back to basics (again)

Photo: Phil Oh

Not to sound cliche (and redundant), but there's a lot to be said about sticking to the classics. In the above case, it's a navy and white striped t-shirt and a crisp trench coat, and you can see that the result is impeccably chic--and, despite fashion's incessant forward march--very up to the minute. Along with a good trench and a striped tee, the basics I can't live without include a black cashmere sweater, a fitted army jacket, a pair of go-with-everything ballet slippers, and an evergreen tote bag. What are yours?

going south?

$136, shoplesnouvelles.com

Black and white stripes + tassels = Chic beach babe. Wear it with...

1. By Malene Birger bikini, $136, shoplesnouvelles.com 
2. Lemlem smock shirt, $200, shoplesnouvelles.com 
3. Karen Walker sunglasses, $250, shoplesnouvelles.com 
4. Calypso straw bag, $125, calypsostbarth.com 
5. K Jacques sandals, $275, calypsostbarth.com 
6. Girl by Band of Outsiders shorts, $100, shoplesnouvelles.com

* My dear friend in Virginia requested this warm-weather round-up. Let me know if you want to see a specific outfit.

lace on lace on lace

What do you think? Too much? I must confess I like the lace on lace on lace, and if it were me, I would throw even more texture into the mix, such as sequins or fur. It's fun and flavorful and ritzy, too. BTW: I have these lace pants, wore them the other night to a festive cocktail party, much to everyone's delight. They look like Erdem. But they're from good ol'  Zara, my dear friends.

pastel purse

$61, warehouse.co.uk

Love the color combo. Love the price. It will liven up the most basic outfit. Wear it with...

1. Warehouse mini satchel, $61, warehouse.co.uk 

2. Vanessa Bruno Athe, $335, netaporter.com

3. Steven Alan bracelet, $54, stevenalan.com

4. Madewell suede flats, $88, madewell.com

5. Paige skinny corduroys, $220, amrag.com

my camel blazer conundrum

Photo: Phil Oh

I have several iterations of the black boyfriend blazer in my closet--but not one in camel! This picture proves to me that I must fill this void in my wardrobe stat. I did a quick search on the internet, scanning the likely sources (J. Crew, Brooks Brothers) and didn't turn up much, save for this men's jacket from Jos. A. Bank. Hitting the boy's department at a big department store might prove successful but who has the time to do that? Anyone have any other bright ideas?

warm and fuzzy

$370, shoplesnouvelles.com

Faux fur plus wool adds up to nice and toasty. Wear it with...

1. Caron Callahan faux grey fur front jacket, $370, shoplesnouvelles.com

2. Marni peplum blouse, $540, barneys.com 

3. Marni metal chain and crochet necklace, $153, marni.com

4. Rachel Roy Fair Isle satchel,  $109, rachelroy.com

5. Nine West patent pumps, $120, ninewest.com
6. MIH cropped black jeans, $175, netaporter.com

winter formula

Photos: Phil Oh

Street style star and Moda Operandi artistic director Taylor Tomasi Hill sticks to a compelling winter dressing formula that's not only photogenic but brings to life LE CATCH'S earlier post on the peplum mini. She pairs a bold thigh-grazing skirt with a cozy tomboyish sweater, then adds textural tights and vixenish heels. The thick opaque tights are key to making these looks wintry and they temper the frothiness of the minis. The heels keep things feminine and sexy.

peplum mini

$28, riverisland.com

Chic yet un peu risque. Plus, it's all about peplums now. Wear it with...

1. River Island peplum skirt, $28, riverisland.com

2. Preen kimono print silk sweater, $792, my-wardrobe.com

3. Coast pearl clutch, $110, coast-stores.com

4. Topshop jade and crystal bracelet, $25, topshop.com

5. Loeffler Randall mesh cut-out booties, $270, loefflerrandall.com

Three notes: 
Winterize this look with black opaque tights.
You HAVE to roll the sleeves up on the sweater. 
Keep a lookout for more pearls (and pearl clutches) that are not at all matronly this spring. Blog post to come with more on this... 

puff piece

How about this sumptuous (faux) chinchilla bag from... wait for it... Ann Taylor?! It's so fluffy and soft I just want to tuck it under my arm and pet it. Sorry if that sounds creepy! But it's a good one--and just $128. 

P.S. Santa came through with my Celine! Yay!

lady in red

$120, netaporter.com

Love the lipstick red hue and flattering folds. Wear and repeat. Wear it with...

