A little more funkification

Allow us to introduce the two of you: Last year's silhouette? Meet this year's funk.

When these two characteristics come together, you get the mash-up look of fall 2010 - simple shapes, all glammed up.

Chunky belted cardigans remain a must, but they take a stylish turn with crocheted flowers blooming on the lapels. Fitted shrunken jackets are still to be paired with pencil skirts. But instead of muted neutral shades, think fiery reds, teals, and even mustards.

O, happy day. Those somber monotone shades signifying uncertainty have been replaced with the sparkling details of optimism. And at the same time, there's no pressure to spend too much. It's all about mixing oomph with ooh la la and searching for that basic signature piece.

Thankfully, long, lean looks continue to be in for bottoms, but this season they have more embellishments. Look for extra touches like an exposed zipper along a calf, or unexpected shimmery fabrics on what otherwise would be classic black.

"Go bold," said Ellen 'Shepp, co-owner of the Joan Shepp boutique on Walnut Street. "The strengths are in the unusual detail. This makes the silhouettes stronger."

Take last season's boatnecked sheath dresses in herringbones, shades of gray, and basic blacks. They were cute, but plain.

This year our favorite womenswear designers, from Milly to Nanette Lepore to Rebecca Taylor, have added tucks, ruffles, zippers, and stitching to the simplest of dresses, upping their sophistication a notch or two.

"We hope these details will make women splurge," said Candice Caprice, owner of Per Lei Boutique in Media.

Yet you don't need to dress up to be stylish. A lululemon yoga ensemble makes a beautiful statement, too. That's because fashion isn't about either/or anymore; it's one big and. These days, our choices are dictated by lifestyle, not trends.

So where to begin? Start by purchasing these two pieces:

"Tissue-soft floral print dresses are so cute layered under chunky cardigans," said Ann Gitter, owner of Knit Wit. The Center City boutique is home of the filmy frock a la Ulla Johnson and Alexander Wang.

Don't forget those patterned tights and chunky boots. Closed? Peep-toe? It's up to you.

With all these options, it was hard for us to feature only one predominant look. (Although we are partial to layering floral dresses with chunky cardigans, the honest truth is, that's only part of the fashion story.)

So we decided to go to a place where multiple looks, and personalities, reign: a college campus. Punk partyers hang with prepsters. Casually sporty professors nosh with suited-up deans. Serious athletes mingle with the seriously studious. They all meet here, where fashion, rightly so, follows lifestyle's lead. I