Okay, so this is a bit early since in reality the season doesn’t change for almost two months, but in the world of fashion the end of July marks the beginning of Fall merchandise. So today as new clothing started to arrive for Fall, I began to get excited about the change of seasons. It happens every year, Spring & Fall. What is it that we love about the change of seasons? I mean I truly love Summer clothes (sundresses, mini-skirts, tank tops) but there is something about putting a great skirt, boots, and tights on in the Fall that is exhilarating. Frankly, I think we just like an excuse to buy more stuff and reinvent our looks. Any thoughts?

It’s hard to think about Fall in the middle of Summer, but as you know, the fashion industry has been thinking about it since last year! One trend you will definitely want to embrace is the new Tuxedo Top with a twist. Designers are creating all sort of fabulous tops inspired by Tuxedo Shirts. From polished cotton button down shirts to tee shirts, Tuxedo Tops are everywhere. Don’t expect conventional though.

We love the Nicolette Top by XCVI, which is soon to arrive at Artfulwears.com. The body of this top is cotton jersey with the puckering detail in cotton voile. It’s fitted and snaps down the front. While sexy enough for night time with denim, you can easily wear this with a great skirt or pants for work and put it under a jacket.

My apologies for obsessing recently about new arrivals but this Block Tri Color Dress by Envi is simply to fabulous not to blog about it! The deep v-neck and tie back are totally sexy. You will love the soft cotton, rayon, and spandex blend fabric that feels great against your skin. Plus, this abbreviated maxi style is ultra-trendy right now. The empire waist style is flattering on all body types and easy to wear. Stay cool and feel hot in this great dress!

Fall 2008 is all about embellishments and luxurious fabrics. Metal, stones, sequins, and beading will adorn everything from tunics to skirts. Everything will sparkle. Luxury fabrics have also made their way into the mainstream. Look for combinations of viscose, elasthane, cashmere, silk, modal, and bamboo blended to perfection for softness, comfort, and wearability. Some of the highlights for Fall will be fun silk screen graphics on cashmere hoodies and dresses, as well as fantastic eco-friendly fashions. Be on the look out for more swing coats and tuxedo type tops. The color palette for Fall will be great shades of plum, purple, cocoa, taupe, ocean blue, mandarin, and ivy green.

While trends come and go, bangle bracelets remain timeless. We think the Hammered Bangles by Evelyn Knight are a must have basic. We love the antique character they have accented by the modern set cubic zirconias. Perfect for everyday but easy to dress up! Did we mention they are a bargain? This set of 5 bracelets are $117.00 and available in sterling silver or 22kt gold plated over lead-free pewter.

Bright colors are certainly the hottest look for Summer fashion. However, they can also be dreadful if worn inappropriately. Take for example my neighbor, who I saw last night, in bright orange jeans and a bright fuschia tee shirt. Needless to say, this was a disaster. So I am going to help guide you in the right direction so you look trendy and cute, instead of a fashion victim.

First and foremost, think in terms of age appropriateness. If you are in your 50’s, orange jeans are probably a bad idea. In fact a bright colored pant in general is a bad idea. Try a neutral pant (white, khaki, denim) with a cute brightly colored top. One bright color is plenty to look trendy. Keep your shoes and accessories neutral as well, this will allow the top to be the center of attention.

If you are younger, you can probably pull of a cute brightly colored capri pant or short. We suggest pairing it back to a neutral top and then accessorizing.

Last, if perhaps you don’t feel comfortable wearing bright clothing, consider bringing bright colors in with your accessories. You could do a great chunky necklace or great bangle bracelets to be colorful without looking like a gum ball machine.

We at Artfulwears are always searching for unique and spectacular handbags in a moderate price range. This no easy task. So we are more than elated to celebrate the arrival of George, Gina, & Lucy. These great bags feature modern styling with a fun edge. They truly thought of everything. Each bag is lined and has plenty of outside and inside pockets.

We love the laquered finish and bright color of the Zona Caliente Bag. However, if you like something more neutral you may prefer the Bagverly Hills. Also available are canvas, nylon, and a printed laquer.
Check these and other great designs out from George, Gina, & Lucy. We think you will be happy to meet them too.

Artfulwears.com is pleased to be home to a broad selection of jewelry and accessories from Seasonal Whispers. Seasonal Whispers creates fantastic jewelry that can be mixed, matched, and combined in many different ways to make you look chic and fabulous.

Their flexible bangle bracelets are truly fabulous. We love them mixed together. Artfulwears picked out several great collections for you but you are free to create your own groovy combinations. All of the bangles are available in silver, gold, or a variety of colored wire with any color stone you can think of. Shown here are the Silver & Gold and Turquoise & Gold collections.

We love their layered charm necklaces. They simply take the guess work out of layering your jewelry. The Midnight Crystal Charm Necklace has a unique rose copper metal that really stands out. Or perhaps you want a little edge and a little sweetness with the Loving Skulls Necklace.

Buy one piece and you will be hooked. We are!

Leggings can be a bit tricky and we want to make sure you are wearing leggings appropriately. The best way to wear leggings is with a tunic or a shorter dress (mid-calf or above). You can also pair them with a longer length sweater. Belts are a great accessory with leggings. Leggings should never be worn as pants ladies! Think of them as an alternative to hosiery.

We love these two tunics from Language Los Angeles that both work really well with leggings. The Bamboo Beach Pocket Tunic looks great with white, grey, or brown. The Steel Floral Tunic works well with either grey or white.

Without fail, there are new trends for every season. We women relish in this tradition. We RUN to the mailbox to see what the fashion magazines are showing as the next “big thing”. While I feel you should embrace trends, you have to choose which ones are right for you. For the last two seasons, high-waisted jeans and skirts have been in style. This look unfortunately doesn’t work for everybody. Metallics are also trendy can easily be worked into anyones wardrobe. I could go on for days about each trend but the point is, before you embrace the trend look in the mirror and ask yourself if this trend really works for you. You will always find many that do and a few that don’t. Last tip: you don’t have to combine multiple trends with every outfit.