“Makeup trends for fall 2008 revolve around a fashion favorite, the smoky, smoldering eye,” says renowned makeup artist, Margret Avery (margretavery@earthlink.net).  “This time around you can kick it up a notch with shades of grey and mossy green mixed into black or dark chocolate brown liners and shadow.”

She thinks it looks particularly modern paired with nude, barely-there cheeks and lips, using a creamy, muted berry-stained shade. “Or you can gild your look—and not just for evening—with touches of gold,” she adds.

“Depending on your mood and the occasion you can also team smoke with fire and finish with a ruby red lip to make heads turn!” she smiles, but cautions that this may be too much during daylight hours. Save it for after 5 PM.

There are great choices for your fall color palette.  Here are some of her recommendations:

For the smoky eye:
Stila “ The Red Carpet Look” (A three-pan gray and pewter eyeshadow palette with a Kajal Eye Liner, $40, at Sephora.com)
MAC eyeshadows in Carbon, Mystery, Sumptuous Olive, and Greensmoke, $14.50 each at www.maccosmetics.com
Lorac Eye & Cheek Multi-Platinum Palette ($37 at Sephora.com)
For the nude lip and cheek:
Oxymoron Lipstick Queen ($20 at SpaceNK.com)
Susan Posnick Blush Mineral Face Color in Lily ($32 at SpaceNK.com)
For the red lip:
Dior Rouge Lipstick in Red Premiere ($27 at neimanmarcus.com)
Estee Lauder Stay-in-Place Lip Duo in Rare Wine ($24 at bergdorfgoodman.com)
For a touch of gold -
Chanel Facettes D’or loose powder ($26 at chanel.com)
Chanel Light Glossimer lip gloss ($27 at chanel.com)

Have you noticed that Fall merchandise is in the stores? I don’t know about you, but I’ve just gotten my summer wardrobe together. I’m finally wearing my whites and sandals and the last thing I want to think about is planning for Fall. In addition, the temperature in New York is in the high 80’s, sunny and humid. Not exactly conducive weather for shopping woolens and boots.

Every year it’s the same thing: Fall at the end of June. How do you feel about it?

I know that everyone else is doing it and now, I’m finally ready to blog. So I wanted to start by directing your attention to this fabulous bestseller (in which I’m featured), called How Not to Look Old by Charla Krupp. I love the info, but most of all the tone. Charla really takes command and offers a complete game plan. If you haven’t read it already, you can order it here. Then, after you’ve digested it, tell me your favorite or most helpful piece of info.