Perhaps it's the Harry Potter/Twilight effect or the fact that it's finally here: 2012!  The year marking the end of the Mayan calendar is thought to herald something cataclysmic, possibly the end of us, or, more positively, a spiritual transformation. "Fall 2012 is about “LOVE MAGIC”," says Pamella Protzel Scott of the label Ella Moss. "Witches and warlocks, misty landscapes, love potions and dreamy skies set the mood for colors this season." At Nanette Lepore, inspiration was similarly to be found in the occult: the color story of "Francesco Clemente. The Tarots" at the Uffizi.

Whether you think the end is nigh or it's just the end of an era (albeit one that's lasted 5,125 years), there's magic in the air which inspired many designers to ditch stressful reality in favor of illusion & enchantment as is evident in the Pantone Fashion Color Report for Fall 2012.

In particular, the yellow-green Bright Chartreuse brings to mind transition - from the heat of summer to the cooling days of fall when the sunlight changes to a soft and muted Honey Gold, glinting off the rich foliage in shades of Ultramarine Green & rich, robust French Roast against an Olympian Blue sky. Ethereal Rhapsody, a greyed-down purple (a most magic-centric hue) encourages serenity & reflection, as do Titanium (cool gray) and Rose Smoke, a veiled shade of rose. Fortunately, vibrant Pink Flambé introduces playfulness and a touch of mischief, especially when paired with Tangerine Tango, the viviacious Color of the Year - a combination that was one of Yves Saint Laurent's favorites. 

"By boosting consumers' confidence with bold, spirited hues but playing to their practical side with versatile neutrals, this skillfully balanced palette has something for everyone," adds Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.

from left: Nanette Lepore, Carmen Marc Valvo, Ella Moss, Charlotte Ronson

from left: Lela Rose, Herve Leger, Hyden Yoo, Rebecca Minkoff

from left: BCBG, Peter Som, James Coviello

from left: Tracy Reese, Bill Blass, Betsey Johnson

"I have a picture on my mood board of a room with Mint Green walls, Antique Gold accents and a very cool Bright Orange velvet chair," says Tracy Reese, who also found herself inspired for fall by a photo of Helena Rubinstein’s bedroom. "The walls are Bright Orange, the bedcover is Purple-ish Blue and the headboard is Gothic Black — love it!" For the Bill Blass collection, Jeffrey Monteiro looked to the work of Mark Rothko and Anette H. Flensburg (left), artists whose use of color is the source of their work. Although Lela Rose found herself inspired by bridges, it was the "sulfurous patina" that the metals they're made from achieve over time that inspired her for the season.

Katharine Hepburn met up with Audrey Hepburn at Peter Som, expressed in " classic, rich fall colors that have a masculine edge done in a head-to-toe look of one singular color" whereas James Coviello went more quirky and 60s, "think Olive refrigerator and Pink walls."

- Lesley Scott

(Anette H. Flensburg image - source)

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The madcap-fabu Australian brand Mad Love has a sassy sartorial solution to dressing your alter ego. "A bit like a time travellers fashion delight," they explain about their latest collection, Groove is in the Art. "You will find hints of the Glory Decades mashed up with a touch of Mad Love madness. Sunflowers, bones or animal instinct...you are destined to discover a piece of your other self here, and wear your fashion with a smile."

Translation: girly flirty pieces, quirky prints and knits launching in TopShop during February & March.

- Lesley Scott

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My favorite "place" to shop in the world, eBay, has teamed up with the CFDA again on a campaign to raise awareness against counterfeit goods and celebrate original design. To promote YOU CAN’T FAKE FASHION, more than 75 CFDA designers including Ralph Lauren, Tory Burch & The Row have customized one-of-a-kind totes - a selection of which will be on display during New York Fashion Week in the event lobby of the Tents at Lincoln Center. Four limited edition totes bearing the campaign tagline will be available on eBay where you can one of the standard totes starting March 20th for a "Buy It Now" price of $45; the customized tote will retail for $200.

All proceeeds benefit the CFDA Foundation. More info at ebay.com/YouCantFakeFashion or on Twitter: @eBay_Fashion or @CFDA.

- Lesley Scott

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Just the right mix of refined sophistication and downtown cool - not to mention perfect if you're having a harem-pant or jodhpur pant moment (like me) & having a hard time figuring out what exactly to wear on your feet.

Purchasing info at LoefflerRandall.com.

