Elanthian Vogue/Jastatos 5120

This Month's Edition

Editor-in-Chief: Rohese Bayvel-Timsh'l

Editor's Thoughts

Fall brings spectacular displays of foliage amid celebrations of nature's bounty. For many, the autumn equinox in Imaerasta heralds the start of a glorious season, filled with apple harvests, pumpkin spice, and wood smoke. For others, though, it is a melancholy reminder of those who have passed beyond the Ebon Gate, which is marked by the Eve of the Reunion at the end of the month.

This latest edition of Elanthian Vogue is dedicated to autumnal fashion and the long-awaited reopening of Caligos Isle for the annual Ebon Gate Festival. For the budget-conscious, we look at how you can throw together a fashionable outfit from the array of clothing available off-the-shelf in regular town shops across Elanthia. The more adventurous among you, however, may be interested in expanding your exotic wardrobe with the anguillid-influenced collections offered on the Isle for a limited time. Be sure to do your shopping early in readiness for the many merchants cited to arrive on the Isle soon.

We also reveal the Jastatos portrait from the 5119 Vogue Gallery - the 10th in the 12-month long presentation – and, as we wind down towards the year-end, we are making preparations the 5120 Gallery. I hope you will be as excited as we are about this year's choice of celebrated personalities.

As always, don't forget to send us your comments on any of the articles in this month's publication or suggestions for future editions!

Editor

Fall Color

"Sun with his artistic touch, streaks skies of blue with rosy blush, trimming oak and maple too, crimson reds with yellow hue."

Every season has its special beauty and autumn is no exception. Watching the trees turn from a uniform green to all varieties of gold, yellow and red is a spectacular experience. One can almost be blinded by the fiery brilliance. With all this beauty there is a certain sadness in knowing that the changing colors foreshadow the Eve of the Reunion and the arrival of winter.

Two months ago, those who have a tendency to observe trends may have noticed the plethora of plum and gold available from the more fashionable outlets of Bloodriven Village. These two colors feature heavily this season along with other juicy offerings like marigold, honey, tangerine, berry red, and fig purple. How can anyone fail to be excited by such an array of "deliciousness."

"Birch and hemlock, purple and gold, apples, pumpkins bright and bold, burns by day and cools by night, cloaking trees in fiery might."

Fall fashion is always more fun than summer thanks to the endless styling opportunities via the simple art of layering. So, what are the color trends to tap into this autumn? Our Editor encourages you to try the following if you want to give your wardrobe an on-trend twist without having to brave an entirely new aesthetic...more of that later!

Full On Red - Neck-to-toe red is undoubtedly the biggest color take-away from this season year. Whether you opt in with a gown or coat, or simply a tunic or shirt, there's no holding back with this one. Just make sure your accessories are relatively neutral to avoid overkill.

Basic Brown ... yellow and gold - The old adage about brown being a boring option is no more as it's officially the chicest color of the new season.

"Wispy winds and tumbling leaves, cypress scents within the breeze, starry eves and harvest moon, sets the stage for crickets' tune."

Whether it's a single piece with touches of yellow and gold or your own concocted take via layering, you can't go far wrong. It's a good idea to stick to just one or two shades - as opposed to a mix of tones - to avoid things looking like a muddy mess.

Back to Black - Fans of the pared-back black look should rejoice this season, as there's little considered more on trend a head-to-toe midnight look. Aim for liquid-like sheens of silk and satin or even glossy leather to add layers of texture.

Powerful Purple - Purple is often overlooked as a power-color, but the latest trend in court made a convincing case for its merits. Rarely seen as a standalone, purple tends to be seen in layers of tonal outfits or complimentary gown and heels.

"As spiders spin their tapestry, and crickets sing in symphony, their final song of destiny, it's clear for all the world to see, Autumn's vibrant majesty!"

Strong Blues - Undoubtedly set to dominate this season are strong shades of blue injected with statement silver pieces. Pair it with a stripped back color palette - think whites, greys or blacks - to avoid it veering towards tastelessness.

Clashing Sunset – Pink and orange are big news this season. These shades, reminiscent of the very best sunsets, look just as great in segmentalized sections - via block color separates - as they do woven throughout via clashing pattern work. Keep it cute and avoid messy aesthetic punctuation marks by ensuring any accessories are in on the clashing action too.

Off the Shelf: Sugar and Spice

...and all things slithery.

The Style Team at Elanthian Vogue have been busy putting together a collection of outfits for those with limited resources. As in previous editions, all the items selected were purchased from established outlets and feature the fall trend of sugar and spice with touches of indigo as a nod towards the anguillid aesthetic of Caligos Isle.

SUGAR

She is wearing an ivory-tailed blushed copper fox pendant, a gold leather corset draped with graduated chains at each hip over an off-the-shoulder cream silk blouse, a short dark leather skirt, and some tall brass-buckled brown suede boots.

Add a smudge from a slim burgundy cream-filled vial for glossy burgundy full lips.  Alternatively, switch out the skirt with a pair of brass-fastened crimson wool breeches and add a dab from a speckled black glass bottle for a faint scent of peppercorns and sweet herbs. 

