For some reason I try to keep up with fashion trends. I never buy any of the stuff and if I wear any trend, it’s by accident because I have something vintage like it in my closet. But, I do like to keep up. Fashion says so much about society and where we’re going and where we wish to go. In this post I’m pairing perfumes with the popular fall/winter trends of 2012 for women. Most of us won’t go out of our way to wear these trends. I have no desire to walk around in some crazy expensive brocade embellished thing even if it were given to me. But, many of us, if we go shopping at a department store or H&M this winter, will see variations of these trends made accessible – these colors, faux leather, too many gold-tone buttons, peplum, etc. With lower price department stores and the Internet, fashion trends come to us quicker than ever. I’m pairing perfumes to the runway…to the clothes you’ll see at your local department store. Peplum doesn’t flatter? Treat yourself to a “peplum perfume” and wear it with your most flattering jeans. Or pull an old favorite off the shelf to join in on the brocade trend without spending a dime (but you’ll still be Baroque).

Oxblood

Boy, I hate this word. It’s so gross. Oxblood is a dull brown-red shade, well, like dried blood. It’s a very “vintage” color to me. It reminds me of 80’s pleather jackets and ugly sofas. I prefer to use the term “burgundy”. But, I do really like this shade (whatever you want to call it). It’s a good color for me. Burgundy is one of my favorite “neutrals”. Plus, it goes with both brown and black making it the perfect color for a coat, bag or shoes.

• Kelly & Jones #3 Notes of Cabernet – This is my favorite from the entire Kelly & Jones line. It’s a leathery, spicy black cherry pipe tobacco. It’s wonderful. And it does smell like it would be a deep red shade – carbernet. The 1.7 oz bottle retails for $50 at Kelly & Jones. 
• Nez a Nez l’Hetre Reve – This is spicy, stewed fruit fragrance with exotic woods and leather. It’s boozy and delicious but you don’t want to eat it. You want to inhale it. You won’t stop sniffing yourself. The 1.7 oz bottle retails for $165 at LuckyScent.
• L’Artisan Parfumeur Voleur de Roses – It’s a damp, earthy rose. Yes, a “dark rose”.The 3.4 oz bottles retails for $145 at Beautyhabit.

Leather

To some of us, leather has never went out of style. When I say some of us, I’m talking about myself. Well, leather is “it”. One of my favorite pieces in my closet is a black leather pencil skirt. I can wear it with mohair sweaters or cardigans with pearl buttons. Leather adds an edge. I like to feel badass because I am a badass when I wear leather. My goal this winter is to lose 15 pounds and buy leather pants so I can be like evil Angel (yes, a Buffy reference).

• Serge Lutens Boxeuses – This is ladylike leather. It’s like the black leather pencil skirt I talk about above. Boxeuses is plum and leather. Not available in the U.S., making it even more desirable, huh?
• Esscentual Alchemy Queen of Punk Natural Perfume (sorry, no pic)- Studs, spikes and leather are in. This perfume is badass with civet, patchouli, powdery amber, and tobacco. This isn’t for the shy. It retails for $150 at Esscentual Alchemy. 
• Keiko Mecheri Cuir Cordoba – Violet, benzoin, suede. Yes, it’s good. It’s soft, powdery and luxurious. It’s a pretty leather fragrance that will keep your head to toe leather look from being too S&M. It retails for $115 at MiN NY.

Military

This trend won’t die. I feel like it’s been 8+ years of military inspired coats for winter. Oh, well. I like the trend and I guess so does everyone else. I like olive and navy. Plus, military inspired jackets have nice lines and shape. They seem to flatter many body types. And I love the toughness of it. Military straight lines mix well with feminine elements like floral prints or stellar heels.

