Ahead Of The Bell: Fall Fashion Trends

NEW YORK (AP) — Hold on to your boots and skinny jeans from last year. Those are among fall's biggest trends, along with leggings and loose-fitting tops, say Lazard Capital Markets analysts.

Lazard combed nine September issues of fashion magazines and one August edition to pick out the looks and brands editors are focused on for fall 2009.

Boots — "Western, buckle, biker, booties, over-the-knee and suede" — are the No. 1 fall trend, continuing last year's popular look, Lazard said in a note to clients. The analysts said fashion editors chose lots of products from Jones Apparel Group Inc., whose brands include Nine West, Easy Spirit and AK Anne Klein, for their pages, and the company's boots are selling well this season. Deckers Outdoor Corp.'s popular UGGs line should also benefit, especially from its knit-boot look and the new mid-calf sheepskin Baily Button boot, Lazard said.

Women will stick to the skinny-jean look to go with their boots and loose-fitting blazers, tunics and blouses, the analysts said. Fashion editors appeared to like denim from Gap Inc., True Religion Apparel Inc., VF Corp.'s 7 For All Mankind premium jeans and Quiksilver Inc.'s Roxy line.