Enjoying the dwindling days of the carefree summer? I am - but I’m really looking forward to trading in my tank tops for turtlenecks. More velour and luxe velvet. Bows and being buttoned up. Leather boots that make it their business to cover the calf. And I live in Boston, where autumn brings the brash ol’ man winter as its dutiful sidekick. When you know it’s coming, you must embrace it.

And nobody embraces it like Christina Hendricks, who recently appeared on the cover of the LA Times to promote season 4 of Mad Men. Hats and necklaces particularly jumped off of her drastically delicate coloring. Her shots beautifully epitomize an iconic style that evokes a timeless sensibility to beauty.

This upcoming season reawakens a mood of ladylike grace, with overtones of glamour and whimsy. Christina’s photos encapsulate key trends that appeared on the runways and trunk shows for fall. Here are the top six.

1. Go for bold color.

When wearing lots of greys, particularly , navys, blacks, and browns as the grounding force of background color in your wardrobe, wear something in a luxe jewel-tone to leap to your attention. This could be as tiny as a brooch in a hypnotizing emerald green, or as major as a cape in riding hood red.

But, P.S. Don’t forget to make like Switzerland and stay neutral — surprisingly, grey nail polish is very flattering and easy to wear.

2. Wear statement jewelry.

This is easy and works year-round. Wear the most simple clothing, and pair it with a powerful and bold piece of jewelry to command attention. Many necklaces this season are substantial collars, and will satisfy the requirement to cover up when worn with an unbuttoned blouse.

3. Read your lips.

The mouth has it, particularly when enhanced with deep colors of scarlet. This works even better in the months of the waning sun, when skin becomes paler. This looks reads as very feminine, while in control.

4. Precision. Precisely.

We’re talking clean lines - whether it is precise eyeliner, or a structured blazer with a defined cut. Nothing looks better.

5. Go for quality over quantity.

Want to make your money last longer with your clothes? Then roll your dollars into the best materials and labels that you can find, in the basics. They hold up through repeated cycles of wash and wear. Cashmere will last for decades when cared for properly.

6. All that glitters.

Pair a little glitter in your ensemble to match a sparkle in the eye. Many pieces are coming out with matte finishes to pare down the gleam for daytime wear.

We have the pleasure to host a giveaway of comfortably cute lounge clothing by FOXERS. There will be two winners of two gorgeous ensembles; read on to learn more about your chances to win some seriously stylish garments!

Explore your inner modern cowgirl with the western sheer top. With two pockets on the front, there is enough coverage and style to wear this outside to layer over a tank top, or inside as a comfortable shirt. The matching boxer briefs fit stylishly snug, but are roomier than their boyshorts. The signature patterned waistband compliments the feminine lace trim on these. Sizes run from small to XL. Most items are meant to be form fitting, so feel free to select a size up if you want a more relaxed feel. Retail value of this set is $80.

Our second prize is a stunning ice blue lace camisole and boxer set. Many brides choose to wear this set under their gowns for something blue. Sizes run from XS to XL. The set is incredibly soft to the touch, and the camisole has straps that match the striped waistband for a special detail. Retail value of this sophisticated set is $64.

Women who have been spotted wearing FOXERS include race car driver Tiffany Daniels, singer Christin De Jarnet, and performer Alicia Keys.

Which set do you like better? Leave a comment below.

To enter, just submit your email to subscribe to our newsletter, where we update you on the latest giveaways and unique accessories from around the world! We will select our winners on July 31, so stay tuned, and good luck!

The envelope please…

Red/pink starburst umbrella and rainboots: Monique of Auburn, WA

Lime/chocolate starburst umbrella and rainboots: Jessica of Pompano Beach, FL

Congratulations!

To view the entire line of däv inspired footwear that includes knee-high boots, flats, sneakers, and heels — view their online collection! Prices range from a super reasonable $29 for the flats to $95 for the knee-high fashion rain boots. So worth it.

And, perhaps you didn’t win this one, but you will have many other opportunities because we have a fabulous lineup of fantastic designers for you to win and wear. Stay tuned for our next exciting giveaway for June!

Or, to translate — I adore my latest conspiracy with a pilot.

Okay, not really. But there’s a high-flying mood when wearing these aviator glasses by Louis Vuitton. Using photo-chromatic technology, the sunlight causes a pattern to emerge on the lenses. Cool, huh? Other companies, such as Ray Ban, use this technology to darken the entire lens, so that you can get more protection under brighter light. Louis Vuitton applied it for a very stylized effect.

You can choose the monogram or Damier pattern in gold/brown or silver/gray. And don’t worry, it doesn’t obscure your vision either. They’re that fantastic.

The metal frame has wonderful touches, such as on the hinges, which resemble the trunks that the House is traditionally known for.

They come in a Men’s or Women’s version.

Price? $530. A splurge? Yes. But these are keepers for years.

P.S. These shades evoke a lot of brand love. Wear with caution, and avoid pairing them with other blatantly branded items for the most tasteful effect.

Everyone needs a little fun in their lives — you’ve just got to find it. On the continuous search for unusually versatile and chic items, we ran across a fantastic watch that tells time in a novel way.

Instead of discrete numbers, you’re progressing through your days with shades of melancholy or euphoria,  with rays in a color wheel.

An eggshell (aka winter white, so you can wear this year-round) leather strap completes this uplifting and clean design.

Not into pastels? There is a version with brown leather and more vibrant hues too, if you crave contrast.

