My orange glasses are ready.

Here's what I'm noticing for fall trends this year.

One of my favorite days of the year is when the Wall Street Journal Fall Fashion Issue arrives in the mail. Yes, I said mail, which is a story in itself. In an effort to save money, our local newspaper, all 16 pages of it, is now delivered days late by mail, including the WSJ.

By the way, there is a period behind the initials WSJ. which I have never noticed before. I think it's cool!

Anyway, it is always a treat to devour it, whenever it arrives. Not that I can relate to any of the fashion pages, but I still enjoy seeing what is supposedly on trend right now. Most clothes are black, sculptural, and small. But four things did stand out for me, which I want to tell you about.

I am always looking for interesting color combinations and details that the sewer can relate to, and Prada delivered. In their ad, the model is wearing a below-the-knee basic skirt except the 6" hem is sewn loosely to the outside. The under sweater is my favorite color - a dull citrus green with a medium pink sweater over that. And she is talking on an orange telephone. This is a must-have color scheme for me this fall. I probably already have the pieces in my closet, but if not, it's an easy sew - an Oasis skirt, an eTee and a Sterling jacket, with orange glasses, in my case.

Photos courtesy of Prada.

The next thing I noticed is jewelry length. I have been thinking about all of the longer pendants that are hanging in my closet and I am not wearing them. I seem to favor the short delicate necklaces these days. But it looks like I can shift once again (kind of like hemlines in the old days when my Mom and I would shorten a straight skirt 2" at the beginning of the school year and lengthen it 2" the next fall). The WSJ. chose to show this length with open necklines (so not my style), and the cheapest necklace was $2500.00. But that's okay. It's an idea, not a purchase. Metal color seemed not to matter.

Photos courtesy of WSJ. Magazine.

Also in this issue was a beautiful ad for Akris. This is not a designer that I knew anything about until a few years ago. But on a trip to Switzerland to visit the Bernina factory, we make a side trip to the Akris showroom/museum. This was the kind of visit where you could touch anything, look inside and absorb the construction. Hanging on a rack nearby were clothes that we could try on and buy. I was really smitten by a coat made in the most delicate cashmere that I have ever seen. It was self-lined with the same cashmere and trimmed in a pleated wool on the cuffs, pockets, etc. Exquisitely made. I walked away and immediately regretted it.

When I got back home I had reason to go to St. Louis. One evening, I went to Saks - and found the coat on the rack - for only $5200.00. Again, I walked away, but I must have had a chat with the salesperson, because many months later, she called me and said that the coat was on the last call sale rack for $400.00. You know I bought it and have thoroughly enjoyed it for years. Here’s a picture of Alex in the coat alongside a striking piece of yard art I purchased at the Mulvane Art Fair years ago. I have many sculptural pieces of art in my yard. I love it.

One last thing, the fashion issues usually feature people's random collections on the back page of the magazine. Today's was a piece about daruma dolls. Now, I love dolls, and have my own collection, but I had never heard of daruma dolls. They are roly-poly (usually red) Japanese talismans meant to hold the hopes of their owners. The eyes are colored in - the left when the owner is thinking of a wish and the right eye when the wish is fulfilled. Look them up, they're on Amazon.

Cheers to having fresh laundry.

-LL