1. Michael Michael Kors jersey dress, $120, netaporter.com

2. Helmut Lang three-quarter sleeve blazer, $515, stylebop.com

3. CC Skye silver clutch, $430, ccskye.com 

4. Pour La Victoire strappy sandals, $110, pourlavictoire.com 

Postscript: This is such a good dress, because you can really dress it up or down: wear it with the skimpiest beach sandals and a lightweight cardigan or go all out and pair it with glittery sky-high stilettos. Perfect for traveling.

print happy

Photo: Phil Oh/Streetpeeper

This season's bright Hawaiian and tropical flower prints are high impact but hard to style (lest you actually want to look luau-bound). I love how Sarah Rutson, fashion director of Lane Crawford, masterfully tempered her kitschy vintage Hawaiian print skirt with a denim button-down blouse and then (seamlessly!) mixed in her leopard print sandals and bag. Somehow, the medley of mismatched prints all works--and looks original, to boot. I'm thinking I'll take a cue from Stella McCartney and throw in some stripes, too.

perennially cool

$130, topshop.com

Buttons, zippers and a tuxedo lapel give this classic a modern look. Wear it with...

1. Topshop navy blazer, $130, topshop.com 
2. 3.1 Phillip Lim knit dress, $572, my-wardrobe.com 
3. Tom Ford Coral Flame Nail Lacquer, $30, neimanmarcus.com 
4. Coast bead bag, $110, coast-stores.com 
5. Tabitha Simmons ankle-strap shoes, $1043, matchesfashion.com

dear santa

Photo: Jak & Jil

I know, I know: this Celine bag is on everyone's list! Still, I want it, because it's one of those iconic bags that will stand the test of time, thanks to its classic tote shape and neutral colors, plus it's so utilitarian. And elegant and polished and flat-out gorgeous. Speaking of bags, check out my five all-time favorites, as featured on Bag Snob this week. Here's a peek at the line-up:

rosy blouse

$65, missselfridge.com

Romantic, feminine--and just as hard-working as a white button-down. Wear it with...

1. Miss Selfridge rose print blouse, $65, missselfridge.com

2. Chloe flared cotton twill pants, $970, netaporter.com

3. Marc Jacobs lizard clutch, $1395, marcjacobs.com
4. Eddie Borgo yellow turquoise stud earrings, $165, kirnazabete.com

5. Steve Madden heels, $110, piperlime.com
*This may just be the ideal work outfit: pulled-together but stylish, too.

clean and simple

$116, topshop.com

As easy and subdued as a t-shirt, but black-tie elegant. Wear it with...

1. Topshop midnight blue maxi dress, $116, topshop.com

2. Bounkit green onyx and quartz earrings, $430, charmandchain.com

3. BCBG feather clutch, $88, bcbg.com

4. Kors Michael Kors lizard print sandal, $169, my-wardrobe.com

pretty sandals

These Jil Sander lovelies just hit Barneys, and I am obsessed with both of them. Both qualify as neutral--i.e., can be worn with just about everything warm-weather--but I can't decide which one is better. Thoughts?

goody two shoes

$45, topshop.com

The peekaboo cut-outs make these brogues less boyish--and extra cute. Wear them with...

1. Athe blouse, $208, matchesfashion.com

2. Current/Elliot skinny corduroys, $188, barneys.com

3. McQ Alexander McQueen tuxedo blazer, $625, stylebop.com

4. Diane Von Furstenberg color block tote, $685, netaporter.com

5. Topshop brogues, $45, topshop.com

red hot

Don't you love the Prada-fabulous, scaly texture and over-the-top-showiness of this shimmery red dress? Don't you think it could be just perfect for New Year's Eve or a crazy night out? I think it's out-and-out amazing. And it's $273.

sharp shorts

$117, sandro-paris.com

Tailored shorts are such an easy (and comfy) way to look polished. Wear them with...

 

1. Vince blouse, $245, barneys.com

2. Star print knit tights, $24, topshop.com

3. Kate Spade flower studs, $48, katespade.com

4. Sam Edelman, $109, piperlime.com

5. Sandro high-waisted shorts, $117, sandro-paris.com

turtlenecks

Photo: Jak & Jil

They're back, in full force. I think it's a trend we can be thankful for: a turtleneck adds a welcome layer of warmth and yet almost disappears underneath more interesting pieces. A turtleneck also extends the wearability of our spring and summer clothes--and gives them a cool new look, to boot. The key to success though is a turtleneck that's lightweight and thin, so you don't add too much bulk to your outfit. I just ordered this one in white.

the perfect sweater

$120, netaporter.com

I've been living in this sparkly, super versatile sweater lately. Wear it with...

