"Birds of a Feather"

From Michael Kors to Rock & Republic to Catherine Malandrino to Ralph Rucci, everyone had their top muses exuding peacock flamboyance on the catwalks for this year's fall/winter collections. Alongside leaves and animal pelts, feathers made their debut for the season on dresses made entirely of plumes and feather-trimmed evening gowns, coats, headpieces and skirts. Feathers have also shown up as prints on kimono-style dresses, printed scarves, blouses and accessories. This new feather couture doesn't have to be relegated to the red carpet - it can be pulled off by any woman, any time.

While celebutantes can go wild in frocks that resemble a whimsical cloud of plumes, the rest of us can enjoy this feminine new look in a more subdued way. Make this look street savvy by wearing sweaters with feather-trimmed cuffs, necklaces with a simple feather-shaped pendant or a skirt with a feather-kissed hem. Ostrich and peacock feathers seem to be the plumes of choice. Adding one of these to the lapel of an old coat or last season's hat will turn a rerun into a headturner.

Feathers in fashion remind us of the beauty nature endows to creatures great and small. From the proud peacock and iridescent hummingbird to the brilliantly red breasted robin, nature's color splashes and mixes are limitless and truly inspirational. Luckily, women don't have to befall the fate of the female peacock and live in perpetual grayness. We are allowed to be as deliciously colorful as the male of the avian species and, therefore, dress in accordance. Drab is never in, and feathers in fashion is one way to make sure of that!