With the winds of change upon us and summer quickly fading to fall it's no surprise to find something unexpected on the always fashionable fall breeze--feathers!

Bird is the word for fall, in all areas of the beauty and fashion world. With everything from peacock on pantsuits to emu on eyelids. feathers certainly seem to be flocking together this season.

So, for a bird's eye view of how to wear some of fall's hot feathered fashions, let's start at the beak and make our way to the tail, so to speak.

The obvious use of feathers in the hair aside, tresses are full of textured volume this season, including lots of soft layers often referred to as feathering.

Full, wispy volume creates the perfect, airy foundation for lots of downy goodness straight from the bird's behind. Everything from feathered flowers to long, loose

(By the way, you can get  these cool feathered hair pins  at www.etsy.com/shop.php)

falls add a whimsical edge to autumn locks. This year's dark, mysterious trend in fashion and makeup leaves blondes looking bold and beautiful in rich emeralds and sapphires, brunettes rocking bold burgundies and redheads ravishing in plums and purples. The bigger the hair,the bolder the accessories, so feel free to untame your mane and leave the hairspray at home!

Eyes and cheeks also seem to be hotspots for feathers, with wild lashes showing up on both bare faces as well as the timelessly trendy dark and smoky eye and nude lip.

But with patent black lips and the introduction of the press, peel and go makeup that has recently exploded onto the scene, I can only imagine how our feathered friends will leave their mark on luscious latex lips. If you're not feeling quite that bold, opt for a smaller, played down pair of feathered lashes, a bare face and berry stained lips for a look that's edgy, but not too wild. Feeling a bit more brave? Try attaching loose feathers along the line of your cheek bone, just under the eye with spirit gum or eyelash adhesive for some funky fowl fun. The decolletage and back of the neck are other sexy, fun places to play with feathers. Experiment and have fun! You never know where your flights of fancy may take you! 

In fashion, feather boas have been seen on all the top runways, as well as feather cuffs on coats and boots, feather trim on sweaters, and fluffy, feathery hats.

Replacing your normal scarf with an inexpensive feather boa from a costume shop (and right after halloween is primetime to snatch those up, in a variety of colors and styles, for dirt cheap) can be a super affordable way to update your wardrobe for fall, and still stay warm. You might buy up a few extra boas off the clearance rack and try sewing them to the hems of sweaters or pinning them to the tops of your favorite fall boots for a quick,easy seasonal update.

Like anything in life, just remember that too much of a good thing is still too much - so pick one area to display your feather fetish and play down other areas for maximum exposure and wearability. Other than that, feel free to go wild with feathers this fall!

*Photos from travelblog.org, trendhunter.com, stylehive.com, expertclick.com, mbfashionweek.com.