Boom Boom Pow! - Francis by Christian Francis Roth

If Kate Middleton didn't have the resources of the British empire, she might peruse the wool teal coat with faux fur festooning the neckline and sleeves of the Francis by Christian Francis Roth impeccably tailored Fall 2011 line selling for $528. Or, she might select the regal Alexandra Seemed tomato red dress cleverly contouring the body in navy trim retailing for $320.

Start saving for Francis ladylike dresses, skirts, coats and jackets in "look at me" pop-art colors and graphics. Store delivery dates are August and July, check http://www.francisnewyork.com/ for details.

/nancy brenner

Anni Kuan: Velvet: Flocked and Feminine

Anni Kuan was one of the most contagiously enthusiastic designers at New York's Coterie this year. Her line stands out for its texture, color and flattery of the female form. Also check out her glazed velvet zip coat for Fall 2011 - which looks like leather - with warm quilting underneath, but without the leather price....Look for Anni's on-trend velvets at better boutiques.

/nancy brenner

Ba Ba Black Sheep, Have You Any Wool?

No, sir, no sir, doesn't seem as if designers do - based on what's displayed at Coterie at the Javits Center for Fall 2011. Ponte, jersey, poly, the fancy soul-sister - lurex - are the dominant fibers.  Today's Fiber Sheet in WWD cites the costs of wool have risen by 40%, while some say raw increases for wool were in the 80% range.

What's a wool loving fashionista to do? Take your re-weaver to lunch - they will be in big demand for Fall 2011. Start shopping vintage. Start storing woolies in lots of mothballs or cedar planks in a sealed container. No wonder they were showing so many textured tights at the runways at Lincoln Center. And stock up on arm warmers at Tibi. And all manners of fur. Fall 2011 will be a cold all-seasons material winter. BRRRR.

A true sweater aficionado will explore Autumn Cashmere for the widest variety of texture, colors and trims and Lauren Moffatt for an interesting felted wool sweater and comeback designer Christian Francis Roth's contemporary line, Roth, for well designed wool coats and dresses in pop-art colors.

/nancy brenner

NOTE FROM GSNYC: For those of you who don't know, the image is Black Sheep's "A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing" album cover, one of the best hip hop albums of that year (1992), and one that I have a great affinity for.

Report from Coterie - SKIP the SPANX: Contour Patrol NUE BY SHANI

The war on tugging, pulling on body slips, half slips and skinny britches under full slips could finally be over. Oprah is already a fan. According to designer Shani Grosz, the line allows you to undress in your own bedroom or a busy Loehmann's communal dressing room without looking like you've stripped down to scuba instruction gear. NUE by Shani(TM) has put the shaping into the dress to firm and control common trouble spots - midsection, backs and thighs. Shani says the hem has a special coating at the bottom that keeps the liner in place and eliminates that embarrassing feeling when your blue skirt rides up and a funny colored non-matching, non-descript undergarment is peaking through underneath - practically tweeting - "see my shapewear."

The Body Architecture(TM) comes in a range of colors, so you don't have to stick with black. Missed some days at the gym? Camouflage arm jiggle from a few missed gym jams with spot-on Fall 2011 trend - sleeves with flounces! I suspect that women buying the line at Lord & Taylor, 600 speciality stores and in 44 countries are tossing their salad forks by the wayside in celebration. Middle East customers wear the colorful garmets to women-only "dress to impress" parties. Shani, will there be a line for men?

The line retails from $200-$350. Sizes 4-16.

/Nancy Brenner

Fall 2011 Trends: Hemlines do double duty as dusters...

Photo: Dan Lecca for Cynthia Steffe

...for your floors, unless you have a handmaiden to lift the bottom of your dress as you scurry about town. Boy blazers, boy flats with shoelaces, menswear-inspired plaids, shapeless bulky sweaters - for girls - why do designers design to dress dames like dudes? Guys look out for a little extra competition from women tomorrow at the Barneys Warehouse Sale who may be stocking up for themselves for Fall 2011. Leather everything. A resurgence of jade, emerald and sea foam greens -- redheads, this is your season to rule. Lush luxe fur looks in rainbow of hues. Sleeves on dresses are back - finally. Opaque tights - use those Lord & Taylor coupons now! Cozy neck wraps. Antique gold. Red. Color me happy.

/nancy brenner