Page 138 - South Mississippi Living - October, 2026

SHOPPING
story by Barbara Travis
Fall fashion offerings for both men and women boldly
embrace two major trends: the color brown and the
cowboy vibe. Each speaks to the season and to the
admiration and strong influence of all things western.
In a nutshell, it’s all about choosing a favorite shade or
tone of brown and making it work for you at the office
or all about town.
The Color Brown
It’s everywhere—Brown and earth tones rule the current clothing scene.
For women, it could very well be said that the “little black dress” has
been temporarily replaced by the “little brown dress.” The same holds
true for menswear. Brown is the underlying basic, neutral, and accent
tone for everything from casual separates to suits.
Brown has many shades. Choose the one that best fits your skin tone. If
brown doesn’t work for you in a major way, use it in an ancillary way—
perhaps a brown jacket with the proper color blouse or shirt underneath
coupled with a well-chosen tie. Accessories or accents can make fashion
magic happen.
The Cowboy Influence
Don’t pretend you haven’t noticed. Go to any community event, casual
dinner, or sporting event and look around. Men and women are wearing
western wear or western embellishments— cowboy hats, boots, fancy
belt buckles, fringe, and suede touches on denim. What’s up with this?
It’s all about the western influence sneaking in between and all-around
fall fashion. A little goes a long way, so grab the accessories and accents
that suit you best. Flaunt them and wear them with your best cowboy or
cowgirl smile.
Have Fun with Fashion
Regardless of what’s “in” or “fashionable” for the season, the goal is to
look and feel your best. Most importantly, take it all in, wear what makes
you happy and confident, and smile all the while.
138 | October 2026 www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living