Following Mother Nature For Colour Inspiration

Every season I get asked about 30 times a day what the

"hot" colour is going to be. Sigh....

During my travels this summer, I witnessed a lot of what Mother Nature has to offer us in the colour department. Now she knows how to design, I tell ya! Instead of just one shade of green, there are thousands in one forest...all worn together with a plethora of other colours thrown in. You don't see an all black tree unless disaster has struck it! Think of that next time you are wanting to wear all black for the third day in a row this winter. Sure, Mother Nature may use black as foundation colour, but in general, the main attractions are done up in plentiful colour.

This got me thinking how crazy it is that consumers are happy to have some designer somewhere choose just one or two colours to be the must-have trend each season when there are millions of shades of colour available. It is about time that designers expand their palette that they offer their clothing in, and time for consumers to get away from caring about what someone else has dictated that you wear this fall.

True fashion and style is having the confidence to try new ways to wear things, adding accessories in your own way, melding what you already have with new things you acquire, and having fun with the details of life and fashion. Adding textures, prints, and colours that you may not normally consider for fall, will allow you to have more fun this fashion season than you have ever had when it comes to getting dressed in the morning!

Next time you drive through a forest, try to count the shades of green alone, and let it be a reminder that colours should not have a season, they should just be allowed to thrive throughout our world to make it a brighter, happier place. I salute the women of Africa, the Caribbean, and Mexico for doing such a fine job in embracing colour in their lives.

The Sheath Dress Revisited

The sheath dress has always been a must-have in my opinion as it flatters most women's bodies. Thanks to Michelle Obama, we have an alternative to the baby doll style that continues to be on the pages of this fall's fashion magazines. The baby doll, however, has made most of us look pregnant over the last 8 fashion seasons, regardless of how appropriate or biologically possible that can be.

Perhaps we should call Michelle Obama "Smart Lady," instead of First Lady as she is brilliant, but also knows what looks and feels great on her body. Remembering that confidence is the key foundation to true style, the sheath dress may just be the perfect addition to your wardrobe this fall / winter as they are one of the most comfortable dresses to wear, leaving you to think of changing the world, rather than wondering how many more minutes before you can change into your sweatpants! Sheath dresses are generally made of knit fabrics which contain a form of stretch to them - yes! Comfort is king when trying to get women to wear dresses, I find, so look at the fabric content on the labels, ladies, and make sure to get some stretch in that sheath dress of yours.

The key to making the sheath dress work for you is to adjust the length to suit your body. Most of us have spectacular legs, particularly from the knees down, so don't be aftraid to show them! The shorter you are, the more leg you may want to show, and the less you will want to wear shoes with ankle straps, as these will visually cut you off and make you look drowned by your outfit. Shoes without an ankle strap and with even just a bit of heel (the more the better... while still being comfortable), elongate the leg, so this is usually the best style for most of us to wear with dresses, in general. I would say that the sheath dress will keep its nice lines if hemmed somewhere between the calf muscle to just over the knee.

Sheath dresses are extremely versatile and usually travel well due to their knit fabric. You can wear the dress with boots, dress shoes, a blazer or jacket, a Pashmina, cardigan, belted, or with a blouse underneath. Never forget your accessories, of course, as these are what change an outfit around and make the finishing touches to it, like a cherry on top of a sundae. mmmm.... sundae.