By Kim Parrish

Clothing designs for fall 2007 are proving to be popular among fashion critics and fashionistas everywhere. The consensus is the upcoming looks are not only stylish but wearable and easy to translate into your own everyday lifestyle.

Every spring, the fashion industry waits to see what the top designers unveil during New York City’s Fall Fashion Week and then scrambles to make sure these styles arrive in our local stores in time for the fall shopping season. This year, the runway shows featured three strong trends we should seek out when trying to refresh our wardrobes. From geometric prints to pinstripes, I’ll show you how to decipher the designers’ concepts and make them your own. By simply adding a few key pieces to your tried-and-true basics you can have your existing wardrobe affordably and fashionably updated before the leaves start falling.

The most popular trend for 2007 is the influence of the 1960s. We’re seeing refined, feminine silhouettes that are all about seaming, volume and trapeze shapes, according to Hilda Batayneh, New York City fashion designer. “The ’60s have also helped influence the print direction for the season, including exploding prints and geometric patterns,” says Batayneh.

The simple addition of a cropped, trapeze-style jacket can breathe new life into your basic button-down and wide-leg trousers. If a structured jacket doesn’t fit your lifestyle, try introducing a new tunic in a ’60s-inspired pattern, or a balloon-sleeved top to your skinny jeans and ballet flats. You’ll be comfortable and stylish.

Another popular look for the season is the menswear inspiration.

Tailored designs and serious color palettes inspired designers to recreate the power suit at the New York City fall fashion shows. We saw pinstripes, shades of gray and three-piece suits dominating catwalks and leaving women wondering how to maintain their femininity while wearing this popular trend. Thankfully, designers kept this in mind while also creating more fitted, body-conscious silhouettes, and pairing oversized jackets with slender-styled bottoms like skinny jeans or pencil skirts.

“This trend is all about layering and playing with the different proportions of the season from cropped jackets, corseted wovens and wide-leg pants,” Batayneh said.

To soften this style, pair pinstripes with a lacy feminine blouse or top it all off with a sensational floor-length faux fur coat. If you make only one investment in the menswear inspiration, buy a classic gray vest and wear it with your existing button-downs and wide-leg trousers.

Finally, luxe is the “it” look and everyone is sporting this glamorous trend. From metallic hues to heavy beading, this fall is all about luxury, and designers aren’t shying away from the shimmer. In fact, they’re saying more is better. Add matte silver or pewter for daytime and gold or copper to your basic blacks for an evening look.

What’s the best way to infuse a little golden glow into your closet? Carefully. For the faint at heart, stick to accessories like a metallic handbag or wide obi belt. For the more daring and dazzling, spice up your favorite jeans with a metallic gold cropped jacket or add a shiny silver tank top to your basic gray pantsuit.

So with these new styles in mind, how do you give your wardrobe an updated look? At the earliest sign of fall, the true fashionista is anxious to be first to grab the latest styles. But the changing seasons and ever-changing styles don’t mean you have to rush out and splurge for an entirely new wardrobe. “The best way to update your wardrobe for fall 2007 is simple,” says Batayneh. “Start with the clothes you already have and mix and match in a few new seasonal must-haves, giving your basics a new life.”

Once you’ve built the basics in your closet as fundamental foundation pieces, you can mix in any style and trend no matter what the season or how the designers are showcasing the latest looks.