Six steps to a beatiful look

FALLING IN STYLE WITH THE 1890

Fashion follows a pattern of predictable reversals to keep itself fresh. If
this summerõ?Ts girl was a lusty peasant in flared cuffs, folksy denim and
leather, then her sequel is bound to be a prim Princess in tailored velvet
jackets and knee high boots. Hard looks follow soft ones, long skirts follow
short and bizarre little twists unnerve enough to keep us shopping for
seasonal pieces. If youõ?Tre smart youõ?Tll make tiny changes to update your
wardrobe and ignore the more outlandish (and expensive) urgings of the
glossies. One beautifully cut jacket and a great pair of boots are THE style
survival basics for fall, and the rest, well that depends on your hips, your
budget and your Cinderella fantasies.

The JacketFallõ?Ts jackets are a little bit theatrical. Think Napoleon, Adam
Ant and late seventies Oscar De la Renta and you have the jacket of the
moment. Epaulets, snug square shoulders and high collars cut a flattering
swathe and take us away from the predictable black leather jacket worn
eternally by Meg Ryan and Rachel on õ?oFriends.õ? The romantic cut of this
seasonõ?Ts jackets can be worn with a paisley silk scarf or romantic blouse
with lacy frills for evening. During the day it looks best worn laid back:
Try a roll neck sweater or long sleeved T in a bold stripe. The new tailored
cavalry jacketõ?Ts waist skimming lines suit a slender trouser, jeans or a
knee length slightly flared skirt.

The boot
Boots on the runways in Europe nudged the knees and reached thigh high at
Gucci. A more moderate version looks hot reaching the top of the calf and
sports a slightly lower heel -- the better to stride rather than hobble.
After years of pointed toes, boots for fall are less witchy and sport a
rounder toe.

The beauty of investing in a great pair of boots is the *** appeal they lend
seemingly innocent and even plain items. Boots transform a gray wool shift,
a kilt or a little hand knitted cardigan into something sassy. Wear them
bare legged with a straight tweed skirt and a cavalry jacket to lead the
stampede.

The crazy knit
The sensible cashmere twin set in pretty pastels has passed. In its place
are English eccentrics: sweater vests with sweet rows of knitted stitches
across the front. Softening the edges of tailored skirts and trousers are
hand knits made to look like jackets, cable knits in shrunken proportions
and tight little cardigans sporting whimsical buttons. Pull one on and the
season when libraries, long walks and bicycle rides through crunchy leaves
beckons.

The pencil skirt
Women cringe when this skirt shape comes back, reaching for killer heels and
Spanxđ power panties to straighten their lines. If your shape is string
bean, by all means wriggle into the seasonõ?Ts herringbone tweed pencil
skirts. The rest of us can avail the alternatives: leather skirts flared
slightly at the hip, wool lycra (infinitely forgiving) or a sweet little
kilt.

Try a straight skirt one size bigger -- just donõ?Tt buy a thing until youõ?Tve
found a coordinating dream jacket. A tightly tailored top affords a longer,
more generous skirt, and tall boots shave pounds off your frame. Above all
keep your skirt plain: no flounces, no distressed denim and absolutely no
chunky hip belts.

The bag
After so many slouchy suede shoulder bags, fringed denim duffels and canvas
weekenders, the pleasure of an autumn bag dwells in its structure. Tapestry
carpet bags ala Mary Poppins and little velvet handbags for night add a dash
of Victorian splendor to streamlined suits and military jackets.

Corsets, crosses and curls
Plan for 1890s decadence this fall. Corsets in velvet and damask worn with
chokers, crystal crosses and sweeping skirts make an office girl feel like a
Russian empress. To complete the image trade your blow-out for a curling
iron or let your natural kinks tumble dry. Romance the look with a velvet
muff, or something more subtle like rich plum lipstick or a black velvet
ribbon tied around one wrist. With this look, a little goes a long way: a
glimpse of lace stocking beneath a sober suede skirt, a Victorian necklace
with a straight suit or a little black dress in velvet instead of crepe are
fallõ?Ts passionate pleasures.

---END---