Lifestyles

Less severe than black and fresher and more modern than brown, gray takes its place as the most important neutral for fall's fashion palette.

It's no longer something thought of just as menswear-style suits or basic pants and skirts. Angelina Jolie saw to that when she wore a stunning rich storm cloud-gray St. John Couture strapless gown to this year's Golden Globes, banishing the idea that gray can't be glamorous. And now gray as evening wear -- and every other kind of wear -- is inescapable.

Shades of charcoal, dove, gunmetal and slate dominate department store displays in fabrications ranging from clingy jersey dresses to chunky cable knits to light and silky charmeuse tops. And that's not even considering the explosion of gray accessories, especially the variety of gray shoes in suede, patent and smooth leathers that have been nearly nonexistent in the past several seasons.

And now to all that add a flash of silver, and the update is complete.

"Gray is very important in fall, and as we head into the holiday season, silver is taking over," says Heather Hannan, public relations manager for Macy's Midwest.

Many silvery items coming onto the scene mesh beautifully -- and often subtly -- with the new gray items already in your closet.

"This isn't space-age silver," says Hannan, but often a more matte or weathered look when used to create an entire garment, or a sprinkling of sequins or shiny trim for adornment on a gray sweater or tank.

"We have a lot of gray with silver metallics woven into it," says Cara Moody, co-owner of Jupe boutique on the South Side, who notes that the shop also has a selection of silver metallic dresses coming in.

So much gray and silver can initially seem dreary -- until you put it all together, Hannan says.

"Typically, you can't wear one trend from head to toe -- that's one of the biggest faux pas," she says. "But with all of the different colors and textures that you can mix," this is one trend that doesn't need to be muted or offset with another color.

That doesn't mean a dash of color -- especially an unexpected one -- is unfashionable.

"I think that it looks really great with very warm orange or yellow rather than red," says Lois Joy Johnson, beauty and fashion director for More magazine. "It's a good update for a lot of women."

And adding brown or camel -- although harder to pull off -- gives gray a "very European look," Johnson says.

Moody also loves the unexpected pairings of browns and tans with gray, and suggests unequal amounts of each color to create a harmonious look. For example, try a camel or chocolate tank or knit shell with gray pants and jacket, where the brown shades act as an accent to the gray, or turn the entire look around and use gray accents in a predominantly brown ensemble, she says.

And in any pairing, jewel-tone purples, emeralds, reds and blues work well with gray and silver.

For women who have relied upon black as a wardrobe staple, gray offers an alternative, Johnson says, with the benefit that it has the same desirable slimming effect.

Cynthia Nellis, whose style columns appear at fashion.about.com, says gray and silver are can't-go-wrong choices: "They're sophisticated, dynamic and timeless."

Daytime shine

So you're considering adding some silver to your daytime wardrobe and you want to branch out beyond jewelry.

There are a few things to consider when trading in a plain white blouse for a bit of sparkle.

Cynthia Nellis of fashion.about.com, has these tips:

• Shine for daytime doesn't have to mean full-out sequins. A satin shell under a jacket, a metallic coat over a suit or even glazed leather shoes and bags add shine with polish for the office.

• Less is more when it comes to adding shiny silver items to your work look. For example, a pinstripe suit with a hint of metallic thread running through it looks professional; a sweater with oversized sequins dripping from it looks party-ready.

• A few things that should never make the office rounds: sparkling pantyhose, beaded or sequined stilettos, or anything too sheer or low cut. Basically, if it looks as though you should be wearing it holding a cocktail in one hand, it's not ready for the work week.

Two faces of gray

Nikki Blahusch, cosmetics director for Philip Pelusi salons, says there are two makeup looks that work exceptionally well with predominantly gray or silver ensembles:

• Neutrals

Contrary to what might be your first instinct, stay away from gray makeup or overly cool and icy shades when wearing gray, Blahusch says.

"Going too cool would create a very flat look" alongside gray apparel, she says. "Most women lack sleep and want something to make them look not so tired."

So think a soft golden glow, candlelight, caramel. Even a gold-tinged pink for lips and cheeks, she says.

Warm shades of taupe or sueded chocolate on the eyes or even smooth apricot colors also would work well for a neutral, glowing countenance to balance out the cool and ashy shades of gray.

• Full makeup

Deep plum or emerald on the eyes, brick red on the lips.

"This has not been in style very much since Robert Palmer did his videos in the '80s," Blahusch says. But it's not as extreme a look as the "Robert Palmer Girls," whose deep eye, lip and cheek colors had distinct geometric borders.

It's a softer, more blended look, and matte -- not glossy, Blahusch says. But it's also a departure from season-after-season emphasis on either the lip or the eye, but not both. And it's a dramatic combo that looks modern with a gray or silver outfit, she says.

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