I will always defend white trousers after Labor Day, especially when they are paired with warm neutrals and one perfectly placed pop of ruby. For this look, I wore white wide-leg trousers with a sleeveless light-brown knit top. I added my tan herringbone Anthropologie jacket, my large Longchamp tote and these perfectly ruby Kenneth Cole ballet flats.
The outfit felt polished but still relaxed. The white trousers kept everything fresh, while the brown knit and herringbone jacket brought in the warmth of early fall. But the ruby flats were the detail that pulled the entire look together.
And once I saw that rich red against the soft neutral palette, I knew exactly which fragrance I wanted to wear.
Scent of The Day
I finished the look with Chris Collins Forbidden Apple Croque Moi. Forbidden Apple is not a crisp, freshly sliced apple, and it does not smell like sugary apple candy. To me, it smells like a warm red apple that has been lightly glazed and softened with brown sugar.
White rum and cinnamon add warmth without turning it into an Angels’ Share alternative. They do not smell alike, but the cinnamon gives Forbidden Apple a touch of that same warm, gently spiced feeling I enjoy in Angels’ Share. Bourbon vanilla and soft woods make the fragrance feel smooth and velvety. As it dries down, it becomes softer, warmer and almost powdery on my skin.
The ruby ballet flats echoed that rich red-apple feeling beautifully. Meanwhile, the white trousers, brown knit and herringbone jacket reflected the fragrance’s mix of brightness, warmth and soft woods.
Why the Pairing Worked
This was not about matching an apple perfume with an apple-colored shoe simply because I could. The ruby flats gave the neutral outfit one strong point of color. Forbidden Apple did the same thing for the fragrance portion of the look. It introduced something warm, slightly boozy and indulgent without overpowering the polished simplicity of the clothes.
My only issue with Forbidden Apple remains its longevity. I get approximately four to five hours before it disappears, which is disappointing. But I love the fragrance itself enough that I would still purchase it again.
Some outfits need a bright, fresh fragrance. Others call for something darker or more dramatic. This one needed a warm, velvety red apple.
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