He is wearing a silk-lined caramel velvet cape, an open-necked chamomile silk tunic, a honey amber wasp-carved band, a wide leather belt, some tailored caramel silk pants, and some side-laced amber leather sandals.

Add a dab from a slender sky blue bottle for a faint scent of sandalwood and currents of vanilla.

She is wearing a tailored combed wool tunic colored in shades of indigo and lapis blue, some slim-cut black linen pants, and some silk-laced indigo suede boots.

Add a touch of a gilt-handed indigo kohl stick for beautifully indigo-outlined eyes or a dab from a slender midnight blue bottle for a faint scent of clove and anise, muted by notes of cinnamon and vanilla.

SPICE

He is wearing a dark coffee-hued suede cape, a flowing white sailcloth tunic with oval-shaped ironwood toggles, a pair of undyed doeskin pants with leather ties, and a pair of wide-cuffed chestnut leather boots.

Add a dab from a thin clear glass bottle for a faint scent of bay leaves and spiced rum.  Alternatively, a smudge from a brushed silver case painted with pale sard hues with lend a pale sard blush to the prettiest cheeks for a more feminine look.

He is wearing a russet silk and linen ataniki simply cut with a left-bound front opening, a fitted white linen shirt with unbuttoned sleeves, some slim-cut black linen pants, and some rush-soled walnut leather yatane.

Add a dab from a short and squat amber bottle for a faint scent of sandalwood and amber, with underlying notes of clove.  Alternatively, switch out the shirt for a pleated white silk blouse and throw on a fireleaf bangle ringed with embossed orange and red leaves.  Fireleaf red lips are the final touch from a glaesine crock sheened in fireleaf red hue  (fireleaf red lipstick) 

She is wearing an earring of knotted bronze and copper, a mahogany dupioni silk corset over a pleated white silk blouse, some wrist-buckled mahogany leather gloves, some side-laced dark caramel brocade leggings, and a pair of dark suede boots.

A dab from a faceted crimson bottle adds a faint scent of cinnamon, accented with a touch of nutmeg, cloves, and orange zest.

All of these items can be found in the following boutiques:

Elaraeyn's Boutique, Dari's Clothiers and a specialised cart in Wehnimer's Landing
Flashfeet's Fine Fashions in Icemule Trace
Caelyna's Boutique and Belt Booth in Solhaven
Marienna's Market in Kharam Dzu
A Twist of Roses in Ta'Illistim and Piaere's Boutique in Cysaegir
Sylvarraend Clothiers and the Ta'Vaalor Women's Clothier in Ta'Vaalor
Island Boutique and the Crystal Lotus in Mist Harbor

Head Over Eels

Eels were once a staple dish for the early Frontier dwellers, being a readily available source of food from the Locksmehr River. Now those looking to be on-trend this season will be scrabbling to wear them in various forms, especially after last month's Elanthian Vogue featuring exotic fashion.

There is nothing fishy about eel skin, it is delicate with a subtle reflective quality and takes colors beautifully and naturally. The designers and traders of Caligos Isle have catered for those who are keen to follow this latest trend with the ingeniously chic way they have used the skin of the Isle's most slithery customer. This year's festival features a sleek collection of silky blacks and shimmering indigos inspired by the Isle's indigenous creatures and its silvery mists. Whatever your personal feelings about eels – delicious to eat or squeamish to observe – they lend themselves to some very extravagant fashion pieces.

Head over to So Eely in the Morning for your one-stop anguillid needs.

some onyx talon-tipped rippled black eel skin gloves
a pair of navy eel skin gloves with open palms
a grey and green braided eel skin belt
a wide belt of medallion-impressed eel skin
a pair of turquoise-splashed alabaster eel skin thigh-boots
some vibrant orchid eel skin ankle-boots lined with silk
some grey and green eel skin over-the-knee riding boots
some sleek black eel skin boots with cracked onyx toes

For the conservative fashion followers among you who wish to give a nod towards the exotic without fully embracing the eel, try adding a single piece to a more conventional autumn wardrobe. The Style Team have compiled a short list of their favorite basic fall items that should see you through to the New Year. When putting together an outfit, remember the color trends and, for a finishing touch, take inspiration from the animal kingdom in some way or another.

To follow.

Vogue Gallery

Last but not least, we end this edition with the Jastatos Vogue Gallery 5119 winner. Put "on the spot" in the Ivastaen edition last year, it gives us great pleasure to feature Nuadjha kis'Anthri in the Elanthian Vogue Gallery.

Jastatos
Captain of the Falcon Nuadjha kis'Anthri 
Bold strokes of blue and white paint form gradients of pulsing luminescence as they sweep diagonally across the page.  In marked contrast to the ethereal backdrop, the central focus of the image is a sharply drawn brass and gold-rimmed pedestal on which sits a solid silver orb.  Looming over this orb is a tall half-sylvan with fox-like features framed in tousled russet hair, the precise application of amber and red at its tips lending the subject an energetic aura. With a tilt of his pointed chin, his expression is one of intense concentration as he studies the apparatus before him.
Portrait as featured in the 5119 Vogue Gallery