Purchasing trendy, in-style shoes and accessories is one of the easiest ways to update your style from season to season. Certain items are classic staples that will be wearable for years and years — Oxford shirts, trench coats, leather jackets and red nail polish, for example. So as we gear up for fall fashion, keep your eye out for the perfect fall footwear. In this way, your shoes can serve as a small detail that adds an element of modernity to your overall look.

1. Platforms:

Platform heels continue to appear this fall. Although this style was popular throughout spring and summer, designers are showcasing new color combinations for fall. Popular colors will include black, white, beige, red, maroon, metallic, navy, brown and dark purple. This color palette is toned down — a step away from summer’s bright, neon colors and perfect shades for fall fashion. See designer looks by Dolce & Gabbana.

1. Chunky heels:

Shoe heels also change in appearance this fall. Swap out your stilettos for a supportive, comfortable, chunky high-heel. Look for a heel that is wider, covering more ground between your heel and the ball of your foot. For the most on-trend style, your chunky heels should have an almost squareish shape to them. Check out Fall 2011 Collections by Derek Lam, Chanel and Fendi for great examples.

1. Lacing:

For Fall 2011, lacing on shoes is super trendy. Some designers utilized more traditional lacing, showing shoe laces that travel up the foot and ankle and tie at the top; however, for a sexier fall look, many designers presented shoes with criss-cross lacing. Criss-cross lacing can be anywhere on the shoe, and it may not travel all the way up or down the shoe. The criss-cross design typically uses more delicate, stretchy lacing that exposes the wearer’s skin. See collections by Alexander McQueen, Rag & Bone and Balmain.

1. Buckles, tassels and fringe

As fall weather approaches, it makes sense that footwear becomes more substantial. This fall, hardware becomes the focus of many designer collections. Look for your favorite, in-style shoe shape that has been adorned with buckles, straps and tassels. Loafer heels and suede platforms are finished with hardware details. This addition gives many fall shoes a menswear feeling, but depending on the size of the buckles or tassels, the look can be quite delicate and feminine. Thin, repetitive straps on heels are a girly, classic detail. Collections by Tommy, Emilio Pucci and Louis Vuitton all include these hardware elements.