FALL FANTASIES

The September Issue... you've seen the movie, now buy the current issue that did not inspire it (that would be 2007). I enjoy the comfort of hundreds of pages of economic stimulus, even if the magazine has more heft than the cover girl. But the autumn ads in Vogue were an uninspired bunch - mostly severely made up, sourpout models with laquer for hair, wearing plaid I'd be embarrassed to see lining a '70s suitcase.

A pity that we won't be allowed to at least dress nicely to face the hurricanes, earthquakes, and financial tsunamis of our Fall future. Did everyone hire Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke for their campaigns this season?

A few duds that aren't duds...

Tory Burch - Visionary

J. Crew Invokes A Scottish Ballet

The Royal Tenenbaum-Hilfigers (Preppy = Happy)

Iconoclast at Alexander McQueen

/Images/companies as attributed/

MAGIC BY MARCHESA

Design house Marchesa has long been like the runner-up for best supporting actress:  stunning and never quite taken seriously. For years, Marchesa's creations have been passed over as so much eye candy. Stars love the gowns, but the fashion elite have been much more reserved ...Marchesa is Hollywood courted, but never haute couture. However, a few forays into Indie style (body suits?) and their long term staying power may finally win Marchesa the Oscar. And based on the Spring 2011 collection, I think it's time to say, "the envelope please!"

Images, style.com

A NEW (NAUTICAL) YEAR

It's the New Year! Time for a fresh start! Even though those half-glass-empty prediction analysts keep telling us that most resolutions don't last more than a week. Ignore them! You can lose 25 pounds, learn French, win a marathon, become an astronaut, and win the lottery - all by next month! And you should look great doing it. You should dress like you're looking to a new horizon. Or sailing off into the sunset. In other words:  now is the time for nautical style. New resort collections are everywhere, but my favorite is Ann Taylor. And won't the great prices help you save on that other resolution - budgeting?

LOVE this necklace! Talk about stylish boat bling!

A few final stripes from Australian Vogue...

/Images/Ann Taylor/Australian Vogue via swingfashionista.com/ Deck picture, thefashionimaginarium.blogspot.com/

ALL THAT GLITTERS

Jingle jangle!
Shine and sparkle!
Here are a few favorite baubles to kick off what I may or may not yet be willing to refer to as the "holiday season" (on the defensible grounds that no holidays have taken place). But, if you're feeling rather festive because of, oh, a particular date in December, here are the spots to shop!

TORY BURCH

ALEXIS BITTAR

FRAGMENTS FOR NEIMAN MARCUS

JUICY COUTURE

KENNETH JAY LANE
All images, companies as attributed.

WHEEL OF FORTUNE

Tweed is in your future this fall...

Happy Friday!

/Images/ companies as attributed/

A TO ZEBRA

/THE KATE SPADE SUMMER BON SHOPPER, NOW ON SALE FOR $69./

/The zebra pattern was inspired by Scalamandre's wallpaper, patterning the classic and now closed Gino's of New York, pictured above./

/Images/Gino's/Kate Spade/Gwyneth/Scalamandre/Kate Spade/

FALL'S BEST NON-TREND

Fall, 2009....

...Season of the Snood. They were everywhere - and around every neck. The Wall Street Journal, in a fit of fetish, even declared that the snood was going to "save Christmas." But one year later, this relic of 20th century female propriety has again gone the way of, well, propriety, as designers offer scarves and collars as the au courant insulation against chill. 

Which is why I'm on a mission to save the fur snood! Why not? It's stylish, elegant - and need I mention the practical factor? - WARM. And despite a lack of runway presence, there are still plenty available, in many looks and prices. Here are a few cheap and chic options for fur fabulosity:

Or, break the bank on fine furs that will feel marvelous.

One of the best sources of fur snoods is vintage - don't overlook Ebay, local vintage stores, or grandma's closet! The snood also goes by the names neck-wrap, fur collar, cowl, and muffler (keep that in mind while searching). 

