It’s all about ruffles and pleating and bows. For those who love the victorian style (you know who you are) you never fit in so well. Truly romantic.

Before you start bedecking your self in head-to-lace, here’s a few guiedlines for your fall choices:

How to Wear it:

Avoid the stiffness of Victoriana by adding structure–Straight leg pants,  a pencil skirt or a coat with clean lines. The contrast is dynamic.

-snag a lovely sheer blouse and pair it with a suit jacket
-toughen up a pretty lace or tuxedo ruffled blouse with your favorite slacks or cropped capris.
-pair with feminine ballet flats in silver, neutral, pink or black.

Don’t:
-Wear ringlets, barely there blush, or bold jewelry.
-make sure the lace you choose to wear does not look like lingerie
-wear ruffles if you are more of an apple shape, big bust or waist,

I just joined a fashion blog network, and so I’m linking back…

Here

Designers have warmly embraced “country” again, and we’re not talking about the genre of music. Tweeds, plaids, checks and corduroys in rust, green, brown, camel all the colors of harvest. It’s almost an equestrian feel, it’s just missing the riding crop.

How to wear it: 

Keep it all in proportion with a nipped leather jacket, a short cape or a little fur vest. Say yes to riding boots or wooly boots or pretty much any “countryish boots”.

-pull on a long skirt, wooly socks and cable knit sweater…but keep it body conscious with a belted waist.

-wear a silk scarf in contrasting fabric/pattern.

-Have fun with slouchy knits or wraps in plaids, solids or both

- add bits of fur, the lining of your coat or gloves, maybe the trim on your handbag.

-wear a beret or woolen hat. and Keep wearing them

-contrast the fabrics, leather with wool or tweed with plaid.

 Don’t:

-wear too many patterns at once.

-get lost in the volume.

Considering that yesterday was the first day of fall, I think it is appropriate to launch a series of posts highlighting the key trends this season. Starting with-

Fall Florals: 
Strong throughout the fall selection is a variety of beautiful floral and art prints. Find these pieces of art shining on dresses, blouses, skirts, coats and even handbags. There is an impressionistic feel to both of these motifs, which gives them a feminine summery feel. .

How to wear it:
-Transition summery pieces by adding opaque tights, chunky knits, slim jackets and boots in ankle or knee lengths.
-Consider layering a filmy frock over a fine gauge wool turtleneck for an eclectic look that is subtle and sophisticated.
-Mix things up by pairing florals with tweeds and plaids for a unique personal style statement
-Fall brings flowers to necklaces, earrings, even shoes and bags. Wear them against solid pieces where they can shine.

-Strong eye? Yes. Dark lip? Sure. Big hair? No.
-Accessories should be stark and graphic, try a solid clutch or square tote.

Don’t:
Wear jewelry. It is liable to be a distraction with the plethora of prints swirling. However, do choose a good, substantial shoe.

This post is for the wives amongst us, and the future wives in the making. 

Wife dressing is many things:
An art.
A science.
A labor of love.
A means of self-expression.
And, above all, a contributing factor to a happy marriage.

Wife dressing begins with the traditional rings for your third finger, left hand. But the wedding ring is only the beginning. When your husband’s eyes light up as he comes in at night, you’re in sad shape if it’s only because he smells dinner cooking.

Most men claim to be indifferent to fashion, if not down-right afraid. They can contemplate outer space without blinking an eye, sacrifice their very lives in defense of our country, or even explore the dark cellar where you’ve heard noises—yet the mention of a shopping trip turns them pale and trembling.

Why? I don’t know.
But one thing is clear, however many times he may mumble inarticulately when you ask his advice he will respond to every facet of wife-dressing whether you’re being the hostess, the maid-of-all-work, or the devastating creature curled up on the sofa with a Midnight Snack for Two.

So how can you serve your husband through your dress?

You will need:
1.    A frank understanding of yourself
2.    A healthy attitude toward your new responsibilities
3.    A willingness to learn and
4.    A buoyant elation about being alive.

All this can be boiled down to one word: Discipline.
Discipline makes you the woman you are. You are you. Not the model in that photo, or the girl beside you in the elevator, or even the gal sitting at the next lunch table. Discipline is the secret to good grooming, no matter your budget. Discipline prevents you from being deluded about the squishing into the wrong size, or buying something just because it’s on sale. Discipline makes you a stickler for details which left unchecked could lead to a catastrophe.

Find part 2 and 3 at Empowered Traditionalist

What’s the perfect way to fix up those fingers for your next outing, “dress-up” event, or even friendly get together? Naturally we all would answer fingernail polish. Whether we wear it 24/7 or just on special occasions, fingernail polish is a lot of fun. The question now is what color goes best with your skin tone? What color will be most flattering? Here are a few tips to help you find your perfect color:

Fair skin
As a rule of thumb, you should wear lighter colors. However, one advantage of having fair skin is that you can sport colors that others could never pull off—
Do: wear red, light-medium shades of purple or  bright pink for starters. Each of those colors will look very nice with your skin tone.
Don’t: wear dark blue, gold, green and yellow.

Olive skin
For those with warm more yellow tones,
Do: darker colors, grey or charcoal polish. Also hints of copper or orange will be great for you.

Medium skin
You’ll look best in very bright, vibrant colors, even colors with a touch of metallic. (These will make your skin look more tan than it already is.)
Do: bright shades of pink, blue, and orange.
Don’t: Not-so-good colors are red, navy blue, and dark purples.

