What tops off a nice suit and a good hair-do? What puts that finishing touch on an exquisite evening dress? Definitely not bright blue eye shadow and fluorescent pink lipstick! If you want to look hot this fall/winter season stick to the earth tones and metallic shades such as bronze, silver and gold.

And remember what you wear on the eyes should compliment and blend in with the lips.

The dark browns from nutmeg to chestnut, the plums and burgundy and the metallics are the "in'' lipsticks for the season. And that ever faithful red is still at the top of the make-up list.

Rachael Reid of HA&E Smith said the colours for fall are burgundy in lip sticks and nail polish, earth tones such as neutral and nudes and for the eyes there are colours like deep moss green.

"Blush is a deep burgundy but very rich and a deep colour on the cheeks.

Basically it's the classic reds, burgundy and deep warm browns and oranges,'' she said.

At Strands Skin Clinic Claire Fox said women should look for violets. "You either have strong eyes and nude pale lips or strong lips and a very pale eye,'' Miss Fox added.

"On the runways this season you mainly see a very violet look. "Brown would be natural and taupes, translucent lip colour, and Clarins 103 is a good violet for the lips,'' Miss Fox said.

Trimingham's Nicky Moniz, who is a consultant for one of the make-up lines, said the shades for women of colour are deeper.

"The fall colours for this year are plums, browns and anything metallic like bronze, gold, and silver,'' Miss Moniz said.

She added: "Dark lip colours are in as well as pale lip colours but if they are pale they should be metallic. It all starts with lips and nails and then you blend everything else in to match those colours.'' Asked for some make-up tips, Miss Moniz said: "If you are not used to wearing make-up keep a natural look so you don't make any drastic mistakes.

And experiment with lip colours.

"What's in for the season may not be for you and also wear make-up that suits your lifestyle.'' And, Miss Moniz advised: "Less is more.'' According to Fashion Fair representative Sheree Nussum the colour theme for this year is titled "The Ease of Beauty''.

"Starting off our list of colours for the line -- which is directed to women of colour -- is Easy Plum, followed by Simply Red and Beautiful Brown featured in both our luscious cream lipstick and glossy nail polish.

"Rounding at Fashion Fair's new selection is our brand new Dou eye shadow, amber/smoky quartz, which can be worn during the day or night,'' Ms Nussum said.

Christine Soars of AS Cooper and Sons offered the most important make-up tip: "Women should thoroughly cleanse their faces before applying make-up.'' With methods from Terme di Montecatini Spa, offered in the store's Princess Marcella Borghese line, women learn to cleanse, tone, intensify and moisturise.

When cleansing you remove surface debris, toxins, and pollutants, but also free pours of deep down impurities.

Toning energises and boosts surface skin circulation. Your complexion looks better, brighter, and revitalised, she said.

Intensify: As skin ages and is continually exposed to environmental stress, it can lose its ability to absorb a moisture. Intensification helps fight this, she said.

Mrs. Soars added the final step of the Montecatini Method gives skin the healthy diet that nature once supplied.

It smooths, soothes and allows skin to attain its optimal moisture balance.

Day and night moistures build a cushion of protection against further damage so skin looks and feels younger.