Sitting down with a cup of tea and a big stack of September issues has become a bit of a ritual that I look forward to each year. The fashion mags keep getting bigger and bigger, so I’m still working my way through Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, British Marie Claire, Elle, and a pile of Belgian and foreign language publications. I’m enjoying every minute of it. Which made me realize that I have changed. When I was younger, I used to hate having to wade through tons of ads before getting to any editorial content. Now I actually enjoy studying the advertisements too. Of course, their main goal is to promote brands and encourage us to go out and buy the clothes and accessories, but at the same time all these highly stylized outfits and artful vignettes inspire me to really visualize what I want to do with the latest trends.

I have to say that it works. More than once I wanted to put aside my magazine and start playing around in my closet right that instant. For example, take the Nordstrom Chanel ad on pages 118-119 of Vogue. I’ve been smitten with the long structured tunic over narrow trousers look forever, and seeing this monochromatic metallic outfit has made me even more determined to use my black cigarette pants and dark grey dressy trousers to recreate the look this Winter. And then there’s that stunning green suede jacket and animal print skirt on page 610. One of my favourite shades of all time! I don’t have those exact pieces, but I immediately started thinking of news ways to wear my dark teal argyle turtleneck. I’m going to try a ton-sur-ton ensemble by pairing the sweater with my teal midi pencil skirt and black knee-high boots. I also want to wear it with my ink blue slouchy trousers, a cream leather jacket and light-coloured animal print booties. And oh boy, do I have new plans for my old dark green button-down shirt…

I’m curious now: Are you like the old me in that you don’t really fancy all these fashion ads, or do they spark your imagination and make you want to get busy in your wardrobe? Has a specific ad inspired you to come up with new outfit combinations for this Fall, then do tell us all about in the comments.

New in YLF Books

American Vogue first appeared on the newsstands in December 1892 as a weekly, and became a bi-weekly publication after Condé Nast purchased it almost two decades later. Since then the magazine has become an important fashion trendsetter — its covers and content continue to captivate style lovers all over the world. Vogue: The Covers by Dodie Kazanjian, showcases more than 300 of the most iconic and striking covers, alongside the history and stories behind these stylish images. Organized in chronological order by decade, the book begins with the illustrated covers from the early years and spans the 20th century to the present, chronicling the evolution of fashion, art, culture, and photography. With photographs by influential artists like Annie Leibovitz, Richard Avedon and Irving Penn.