A few more looks from '09...

So, do you wear a snood? Are you going to start this season? 

Images, all group shots from Fashion Time; products: Shop Bop, TopShop, NY & Co, Forever21, Coach, Burberry, Helmut Lang. 

SADDLE BAGS

Fashion house Coach often reminds me of the lines from that old Frank Sinatra standard, I Get a Kick Out of You:

Coach was one of my earliest fashion loves. Those classic lines, the Americana styles, the careful detailing of leather that only a house founded in the tradition of saddlery could achieve. Yet over the decades, Coach has changed her style from staid, yet elegant, matron of accessories to a hip, label-happy young thing, hawking logo encrusted designs where all that shimmers is not hardware, but sequins. It's rather hard to fault them - targeting teens and young twenties with their Poppy line is a smart marketing move, as is embracing our brand-focused times. But I'm wearying of little girl style. Where will it end? Perhaps someday soon we'll be toting bags in pink pastels with rhinestone encrusted rattles and little diaper shaped wallets. No age is too young for inspiration. 

Coach's Poppy line: where the girls are.

I crave classics - style that a daughter would want to inherit, rather than steal for junior prom. And though I'm young, I enjoy investing in something my older self might savor. If nothing else, feeling as if a purchase will last for years is salve for the shopper's conscience.

Thus I'm excited by Coach's fall line, with its Hepburn tributes and lunching ladies vibe. It's style without sass, crayons giving way to class. I'll take the tweed over sequins, thanks much!

Images, Coach.com. Vintage Coach from DeniseBrain.blogspot.com. 

UNMASKED

Conceal - reveal. We all love a little mystery.

"Masquerade!

Paper faces on parade.

Masquerade!

Hide your face, so the world will never find you!

Masquerade!

Every face a different shade.

Masquerade!

Look around -

there's another

mask behind you!"

- The Phantom of the Opera

Gisele-No-Last-Name-Needed in a half-mask. Ooh la la!

This Halloween, why not dress as a glamazon instead of a goblin? 
A fashion doyenne instead of a devil? The new motto is Balenciaga, not blood! 

HERE'S HOW...

The inspiration: last month's French Vogue fete in Paris, a grand masquerade for fashion's finest to celebrate the magazine's 90th anniversary. 

The location: the Hotel Pozzo di Borgo.

The guests: France's fanciest.

Natalia Vodianova in a barely there lace mask (would you hide that face?).

Anna dello Russo in a hat and mask combined, and dressed as - a warrior swan? 

Elettra Rossellini Wiedemann continues the half mask trend - is she a wisp of lace, or a bird in flight?

Diane Von Furstenberg, fearless as usual! She transforms into a bird of paradise.

These stylish ensembles reminded me of the best master of the mask in Hollywood. No, not Johnny Depp. The queen of masks is Madame Hepburn.

In Breakfast at Tiffany's, Audrey Hepburn frolics in the Five and Dime in a cat mask and orange funnel-necked coat. Meow!

Ms. Holly Golightly answers the door, replete in turquoise sleep mask and tassel earplugs. She no doubt awoke each morning on a glitter covered pillow...

In the 1960s film How to Steal a Million, Audrey looks the part of a debonair thief - even though what she's stealing is her own. Why not party in an homage to Hepburn and Mad Men? Lace mask? Darling little gloves? Check and check.

At the French Vogue party, Karolina Kurkova channels the Hepburn lace mask look.

In the film Marie Antoinette, Kirstin Dunst employes an equally glamourous concealment.

Other famous faces have enjoyed going behind the mask - here, Kate Moss bedazzles in an easy do-it-at home style.

Sienna Miller glams it up with a feathery mask cum headband.

How glamorous will you be this Halloween? 

Images:  French Vogue Party. Hepburn images here and here. Dunst in Marie Antoinette. Kate Moss here. And Sienna Miller.