Real Women Wear Fall Trends

BEFORE: THE TEACHER

Name: Lin Dymond
Age: 59
Occupation: English teacher at Nyack Middle School
From: Palisades, N.Y.
What She's Wearing: Flowered sundress ("I just bought it"), Franco Sarto sandals
Style Ethos: "Very classic. I want that timeless look. I don't like to look like a kid. I work with kids, I don't want to look like them."
Her Trend: Prints

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Picking the Right Pieces "In the summer, I like to wear sundresses," says Dymond. "In the fall it's more suits and black sweaters. I like to accessorize with beads, pearls, and jade jewelry from South East Asia."

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Print-tastic! "We wanted to do hot colors not cold colors to compliment her skin tone," says Barnes. "Lin tried on five pieces and they were all dresses. She wanted something that was elegant but unconventional. We went with a dress made of satin so it was more appropriate for evening."

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THE VERDICT:

"This is very comfortable," says Dymond. "I would wear this out to dinner with my husband."

"Get the correct size if you want to wear it like Lin does or if you want to wear it with a belt, go for a size bigger," says Barnes. But be careful! Shirt dresses with a belt can sometimes look like a nurse's uniform."

Issa pink and gold long-sleeved dress, $570, available at Beyond 7, NYC, (646) 691-6857. Shoes by Bruno Frisoni

Shop for more print dresses for under $100

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BEFORE: WORKING WOMAN ON-THE-GO

Name: Rachel Mulcahy
Age: 35
Occupation: Lawyer/Chef/Owner Miss Reingold Catering
Originally From: Greenwich, Conn.
What's She's Wearing: Express top, Gap jeans, her mom's vintage jewelry, shoes by Boutique 58
Style Ethos: "It's pretty casual day-to-day, especially when I'm in a chef's coat! When I do get dressed up, I guess it could be considered 60s/70s mod with a modern twist."
Her Trend: Chic black with statement jewelry

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The New New Black "There's always so much black out there for fall so use it as your canvas, and then accent it with statement jewelry," says Barnes. "We saw this trend on the high fashion runways of Yves Saint Laurent, and Donna Karan. The end result is very chic."

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To Be or Not to Be? "I enjoy shopping. Some of my favorite designers are Diane von Furstenberg, Nanette Lepore and Trina Turk," says Mulcahy. "As for this sequined Tibi blazer, I like it, but I'm not sure that I would wear it. It's not all that practical for me."

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THE VERDICT:

"I loved the Reiss dress," says Mulcahy. "I would wear this out to dinner or a show. The necklace is bigger than I would normally pick but I love that too. Same with the cuff!"

Reiss dress, $177.50 on sale, available at Reiss, NYC, (212) 488-2411; Lulu Frost Black Geode Fringe Necklace, $355, available at Lulu Frost Studio (212) 965-0075; Moschino patent peep toe shoes, $765, available at Moschino, NYC, (212) 639-9600; Maia N. cuff, $250, available at maia-n.com; MJM 14karat gold bezel ring, $775, available at www.melissajoymanning.com; Nancy Gonzales crocodile clutch, $1150, at Neiman Marcus, (888) 888-4757 and Saks Fifth Avenue, (877) 551-7257

Shop for more black dresses and statement necklaces for under $100

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BEFORE: THE NIGHTLIFE GIRL

Name: Joanne Cruz
Occupation: Hostess at Hotel Griffou
Originally From: Los Angeles, Calif., and Houston, Tex.
What She's Wearing: All vintage, Coclico shoes
Style Ethos: Vintage shopper. "When I find good vintage, it's like finding a treasure. I'm happy for days."
Her Trend: Body-conscious dressing

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Snug Fit "At first, Joanne tried on a raspberry Temperley dress that was sculpted," said Barnes. "She said she wouldn't normally wear Lycra because she has curves. I would recommend it! Women who are petite should wear dresses that show off their nice shape."

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