The Simply Luxurious Life - August 2010 - Plunge into Fall
Published: Sun, 08/01/10
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"A woman's dress should be like a barbed-wire fence: serving its purpose without obstructing the view." -Sophia Loren No. 2 August 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Plunge into Fall |
"What I see is that people are often intimated by fashion, it makes them frightened or insecure and that's why they put it down." - Anna Wintour The September Issue | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
all is like catching my breath after the summer season of trying to stay cool and squeezing in everything that warmer weather allows. As much as I try to slow down, it seems that the brisk cool fall air is always something I crave and until it arrives, I can't truly relax. With that said, my schedule, like so many of yours, picks up its pace as soon as summer is complete. However, there is a sense of relief and the idea of a new start when September begins - especially when it comes to my wardrobe.
The fall shopping season is here believe it or not, and with this newsletter I hope to provide information that will get you started on the right foot and moving in the direction you'd like to be traveling.
Each new season brings with it trends that quickly fall by the wayside (no pun intended), but believe it or not a handful of trends always convey the classics in a new way. For example, conservative glamour is back meaning less skin and more figure flattering clothing - belts about the waist, beautifully draped necklines and alluring sillouettes. Neutral tones in a variety of different fabrics, and grandiose accessories. Take a look at the list to the right of trends for this season to get an idea of what you will find in stores. As with every season, it is important to never stray from what complements your physique, skin tone, lifestyle and level of comfort. I do believe Anna Wintour is right regarding people's insecurities around fashion. What we see on the runways often feels impossibly unrealistic, but what we must keep in mind is what colors catch your eye? What shapes would be flattering on your body? How did they put that particular outfit together? Which accessories did they use? You can take away all of this information and use it in your day to day life even if you don't walk the catwalks. View it as a sort of live lecture series, where you are there to learn, absorb and then apply. If you look at it that way, it's much more appealing.
To help break down the possibilities of fall, I asked two bloggers who I have come to respect and be continually inspired by to help lead us through the maze of the fall fashions and beauty. Often times I find it easier to learn by example, to actually see how one person incorporates and edits out all of the information we are given in the many September magazines. And below you will find their detailed responses to four questions that I posed. Imitation truly is the greatest form of flattery, and I have a feeling you will be wanting to take a closer look at these two ladies. Let me introduce them.
Living in New York, Dawn of The Alternative Wife is a Senior Director of Product Development for Boom Creative Development and has been in the cosmetics industry for 14 years where she has developed
fragrance, lotion, makeup, and shampoo for everyone from Bath &
Body Works to Maybelline.
DeeAnne of Live the Charmed Life is a Lifestyle Designer who resides in Great Britain where she is currently working on her first novel, immersing herself in the French language and truly living a charmed life.
What are fall staples in your
wardrobe that you always stock up on?
Dawn: A few new pairs of boots, jackets
and blazers, new sweaters, especially lightweight cashmere so I can layer if
necessary and tons of scarves and tights. I also like to pick up a few
new statement jewelry pieces, especially rings and bracelets.
DeeAnne: My autumn staples are brown and black turtleneck sweaters,
scarves for colour, jeans, and boots. I throw a leather jacket on, and
wear that outfit everywhere. I also buy one pair of flats that I can
wear with rolled up boyfriend jeans and a cardigan, for warmer autumn
days.
Do you look forward to or dread the change of season from summer to fall? Why? Dawn: Oh most definitely look forward to it! I love it because fall is and has always been my most favorite season to buy for. Nothing beats the luxe, rich fabrics, textures & colors in my book. It's time to start to put some effort back into your appearance and how you dress, and I just love that. Also, I've already identified a few key pieces that I'd like to add to my wardrobe, most notably boots, shoes and coats. They seem to be what I gravitate towards first. This season I'm craving the Burberry leather bootie with shearling trim, Chloe Wooden-Heeled knee high black leather boots, D&G two-strap suede pump and Burberry Prorsum Cadet Wool Felt Coat. DeeAnne: I love the changing of the seasons! As autumn approaches, I look
forward to drives and picnics in the countryside, to see the leaves
exploding with gorgeous colour. I also love the beginning of football
season, wearing beautiful sweaters to the games and drinking hot
chocolate in the evenings. I think it's the perfect time to begin
cooking heavier foods, like fondue or Indian, after the lighter salads
and sandwiches of summertime, too. What sources/magazines/designers do you look to help guide your decision making? Dawn: I watch and follow all of the Fall
shows back in the spring, so I usually have an idea of what direction I will be
going at least six months in advance. I also constantly scour through
countless fashion blogs and magazines every day. In terms of magazines, I
read most fashion ones, both domestic & international, but I tend to favor
Italian & British Vogues. Also, I'm a big fan of street style, and I have a
few style icons {Olivia Palermo, Miroslava Duma, Julia Roitfeld, Leigh Lezark,
Diane Kruger & Sienna Miller} that I keep a close eye on year round.
Dawn: It's time to repair your skin and hair ladies! The summer weather wreaks havoc on both. You need moisturization and most specifically a retinol product which will even out skin tone and texture and bring the radiance back to dull, dry and sun damaged skin. In terms of hair, now's the time to go get that cut and color you've been putting off all summer. If your hair is dry, use a hair mask once a week. Also, it's a good time to add a shine enhancing shampoo to your regimen...something that will help remove build up and add luster back to your locks. Fall equals glamour in my book, and I
always feel like now is the best time to experiment with makeup. If
you're a gloss girl but you've always wanted to try a deeper, stronger pout, go
ahead and give that lipstick a shot. Gone are the dry, waxy lipstick formulas
of old. Tremendous advances have been made in the world of lipstick and these
days you can actually wear a bolder, more dramatic lip that feels comfortable
and looks absolutely gorgeous for hours. And how about a more dramatic
eye? Now's also the perfect time to go bold with eye shadow & liner. Extend that liner out a bit more for a little drama. And
let's not forget about nails. Deeper shades & new textures and
finishes are perfect to go with your
new wardrobe additions.
Thank you ladies for all of the fantastic suggestions, ideas and tips. Hopefully, you were able to glean a few, if not more, ways to welcome fall in your own way this season. Fashion really is a tool that can used for so many things and allowing it to help you be become the person you wish to be or already know and are happy to be is its amazing ability. I wish you all happy shopping and prepping for what looks to be a glamorous season. Enjoy the newsletter and I'll see you back on the blog!
Sincerely,
Shannon Ables Fall Ad Campaigns
    
 The documentary The September Issue goes behind the scenes and shows viewers the making of the grandest monthly issue of magazines - the September issue. I truly feel it will broaden your appreciation for fashion and help you to understand the power behind what you choose to wear every day. Besides that, it may help you to learn to like Anna Wintour, not just want her lifestyle. I genuinely enjoyed this film and made a special three hour trip to see it since the small town I live in wouldn't bring it to theaters. It was well worth the drive.
"One in 10 American women, almost 13 million people will get the September issue of Vogue."
"September is the January of fashion."
 And while the film The Devil Wears Prada goes about showing the behind the scenes at Vogue a bit differently, it none-the-less is a fun film to watch.
One Last Word:
An accessory that never goes out of style is a thrill to shop for each time fall/winter roll around - the scarf.
 The Scarf Solution - It really can be a solution for just about any wardrobe. Here are more than a handful of images to give you some ideas.
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