The face is 1.5″ in diameter, and is water-resistant with a stainless steel back.

Best part? A mere $40 gets you into the watch club for cool kids at Modcloth.

Color me happy.

RooTotes Inc. is based in Japan, but their designs commonly reference iconic fashion personalities from the major meccas of Paris, Milan, and NYC.

This tote is no different, evoking the City of Light with muted stripes, pastels, and the Eiffel Tower. This particular bag has a little extra zest because of its chain handles.

This bag has a hidden side zip compartment on the outside, similar to a kangaroo pocket (hence the name RooTote). There are three inner pockets for optimal organization. Dimentions: 42cm x 23cm x 16cm, Handle Length 38cm, Handle Height 15cm.

We found this tote at YesStyle.com for $68.

For the month of April, we’re giving away not one, but two fabulous prizes — one pair of amazing knee high boots and a matching starburst umbrella.

We handpicked our favorite distinctive designs from breakout luxury designer, däv, for this contest.

The first prize is a pair of tan and brown houndstooth boots, which pairs perfectly with the lime and chocolate umbrella for a refined yet fun look. Our second prize features cherry red boots with a red and pink umbrella to match, for a bold and feminine statement. Each prize retails for $125.

Why are these boots fabulous? Because they marry style with substance with a slight heel, a side zip that allows you to dress quickly (but still keeps the water out) and a flattering slim silhouette. Plus, they have special shock-absorbent soles for extra comfort.

And the umbrellas have an easy auto-open function that works at the touch of a button. Wood handles and bi-colored scalloped edges complete the distinctive look.

Do you have a favorite? Comment below. Either one will brighten your rainy day — promise.

International entrants are welcome! Just enter your email address below to subscribe to StyleMint updates and future giveaways (and remember to click the link in your confirmation email) and you’re entered to win!

Closeups of the Yohji bag show the deceptively simple lines that now bear the Hermès name.

Hermès has always been a locked box, working with no one to produce its legendary bags. The Kelly and the Birkin are singular sensations from the French house. However, a new partnership with Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto opens a new chapter.

The Tokyo born designer abandoned his plans for a law degree to study fashion. Yamamoto’s style tends to strike a somber note of skewed proportions, simple lines, and dark color that walk the line of androgyny. His lines launched from ground zero in 1981. After riding high for decades, his design house filed for bankruptcy in October 2009. Hopefully, this partnership with the French label is the guiding light.

The new Yohji bag was originally introduced in the Autumn-Winter 2008 fashion show. It’s now hitting the market, in time for the spring thaw. The bag speaks volumes for Yamamoto’s style, with flowing, loose lines.

You’ll have the best luck in obtaining one if you are in Hong Kong, Paris, Tokyo, or London, and they’re available in three sizes of 35, 38, or 41 cm.

Though the bag appeared in crocodile leather on the runways at Paris Fashion Week, these bags are going to appear in the label’s classic saddle Barenia calfskin leather.

So it’s super casual, easy, and carefree — a very marked departure from the structured grace of past Hermès designs. Can be a good thing to depart from the steady, well-lit path to uncharted waters. After all, Hermes had found success with a past experiment — it was the first label to incorporate a zipper in a handbag at the turn of the last century.

Ah, the comforting smell of paper as you turn the page of a book. So reassuring, and perhaps quaint, in the knowledge it can impart to you. But I’ll bet that you tend to open a laptop more often than a book, right?

Well, we are indeed in a new world, where we now read a glowing screen to impart knowledge on digital pages.

Until the publishing world reconciles the way to communicate the written word in ebooks, here’s the next best thing for MacBook Pro owners. I bring you the BookBook.

With these gorgeous vintage covers, you can protect your laptop in an Old World style. With two color options, these covers offer a discreet way to carry your expensive property in public places. Each uniquely distressed book has leather zipper pulls that resemble bookmarks. The defined spine provides a stronger protection than typical neoprene sleeves.

So obviously, I’d ask the creators of the BookBook to make versions for white MacBooks (the light polycarbonate finish may absorb color from the velvety red interior) and PCs (because some Microsofties have style too). And, they should make these for the Nook, Kindle, and other ebook digital readers — because how ironically post-modernist would that be?

Suggestions aside, I’m a huge fan of this ingenous idea. It makes me want to curl up into a leather armchair in a library, with a warm latte on the table and a standing globe at my side.

They’re available in brownish black or red for 13″ or 15″ MacBook Pros for $79.99 at twelvesouth, a Mac accessories shop.

In this economy, we all need a sweet song to lift our spirits. This creature is often the bearer of good news, and has a long mythological history. A bluebird symbolizes happiness, prosperity, and renewal.

Bluebirds are indigenous to North America, and their numbers have dwindled over the last hundreds of years, because more aggressive wrens, starlings, and sparrows pushed their blue-hued neighbors out of their homes.

The crystallized Spring Fling clutch by Judith Leiber has a detachable silver metal strap with a 19″ drop, and silver leather lining (there’s literally a silver lining in this design, which is no accident). Dimensions are 5″hx5″wx4″d. At $3,695, you’ll wear this for years while reflecting the optimism of eternal spring.

While on a semi-related tangent, I’d like to mention one of my favorite shops in London: The Shop at Bluebird. It’s a whimsical, high end experience in Chelsea. Sneakers are displayed in microwaves, while a gilded dining room set may display jewelry…and it’s all for sale - even the furniture. Very fun, I promise!