• Burberry for Women – This is like the Burberry trench of fragrances. It’s timeless and works in the fall through spring. It’s  a posh fruity-floral over creamy vanilla. It’s one of my favorites for fall.  The 1.7 retails for $60 at Nordstrom.
• Chanel No. 5 EDP – I have some explaining to do. I have always thought of Chanel’s fragrances as being very “rigid” and “strict”. Their fault, if there is one, is that they are almost too structured for daily wear. I see No.5 as an officer of a perfume. It’s smart, well-dressed and is a role model to many. Plus, it’s as timeless as many military inspired fashions. The 1.7 oz bottle retails for $98 at Nordstrom.
• Diptyque 34 EDT – This fragrance smells like antiques and a mix of waxes. It has always smelled “olive green” to me. I think of it as the green wool military coat of perfumes. The 1.7 oz bottle retails for $100 at Nordstrom.

Winter White

Monochromatic winter white looks are back. Jennifer Lopez is like, “What? You’re telling me there was a time when monochromatic winter white looks were out!” People love the pureness and softness of this combo. It’s so very ski bunny or snow princess…or J.Lo. Many people don’t look good in dark, wintery colors; off-white can be flattering. However, many of us stay away from white on white looks. We’re clumsy. We’re self-aware. We know this about ourselves 😉

• Atelier Cologne Vanille Insensée – This perfume reminds me of warm, fresh out the of the dryer vanilla scented towels. It smells very white, soft and cuddly to me. The 1 oz of this perfume retails for $65 at Beauty.com. 
• A Lab on Fire What We Do in Paris is Secret – This perfume is creamy and honeyed with almond and heliotrope. It reminds me of whipped cream. The 2 oz bottle retails for $110 at LuckyScent.
• Victoria’s Secret Dream Angels Heavenly – OK, this is my “lowbrow” on the list. Dream Angels Heavenly has always smelled “winter white angora” to me. It’s mainly some ambroxan, white musk and vanilla. It has some cardamom too. It’s a warm, casual fragrance. I don’t care. Judge me. I like it. The 1 oz bottle retails for $45 at Victoria’s Secret.

Peplum

We saw this a lot this spring/summer. The deal is that hips are in. There is an emphasis on vintage 1950’s silhouettes: large hips and a tiny waist. Peplum exaggerates the feminine figure. I’m not a huge fan of peplum but I do have one jacket that I like to pair with pencil skirts and skinny cigarette slacks. You have to keep the bottom half from looking too boxy.

• Chanel Coco Noir – This is a great perfume that is like “modern peplum”. It’s well constructed, smells like a Chanel but does come across as “new”. I mainly get patchouli from this one and that’s probably why I like it. The 1.7 oz bottle retails for $98 at Nordstrom.
• Tommi Sooni Tarantella – Really all you need to know about this fragrance is that it smells like a long lost vintage that you’ve always wanted to try. It’s feminine, refined and it smells expensive. I think that is what the peplum trend is going for. The 1.7 oz bottle of Tarantella retails for $185 at LuckyScent.
• Serge Lutens Bas de Soie – A cold iris that is structured and as silky as its “silk stockings” namesake. The 1.7 oz bottle retails for $120 at Beautyhabit.

Brocade/Embellishments

People are sick of a crummy economy. They want embellishments and gold embroidery. Luxe and 80’s gaudiness is back. People want gold and jewel tones. Rhinestones and pearls. It’s all about giving the appearance that you’re wearing the Sistene Chapel. They want to feel like they’re royalty and they want to be noticed.

• iNeKe Evening Edged in Gold – This spicy white floral has always reminded me of gold embroidery on something silk. It’s bright, gilded but not stiff. It’s easy to wear. The 2.5 oz bottle retails for $95 and is available at Beautyhabit.
• Dior Poison EDT – If you’re going to do big, then go big! So wear Dior Poison. And wear a hell of a lot of it, OK. Who needs embellishments when you have Poison? The 3.4 oz bottle retails for $90 at Nordstrom.
• Tom Ford Black Orchid – This unusual floral amber has every thing in it, maybe even the kitchen sink. And it’s showy. It’s embellished and embroidered to the max. And it’s wearing a full face of makeup and probably has some foundation all over its collar.  The 1.7 oz bottle retails for $105 at Sephora.

*Runway pics from style.com. Nordstrom, Beautyhabit, Sephora, and Beauty.com are affiliate links. Thanks!