Design Tip Achives:
 Wedding Cake Beads, Rainbow of Colors, Focal Beads, Leaf Beads Part 1, Leaf Beads Part 2, Earth Tones, Beaded Tree Ornaments, Heart Designs, The Meaning of Colors, Mix and Match Beads, Oval Beads, Flower Designs Part 1, Flower Designs Part 2, Cane Glass, Mobiles and Home Decor, Fish Beads Provide Fall Color, Bright Halloween Colored Beads, Colorful Fall Beads, Holiday Beads, Jewelry for Moms To Be, Spring Pastels, Sexy Bead Styles, Bumpy Beads, Patriotic Designs,  Summer Designs, Shells, Basic Black,  Not so Basic Black, Dichroics, Traditional Christmas Designs, Prayer, Purple, Spring Colors, Romantic Designs, White and Gold, Pearls, Clear Crystal, Peridot, Hematite

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Neutrals rule for 2006 fall fashion

By Bethany Waldrop Keiper

"Now came still evening on, and twilight gray - Had in her sober livery all things clad; ... Apparent queen unveil'd her peerless light, And o'er the dark her silver mantle threw." -- John Milton

Many people have expressed disappointment at some of the fashion trends they've seen for fall 2006. Dark, serious colors seem to rule, and shapes seem to veer from one extreme to the other.

Neutrals such as gray, black, or ivory have been seen in silhouettes that are either very slouchy with bulky layers and floppy sweaters or very tight with "skinny" jeans and pencil skirts. Some jackets and other wardrobe pieces look like they have been influenced by a trip through the menswear department.

Some fashionistas seem to think that the dark garments are the designers' way of reflecting dark times around the world. But I prefer to think of the darker colors in terms of peaceful evening, twilight, and nightfall as influences for this season's color choices and combinations.  Gray is expected to be the "new" neutral, so give it a somber elegance with black accents or liven it up with silver sparkle.

Instead of stubbornly clinging to summer's bright shades, let yourself go with the neutral flow. Colors throughout the black, gray, and ivory families can be very soothing. Embrace these pre-dawn and late night shades.

This design is a prime example of just how cool and soothing silvery-gray can be. Smooth, silver-glossed rectangular beads take their place between corrugated silver bicones and tiny silver accent beads for an elegant, flowing strand. This design would make an elegant, understated accent for black or any shade of gray.

October is a great month to debut your new fall looks, and also a great month for spooky-sweet kitties -- they don't even have to be black.
These two, in silky pale gray and satiny charcoal gray, are waiting to be turned into charms for a bracelet or necklace. They also would make great dangles for earrings, as would the pearly gray heart between them. The silver earwire seems like a question mark, asking, "which one shall I make first?" Alternating the dark and light cat beads with some sparkling silver accent beads or gleaming hematite rounds would make a lovely bracelet full of fall's signature colors
 

Texture is expected to play a major role in fashion choices this fall, so choose beads to reflect this trend in your designs, whether you choose gray or black beads.

One of my favorite formations of gray, because it is so very versatile, is hematite. Hematite is lovely when it is carved, and even lovelier when it is satiny smooth.

 

This design gives you the best of both looks. The shiny 6mm rounds are glossy hematite, and tiny silver accent beads and silver bicones separate the rounds at regular intervals from beautifully carved, polished disk beads that are hematite look-a-likes.

To keep black from being too basic, texture is always important. This bracelet matches three key elements spotted in fall fashion camps for 2006 -- bold black, enticing texture and matte makeup.

The large ovals in this design -- around 12mm -- are unusual with their size and shape, bold in texture, and perfectly matte. Their ideal contrasting combination is sleek black round disks that are bold in their color, and eye catching in their slippery wet-look shine. This design would be great made into a matching necklace, bracelet and earrings set. The group would provide bold, beautiful accents to a pale gray sweater set.

Large beads on a necklace are perfect for this season's sizable sweaters, especially those without print. A big, blank sweater is the canvas that shows off your intricate beads and designs.

Next month we'll look at some of the brighter facets of this year's fall fashions in designs.


Silver findings, including earwires, available at the Bead Peddler



 

 

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