ode to autumn

I'm probably always too eager to get back into warmer layers and richer colours as soon as the end of August arrives. There is that dreamy saccharine vision of summer and floaty white dresses, beach blonde waves and hippy sandals that somehow for me never fully materialises due to (a) Ireland's troubled climate and (b) floaty white dresses are something I have never even attempted to pull off. However, I must admit the truth is I just happen to prefer autumnal and wintry clothes far more than summer threads. Summer clothes maybe simple and light and supposedly effortless, yet year after year I find myself thinking that old cliche "What were you thinking, Kathryn?" when I flick through summer photographs. Some people obviously can 'do summer' very successfully, ..they often happen to possess bronze limbs and flowing, buttery goddess hair and exotic good looks..I, on the otherhand generally tend to look a bit silly as I try unsuccessfully to work the easy breezy summer 'undone' look.

Autumn, perhaps, now that I think about it, could be my favourite season of the year when it comes to dressing. I've already crossed out summer, winter is good too but then there's all that winter coat malarkey which lets face it is as annoying as buying a pair of jeans because you want it to be nice yet suitable for all occasions. And then there's spring which is basically just winter here with maybe just maybe a tiny sprinkling of meek sunshine. Autumn though is the best of both summer and winter what with the possibilities of layering summer clothes over winter items seemingly endless and that nice feeling of knowing that a jacket will suffice rather than that bulky, irritating winter coat. Autumn too is a time for trying out new styles; perhaps, easing in a new trend to bring your look 'bang up to date' (excuse the Gok Wan terminology, but you know what I mean!). It's a time for experimenting and you know, considering the direction in which your style is taking.. well maybe, anyway..

If I'm very honest it is only now that I'm getting acquainted properly with the a/w collections (I cannot bear looking at the new collections a season ahead). Without further ado here are some of my favourite looks. And while we are on the subject I'm thinking of lots of flamboyant shiny skirts with frivolous blouses, lace up boots and swirls of necklaces and perhaps, some very 'now' tweedy bits and bobs.

and my own autumnal offerings so far..

I'm a big fan of the granny - ish satin neck scarf look (left) and my well documented love affair with the 80s continues with electric blue and sequins.

click to enlarge

dare to....go long?

This has been thumb - tacked to my notice board for months now. I would often look over at it whist studying at my desk and consider the utter perfection of it. The contrast of the organza ankle - length ballerina skirt and the retro band t - shirt ( a band that I just so happen to very much like) is stylistically wonderful in my opinion - ladylike wears combined with something punkier is, after all, a statement that never fails to have me fawning pathetically in admiration.

In recent months the ankle - length skirt has become somewhat ubiquitous on fashion blogs and so forth. This is probably something to do with the surge in 90s' grunge appreciation and for others, merely a preference to 'go long' in the sea of thigh - high minis. The ankle - length skirt proves no problem for those blessed in stature - see Alexa above - but I myself was certainly wary being a bit on the titchy side. However, after months of admiring the understated elegance of Alexa in an almost floor - sweeping skirt I decided 'hell to this and not being tall' and wearing the skirt.

However, my shortage in height would be the least of my troubles. It appears that something as seemingly simple and unoffensive as an ankle - length skirt can actually be quite the controversial piece. Maybe not in the more cosmopolitan cities of the world, but let me say the people of Cork are not ready for a 'young one' such as myself in said item. Of course, I certainly wasn't bestowed with a gorgeous navy blue organza skirt either but had to make do with my mother's old skirt instead, that I rescued before it left for the charity shop. I have always liked the skirt in question - a deep, plummy sort of shade of pink, magenta even, with a wine underskirt and witchy webs of black thread - and somehow couldn't bear to see the thing leave the house. Wearing the skirt yesterday, I was bombarded with comments (from family members, mind you) such as "Why is Kathryn wearing an old - woman's skirt?" and glances from strangers while shopping. This probably seems absurd to those of you who live in places where people actually wear 'wow' things, not a bloody long skirt! But, apparently it takes very little to challenge the norm here if such an item can cause tremors of reverse outrage.

close up of skirt knit..it's kinda interesting..

jumper - urban outfitters, top and bag - zara, jacket - miss selfridge, shoes - florence and fred @tesco

aug scrapbook

This is a classic Sartorialist image - it is perfect in its simplicity and elegance. And it's perfect for me too. There is something wonderfully quirky about the entire look - the mismatched stripes, the grandma - ish handbag, the youthful black tights and of course, the shoes. Badger shoes are one of my absolute favourite things for their obvious mod connotations, and I simply adore this girl's jazz shoe pair.

I was so disappointed to hear that Blur have called it a day on their brief reunion. I love these guys. They are a unique bunch of personalities and their music although fun and silly on first listen is actually quite intricate and multi - layered. So glad to have seen them live this summer..only my dear friend Julie will understand..

This look is so delicious for autumn - the colours, the little patent bag, the contrast in texture and yeah, that a - ma- zing jumper. Wooly jumpers are a necessity for anyone living in my neck of the woods, but really should not be relegated to granny's closet. I have always championed the cause of the sloppy wooly jumper and as Alexa proves here it can actually look cool and what's more, stylish. Of course, that lovely jazz - age skirt adds that little bit extra...

This Garance Dore image of Florence Welch was actually posted in April yet it looks so autumnal! (hmm..am I getting a little obsessed with autumn, or what?!) I love Florence and her style. There is nothing ground - breaking about the above outfit but I like it because it looks natural and completely unpretentious. I like how her pre - Raphaelite hair matches the trees and her satchel too.

This is from an oldish but truly fantastic Tim Walker/haute couture Vogue UK editorial. Karen Elsen is perfect in her wild - haired, doll - like -ness and that gown..that gown..that gown.. my biggest obsession of late. It's maybe a bit too 'princess' for many, but for me this pink confection of lavender - tinged tulle conjures up fairy tale dreams of white unicorns and castles.

Read about Elizabeth Peyton in Vogue a while back and I love the vibrant colours of her work and her unique painterly style. Her portraits are personal and meaningful and colourful - in other words just how art should be.

"with diamonds and pearls in her hair"

I have always enjoyed fiddling around with my hair, perhaps, because I possess such a ridiculous mane of it! As I have recounted in the past, my preferred style as young'n resembled a nest of hair twinkling with butterfly clips. These days I'm a tad bit more subtle but still cannot resist some form of hair thingamajig..a diamante hair clip, strands of pearls, a peacock feather, flower slides. Of course, not always do I adorn the ol' hair, it is a little infantile, I must admit, but there has been many the outfit that I have worn which was completed with a hair accessory.

However, if you do happen to be in the "that is so lame and childish" frame of mind when it comes to hair accessorising, well then I advise taking a wee bit of inspiration from the following images. One of my favourite things about flapper fashion are the hair adornments. Flappers always decorated their curly bobs with headbands and ribbons and beads to finish off their ensemble. The hair styles and ornaments of the Flapper era's predecessor, the Belle Epoque era, as it is referred, are even more inspiring - loose, graceful knots sparkling with bejewelled hair bands and strings of pearls. Personally speaking, I am constantly trying to emulate the perfect beauty of these hair styles, adoring the juxtaposition of modern fashions with the whimsical hair dos of by - gone eras.

all scans by me courtesy of Decades of Fashion by Harriet Worsely

monochrome

I am a sucker for retro glamour and it just doesn't look better than when it's in black and white.