When it comes to trends, Sarah Redfield says Central Oregon will see the bulk of its fall fashions about four to five months after the rest of the world.

The owner of Santee Alley clothing store in downtown Bend says she typically sells more practical or functional adaptations of trendy items. In other words, Central Oregonians may like to look good, but they don’t want anything too crazy.

Still, you probably noticed that fall clothing started filling the retail stores a month ago. Big-box stores are more likely to have the earliest fall lines because their corporate structure demands it. The independent, locally owned boutiques, however, have more flexibility in their buying, and some haven’t yet displayed their fall items.

Redfield’s small store on Northwest Brooks Street is already full of the signature fall colors and textures: burnt orange, wool and leather. After studying what the runways are dictating, Redfield says that this year, jeans are going long and lean, best paired with a high heel. Slouchy boots are also notable, paired with a bohemian mini-dress and a chunky knitted cardigan.

“Anything that’s a cardigan will be popular,” Redfield said in the future tense, which means she doesn’t know when Central Oregonian shoppers will catch the trend.

Other hot items: stripes and chunky knits matched with a floral chiffon shirt.

“The whole idea is to mix it up,” Redfield emphasizes. That means different textures — wool and leather, patent leather, cotton — and complementary colors from head to toe.

As for handbags: Purses and clutches are more structured, with multiple colors and textures. Shoes are going pointy-toed and retro round-toed along with the gladiator platform heel, which, on second thought, probably won’t be big here, Redfield says.

To help you work this year’s fall fashion into your wardrobe, we’ve broken down a handful of trends that you can find at a small selection of local retailers. We’ve focused on women’s fashion, as it has the most drastic seasonal changes, and women are the fashion industry’s bread and butter.

• Royalty: You’ll notice a lot of pieces that you would expect the British royal family to wear. Ruffled blouses, sculpted collars and voluminous sleeves are popular, as are cropped jackets, colored prints and rich colors like navy blue, royal purple and gold. Look for muted metallics to add extra shimmer.

Many retailers also have shirts or dresses with ruching, pleating, braiding, draping or other gathered fabric. This detailing creates dimension and can enhance the body’s assets. •Lace: It doesn’t have to be your grandmother’s doily. Try it in darker fall colors and as punctuations on a shirt, skirt or dress. •Jewel tones: A splash of color is a chic addition to neutral fall browns and grays. This can be in handbags, scarves, jewelry, hats, shoes, stockings and nail polish. When you shop, pick pieces that will match most of your existing wardrobe, and pair colors with their complements: green and red, yellow and purple, orange and blue. •Plaid: Plaid is all over the fashion magazines for fall, but be discriminating. If you want to make plaid work but don’t want to invest in a large piece, consider something like a plaid headband, scarf, earrings or handbag. The pattern comes in all colors beyond the traditional red and black. •Leather: Leather is a classic material that has remained popular over time. This year, cropped leather jackets, booties and purses remain in style, especially those with a rocker edge. A classic black leather jacket is a good investment that you are likely to get a lot of mileage out of. I noticed that Local Joe’s had some leather jackets on sale last week. •Feathers: Textures are popular, notably feathers. You’ll see these on purses, headbands and as earrings. Dramatic feather earrings are available at Habit in downtown Bend and at Blue, also downtown, with colors ranging from electric green to a softer black-and-pink. I’ve seen a lot of teenage girls rocking the feather earrings, which look like wild hair extensions. •Scarves: As a transition season, fall is good for bringing out your lightweight scarves. Whereas knitted or cashmere scarves are perfect for winter, fall scarves are better in silk or a gauzy material. I’ve seen gauzy and pashmina scarves in all sorts of saturated colors in most boutiques downtown and at the Old Mill, notably the locally owned Vanilla. Target always has some, too, for around $13. And make sure you’re wearing them right: I do one loop around the neck, then loosely tie the ends together under the chin. •Superhero: The box-office favorites worked their way onto the runway, with many looks borrowing colors or themes from your favorite superheroes or heroines. Apply this look with a fire-engine red lipstick or belt. I’ve also seen thick metal bangles at Target. As a general rule, less is more with the superhero look. •Vests: I thought vests would go out of style months ago, but they are turning up again in this year’s fall lines. I’ve seen them at nearly every clothing store downtown. The can add shape to a bulky or too-big blouse. •Layers: For longer dresses, trench coats and sweaters, expect to see bell curves, long layers, capes, clean lines and many robe-like dresses with hoods.

Many of the dresses in places like Hot Box Betty and Plenty are long and flowing, with layers built into the design. For a fun fall layered look, pair a cropped jacket with a long tank or graphic T-shirt from Old Navy, skinny jeans and booties. A bright gauzy scarf and feather earrings would complete the look.