Fall Favorites

The magazines will shortly be booming with the latest trends for the coming season. Already it seems that early favorite themes are Imperial Russia/Military, Victorian Ruffles, Frontier Cute/Mongolian Invasion, Fur, Fifties/Futuristic, and of course, Black is Back!

Personally I've been looking forward to a return to black - like I always do this time of year. Too much sun and heat seem to lull me into the belief that dressing in black may bring colder (nicer!) weather. So far black has done very little to ensure that.

Other than black and fur I find myself somewhat luke warm towards all of these trends - we've been there before and besides, who wants to do exactely what the trendsetters tell us to do? However, they all have their glimmers of light as well as their somewhat dull and tedious aspects.

One trend that I will be sure not to sport this season is the overgrown beads. Still with us I'm afraid. Ridiculously overgrown pearls, yes! Beads... Not exactely hot for them. To me they say too much 'let's follow the 1970s kindergarten teacher' and not enough 'intelligent and independent individual' because it is not the tasty 1920s and 1930s necklaces - long, fun, extravagant - that are out there, but the awful plastic and wooden ones of the 1970s. Why? Most of them are ugly. I rather expect them to be completely forgotten by this time next year, or perhaps they will have evolved (devolved...) into the sleeker and more stylish look of the roaring 1920s.

Another trend that I certainly do like is the flower accent. For years I have worn a big rose in my hair and various floral jewelry, I have old boots with embroidered flowers on the shafts and I generally adore flowers. I shall be happy to continue incorporating flowers of all sorts in my wardrobe this Fall and Winter.

I have decided that this year my favorite colours are probably teal, purple, orange, red - and as always the basics: black, grey, brown, and navy. Teal is a colour I decided to like last year - purple too, whereas orange is a newcomer. Red has always been a favorite, perhaps because my mum always thought I looked so cute in red.

Textures of all kinds: smooth, slugged, soft, coarse, raw, fuzzy, and preferably all mixed together to create exciting and perhaps surprising looks.

I want dresses - long and short - and I want them tailored from great gabardines and other woven fabrics as well as comfy and casual from knits and jersey. Puff sleeves and skirts, and tee-shirt dresses. I have a few new designs in mind and just need to find the time to make them.
As always I'm looking for those beautiful and comfortable natural fibers, and the plan is to make a new Winter coat from a silk and angora blend. It will be accented with micro suede and perhaps a satin trim. I do believe that it is going to be a coat I will wear for years to come.

Did I mention fur? Yes, I am one of those evil people who wear cute little animals just to stay warm and look fuzzy. I see no need to defend the fact that I like and wear fur - I also eat meat and I accessorize with leather shoes, belts, and bags. Besides, fur - acutal fur - is so warm and cozy, and it gives you a feeling of exclusive style that hardly any other garment can do.

Fall and Winter is going to be great! Aaah, to actually dress again, to wear proper clothes again, to wear wool again - I can hardly wait. Fall is my favorite season, and I do believe that it will bring many new fashion favorites.