"Some of the looks impressed me from afar, drawing my gaze with big coats, fun trousers or tailored jackets."

"In other cases, it was only up close that I noticed how special looks were, thanks to details like coins in the straps of loafers, the faded pony hair of a vintage handbag or the handmade quality of crocheted gloves. The looks, which you can read more about by clicking the images below, together form a tapestry of style and are a reminder that every outfit can tell a story. Sometimes, you just have to ask."

Writes Simbarashe Cha, in "Clothes With Stories to Tell/See all the outfits from around the world that were featured this year in our Look of the Week column" (NYT)(and I'd like to make that a gift link so you could see all the many photographs, but I've used up all my gift links for the year)(ADDED: gift link).

Can I derive a few hints on how to dress yourself? Yes: 1. If you think you are dressed, think again and add 2 more things, 2. Big pants, clunky shoes, 3. A hat and a hood, 4. We're not doing quiet rich, we're doing loud working class, replete with ludicrously capacious bag, 5. Leopard prints.

"Capes that flowed into skirts, coats on top of denim jackets and socks worn over tights.... layers were bright sweaters or cozy scarves... many people were covered up [or] wearing shorts, high-slit skirts or other layers...."

In case you want to feel as though it will be perfectly fashionable to throw on as many oversized comfortable layers of whatever you happen to find in your closet, look at the photographs at "Layers Upon Layers of Lively Fall Fashion/Capes that flowed into skirts, coats on top of denim jackets, socks over tights — and don’t forget scarves and sweaters" (NYT)(free-access link).

The article is by Simbarashe Cha, who works in the tradition of the much-missed Bill Cunningham. Scanning the photographs, I get the feeling he was working on sets that didn't pan out. One unrealized set is "twins" (2 individuals out and about while dressed somewhat like each other). Another is the double breasted jacket. Those pictures are tucked into fashion's biggest catch-all: layers.

I was reminded of the famous advice attributed to Coco Chanel: 

"While the runways featured many palettes, there were far fewer body types. Aside from at the Nina Ricci show in Paris, where people of different sizes walked the runway..."

"... models were as skinny as I’ve seen them in the more than 10 years I’ve been documenting fashion weeks." 

Writes Simbarashe Cha, in "Shades of Gray, and Then Some/During Paris Fashion Week, almost every color could be spotted on the streets and the runways" (NYT).

Look at these models. They all look famished and 5 out of 6 seem deeply depressed about it:

That's just part of the photo. I wanted to stress the evident starvation.

The whole photo — at the link — is something that deserves its caption: "Miu Miu’s latest collection included Speedo-style briefs in several colors. Only time will tell if they become as ubiquitous as its miniskirt."

The captions, by the way, are excellent. For example: "Feathers also appeared on the runway at Nina Ricci, where they protruded from this gown like acupuncture needle." And: "Walking with purpose can make a good outfit look even better." And: "Her crouched posture made the tiny bag seem that much bigger"... which I like to think of as small bag the size of a large bag.

Or... minuscule bag the size of a ludicrously capacious bag.