After a great week of vacation in the desert (hope you enjoyed seeing my journey!), I want to bring us right back to what we do best:  Trend Forecasting. We recently presented the top Fall 2011 trends and in an effort to stay ahead of the curve, I have put together 5 key items for Fall to help you get a kick start on the essentials for your wardrobe.

I realize we are just getting into the thick of summer, however this is the best time to look ahead and find great deals on Vintage versions of these key items.  I have always been good at this type of shopping, and it is what I love most about shopping vintage.  Knowing what the trends are before everyone else can be very beneficial to your wardrobe.  I can scour ebay, thrift stores and flea markets and always come out with something that I will wear 1 or 2 seasons from now.  It’s quite genius actually.

In an effort to show you some current options out there right now that reflect the Fall 2011 trends, I’ve pulled some options from ebay and etsy for your shopping reference.

THE DOUBLE-BREASTED BLAZER

In our Top Fall 2011 trend “One Of The Guys” we highlighted the huge influence menswear had on the Fall runway. The double-breasted blazer took precedence and is a must-have for any woman’s wardrobe come Fall.

Look at the great vintage version’s I found (click on image to go directly to product page):

THE VICTORIAN BLOUSE

A high-collared Victorian blouse hits two of our Top Fall trends:  “Refined Opulence” and “Romantic Dichotomy“. This blouse will be seen worn both very ladylike and with a touch of fetishistic flavor.  For more diversity, keep the look elegant with a touch of transparency which will also help keep the look modern.

A few great vintage versions here (click on image to go directly to product page):

THE NAVAJO PONCHO

Our pick of a Navajo related item should be no surprise to some of our longtime readers as we often mention the ethnic influence in our trend reports. The Fall 2011 runway is no exception, showing an array of Western/Artisan inspired looks as illustrated in our Fall trend report “Crafting the Frontier“. A bold poncho will send a strong statement and is at the top of our MUST HAVE list.

Here are some great vintage options (click on image to go directly to product page):

A GREAT PAIR OF FLATS

We’ve seen numerous sky high heels marching down the runways season after season, it’s time to give your feet a break and invest in a great pair of flats. To compliment the menswear trend, find a great pair of spectators or loafers to pair with a blazer, dress shirt, trousers and more. Reference our trend report “One Of The Guys” to get great ideas for how to nail the look this Fall.

Look at these great vintage versions (click on image to go directly to product page):

FUR ACCESSORIES

Fur is making a major comeback on the Fall runway in everything from fur sleeves to shaggy  jackets and shoes. Vintage is a perfect route to score fantastic fur items, and of course nowadays there are also plenty of amazing faux-fur options. Fur is great to buy vintage because it is much cheaper and makes you feel better about re-cycling an older fur.  There are so many ideas for Fall, here are just a few.

Check out some great vintage options we found (click on image to go directly to product page):

So if you are looking to stay ahead of the curve, and save a few dollars along the way, subscribe to The Sche Report to find out everything you should buy each season before everyone else does.