1. J. Crew sequin striped sweater, $120, netaporter.com

2. Warehouse skinny jeans, $62, warehouse.co.uk

3. Givenchy Nightengale Shopper, $1940, shopzoeonline.com

4. Sam Edelmlan boots, $160, zappos.com 

5. Forever 21 rose drop earrings, $3, forever21.com

winter hues

Source: Hanneli

Although prevailing wisdom dictates no white jeans after Labor Day, I am a big believer in winter whites--and pink and green and blue pastels. (Thankfully, I am not alone on this one, as evidenced by Hanneli Mustaparta, pictured in New York this past week.) The trick to pulling off these light springy colors right now is to ground them with black, or darker hues, so you look season-appropriate. Perhaps rotating in brighter colors might compensate for the lack of warm sunlight--or is that just positive thinking?

killer khakis

$76, topshop.com

The black side stripes make these khakis cool. Wear them with...

1. Topshop khakis, $76, topshop.com

2. Topshop slouchy sweater, $76, topshop.com

3. Accessorize quilted metal clutch, $60, accessorize-usa.com

4. Lorac It Girl lipstick, $22, sephora.com

5. Alexander Wang Aida heels, $475, alexanderwang.com

casual perfection

Photo: Melanie Galea/The Street Muse

In my mind, great outfits boil down to the alchemy of proportions (i.e., tight with loose silhouettes). Bianca Brandolini d'Adda nails it in this picture, taken in Milan last fall.  Okay, it helps that she's a beautiful Italian aristocrat, but her outfit undeniably exudes effortless chic, from her tousled hair and half-tucked-in top to her peekaboo flats and practical tote. Just goes to show how the most simple outfit can be the best outfit.

the pajama top

$325, barneys.com

It's a fashion week favorite. Here's how to make it work in real life. Wear it with... 

1. Rag & Bone pajama top, $325, barneys.com

2. Tiffany platinum earrings, $3700, tiffany.com

3. Chrissie Morris platform sandals, $644, kirnazabete.com

4. Joseph blue wool pants, $330, stylebop.com

5. Marc by Marc Jacobs leather wristlet, $130, netaporter.com

As my friend Annie would say: Party People, tuck in the shirt, roll up the sleeves and have a glass of champagne.

denim 2.012

Check out the look of jeans to come--this spring. They're anything but basic blue (or red or pink or grey, like we've seen in seasons past). The styles above are by one of my favorite new(ish) denim lines Mother. Unlike your average jeans, these are rendered in vividly graphic patterns, from a kitschy Hawaiian landscape to a bright cherry print. And the amazingly flattering cut means your legs look a million miles long. They hit stores including Curve in mid-February.

everyday flats

$26, oldnavy.com

The up-to-the-minute stand-in for your old faithful ballet slippers. Wear them with...

1. Steven Alan cotton top, $225, stevenalan.com

2. Samudra flamingo pouch, $60, shop.samudra11.com

3. Miss Selfridge spike earrings, $9, missselfridge.com

4. Sandro pleated pants, $175, sandro-paris.com

5. Old Navy faux snakeskin loafers, $26, oldnavy.com

Styling note: Top off this outfit with a fitted black blazer, long coat, or leather motorcycle jacket.

gypset dress

Photo: kateschelter.com

It's raining in LA today, but I have beach on the brain. My husband and I just got back from a heavenly three-day trip to Mexico. The weather was balmy, the pico de gallo uber tasty and the frosty, fresh lime margaritas went down like, well, frosty, fresh lime margaritas. Despite the brevity of our stay (and my small carry-on), I packed dresses aplenty--but how I wish I had brought this raffia-trimmed dress by Gypset. Is it not fabulous, in all its glittery bohemian apres-sun glory? I am ordering one for my next beachy holiday. Pronto.

tribal top

$220, netaporter.com

A graphic tribal print that's perfect for now and later (this spring and so on). Wear it with...

1. Sass & Bide tribal top, $220, netaporter.com

2. Burberry Prorsum raffia skirt, $839, mytheresa.com

3. Topshop denim and leather jacket. $200, topshop.com

4. Clare Vivier flat clutch, $145, communitycollection.com

5. Alexander Wang Chloe heels, $525, alexanderwang.com

layer it on

Source: Zara.com

Here's a stylish way to keep warm, and as demonstrated, the more disparate the layers, the better.

flora and fun

$89, warehouse.co.uk

This floral trend is growing on me. Very Celine-chic. Wear it with...

1. Warehouse floral pants, $89, warehouse.co.uk

2. A.P.C. wool sweater, $195, lagarconne.com

3. Rebecca Minkoff snake embossed bag, $450, rebeccaminkoff.com

4. Loeffler Randall stilettos, $347, loefflerrandall.com

Styling note: roll up the sleeves on the sweater and throw on some gold modern bangles and a pair of gold spike stud earrings. Then... perfection.

painterly prints

Photo: Style.com

Painterly prints have been a big story for a while now, and they'll be omnipresent this coming spring. I'll be on the bandwagon with this saturated technicolor print dress by Michael Angel. Clearly, I am no shrinking violet.