Four fall fashion trends you can live with

While wispy models may love wriggling into a shrunken sweater or blazer, lots of real women we know like jackets and sweaters with a little more . . . coverage. You too? Well then, this is your season.

Several designers have moved away from the cropped look and embraced the “boyfriend blazer’’ for fall. With its pushed-up sleeves and longer length, the oversize jacket will be familiar to anyone old enough to remember the birth of MTV. (We especially like the William Rast boyfriend blazers - single- and double-breasted - at www.nordstrom.com. Priced at $352 and $375, respectively, they’re not cheap, but they are irresistible.)

Long cardigans (St. John, $995) and vests also look fresh this fall, as do chunkier short-sleeved sweaters with a body-skimming long-sleeved top underneath. Pair these longer pieces with lean jeans or leggings and you’ll look casual and modern.

GO TO THE MATTE

Short nails coated with dark polish have been the hip manicure for a couple of years now, and this fall promises more of the same. So, where’s the twist? Rather than shiny polish, fashionistas are requesting matte manicures. That’s right, shine-free nails.

The matte polish feels a bit “like paint on the wall,’’ said Salon Capri’s Claudia Vieira, who’s manicured everyone from Katie Joel to Jessica Simpson to Tiffany Ortiz. “It’s very tricky. You really need to know how to do it.’’

Vieira’s loving OPI’s navy blue matte polish this fall, as well as that most modern of hues, gray. Because a drawback of matte is that it can flake more quickly than a traditional manicure, Vieira goes to great lengths to ensure the polish stays put. Her favorite look is a matte nail with just a hint of clear topcoat at the tip. Think of it as the edgiest French manicure you’ve ever seen.

For those who want to stick with glossy nails this fall, there are gorgeous shades to be had. Estee Lauder’s Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Black Amethyst is rich and grapey without being goth. And for a rocking fall pedi, try NARS’s Tokaido Express - deep purple with just a hint of gold.

JOIN THE CHAIN GANG

Pay attention to neckwear this fall. Long scarves are still part of the mix this season, and beautiful necklaces are popping up everywhere. Long and multi-strand or chunky and tied with ribbon, the right statement necklace can take a ho-hum outfit and make it shine.

The beauty of building up your accessories collection is that you don’t have to spend a fortune to modernize your look. The perfect piece of vintage jewelry might cost only a few dollars. And major retailers - from J. Crew to Express to The Limited - are carrying a wide array of affordable pieces that will keep you feeling current.

SHORT, BUT NOT SWEET

Knee-high boots are fall staples, but this season ankle booties are the footwear of choice. (Thigh-high boots will also make a splash this fall, but would you wear them to the office? Uh, we wouldn’t either.)

Short boots pair well with skinny jeans and straight or cropped trousers. But wear a pair of black booties (Elizabeth and James, $325) with a knee-length skirt or dress and you’ll be chic without trying too hard. Throw on a pair of black tights and - voila! - you’ll look stylish, lean, and elegant. -