Who says flora and fauna hibernate for Winter? Even if the flowers or Spring’s runways (and gardens) are a distant memory, you can still look forward to incorporating a nature-inspired elements into your Fall wardrobe. Nature-loving designers remained keen on green and indulged in motifs of both flora and fauna for Fall styles. Foliage flourished in print, leaves were laser cut onto garments, fur reigned, feathers fluttered, making dresses take flight, and late blooms and frosty wintery blossoms brightened and lightened the looks of the season.

Key Elements of the Winter Garden Fashion Trend

Ice queens everywhere will be able to enjoy a little wild whimsy thanks to feather-adorned dresses and skirts, feather- and fur-trimmed collars, leaf embellishment, and cool winter floral prints.

Fashion Designers Leading the Winter Garden Fashion Trend

Jean Paul Gaultier Fall 2008

Jean Paul Gaultier let foliage and furs flourish run wild throughout his collection using prints and pattern influenced heavily by the hunt, creatively incorporating furs, exotic animal skins, tribal prints and camouflage-colored leaves and florals that take their cues Mother Nature's raw, primal side. The slaughter was inescapable as faux tiger parkas and trench coats, stoles (complete with feet), pelts as hats, and even a crocodile jacket decaled with tails traipsed down the runway on the backs (and heads) of models.

Fendi Fall 2008

The autumn-woodland theme popped up again in Karl Lagerfeld's Fall 2008 collection for Fendi, with fur very politically incorrectly making its trademark (and rather mind-blowing) appearance in his handcraft. Aside from the exemplary execution of fur fashioning, Fendi also featured more subtle natural details such as leaves laser-cut onto jackets and purses, feathery fringe, and frills evocative of plumage.

Burberry & Ralph Lauren Fall 2008

On the topic of feathers, Burberry helped its dresses take flight with plumage and downy tufts, and gave an edge to accessories with talon-esque metallic bling, while Ralph Lauren punctuated a chic collection with a bit of wild flair most notably using feathery trim on glamorous dresses, poking gravity-defying feathers in hats and neck-pieces, and with leopard prints adorning accessories, jackets, vests and jumper dresses.

Dries Van Noten Fall 2008

Nature-lover Dries Van Noten used a few, big and bold blossoms in his Fall 2008 collection, but mostly he replaced last season's giant painterly blossoms with micro-flowers, which appeared on narrow, chiffon mid-calf sheaths, tunics, and at the finale, on two fabulous floor-length fan-pleated dresses. And of course, fur.

How to Wear Fashions from the Winter Garden Trend

With the exception of a beautiful late-bloom floral or foliage printed dress or blouse, less is most definitely more when it comes to taking a page from the dominant wildlife in the Winter Garden. In the city – and out of their natural habitat – fur (or faux fur if you prefer),  feathers, plumage and petal-inspired textures, and garland-like details pack the most tasteful, stylish punch when used both singly and sparingly.

Fur Fashions: Where the Wild Things Are

Use a fur stole as a glamour-adding accessory to an otherwise unassuming outfit, or indulge in the warmth of a jacket or coat with a lush fur collar or fur trim. And if you’re so inclined to wear a fur coat or jacket, remember that nothing looks worse than a cheaply made fur garment (whether genuine or faux), so invest accordingly.

Plumed Fashions: Birds of a Feather Flock in Style

Designers are exercising their innovation muscles with the use of feathers beyond they expected feather-in-cap act, so go ahead and have fun with the rest of the flock. From hats and handbags to gloves, you’ll be able to find all sorts of accessories trimmed with plumage this season. As with fur, a feathered accessory, downy scarf or feather-collared jacket or coat is a fantastic way to invest in this trend without the risk of looking too bold or breaking the bank.  To truly give the feather trend wings, you can drop a bit more coin on a feather-sheathed skirt, dress, gown, or coat. These big-ticket items are show-stoppers, though, and not for the fashionably faint-of-heart. You might also want to reserve these fully plumed garments for special occasions and evening attire, as they’re typically a bit too avant-garde for most workplaces.

Flowers in the Winter Garden

Late blooming flowers are making Fall and Winter statements in both large and small prints, but the petal itself also inspired texture and trim in the cooler seasons’ fashions. Layers of light, fluttering fabrics in ominous shades like pewter, charcoal and black help to counterbalance the Spring appeal that typically goes with flowers. Textile fabrics are being formed into ruffles and frills that borrow from the bird’s regal plumage; look for these treatments as neck-pieces, skirts, and even entire dresses. To make sure your florals don’t look out of season choose prints or treatments in dark, more saturated hues of purple, deep blues, reds and burnt orange, just like the latest-blooming flowers.

Fun with Foliage

Designers’ penchant for green extended to the use of leaves in prints and as unexpected details like black garlands of trim and laser-cut leaf collars. Leaf elements are a fresh, more masculine alternative to flowers, so feel free to play with foliage prints and especially accessories that adopt the foliate form.