With even Saks‘ cushy clientele scaling back purchases, fall looks to be a tough sales environment for many retailers.

But fashion pushes on, regardless of the economy, especially since Saks puts in sales orders for fall up to nine months in advance.

“It is a balancing act in terms of what we were looking at at the time we were buying, as well as making sure that we have appropriate presence,”  Saks Chief Executive Stephen Sadove said on a call with analysts.

Saks expects hot items for the season to include the romantic blouse, the tailored dress, the boot, big bold necklaces for women, and boots made to measure for men.

Saks is also betting women will continue to buy accessories such as handbags and cosmetics, even if they scale back clothing purchases. In New York, Saks is doubling the space of its Chanel boutique and opening up new Chanel, Guerlain, SK-II and Dior cosmetic areas, as well as renovating its third floor to eventually showcase over 35 designers.

Saks also says business at its New York flagship is still booming, thanks in part to European tourists and also its shoe department, which takes up its entire eighth floor and boasts its own zip code, 10022-SHOE.

Saks is expanding on the concept in Beverly Hills, Houston, Phoenix, South Coast Plaza and San Francisco stores, with 10022-SHOE Beverly Hills, 10022-SHOE Houston,  etc.

Saks on Tuesday posted a wider-than-expected quarterly loss and forecast weak sales through the end of the year, and said it expects same-store sales to be flat or down at a low-single-digit percentage rate in the second half of the year — a period that includes the crucial U.S. holiday shopping season.

Saks’ caution is a fresh indicator that spending worries have spilled over into the luxury sector, where shoppers are often less affected by higher costs for food and fuel or the housing downturn.

(Photos: Reuters (top); Saks (bottom)