The best day of the month comes when the mail man decides to grace my mail box with my monthly Vogue subscription. After receiving the always-anticipated September issue, I have been eager to embrace the multitude of rich fall trends swimming through the pages.

Two trends I could not get over were the abundant styles of pants and the dark vampy lip that accompanied sleek up-dos and masculine sartorial blends.

Pants are no longer limited to skinny jeans and chinos. The dress has been replaced with pants of all artistry. Structured, embroidered, billowing, leather, chiffon, high-waisted and harem; they all found their way into the September issue of Vogue. There is something about the inescapable power associated with a woman and a statement-making pant and killer heels. She would reign over any evening-event she attended.

The vampy lip, reminiscent of the most seductive of femme fatales, couldn’t coordinate better with a statement-making pant. From maroon to tawny, a dark lip is a great way to add drama to an outfit and an easy way to jump on the oxblood bandwagon.

Any man would die of intimidation if, on the first date, his lady friend showed up with better dress pants than himself and lips the color of coagulated blood. Some may say this look is too dramatic, or too masculine, or too cold; I say, embrace it. Poor fellows.

That is what I love about fashion; what other part of your life can you change on a moment’s notice that can completely transform mood/character/aesthetic? Thus, my hunt for a statement pant and the perfect dark lip ensued.

I stumbled upon a pair of chiffon wide-leg pants reminiscent of my sheer curtains and could not leave the store without them. The leather details on the waistband were too perfect, complimenting the delicate fabric and dramatic shape. I decided to pair them with my chambray button-down, a fall must-have for every male and female wardrobe. Denim is genderless. This fall, I have exhausted the stitches of my denim button-down, slipping it on atop every ensemble lacking in cool-weather ardor. It has been my go-to shirt when the weather has failed my autumn-lusting spirit. As for shoes, only black would do to lessen the feel of wedding bells often associated with billowing white fabric. To top the look off, I added my favorite fall lipstick shade, Plum by Revlon.

Thanksgiving is nipping at our heels, just in time to go home for a few days to catch up with the family and do a little extra fall shopping, because we all know Tuscaloosa is lacking in couture shopping excursions. Instead of heading straight for the dress racks at your favorite out-of-town shopping mall, look for an interesting pant to add a little masculine charm to your wardrobe. In the meantime, while you wait to shop for your pants, a dark lipstick can be purchased at any drugstore.