Autumn may be in fact my favorite season, and not only because of the fabulous fall trends. From crunching ruby red and golden leaves underneath my flats, to the sweet fall air beckoning the last lazy days of summer, who can deny such beauty? I tend not to take the more macabre approach to the season, where Jack Frost has nipped each branch bare and the thought of winter chills me to the bone. I like to think of autumn as a transition from the the sizzling summer solstice  into a well deserved winter’s sleep.

Now, what are these fabulous fall trends you may ask? Layers, layers, layers! From delicate, ostentatiously colored tights and leggings layered beneath denim skirts and shorts, to rich plum sweaters and over-sized mustard cardigans. Fall style is haven’t-done-laundry-in-awhile-effortless mixed with ready-to-strip-these-layers-off-sexy! A definite autumn staple has to be KNIT.

Whether it be a knit scarf or a crochet beret, knitwear evokes comfort, familiarity, and love. These trends are embodied on the catwalk in LINE Knitwear by Toronto-based designers John Muscat and Jennifer Wells. Their Fall 2010 line admits very organic elements, with pieces such as  chunky knit dresses, heavy pullovers, and robe-like cardigans all in a variety of mixed yarn blends.

Calgarians can enjoy knitwear on a even more local level thanks to Sikknits. I recently found their table at Park Sale 2010, where a cream colored knit shawl,speckled like a robin’s egg, caught my eye. After returning to the table three times trying to rationalize the fact that I could knit this myself (but really who has the time? let alone the patience), I dug into my pockets and went for it! Sikknits boasts custom winter accessories like colorful toques(new design for breast cancer month!), scarves, and hikkie hiders….I mean, so what if it was a slow day at the slopes, who doesn’t need a hikkie hider?

Well, after a long day of frolicking in the fallen leaves and stocking up on my Sikk apparel, it’s time to put my feet up. The only thing left to do is to curl up in my cozy shawl with Paul Verlaine’s Chanson d’Automne in hand, and wait for winter’s welcome.