A staple of tights-and-boots weather, a chunky scarf yields wintry-chic flair and a hefty amount of warmth, too. I like a heavyweight scarf that doesn't completely swallow your head or burden your shoulders. It should feel comfy around your neck and be wrapped or loosely tied, almost like an ascot. I prefer wearing them with casual outfits, such as a crewneck sweater, jeans and a light jacket (like the girl above), and sticking to a muted color or pattern to get more mileage out of it. I'm all over these cozy standouts from Paula Bianco, Topshop and Asos.
It's a beaded, baroque bonanza! Just the thing to take you from one holiday fete to the next. You could also throw it into your everyday mix with jeans and a blazer, like this...
1. Miss Selfridge pearl-beaded top, $114, missselfridge.com
2. Vanessa Bruno blazer, $342, theoutnet.com
3. Alexander Wang cross-body bag, $985, shopbop.com
4. J. Crew cap-toe suede pumps, $258, jcrew.com
5. Marni cropped jeans , $340, netaporter.com
I love the unexpectedness of wearing a bohemian-hippie bag with an otherwise urbane outfit. The combination yields a magpie-cool kind of vibe. Here are some ornamental options to consider from Antik Batik, Anthropologie and JADEtribe.
Before I jump in to this morning's post, I want to mention that my thoughts are with everybody in New York and elsewhere who have been affected by Sandy. It has hit close to home for me as many of my friends and family have been affected.
I saw these pants online last week and thought they were super cool, not only because of the graphic print but because they're jeans which increases the daily-wearability factor. (I just saw a friend, wearing them at a children's birthday party, looking great, and not at all overly statement-y for the setting.) Give them a whirl with...
1. J. Crew sweatshirt, $69, jcrew.com
2. Assad Mounser rope collar necklace, $320, charmandchain.com
3. Topshop trench coat, $196, topshop
4. Mod Cloth bag, $69, modcloth.com
5. Sam Edelman ballet flats, $90, shopbop.com
6. J. Crew geometric print jean, $135, jcrew.com
My twin sister got the classic Hermes' Medor watch for her birthday a few years ago, and I have eyed it covetously ever since. I was thus pleased to find this Medor-inspired wraparound ticker, which also features the same dog collar-like spikes and doubles as a cool bracelet. It also comes in black.
I love this sweater's sporty-retro spirit and the idea of wearing it with something fancy and feminine, like this...
1. Jil Sander Navy sweater, $395, my-theresa.com
2. Bauble Bar earrings, $40, baublebar.com
3. Clare Vivier foldover suede clutch, $156, shopbop.com
4. Alexander Wang heels, $485, shopbop.com
5. Marc Jacobs tinsel skirt, $865, netaporter.com
Although I am looking forward to hanging close to home this weekend, we did manage a quick trip to visit some friends in Napa--St. Helena to be exact--earlier this month. I just downloaded the pictures, and thought I'd share. I have always enjoyed my far-too-infrequent trips to this part of California, given the amazing natural beauty, food, wine, and friendly people. But this time was particularly special, since our friends have put down roots there. With them as our gracious guides, we were able to imagine ourselves as locals, for a brief moment, living amidst the vines. Of course, part of what made that possible was that we were literally living in a vineyard (yes, those are grapevines surrounding the pool!), tractors full of grapes passing through our backyard periodically as the harvest was in full swing. We also traveled everywhere by bike, often through the vineyards themselves, which had the effect of making us more connected to the earth, and covered with it, in a good way.
We did take one car ride during the weekend over to Calistoga, since it was quite a ways from where we were staying. Once there though, we dutifully rented some bikes to get ourselves from town proper out to the Solage Hotel for this yummy lunch, above.
We also managed to burn off some of our indulgences by layering a couple of sets of tennis on top of our perpetual biking. Here I am in my tennis whites on our way home from Meadowood where we enjoyed a delicious locally produced rosé from Azur after the game. (Wine connoisseurs will tell you that there are no good California rosés, but this one they approve of.) Our mixed doubles match ended in a 1-1 tie; tiebreaker set to be played at a future date.
We had an amazing, wine-steeped (birthday!) dinner at Press in St. Helena. Fortunately, we also rode bikes to and from here, primarily through the vineyards, which was in theory safer and more legal than operating a motor vehicle.
It was a memorable trip. Have a great weekend, and if you are looking to mix it up, perhaps try getting on a bike!
Thanks to my surfer husband, I've been to plenty of surf shops--and I know that there is more than just wetsuits and boards to buy. I usually sniff out something cool for my own wardrobe. Case in point: this exquisite lace jacket from Billabong. It's more than just beach-ready. It's vintage-y-cool, Fleetwood Mac-spirited, gypset-chic, music festival-perfect, and even date-night-out-sexy.
