Alter Egos: Bright Pants

Aug 25th 2011 at 8:00PM by Genevieve Cruz

Since spring, the fashion world has been obsessed with color and lots of it. By now, you've seen colorblock dressing and have probably played with the trend. This fall, there's a different take on color. It's about one pop of color. The main item to get: bright pants! Many of the designer fall collections this year showcase the bright pant. So how do you tap into this bold trend? Though you may doubt it, there are many ways to make bright pants work for you. As we do with all our Alter Ego posts, we've created an ensemble for each of these styles: Casual Chic, Classic Charm, Eclectic Mix, Modern Vogue and Uptown Luxe. We based each outfit around these chic Red Pants by INC International Concepts ($70), but our style tips will apply if you're wearing another color as well. We're seeing orange, cobalt, chartreuse and coral as other popular hues.

Alter Ego: Casual Chic

For the woman who digs a casual, effortless vibe, we gravitated toward a layered look, which isn't only in this season, it's also fantastic for the transitional weather we're in. We have three layers: a cute, stripe scoopneck tee, a classic chambray shirt and finally, a soft, khaki-colored utility jacket. We like the idea of every layer being visible, so make sure to unbutton the chambray shirt. You could also fold the sleeves of the chambray shirt over the utility jacket to tie all the pieces together. For your shoes and bag, we recommend flats and a simple wristlet, especially if you're going for easy, breezy! For the rest of the accessories, we wanted to add a bit of funk, so we have a cord and chain wrap bracelet paired with some textured bangles and a cool-colored printed scarf, the topper to our casual chic outfit.

Coach, Lulu, KORS, INC International Concepts

French Connection Toulouse Stripe Tee, $48
Eddie Bauer Trailhead Chambray Field Shirt, $59.95
Tencel Utility Jacket, $99
INC International Concepts Skinny Leg Flat Front Pants, $69.50
KORS Michael Kors Erin Patent Leather Ballet Flat, $150
Accessories & Beyond Chain Wrap Bracelet, $150
Dillard's Boxed Collection Goldtone Bangle Bracelet Set, $25
Lulu Tribal Print Infinity Scarf, $18
Coach Kristin Leather Large Wristlet, $108

Alter Ego: Classic Charm

These bold red pants are a great match for a classic look. Inspired by Americana fashion, we chose a crisp white cotton poplin shirt, a navy blue v-neck cardigan and your basic cognac-colored belt. For jewelry, we thought pearls would be the fitting choice. The bag we chose for its classic shape and briefcase resemblance. It just seems so timeless! Our favorite item of the outfit have to be the shoes. They're unexpected! We could have chosen some nude pumps, but we love the flirty appeal of the open-toed, leopard sandals. For your nails, we like the clean and fresh look of a french manicure with the outfit.

Johnston & Murphy, Carolee, French Manicure

Cropped Pants by INC International Concepts
Platforms by Via Spiga

AE Short Sleeve Favorite Shirt, $39.50
INC International Concepts Skinny Leg Flat Front Pants, $69.50
American Vintage Navy Melange Cardigan, $95
Johnson & Murphy Wide Grain Belt, $39.99 (Retail $68)
Lee Angel Rhinestone Cluster Pearl Necklace, $130 (Retail $195)
Carolee Gold Chips Gold Pearl Stud Earrings, $30
ASOS Leather 70s Bar Satchel, $45.74 (Retail $91.48)
Sally Hansen French Manicure Set, $5.49
Via Spiga 'Iris' Platform Sandals, $225

Alter Ego: Eclectic Mix

The red pants are undoubtedly trendy, so we went a little understand for the top and selected a white top with ruched sleeves. The abstract printed scarf we chose complements the red pants to a "T." Keeping with the same color scheme, we found these feather earrings that are also spot-on this season. If you're a fan of the studded look, you'll definitely want to pair this studded bracelet with the studded crossbody bag. Last but not least, step out in style by sporting these cut-out booties. We love that they'll transition perfectly from summer to fall. Talk about getting your money's worth!

Streets Ahead, Stone Mountain, Bindya, The Limited

The Limited Ruched Sleeve Top, $26
INC International Concepts Skinny Leg Flat Front Pants, $69.50
Stone Mountain Studded Crossbody Bag, $75
Diba Selena Booties, $49.50
Binya Abstract Print Silk Scarf, $51.75
Streets Ahead Studded Bracelet, $44
Campice Feather Earrings, $75

Alter Ego: Modern Vogue

This red-hot capri pant would pair nicely with another saturated color such as teal. Layer on a sheer, airy kimono jacket decorated with printed florals to break up the bold canvases of color, and then slip on a layered necklace that echoes the entire outfit's palette. Playing with the colors through different patterns and materials in this way really shows that you are forward thinking when it comes to fashion. A few final details like comfortable Mary Jane pumps that compliment shorter hemlines, a belt to cinch your waist and a stormy nail polish color will leave a lasting impression on others.

Deborah Lippmann, Leslie Danzis, LOFT, Sofft

Topshop Teal Curved Button Back Shell, $56
INC International Concepts Skinny Leg Flat Front Pants, $69.50
Topshop Black Sheer Floral Print Kimono Jacket, $85
Deborah Lippmann 'Waking Up in Vegas' Nail Lacquer, $16
Leslie Danzis Garden Party Glass and Wood Beaded Necklace, $70
Sofft Florence Mary Jane Pumps, $87.20 (Retail $109)
LOFT Round Buckle Skinny Belt, $29.50

Alter Ego: Uptown Luxe

Give these loud pants a more sophisticated look by surrounding it with fashion neutrals such as black, white, nude and the favorite: gold. By keeping your palette and silhouettes more on the simple side, you give off an air of elegance. This colorblock blouse is very minimalist, but its silk material makes it look and feel luxurious. The pumps appear basic, but the suede covering and metal detailing make it stand out. To add interest, choose accent pieces with texture and dimension such as this faceted onyx ring, the cascading linked collar necklace or the woven and ruffled bag. For the grand finale, throw on a patterned, shawl-collared A-line trench coat.