- Lesley Scott

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Already known for fabulous-fitting denim, J Brand has now translated their winning combo of style, comfort & sexiness into a new luxe Ready-to-Wear collection of buttery soft leather jackets, chunky knit sweaters, trouser‐influenced pants & color‐warped chambray blouses in a palette of muted pinks, creamy neutrals, hints of lilac, rich blacks, cool grays & of course indigo. "I love the contrasts of hard with soft, structured with relaxed, leather with silk and soft satins," explains RTW Design Director, Donald Oliver who joined J Brand after 15 years of design experience at high-profile labels including Calvin Klein, Vera Wang & Gap International. "The pieces feel special and have an ease to them. From day one, I wanted to design a collection that was wearable and understandable, yet unexpected, with attention to detail."

Available at JBrandJeans.com.

- Lesley Scott

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Taking inspiration from older issues of Andy Warhol's Interview magazine for their Spring 2012 Look Book, "Signs of Spring", INTERMIX juxtaposed soft bursts of color - pastels in particular - with harder graphic elements.  26 tightly-edited looks are showcased from brands like Helmut Lang, Rag & Bone, Giuseppe Zanotti  & Fallon jewelry.

- Lesley Scott

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Fashionistas have had to wait impatiently since last October when Macy's announced that the Queen of Draping & former Head Designer for Geoffrey Beene, Doo-Ri Chung, would be the latest designer chosen to create a capsule collection for their "Impulse" department. Now in its second year and sold in approximately 225 Macy's locations, this initiative is proving a wonderful way to give deserving talent a much higher profile. Doo-ri's designs will include art-inspired prints, jersey pieces mixed with leather, beautifully-detailed knitwear & of course her signature iconic draping - and all at an affordable price! Purchasing info at Macys.com.

- Lesley Scott

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Because safe sex is such an important message, H&M is again doing a Fashion Against AIDS (FAA) collection, its fifth so far. FAA targets the younger demographic in particular and raises funds and awareness about HIV/AIDS with the limited edition collection which will be available starting April 26th in 300 H&M Divided departments as well as online at HM.com.

This year’s FAA collection puts global tribes in a 21st century context, with special prints commissioned from international artists and illustrators to create pieces bursting with colour, pattern and authenticity. Look for African trims on blouses and bustiers, graphic black & white Maori prints on leggings and crop-tops and folkloric Inuit designs from Greenland on draped T-shirts. Other groovy touches include macrame, fringed & dip-dyed pieces, cropped harem trousers for guys, hats, footwear, jewelry & iPhone cases, festival ponchos, hammocks and even band-aids (plasters).

"I love this year’s Fashion Against AIDS collection," notes H&M's Head of Design, Ann-Sofie Johansson. "It brings together so many global styles that send not only a powerful fashion message, but also help spread the word about HIV/AIDS awareness. It's great that the collection includes the work of artists and illustrators from many different countries, helping us to raise funds for these vital youth HIV/AIDS charities." So far, H&M has raised around 45 million SEK from previous FAA projects, and 25% of all sales this year will go directly to a variety of international youth HIV/AIDS awareness projects including:

Designers Against AIDS (DAA): An organization which trains and educates young people in HIV/AIDS awareness, so they can spread the message within their own communities

MTV Staying Alive Foundation: MTV’s global campaign to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS. Their Staying Alive Award offers grants to young people focused on preventing the spread of HIV.

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA): The task of UNFPA is to support each individual’s  right to good health and equal rights.

YouthAIDS: A HIV/AIDS prevention initiative of Population Services International (PSI) which reaches more than 600 million young people in more than 60 countries.

- Lesley Scott

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The squares of a towering building empower an office blazer. The circular arches of a Brooklyn cathedral softly support an elegant blouse. The flickering lights of a nighttime cityscape trim an evening party dress in gold.

It's as a storyteller that the Korean-born, Thailand-based designer Je Yong Jung approaches his designs for SWITCH GOLD LABEL, his women's RTW line now in its second season. "Building a collection is like writing a story book," he explains. "Each style forms a plot, and every garment is a character. However, it is the unexpected twists, turns, and surprises in these stories that make each fashion collection truly memorable and unique."

And practical.

With a quick slip of the wrist, a long dress can be made short, a fitted outfit draped over, and short sleeves made long - just like the rest of his garments which can all be worn in a variety of ways to meet multiple fits and functions.