1. Kain silk camisole, $155, netaporter.com
2. Madewell necklace, $42, madewell.com
3. Billabong lace jacket, $59, swell.com
4. Clare Vivier leather messenger tote, $363, shopbop.com
5. Givenchy calf hair sandal, $850, bergdorfgoodman.com
6. Superfine silk paneled jeans, $395, netaporter.com
Earlier today I came across this picture from Isabel Marant's Fall 2010 show and found myself falling head-over-heels once again for the high-glam yet insouciant friend that is the sequin pant. I then found this pair in black by Reiss that are pretty perfect, along with this silver version from French Connection as well.
Nothing gets me in the mood like a pretty embellished party dress. This one has a retro feminine appeal--and just begs for a dirty martini! Do it up with...
1. Miss Selfridge embellished dress, $235, missselfridge.com
2. Kenneth Jay Lane aqua beaded earrings, $113, charmandchain.com
3. Emilio Pucci velvet clutch, $649, mytheresa.com
4. Tabitha Simmons button-trimmed T-strap sandal, $1495, bergdorfgoodman.com
I love a statement necklace as much as the next girl, but I am especially partial to ones that are subtle enough to wear everyday, like the silver chain-link choker, worn by stylist and fashion editor Giovanna Battaglia, above. It's a classic, super wearable piece, but the oversize links make it fresh and edgy. Here are other quietly cool (yet wildly versatile!) chokers from Forever 21, Avant Garde Paris, and Max & Chloe, plus a stunning gold version from Kenneth Jay Lane.
I am still deep into my feather obsession, and now that the holiday hoopla is coming down the pike, I will have multiple occasions to parade my plumage. I came across this insanely good feather skirt in London and imagined I'd whoop it up in...
1. J. Crew wool sweater, $79, jcrew.com
2. Balmain satin-trimmed stretch wool blazer, $3845, netaporter.com
3. Anthropologie leather clutch, $128, anthropologie.com
4. Alexander Wang ankle strap heels, $485, forwardbyelysewalker.com
5. Warehouse feather skirt, $142, warehouse.andotherbrands.com
My twin sister just bought herself a pair of Stella McCartney cat-eye sunglasses for her birthday. I am happy about this for two reasons: she no longer wears the same black Ray Ban Wayfarers as me, which means we confuse fewer people, and they look really good on her--very retro-glam, feminine-cool. The cat-eye silhouette manages to be very flattering on most face shapes, and designers from Acne to Gucci are offering up their own creative takes on the classic shape. The fiercely embellished ones pictured above are by Alexander Wang. Among my faves are these by Yves Saint Laurent, Marc by Marc Jacobs, House of Harlow and Asos.
I have a pair of camouflage jeans that I bought a few years ago, which have gone in and out of heavy rotation. They're getting lots of play now, and feeling especially fresh with...
1. Topshop crystal ombre sweater, $96, topshop.com
2. Asos mini drop earrings, $14, asos.com
3. Jerome Dreyfuss bag, $730, forwardbyelysewalker.com
4. Madewell boots, $208, madewell.com
5. Elizabeth and James camouflage jeans, $228, shopbop.com
It transcends trends and time. It adds a sophisticated, polished, Parisienne finish to your outfit, and it goes with pretty much everything in your closet. Every season the classic re-surfaces, updated in new cuts and shades, but the inherent elegance remains the same. The latest and greatest iterations include a leather-sleeved Burberry (or a less expensive take by W118), a sleeveless Asos, a double breasted Nasty Gal, and a spiky-shouldered Sam Edelman. I am also partial to the signature wear-forever Burberry. This fall, to make my trench coat look fresh, I'm wearing a jean jacket underneath it, or layering a leather or fur vest over it (for extra warmth).
Finally, sweater weather has arrived in LA! (It was relatively cool and cloudy this past weekend and I loved every minute of it.) Bring on the plush knits--something warm and fuzzy like this...
1. Topshop sweater, $84, topshop.com
2. C. Wonder collar necklace, $148, cwonder.com
3. Madewell double breasted wool coat, $268, madewell.com
4. Jean-Michel Cazabat Olsen sandal, $275, barneys.com
5. Givenchy tote bag, $1600, kirnazabete.com
6. J. Crew white wool pants, $148, jcrew.com
It's official: Fall's go-to flat is the loafer. (As I previously posted, they're hugely popular across the pond.) I prefer ones that are not super heavy and clunky, but rather slender and feminine, much like Alexa Chung's pair, above. No matter how you slice it though, loafers have a decidedly tomboy-ish appeal, and they look cutest when counterbalanced with feminine accents. Among my favorites are these ones by Dolce Vita, Steve Madden, Valentino (a splurge but so awesome--or similarly spirited but less expensive from Rowen Hindman), 3.1 Phillip Lim and Rosegold (in black suede).
