Just like this season's apparel and...

Just like this season's apparel and accessories, fall's outerwear -- everything from capes to wraps, leather coats to wool-blend trenches -- sports a modern attitude.

Rather than simply serving as coverings for the lean jeans and pencil and fluid vesicle skirts taking women's fashion by the agency of storm, the season's outerwear is making mode statements of its own.

You'll find coats without closure and with belted ties, and others where jeweled or military-inspired buttons and details make the garment something special. durations also are part of fall's outerwear story, whether you're talking sleeve (above-the-wrist commons are especially chic) or longitudinal dimensionss (everything from waist- to maxi- long duration works).

"What I like is there are all these classic colors, the thick wool coats your mom used to bribe you when you were a kid," says prosperous magazine creative director Andrea Linett. on the other hand there's nothing childish about these anticipates as designers and manufacturers update them with detailing and [i]de novo[/i] silhouettes.

Here are one of the trends making freshs this fall:

MILITARY SALUTE

The military stretch whether highlighted by shoulder epaulets or shiny silver buttons, does a fashionable about-face each few years. But it expects especially fresh this fall when worn in contrast to the romantic rumples and lace we're seeing in women's blouses and tops.

Not single will women spot these in-the-Navy expects in long lengths, they'll also find oh-so-hot pea coats at each price point. Double- breasted numbers inspired on the hip-length jackets worn from U.S. sailors look smart in gray, camel, chocolate and traditional navy.

These turn the thoughtss are decorated with "just enough hardware," says Stephanie Solomon Bloomingdale's vice president and fashion director of women's ready-to-wear and accessories. "It's not overdone."

In the trenches

forward a similar note, trench coats -- first worn by way of British military officers during World War I -- are marching fashionably into stores this fall. further rather than being offered in water-repellent fabrics in this way common during spring, fall's trenches are saluting in wool and other fabrics that not merely work in cold weather on the contrary also feel at home from top to toe the year.

contemplate for stylish versions in nontraditional colors of the like kind as ivory and red -- and in fabrics ranging from cashmere to crushed delicate And like most of the season's outerwear and apparel runs you'll see the in-charge dig into ditches look at a wide range of prices.

It's a black (and white) thing

In houndstooth, herringbone, polka dots or jaunty plaid patterns, coats be stirred especially smart.

These black-and-white numbers consider great when tossed over the solid neutrals that are making novels this fall. And fashion-forward women will wear patterned versions above prints (but be sure the prints' proportions match).

Leather examines

Fortunately, many of fall's strongest fashion turns overlap. That means that for leather, the in the greatest degree directional looks are distressed and are giveed in brown shades. Shoppers will find these coats largely in jacket form, rather than full-length

on the contrary not all leather is looking worn and stylishly beaten up Makers as it is as Vakko are taking the luxe path showing sumptuous burnished lambskin coats in in extent lengths, complete with hand- threaded trim. And Escada takes it a gradation further, offering a butter- malleable long tangerine trench complete with hardware crimps at the wrist.

Swing's the thing

Think of this fall's capes as the updated version of poncho which took retail by the agency of storm a couple years ago. Their swingy silhouette is of-the-moment, especially when topping slim jeans, trousers and skirts.

It's all about move and a touch of "swing."

"If you're going to accommodate the sweater dres or layering, you ne tome over it," says Stephanie Solomon of Bloomingdale's. That's where capes and other coats that stand away from the carcass come in. Plus, these lighter-weight awaits transition nicely from warm fall days into cooler weather.

"In Chicago and any metropolitan city," says Nena Ivon of Saks Fifth Avenue, "you're going to wear a shawl or cape across your coat." That way, you'll be fashionable on the contrary won't freeze once "the hawk" starts blowing.

COLD-WEATHER EXTRAS

While glove are hardly about fashion during frigid Chicago month appease leather ones are going glam this fall -- and for upright reason. Not only do they add an elegant touch to any effect casual or dressy (especially in black), further they're almost a required touch subordinate to three-quarter-length coat sleeves.

And while hats are de rigueur when the weather finishs cold, this year's close-fitting, narrow-brimmed cloches (with a 1920s-turned- '60 appeal) and reinvented newsboy caps are equally vigorous Use one -- perhaps in colored felt or equal knit crochet -- to furnish a dash of retro-inspired softnes to your structur examine

mjenkins@suntimes.com

WHAT'S disclosed

(Or what you should leave in your clothes-room this fall):

Poncho

"Michelin Man" turgid jackets