrop for our fall shoot. The 120-acre Fields Sculpture Park features over 80 contemporary sculptures scattered across the grounds. Art Omi, with its sloping hills, wooded plains, and expansive Catskill views, provides a harmonious space to cozy up on a blanket and look at the autumn foliage—a perfect spot to show off some of your favorite fall fashion.