It's sufficiently practical for everyday running around--plus it has a wonderful sense of whimsy and edge (that red!). Seriously, you'd have to pry this thing off of me it's so good. Especially with something unexpectedly sleek like...
1. J. Crew color-block sweater, $98, jcrew.com
2. Ginette NY diamond earrings, $470, shopbop.com
3. C Wonder suede clutch, $128, cwonder.com
4. Asos sandals, $73, asos.com
5. Sass & Bide metallic neoprene skirt, $345, netaporter.com
When I was growing up my mother had a small gold mesh evening bag. Whenever she'd take it out of her closet, I knew she had some big-night-out plans. That it was incredibly teeny--it could probably hold a lipstick and car keys--was irrelevant. The bag was so elegant and shimmery it was like a piece of jewelry. Perhaps this explains my attraction to this gleaming, gem-studded clutch. It's not quite as small as my mother's, which is a good and practical thing for us iPhone-generation types, but it is certainly as festive and glamorous.
If you've been on the hunt for a pair of leather jeans (a.k.a. one of this season's must-gets), look no further. Granted, these are not made with real leather, but they definitely look like the real deal, and they're amazingly body-shrinking, super-sexy flattering--and they're under $100. Wear them with...
1. Lela Rose sequin blouse, $995, netaporter.com
2. Timo Weiland jacket with removable fur band, $850, farfetch.com
3. Old Navy sequin clutch, $18, oldnavy.com
4. Alice + Olivia black suede pumps, $295, shopbop.com
5. Blank faux leather jeans, $88, madewell.com
There
was a time when I really didn't think jewelry could transform an outfit. Eventually, I realized the error of my ways, courtesy of a jillion photo shoots where jewelry--even the most subtle bauble--managed to pull a look together. Case in point: imagine the outfit above without the bracelet. It would still look great, but you have to admit the arm-candy ups the ante. A bold and glamorous-looking bangle can instantly convey style and substance, and it doesn't need to be expensive either. Some game-changers I'm loving includes this modern statement cuff from C. Wonder, this delicate yet inventive bracelet from Kelly Wearstler, a geometric stunner (similar to above) from Campbell and something slightly blingy from Marni (on sale!).
Photo: Style.com
Although it still feels like summer in LA (it's going to be 94 degress today), I am looking at my calendar and realizing that cocktail party season is upon us. Of course, I will rely on some repeat performances (i.e., dresses that I've worn before), but snazz them up with a dazzling pair of earrings like these. Voila!
1. Alice + Olivia metallic lace dress, $495, netaporter.com
2. Anthropologie earrings, $108, anthropologie.com
3. Topshop beaded clutch, $76, topshop.com
4. Gucci ankle strap evening sandals, $1195, nordstrom.com
Meet your newest wardrobe staple: the metallic pump. Fashion's heaviest hitters, including Christian Dior, (pictured above) Chloe, Balmain, and Lanvin, all featured iterations of the shiny shoe in their Spring 2013 collections, prompted perhaps by the steely hue's neutral-like versatility and glamorous statement-making power. Check out these dazzlers from Vince Camuto, Edmundo Castillo, Alice + Olivia and, J. Crew. For a more subtle take on the trend, try these Diane Von Furstenberg sandals (on crazy sale!).
Photo: Glamour
I bought this sweater at Mango in London and loved it so much I wore it out of the store. The embellished neckline and fitted silhouette make it an outfit-transforming staple. Love its coziness factor too. Glam it up with...
1. Mango sweater, $79, mango.com
2. Topshop lipstick in Sartorial, $16, topshop.com
3. J. Crew calf hair clutch, $448, jcrew.com
4. Proenza Schouler metallic pumps, $595, shopbop.com**
5. Topshop quilted faux leather skirt, $84, topshop.com
**Shopbop is having a secret 20% off friends & family sale today through midnight Wednesday. You can use the code WEAREFAMILY at checkout to get the discount on virtually all products (although not the Proenza shoes above unfortunately - a few brands are excluded). Most of the Shopbop products I have featured lately are eligible!
Isabel Marant's most-wanted military inspired coat is nearly sold out. It is amazing, but not inexpensive. Fortunately, while in London I came across a similarly handsome oversized coat at Oasis for just $170.
Photo: Vogue
I fell for this trumpet skirt at Asos' fall collection press preview last summer, and I am so excited to see it has finally become available online. It is dramatically feminine and flattering, very statement-y, and the metallic Asian-inspired jacquard fabric is so (Proenza Schouler right now) spot on. I'd wear it with...
1. McQ Alexander McQueen sweater, $465, netaporter.com
2. Bauble Bar earrings, $52, baublebar.com
3. Topshop sequin clutch, $56, topshop.com
4. Aquazurra heels, $495, shopbop.com
5. Asos jacquard skirt, $61, asos.com
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