Fall/Winter trends: rich fabrics with a modern twist

Whether it's the season's recurrent velvet, leather, or fur - these new interpretations will keep you from looking passé.

Leather comes in all shapes and sizes this fall - be it a soft coat in unexpected colors such as Valentino's teal version or a little black dress like Arzu Kaprol's that was a far cry from dominatrix clichés. Pairing leather with metallic accents, as Gareth Pugh did, for instance, also changes its feel immediately.

Fur is back in a big way this winter, with many designers offering fake options. But while a full fur coat is timeless, a modern update comes courtesy of Louis Vuitton, Versace, Burberry, and Miu Miu who only integrated fur elements into their looks - sleeves, collars, caps, and even belts, respectively. Roland Mouret showed fur boleros, which also makes for a lighter feel.

Finally, expect velvet to be everywhere on this season's store racks - opting for hot red mini dresses for the evening, as seen at Dior, or going for a floral-printed version like Ashley Isham's will keep you looking up-to-date.