Autumn in Central Park: Fall Palette 2011

Over the weekend, I designed my palette for Colette's fall challenge. I'm a bit of a seasonal purist, when it comes to color palettes. For summer, I love bright primaries, whereas in spring it's all pastels and florals. During autumn? I live for a jewel tone.

Ruby, sapphire, and amethyst are my seasonal favorites. Whether in wools, crisp poplins, or all together in a tartan print, they make me long for pumpkin pie and falling leaves. Making up a palette inspiration board was a no-brainer. Except...my inspiration focus is embarrassing, friends. You see, when I think plaids, cute coats, and wool skirts my mind goes to one person. Blair Waldorf.

Yes. My fall palette is inspired by everyone's favorite Gossip Girl villainess. I know what you're thinking: Why is a twenty-six year old woman modeling her wardrobe after a CW character? Because she has the best clothes ever, of course. She sashays around in New York in bright, structured coats and all-American layers of cashmere sweaters, tights and dresses. Feel free to judge, kittens. As it is, this season I will be sewing up Blair-inspired pieces. I may even bust out a bow-bedecked headband or two.

[Click picture to enlarge!]

Palette details:

• Color choices: It really is all about a jewel tones. I suppose you could call these colors by different names, but for my purposes they are: ruby, citrine, amethyst, sapphire, and - er - chocolate. (I know topazes can be brown, but I still think yellow. We're going with Hershey here.)
  
• Fabrics: I'm planning to use a lot of wools and cotton flannels this fall. Luckily, most of these are already in my stash. I've been hoarding cold-weather fabrics for an age now, hoping the universe would get the hint and send us cooler weather. There's also a plum circle lace, from Mood, which I planned to use in the summer, but never got around to sewing up. I'm thinking it would make a divine Peony dress, underlined with a cream voile.
  
• Garments: It's going to be all about circle skirts and basic dresses for me. I'm planning to kick my print habit a bit, by using some dreamy solid fabrics on some of my favorite patterns. Expect to see a few shirt dresses and other items which are easily layered.

Have you come up with your palette yet, or perhaps even started fall sewing? I refuse to start in on autumn pieces, until the thermometer dips below 85, but I'm loving the cozy creations appearing elsewhere.