Almost Fall

  

This Ralph Lauren Fall 2012 look is nothing short of spectacular. Although my piggy bank won't allow me to own it, I can borrow a few elements from this beyond perfect trio combo and build a couple of nearly Fall looks of my own.

                                                                           

Leather, glitz, long sleeves and flirty skirts. Yup, I can find those pieces in my closet: twice!

  

This season, practical oxford shoes harken back to our grade school uniform days. Years ago, I detested wearing them. Today, my feet are saying: hooray! How happy was I to find this never worn pair of Ferragamos... in my exact size... at The Goodwill!?!

                                  

Until you give it a try, you won't believe how yummy this veggie topping is. After cooking and rolling your veggies in butter, simply frost them with a combination of grated Italian cheese, crushed peppers and agave syrup. I borrowed the Brussel sprouts hors d'oeuvre recipe from Park Tavern in San Francisco and the corn on the cob finishing touch from a street vendor in Oaxaca, Mexico. Yum.

                                                     

If you just haven’t had it in your heart to toss out any and all of your ancient oversized winter coats... well, this season you are in luck: They are IN, IN, IN and: the bigger the better!

Recognize these two young men? Karl Largerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent... prize winners, nearly 60 years ago, of the 1954 International Secreteriat Competition. Not 100% aware, these designers were soon to become two of the most outstanding designers...ever. I'm tickled pink..or black and white with this photograph.

Staying on the black and white wicket, Nichole Kidmen just keeps getting better and better and remains one of the lead dogs in the fashion-red carpet world. I was thrilled to find this vintage LLD Little Lace Dress at the flea market. It looks terrific under an oversized cashmere coat that I've had since around the time I was wearing oxfords in grade school... well maybe not that for that long but for a long, long, long time.

                    
    

Summer is almost over but S'mores will never be over. How cool is it that marshmallows are now available in a ginormous size. This Fall, for a grown up dessert, try broiling them and adding toasted slivered almonds and cocunut to this traditional gooey-n-good “never too old for it” treat.

From year to year, I seem to grow in and out of this Austrian dress. Whoo, whoo this year it fits... and this year it is front and center on many catwalks and in most Fall catalogs. If you have a bit of room in your closet, some treasures are worth keeping.

                
                                                                     

                           

Maybe I'm getting old (yah think) but this faux croc ad..titled "HOT PROPERTY" really turns my stomach. Come on ladies...to me this faux croc ad is just that: “a crock”... a HOT MESS rather than a HOT PROPERTY.

      

    

Once again... from head to toe for another dazzling year, and in every collection, royal purple is outshining every other jewel color. Elegant and simple or trimmed in glitz, this primary color works with animal prints, stripes, paisleys or sensationally solo.

     

                 

Because this “had to have” bubble skirt was so fun, so NOW and on $ALE, I bought two.

For the top, my “can make anything work” Mr. Magic tailor removed the bubble part and cut arm slits into skirt number two. My grandmother's house slippers and a nearly vintage purse finished off my IN STYLE NOW jeweled tone cocktail suit.

       

                                                            

Although real and delicate jewelry aways works, these dinner plate-sized faux pieces are show stoppers in $$$ and trendy showcases everywhere... especially in passionate purple.

Among the top designers, Miuccia Prada and Louis Vuitton have sprinkled mirrors, big bold beads, metal tubes and chains in Deco patterns onto every piece of clothing and accessory imaginable.

 I thought: “me too” as I embellished a tired suede vest which I now call my “Prauda" piece. I gave a fresh twist to this vintage bag and again a trusty pair of Ferragamos made my feet happy all evening

                                                               

In the CAT dept:  I even “copycatted” Prada by wearing  this “I've had it forever” animal print Perry Ellis velveteen skirt with my brown "trimmed to the nines" brown suede vest.

                                        

      
 

“Gather ye rosebuds while ye may”... oh and gather ye mint leaves and cherries too. Simply immerse mint leaves in bourbon and hide them in the freezer for Spring mint julips. Next: pit and drown cherries in brandy and let them sit for a while in a jar in the frig to trim up the best Manhattans ever.

 

Gaga, gracing Vogue's September issue and McQueen design on the edge have made it nearly OK for me to wear this outrageous “hotter than HOT pink” boot and jacket combo. In my golden years, I still haven't found a reason to take life or fashion seriously.... seriously!

Back to the freezer: keep a lemon...frozen... at the ready. Infuse a little vitamin D on fish, in a salad, whatever...it grates so easily and there isn't any waste or addition to your waist.

                                        

Talking waists and: "the waist is a terrible thing to mind"... this idea is so simple. We all have old “got too small just sitting in the drawer” belts with buckles that can now be recycled and made new again. Just buy ¼ of a yard of thick plastic and double stick tape. Cut to fit your waist or hip line and tape your buckle in place. Once you feel confident in the plastic department, try your hand at bringing tired fabric or leather belts back to life. This project is a can't fail simple process.

                                     

After seeing metal studs... all over the place … trimming boots, bracelets and clutch bags for Fall 2012... “ I just had to have me some”. I found this “biker looking” trim in a local hobby shop. Now... I'm just waiting for inspiration...it'll happen.

 I leave you with two FUN “D” words of the day. My sister's 4 year old granddaughter named her invisible friend: DAMANDA . The other evening, a terrific girl from New Zealand said: “you are DELUXE”. Of course she is now my new BF! IN JOY these lovely... Almost Fall days.