Fall's Fashion Animals

Pack up the flip-flops and shorts. Bust out the boots and coats.

Cooler temps mean, well, cooler fashion. Fall is here, and now is prime time to hunt for that perfect wardrobe.

This season, think of the great outdoors: the shine of leather, the color oxblood, the texture or print of reptiles like pythons, tortoises and crocodiles. We call it animal magnetism.

These fall staples are just a few trends that made it from the red carpet to Chicago's shops. Such fierce finds as leather jackets, oxblood-colored jeans and snakeskin accessories are part of the must-have fall looks. They've got the power to transform outfits from edgy rocker to classic chic to gorgeous glam. The luxe-looking styles for men and women span all price points and go from day to (date) night.

This season, look to celebs Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, two actors who get it right on the red carpet and in their street style, said George Kotsiopoulos, a Skokie native and co-host of E!'s "Fashion Police."

For Chicagoans who want to be just as stylish, he suggests one item to add to their closets.

"The must-have for men is a textured or plaid three-piece suit, which is a great investment since it gives you three pieces to wear with many different things. And for women it'd be an oxblood leather [or patent] trench coat because you can toss a trench over anything and look instantly chic," Kotsiopoulos said in an email.

The trend that is out? "It would be too-short bandage dresses with exposed LBC. That's Lower Butt Cleavage. Not chic," he said.

Before racing to stores, come up with a shopping strategy, said Kellie Trumper, 33, celebrity stylist and founder of Lookstyle based in the Fulton River District.

"If you go into a store and you don't have a plan, fall can be so fun shopping, but it can also be super overwhelming."

Pick a vibe, be inspired by the trends and have fun trying them on, Trumper said. But don't buy it just because it's a trend or on sale.

"Dress for your lifestyle. Be who you are. At the end of the day, you have to feel comfortable and you have to feel sexy," she said. "Because if those aren't lining up, then you could look amazing, walk into a room, but you'd have zero confidence."

RedEye asked stylists for advice on rocking the latest trends, avoiding fashion faux-pas and finding the perfect look.

lvivanco@tribune.com | @lvivanco