Accessorize Your Fall

Elisabeth-Louise Vigee-Le Brun, Queen Marie Antoinette

and her Children, 1786.

Elisabeth-Louise Vigee-Le Brun (1755-1842) was a French painter who painted in the Rococo style and was said to be the most famous woman painter of the 18th century. Marie Antoinette invited Le Brun to the Palace of Versailles to paint more than 30 portraits of the Queen and her family. During this time, fashion was used as a signifier of status, and accessories, the "etceteras of fashion," especially marked nobility. The color palette of red, white, and black in Marie Antoinette's dress symbolizes the traditional royal colors of France. The pouf of her hat decorated with white silk and ostrich feathers are associated with the romantic East and the luxury of Parisian fashion.

What do your fashion accessories say about you?

Accessorize Your Fall

Men

White Pocket Square (Flat). It's no longer about the pointed pocket square--it's all about the clean and crisp flat look. The Sartorialist loves it. A white, flat pocket square looks especially classy

tucked inside a navy suit blazer.

On how to fold a perfectly flat pocket square, click here.

Ralph Lauren, $30

Colorful and Patterned Socks. Thom Browne started the whole cropped pants look for men to showcase their collection of socks, or no socks depending on the season. Now, so many stores are stocking up in slimmer cuffed pants to grow and evolve with this trend. For warmer months where you do want to go bare,but not totally bare inside your

shoes, loafer socks are your answer.

Oki-ni, $9.73

Interesting Brooches. Brooches are not only for women. Now, more designers like Raf Simmons, Dior, and Philip Lim are including brooches in their line of luxury for men. DIY by getting a ladies' metal hair pin (H&M, local drug store even) and gorilla glue-ing onto it, your own special charm/pendant.

Oki-ni, $267.82

Lapel Pins. Let's take lapel pins to the next level with exciting charms to adorn your suit jacket. What a dashing attention grabber!

Black Sheep and Prodigal Sons, $100

Backpacks. An excellent functional fashion statement.

Marc Jacobs stores (comes in a variety of colors), $17

Beanies. True, beanies are always IN for the chilly months, but how about pairing them with blazers instead of thermals? The Band of Outsiders presentation this past NY Fashion Week showed some of their models wearing suits and button down shirts with cashmere beanies. Go oversized like this beanie, or go with the more fitted traditional, either way this is a very fun piece to play with.

Topman, $8

Women

The Bowler Hat. Have you seen Coco Avant Chanel? Audrey Tautou wears a couple bowler hats in the movie that look absolutely lovely. Chanel's avant-garde look of her time is perfectly in line with the recent fascination with menswear today. I, too, will happily jump on this bandwagon and get my hands on a bowler hat!

Topshop, $44

Shoe Clips. I had a pair of pink rose shoe clips when I was little, and it felt like I had brand new shoes each time I would clip them on to another pair. I'm glad these clips are back. Dress up any everyday flat, bootie, even socks, sweaters, purses, scarves, and headbands.

H&M stores, $3.95

Rhinestone Necklaces. We love the bling, and rhinestones are everywhere this season. A rhinestone necklace is the perfect, stunning accessory for your LBD.

Forever21, $10.80

Statement Rings. This ring is certainly unisex and very much a statement. I've been watching this ring for about a year now, but it never seems to go on sale.

Go on sale already!

80sPurple, $229

Beautiful Headbands. They aren't going anywhere anytime soon. Feel like a Queen with these jeweled embellishments atop your head. One idea for those who have mid to longer length hair, is to loop your hair and tuck it into the bottom band for a retro-beautiful look.

Anthropologie, $32

Banana Clips. Modernize the 80s by straightening your hair before you clip this on for a spiky, girl mohawk look that is both edgy and sexy--something new from something old. Enjoy!

Walgreens, $2.50