P just informed me that he was ready to go to bed which is his subtle way of letting me know it’s time for me to vacate our bedroom and move myself and my Macbook into the living room. I guess there are only so many hunting shows you can watch on the DVR before you just flat wear yourself out and, since I had possession of the computer, he wasn’t able to watch any vintage 70’s T.V. to help him stay up past 10:00 p.m.
I gathered up all my things and said, “Hey, I’m about to work on a Fashion Friday post. Are you sure you don’t want to stay up and weigh in on fall trends?”
He replied, “Yes. I’m sure.”
“Really? Because I’d love to get your thoughts on the color red.”
Blank stare.
Then he said, “Listen, I’m at the point in my life where I don’t care about what I wear. I’m not trying to impress anyone.”
As if that wasn’t obvious when we had friends over for dinner yesterday evening and he donned his nicest Under Armour shirt for the occasion.
I told him, “I think you hit that point about twenty years ago.”
“You’re right, I did. Good night.”
Although to be fair, he did own a pair of dark green jeans when we started dating back in 1995 and you don’t just accidentally own green denim. It takes some thought and effort. Of course I don’t really know that green jeans were in style in 1995 so it’s probably more likely that he found them on the clearance rack at Academy.
I’m officially ready to resume Fashion Friday but I feel like I need to offer a disclaimer before I jump back in. Which I hate to do because I am not a fan of reading disclaimers, much less actually giving disclaimers.
I adore Fashion Friday and I love getting questions and doing what I can to help a girl in her time of sartorial need, but there is no way that I can answer every question I receive. I just have to say that because I cannot tell you how stressed out I get when I realize that someone sent me a question about what they should wear to the Monster Truck Rally in two weeks and I don’t have time to give them an answer before the big event. And I just have to hope and pray that they had the sense to wear their best t-shirt with the sleeves cut off and possibly a bandana tied around the leg of their jeans.
Most of the time I try to stick with questions that are a little more general in nature because it can be so hard to figure out what to tell you to wear to your second cousin’s nephew’s graduation in Vermont when it might be 80 degrees or could be 34 degrees and you’re trying to lose some baby weight so you might be a size 14 or you could be a size 6.
I vow to do my very best, but please don’t be offended if I don’t get to your question. It’s nothing personal; it’s just that sometimes I have to eat and sleep and feed my family. Sadly, none of those things happen while I’m searching the internet for fabulousness, which is really something Al Gore should have thought about.
Blah, blah, blah, just get to the point.
I thought we’d start with the top 10 trends for Fall. I’ll discuss four this week and six next week because I am a fan of suspense and intrigue.
(I have to confess that my original plan was to discuss five this week and five the next, but it’s late and I’m tired so I’m leaving it at four. We have meet the teacher tomorrow and I want us to be stunning and impossibly fresh-looking for the occasion. Not to mention, I’m going to need my strength to get Caroline to wear something other than the hot pink velour sweatpants that she’s determined to wear because she wants to have a heat stroke.)
1. Red
I have a complicated relationship with the color red. On one hand, I love it. On the other hand, it sometimes frightens me with its boldness. So, in many ways, it’s very similar to how I feel about Richard Simmons, which is to say it might be best in small doses.
Of course that being said, I would totally wear this gorgeous Calvin Klein dress but it’s probably a little much for Mexican food on a Friday night.
On a more practical note, you could add a great pair of red shoes or a red bag like this to an outfit to give it a little bit of fab.
If you’re a mom on the go, I think these would be a fun way to add a little red to your wardrobe and if you laugh at the idea of a budget, then please buy these and let me live vicariously through you.
Another great way to add some red would be with a cute blazer (Oh my word, is it 1993 again? When did I last use the term ‘blazer’?) or a trench coat. I also love this scarf in red and black.
And if you’re really daring and avant garde, then check out this red satin jacket. It takes me right back to 1979 when the hottest thing in my closet was a red satin jacket with blue stripes from Weiners.
2. Leopard Print
If loving leopard print is wrong, then I don’t want to be right. I am a fan.
I adore this little faux fur coat, but something like this trench might be a little more understated and practical.
You can never go wrong with a great leopard print flat or even a great heel. And I’ve been in love with these clogs for years.
Also, never underestimate the power of a leopard print handbag. It’s a very versatile accessory and I even saw some at Target yesterday but I can’t find the link because the internet hates me.
But, totally off the animal print subject, I saw this fabulous bag while I got lost in the world of Kate Spade and am officially in deep like.
3. Leggings
Don’t shoot the messenger. I would be remiss if I left leggings off the list because they are one of the top fall trends. It doesn’t mean you have to wear them so just settle down if this news makes you feel a little irritable.
Truthfully, I’m not opposed to leggings. I can actually envision an outfit that involves leggings, a long sweater and tall boots and in my mind it looks pretty cute. It’s just a look that will work for some people and cause others to curl up in the fetal position and wait for the leggings mania to die down.
On the upside, you can find leggings in every color, price range, or pattern that your heart desires.
And don’t forget that they also come in denim. Gulley and I saw those in Nordstrom this week and I swear I thought they moved the childrens’ department upstairs because I never see denim that tiny unless I’m shopping for Caroline.
4. Ruffles
Ruffles are everywhere for the fall. You can find them on bags, shoes, and even boot shoes.
There are also several great shirts that allow you to add a little ruffleage to your wardrobe and that’s hard to do since I just made up the word ruffleage.
Or you could go with a faux leather jacket with ruffle details.
That’s it for today. Stay tuned next week when I’ll discuss the final six trends for fall.
Or maybe just three of them if I’m tired and want to go to bed.
Y’all have a great Friday.