By Lubna Abdel-Aziz Some do it eagerly, some reluctantly; but the weather is a-changing, and do it we must. It is the changing of the wardrobes. The summer wardrobe goes into hiatus, and the winter wardrobe comes out for airing, to warm and protect our bodies throughout the winter season. That however, does not lay the matter to rest. Besides warming and protecting us, our clothes need to be fashionable, and Fashion is as changeable, as the weather, and equally as confusing and unreliable. Once upon a time there was one Fashion capital, Paris, and a handful of designers like Jacques Fath, Christian Dior and Mademoiselle Chanel. One half century later, we have thousands of designers, tens of thousands of designs, leaving our poor fashionistas bothered and bewildered. It is up to each one of us to pick and choose what is most befitting to our figures, our climates and our lifestyles. Once the domain of the high and mighty, the 20th century has transformed Fashion to an art form, with as many fans as there are movie fans to the art of film. Twice a year, at the very least, we go out in droves, hunting for the affordable outfit, the right silhouette that will turn the plain cinder girl into a dazzling Cinderella. With a global economy steadily getting darker and gloomier, how should we dress this season? We have two choices... to go with the flow, or to burst out in cheerful colours? Both are available to our new breed of budget-conscious shoppers. Many will be satisfied with pepping up their wardrobe with one or two items, and a selection of accessories. Bucket bags or portfolio clutches with a chunky pair of boots, or a chunkier pair of shoes are sensible choices. A blazer, parka, vest or coat, whittled in at the waist, will flaunt your ladylike figure and your sense of style. Looking for evening wear? Here's hoping you like sequins. There is plenty of it this season, and best of all at superstar designer Elie Saab, whose Couture House is the preferred spot for Hollywood superstars. This season, his evening styles may be simple and sedate, but oh, that glitter! You may need goggles for protection. They come in every hue, sequined from top to toe, to razzle-dazzle, from dusk to dawn. If the mystery of the Orient is a constant lure, then the Giorgio Armani Prive Collection is custom-made for you. Following his Resort Collection that drew on Imperial China, Armani's winter inspiration comes from the land of the Rising Sun. From parasols to cherry --blossoms, in exotic, luxury prints, Armani exploited all the visual icons of Japanese culture. His Prive Collection is a futuristic flourish of dramatic clothing as wistfully elegant as only Armani can muster. Are you a devotee of the 70s era? You have reason to rejoice. The trend has been enjoying a revival for the last two seasons and is still riding high, particularly the boyish trends the boxy bikers and the irrepressible punk style that haunts us like the ghost of a favourite uncle. The flared, wide-legged pants, another 70s icon makes for an altogether challenging look. To speak of Fashion, one must include the ultimate in chic, namely, Chanel. For the past 25 years, the master himself Karl Lagerfeld, has safeguarded and enhanced Mademoiselle's legacy, making hers one of the most powerful and profitable brands, worldwide. This season's collection is dedicated to the creator of French couture herself, " Les Allures de Chanel", but the collection falls short of being alluring. It is not just the colour palette of blacks, greys and midnight blues, neither is it the sombre tweed upon tweed upon more tweed, it simply is the mood and lack of appeal that renders it boring. Let us hope the master soon finds his groove again and returns the lure to Chanel's allure. The key to this season's fashion however, is colour. Bolder and brightier colour has now totally invaded the once sedate world of fur. The rage among the upper-crust fashionistas is psychedelic furs and fur accessories. What is the fashion world coming to? Even the little black dress, has become the little black tuxedo this season, joining in the 150th anniversary of the birth of the tuxedo. Life would be unbearable without colour. Polka dots and graphic are still big, some plaids are seen, especially the houndstooth, at Ferragamo, proudly displayed by the voluptuous queen of reality TV, Kim Kardashian. Colour is still king, even by any other name. Bamboo for instance, is one of the 10 colours of the season. What is bamboo? Bamboo is your standard yellow with green undertones. Emberglow is the must-have colour, which is no more than an autumnal crimson sunset hue, emanating the warmth of a glowing fire. Other colours on this season's palette are Coffee-Liqueur, Nougat or Orchid Hush, meaning brown, camel and blue. Phlox is a magical deep purple, Honeysuckle is flirtatious pink. Cedar, Deep Teal and Quarry, are better known as forest green, ocean blue or medium grey. That rounds up the 10 colours of the season. You must admit there is more romance in those fabulous names. Whatever your choice, remember to retain a sense of mystery, more alluring than any fashion trend. Dismiss all of the above if nothing appeals to you. None of the illustrious houses of Fashion can dispute the iconic classics and their everlasting charm. Fashions fade; Style is eternal. -- Yves Saint Laurent
