STYLE GIRL “FASHION FIX” - Spooky Chic: Welcome to the Dark Side

Wilmington designer Jonathan Miciolek’s Rodarte inspired cobweb scarves

Autumn is always a bewitching time of year. The sudden, somehow always unexpected, chill in the air, watching the leaves transition from a grass green to sunny orange, golden yellow, and deep crimson. I can already hear the footsteps of the Trick-or-Treaters shuffling through the leaves accumulating on the sidewalk. Aside from the cinnamon-dusted pumpkin pie and a season of thanksgiving, there is, of course, another reason we adore fall: the fashion.

Securing the perfect outfit for fall festivities becomes a little, shall we say . . . trickier around the end of October. How many Lady Gaga’s will you encounter on Saturday night? The fantasy of Halloween has endless possibilities but please, wear some clothes! It always amazes me year after year to see so many “costumed” women running around half-naked on Halloween. For a fully-dressed option, try wearing one of the season’s hottest completer pieces - a faux fur gilet - with a LBD and a horn headband as a stylish take on Spike Jonze’s new film, “Where the Wild Things Are.”

Left: Rachel Zoe faux fur gilet from QVC
Right: Producer Beth Crookham wearing a Phillip Lim shearling vest
from Beanie + Cecil with One Tree Hill actress Danneel Harris

Beyond the orange-and-black color palette and costumes associated with All Hallows’ Eve, it seems to be the bewitching hour for our wardrobes, in general. There is a toughness that has emerged in the form of biker chic studded leather mixed with lace tights, Victorian inspired lace-ups and sinister accessories.

For a little inspiration to get your goth on:

left: look from Alexander McQueen’s current collection
right: Ann Demeulemeester boots

Black iridescent feathered haute couture dress by Karl Lagerfeld purchased by Betsy Bloomingdale in 1985.

Mrs. Bloomingdale, 83, has donated a sizeable collection of the haute couture she assembled over more than 30 years to the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles. An exhibition of 60 of her outfits from couture houses like Givenchy, Oscar de la Renta, Chanel, Dior, Courreges, Valentino and Yves Saint Laurent will be open to the public Oct. 21 until Dec. 13. For more info, click HERE.

left: Alexander McQueen ubiquitous skull scarf that started the skull infatuation;
here’s the latest reincarnation ($495)
right: rag & bone moto leather leggings -
available at Beanie + Cecil

left: Rodarte’s spiderweb tights 2008
right: Wilmington designer Jonathan Miciolek look modeled by Vanessa Aricco

left: Alexander Wang top ($380) from Hampden Clothing
(To see Rachel Bilson’s take on this top with knee high boots at the
TreSemme photo shoot, click HERE.)
right: Virgin Saints and Angels “Magdalena” necklace from II Brunettes

left: Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton’s forthcoming
Alice in Wonderland (Spring 2010)
right: Johnny Depp as Edward Scissorhands

BEAUTY BOO!

left: Wear Trish McEvoy’s “Gorgeous Red”  (a portion of sales will be donated directly t0 Lowcountry Aids Services) or a blackberry hue.

right: Try a gray polish like Essie’s Chinchilly or Sephora by OPI’s Metro Chic or Absinthe Makes Heart (smoky dark gray with green and iridescent glitter) .

And don’t forget: Daylight Savings Time ends on November 1 this year, meaning a treat for all: one extra hour before you turn into a pumpkin!

Calling all STYLE SWAP Guests in Wilmington, Charleston and Raleigh:
Please email me a photo of yourself wearing your favorite score
from Style Swap!