This effortlessly chic balance of the artistic with the pragmatic are part of the reason his menswear line, WRKROOM, is a favorite of A-listers like Zac Efron and Je's talent in demand at high-profile companies including Urban Outfitters, Champion, Haggar & Reaction by Kenneth Cole.

Prices are surprisingly affordable, ranging from $75 to $200. For more info, be sure to visit the SWITCH FB page.

- Lesley Scott

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For their first foray into the fragrance market, Nine West opted to walk a slightly different path from their footwear designs. Instead of trendy, they went more timeless with LOVE FURY, from the elegant flacon which is topped with the heel of a stiletto to the seductive juice redolant with lush florals, fresh fruits, warm woods & addictive amber.

TOP NOTES: Rose Bud, Mimosa Petals, Juicy Mandarin, Red Berries Pulp

HEART: Tiare Tahiti, Jasmine Sambac, Sandalwood

DRY DOWN: Orris Flower, Sensual Musk, Precious Wood, Addictive Amber

LOVE FURY is available at NineWest.com & even comes with a sleek matching pointy-toe pump!

- Lesley Scott

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Prints are such a fun way to freshen up your wardrobe, but if you invest in some (as I advised before when it comes to prints: don't cheap out), how do you make sure you'll get your money's worth? By wearing it all the time! Using the same chic Balmain satin-jersey print tunic (available at , I've pulled together 5 completely different looks to help inspire you!

For more on Look # 1 (at right) - CLICK HERE. In Look #2 above, the trick is to pick up on the gold tones in the print with matching touches of yellow and khaki:

- the army-taupe of the Alexander Wang sandals

- the yellow in the Proenza tote,

- the gold in the "Ballcrusher" earrings by Solange Azagury-Partridge.

Then nonchalantly toss on a black leather jacket - this one is by Rick Owens - to take the print straight into cool slouchy-chic territory.

- Lesley Scott

[note: the links are affiliate links]

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Stackable rings are great, provided they remain in a stack. Which is why I love the ones from Wendy Brandes - they are connected so you don't have to worry your pretty little head about losing one. What you should instead worry said head about is pairing your rings with fabulous & glitzy look-at-me nails.

- Lesley Scott

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Carefully curated by a savvy team of creative pros, each piece featured in the ICUinPARIS.com boutique also comes with a unique story to tell - like up-and-come'r Charlotte Martyr who writes on her inspiration page about her muses Grace Jones & Superman! From crystal statement rings to playful androgynous bowties, fashionistas & fashionistos can score bold & beautiful pieces without having to go into debt...or even leaving home for that matter.

- Lesley Scott

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Hailing from a family of tailors and seamstresses, designer Megla M. by Stamatia Megla recently won the celebrated "100 Best New Fashion Designers" contest organized by UK fashion magazine Look. For FW'12, she continues to walk the line between timely & timeless, fusing her love of theater & passion for fashion with interesting textures - in particular, quilting & lace - dramatic cuts and a thematic feel.

Purchasing info at megla-m.com.

- Lesley Scott

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Harper's BAZAAR is evolving its look starting with the March 2012 issue, mining its past for inspiration, in particular, the 1940s, when Alexey Brodovic was the creative director. Now being printed in a larger size, the result is more white space and a mix of photography that blends bold brights with moody black & white images. "The new BAZAAR reflects the elegance of our past, while looking forward to a fabulous future," says EIC Glenda Bailey who collaborated on the design with creative director Stephen Gan & design director Elizabeth Hummer. "Women look to BAZAAR for everything they need to live a fashionable life." This month's cover features Gwyneth Paltrow in silver screen siren mode (be sure to check out the full interview with her online) that recalls Hollywood's Golden Age. The issue also includes contributions from Karl Lagerfeld, artist Liu Bolin, Suzy Menkes and Vicky Ward.

The overall effect fuses retro sleek with today's more kinetic energy and obsession with the next new thing.  "Starting with the March issue, we are beginning a transformation that will enhance all elements of the brand--from the foundation of the magazine itself to our strong new presence in the digital world," adds Carol A. Smith, VP/publisher and chief revenue officer. "BAZAAR is one of those rare brands that has always had true elegance at its core—it's part of our birthright."

The magazine's legendary editor Carmel Snow would have approved, known as she was for observing that "elegance is good taste with a dash of daring."

- Lesley Scott

Photo credit: Terry Richardson for Harper’s Bazaar

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