Dark skin
You can get away with bold and bright colors.
Do: burgundy, wine, dark greens and reds, (even gold!). Also, chocolate brown can look fantastic if it’s not too dark.
Don’t: Avoid white, silver, and orange. You might want to avoid those which are very bright or too light as well. Hint: take your favorite lipstick or shirt- those colors that look best on your lips and near your face will look best on your nails.

Good luck in your nail-polishing endeavors!

Fashion tip: This season’s mauve, rose, and plum tones are the perfect complement when combined with darker greys or browns to create a smoky eye. Grey shadow for eyes is not unusual, but on your nails? Several lines have produced nail lacquer in shades that range from freshly poured cement to deep-dark asphalt. If you’re not so daring, try a plum or taupe with grey undertones to achieve the same unique effect.

Do keep your nails short. Long nails are out.

Does everyone say you look younger than you really are? Are you being mistaken for a younger person often? For some people, this is a blessing. But for other people, it’s a headache.

Do:
1. Take care of yourself by washing regularly, using deodorant, and, for women, try to do your makeup as often as possible.
2. Fix your eyebrows. Some surveys say that when your eyebrows are done and put together, you can look more mature and therefore, look older.
3. Wear sophisticated looking clothes. Stay tuned to trends that suit your age or the age you want to look.
4. Consult with a hair stylist. Give a brief summary of your situation or just simply ask for a “mature cut”. Someone who follows hair trends generally is or appears to be older.
5. Listen to others. People who are good listeners appear more mature.
6. Be comfortable when talking to people who are older than you.
7. Wear heels, and wear a watch.
8. Focus on cute shoes and accessories. They make you look more “put together.”
9. Look for more neutral colored handbags. Look for leather, for some reason the older you become, the more leather you own.
10. Women: Wear Makeup. If you are a young woman, only use a little and learn to do it properly.
11. Care For Your Skin. If you have acne, do something about it. Go on medication, have a skin clearing regimen.
12. Keep up with current events. It is true that not all adults keep up with current events and it is almost impossible to keep up with all current events. But watch the news once in awhile. Being able to have an intelligent conversation instantly matures their first impression.
13. Be careful with your speech. Use proper English. If you’re using a lot of slang, you will not sound like a mature man or woman. Avoid saying “like” every two words. Enhance your vocabulary.
14. Choose a mature role model to emulate. Jackie Kennedy, Audrey Hepburn, Sarah Palin, women who you admire and respect.

Don’t :
-wear pastels such as bubblegum pink, light blue, sea green etc.
-shop at Abercrombie, Hollister, and American Eagle because they are symbols of teen style.
-wear plastic flip flops.
-wear extremely colorful purses

Headbands are a universal favorite with all lengths of hair, long, short, curly, straight. They have the added bonus of drawing the attention to your face, brining out the color of your eyes, adding variety and panache.
They’re perfect for a “quick, pulled together” look, when on the run or late for a date.

Do:
-Braid some tiny braids at either ear and cross them over like a crown, pinning them in place. Can go Bohemian or glamorous.
- match your headband with your eye color. Your eyes will pop.
-use a scarf instead
-wear 2 skinny bands simultaneously

Check out these celebrity pics: Headbands

While we’re talking about your hair- don’t forget- Now is the time to give you hair some rehab with a hair mask!

They’re long, they’re layered, they’re large or small and they’re absolutely smashing.
Pendants have made a strong appearance all over the place and can be such a feminine piece. (how many guys have you seen sporting an extra long pendant?)

-Do:
-go vintage shopping and find an inexpensive locket
-use a small pocket watch on a long chain for a pendant
-slip on a special ring or other memento
- layer a 2 or more of different lengths at the same time

-Use a ribbon instead of a chain, opt for a sheerer ribbon that’s easy to tie.

-Have fun!

Don’t:
-wear something ultra glittery unless you are going for a special night out. This is a more metallic, vintage look

If you haven’t noticed already, men’s wear has influenced women’s fashions strongly throughout the past few seasons. High waisted trousers are everywhere only to be outdone by the plethora of plaid fedoras.

To master menswear, begin with your basics: the button-down shirt and the crease-front trouser. These unisex garments, in a trimmer, more feminine physique, easily transfer from his closet to yours. Up top, layering’s the word and knitwear, vests and blazers work their masculine magic. Over a flirtified dress shirt with ruffle-front detailing, slip into a grey cable-knit sweater vest that’s aglow in academia.

Do: -

#1 Pair a cropped vest over a flowy tunic- It’s laidback but very chic.

#2 Pair a longer vest layered over a slouchy belted blouse

#3 Pair your favorite suspenders with a pencil skirt in matching or contrasting color.

#4 Wear a striped tie with a classic oxford button up, and cover it all with an oversized knit vest. Keep it feminine by belting your waist- any ol’ belt will do, but I prefer the classic preppy look of leather.

#5 Try a pair of heeled oxfords with your favorite jeans or a pencil skirt.

#6 Choose a sport coat or blazer that is tailored specifically for women, like this one above. No boys allowed in this jacket: The flattering look is for well-defined waists only.

Don’t:
Start wearing your brothers button-up shirts. I tried it, and it doesn’t work.

Avoid matchy-matchy head-to-toe fabric frenzies and choose signature pieces that give a masculine flair to your otherwise ultra-fem style.