Fall fashion color review & wishlist: Because Labor Day is OVER!

As usual, I have many plans for my blog and never enough time to realize them properly. This week, I’ve resolved to clear my bloggy-do list and set some new web log goals that I can stick to:

To get things rolling, a look at this fall’s Pantone Color Report palette and the clothing and accessories I’m angling to buy this autumn!

I tend to hate traditional fall colors and fabric textures. Tweed and other coarse woolens, browns, beiges, rusty oranges…bleh. Last year’s Pantone Fall Color Report was exciting because it included unexpectedly clear, bright, dirtless hues such as “Lipstick Red” and “lagoon,” a summery teal that enlivened my clothing rack in the form of a pleated taffeta circle skirt from eShakti.com.  Even the requisite autumn brown was different last year, a deep maroon with pink undertones called “Chocolate Truffle.”

Fall 2011 fashion trend colors - Pantone Fashion Color Report Fall 2011
Fall 2011 fashion trend colors - Pantone Fashion Color Report Fall 2011 (click to expand the screenshot)

This year, the Pantone fall color forecast disappointed me in taking a slight left into dullsville. Don’t get me wrong, “Honeysuckle” (a slightly faded, opaque, mid-tone pink), “Phlox” (dark, warm purple), and “Deep Teal” (dark teal) are beautiful to look at, but they’re not my favorite colors, nor are they particularly new or exciting. Dark purples and teals have already bounced around the cold seasons for the last few years, and dark teal in particular reminds me of 1990s pickup trucks. I love pinks in general, but Honeysuckle overly resembles that creamy, coralish blush tone that serves as a summer safety for women who mistrust color. I like Phlox, but I’ve already purchased two items featuring the color – last year.

And those are the colors I like. Suffice it to say that “Coffee Liqueur” and “Nougat” have attained dirt status, if not outright “what lost lunch on the sidewalk looks like.” Yuck.

So once again, I’m forging ahead into the colors less trended. And that’s perfectly fine with me. Since I already have a ton of clothes, I’m not about creating a ton of new outfits from scratch anyway. I’m simply filling in the blanks with items that will work well with much of what I already own, in colors that I like:

  1. Tights from We Love Colors – I extend the seasonal life of my spring and summer wardrobe with tights in both bright and neutral-staple colors. This year, I’m eyeing fuchsia, magenta, and black. The fuchsia and magenta will lend pop to black-based neutral outfits, while black tights are the perfect, inconspicuous backup band for my star performers – a colorful collection of skirts and dresses.  We Love Colors’ plus-sized nylon/lycra tights hold up to nearly constant wear and fit comfortably. No thigh-chafing here!
  2. Classic cashmere cardigan – I love cardigans and adore the warmth and fluff-factor of my angora sweaters, but I’ve never owned any cashmere (save for my gloves and scarf).  These a great way to get warm while staying cute, so I’m eyeing the Land’s End version in red.
  3. Kitten heel pumps – I lost weight, so my feet shrank. I need a graceful, mid-height heel in a classic black patent style, and the Marcia Balla from Christian Louboutin has the right look. I’ve also found the correct idea in several less expensive styles available on the internet.
  4. Doris top and skirt in white/black – Pinup Girl Clothing’s Pinup Couture brand always provides me with good fit and quality. And have I mentioned that their clothes are cute as hell? I already own this ensemble in black/peacock and it’s stunning, so another set in mix-and-matchable neutrals (that aren’t brown) makes perfect sense for fall.
  5. Silver Ritz shoes by Remix – I’ve been jonesing for some retro-ish metallic slippers to go with my long winter gowns. These provide the perfect dash of metallic shine to balance the blacks, reds, and hot pinks of holiday eveningwear, and will go well with my silk charmeuse 1930s gown.
  6. Talbots houndstooth dress – Another piece with midcentury appeal, this forties-ish dress looks and feels like fall. The houndstooth texture says “fall!” without the heavy look or feel of a suit.
  7. Eliza Parker simple shrug – I can never get enough black shrugs or cardigans. This one’s cut like it’s right out of the 1950s, suitable for wear with just about everything!

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