|
 |
CAROL'S
COLUMN |
 |
Views
& tips from your side of the counter........
|
|
 |
|
As the long days of
summer are drawing to a close it will soon
be time to turn our attention to the autumn and winter
wardrobe. I will be really sad to pack away this summers
beautiful florals but red roses on a white background
are definitely not in order once the sun has faded.
However, previewing some of the coming fashions for
this season I was delighted to see that velvet and
corduroy are most certainly 'in' again this season,
as are tweeds and woolens.
|
 |
Natural fibres seem to be the order of the day mainly
in soft, neutral shades of stones, mossy greens and
greys. There are plenty of tailored suits, herringbone
coats and smart trousers to be seen, many 'softened
up' with gorgeous chenille scarf's and knitted, tasselled
wraps.
 |
In
fact a Black knitted poncho-style wrap will
be the first item I purchase this autumn - so
useful for throwing over any outfit or as an
added layer over a jacket or trench coat for
colder days. Easily dressed up at night with
a huge Celtic brooch, these really versatile
shawl-wraps are an essential part of any wardrobe.
And what about a deep cherry red one for the
festive season - fantastic for doing the Christmas
shopping in! |
I've already bought my winter scarf's for this year
as I always find this is the first accessory I reach
for once there's the slightest nip in the air.
Maybe as I have rather a long neck I feel the cold
more than others - I also wear my hair up most days
so I love the feeling of a really soft cuddly scarf
wrapped round me. Every year I promise myself I'll
knit myself a beautiful creation starting in January
and hoping to have it finished for the following autumn,
but somehow I never get round to it.
It's
not that I'm slack about needlework - actually
I'm a very prolific knitter, believe it or not,
having been taught from a very early age - it's
just that every year I get roped in to knit
an assortment of dolls clothes to dress up the
donated dolls at the local Christmas Fair.
I spend hours of my precious time choosing the
right shade for each doll and crocheting delicate
edgings round tiny skirts and bonnets only to
watch most of the children instantly undressing
the beautiful doll and carrying it away naked
under their arm. |
 |
|
|
 |
One of the things I really
love about autumn is the resuming of indoor hobbies
and pursuits put by in the summer. I love long summer evenings
but always feel guilty about sitting down to do some sewing
when it's still light enough to tackle the weeds or mow
the lawn.
Autumn is the perfect excuse to down tools early and root
out that jigsaw you've been meaning to do or start that
complicated cross-stitch picture you promised your mother
last year! Yes, on the whole I've really enjoyed this lovely
summer that we've had but I'm definitely and positively
looking forward to the coming months.
|
|
|
|
September
and October are ideal
for taking a look at what's new in the make-up world.
Many of the big houses bring out their new autumn colours
then, when tans are fading slightly and the new seasons
fashions are hitting the shops.
Last years damson colours seem to be around still and
once again the sludgy greens and smoky taupe's are big
for the eyes.
Much of the fashion around is the 'country-house weekender'
look with lots of 1920's and 30's touches to the look
so make-up colours are soft and earthy, although lashings
of black mascara is still key.
Aim for the 'I've-just-walked-through-a-bluebell-wood'
look and you wont go far wrong.
|
 |
Healthy,
country pursuits, long walks through the fallen leaves,
brisk walks with the dog - you know the sort of thing, you
don't have to actually do these things, you just have to
look as if you have!
And hair for autumn? Well, the jury seems to be mixed on
this one, many of the 'in' styles are not quite straight,
yet not quite curly. A sort of wavy, slightly tousled, slightly
damp look seems to be the most popular right now, but I've
also seen some fantastic 20's bobs around teamed up with
the new city - tweed plus fours that are really hot this
autumn.
These severe bobs work really well if you're hair's in tip-top
condition and really glossy, and look fabulous on red or
black hair. Bright, bleach-blonde is never really attractive
in the colder season, so if this is you, try adding a few
warmer honey tones for the autumn as this will also combat
that frozen ice-maiden look in the winter months. |
|
|
