1. The Slouchy Boot
This sexy style boot looks great going into fall. Tuck in a pair of jeans, and throw on a long cardigan and you’re understated gorgeous.

2. Patent Leather
No need to put away your patent leather from spring, unless it’s in a spring color. Designers are shining up wool and cashmere with a pop of patent for fall.

3. Leather Bomber Jacket
The leather bomber jacket is also going strong into the fall. It will look great with a pair of jeans, a tee, wrapped with a scarf.

4. Ruffles
Ruffles remain! A ruffle top will look great under your leather bomber, or a long cardigan. Pair it with skinny jeans, some slouchy boots, and you’re on it!

5. Skinny Jeans
At times we all wish the skinny jean would go away, but you’ll be glad they’re around when it’s time to tuck them into your tall boots. So, don’t burn them yet!

6. The Clutch
Clutch it, because it’s clearly a trend that’s going to stick.

7. A Long Cardigan
It’s an easy style that’s low key and can work over anything. We’re seeing it well into fall. It looks great over jeans, or belted over a dress.

It’s simply not realistic for all of us to have four seasons of clothing. So, we’re going to show you how to make a piece multi-seasonal. We all have our favorite “go-to” jersey dress for Summer. It feels light and airy on a hot humid day. In the summer you’re wearing it with bamboo bracelets, gladiator sandals, and a shot of turquoise in a Beirn bag. To make that dress work into the fall, put it with leggings or skinny jeans and a pair of tall boots. On cooler days, pop on a leather bomber jacket. Make a Fall statement by keeping the details in darker colors like an aubergine belt and handbag. Voila! You’ll get another couple of months out of one dress.

items in this observation:

Summer:

Fall:

1. Bold color - meant to be mixed with all kinds of colors, and can be worn with everything.

Carnaby Carryall @ J.Crew
Cashmere two-button cardigan tee @ J.Crew

2. Skinny belt - cinching your waist is an easy way to update.

Leatherock skinny double-wrap belt @ Nordstrom
Cynthia Rowley patent leather belt @ Nordstrom

3. Patent leather - shine on! It can be black, neutral, or bold.

Kooba ‘Jacinda’ patent bag @ Plaza Too
apt. 9 chain flip-flops @ Kohls

4. Dip-dye - An updated version of Tie-Dye. It’s done in soft colors this season, which looks good on all.

Secrets of Charm daria shirt @ Shopbop
Adam Lippes degrade halter wrap top @ Shopadam

5. Wide leg denim - a great way to update. It’s clean, classic, and fresh.

J Brand cass jean @ Shopbop
Goldsign ‘Treo’ high-waisted wide leg stretch jeans @ Nordstrom

6. Metallic - should be worn like a neutral, and goes with everything.

Zoey metallic clutch @ Plaza Too
Adam Lippes linen trench @ Shopadam
Liv metallic ballet flats @ J.Crew

7. Full skirt - easy to wear with a fitted top or tee.

Plenty by Tracy Reese printed skirt @ Nordstrom
Ruffle skirt @ Gap

8. Bracelets - lots and lots of bracelets. Bangles are fun for this season.

Asos chunky wood bangle w/ metal detail @ Asos
Elsa Peretti bangle @ Tiffany

9. Tribal prints - young, fun, urban, and edgy.

zebra smocked top @ Active Endeavors
tribal print sundress @ Topshop

From the minute you get off the plane, you can feel the energy that illuminates the city of light. The ride to the hotel is like driving through a beautiful painting. You want to immerse yourself as fast as you can, so that no time is wasted. A group of girls away for a few days, to do all the things girls like to do in Paris. The excitement bubbles up inside you. Free in a glamorous city, shopping, eating, and enjoying life. You’ve arrived! As you walk through the revolving door at The Ritz, you are immediately reminded of a famous Princess who walked through the same revolving door hours before her death. You briefly pause, and then walk to your room to get ready for your first day in Paris. What on earth are you going to wear shopping in the most glamorous city in the world? Well, one thing to remember is that you will be doing a lot of walking. So, choose your most comfortable, stylish shoes. The fashion should be urban chic with a sense of haute couture. It should be casual enough to wear all day, and fabulous enough to stop at a random cafe for lunch. You’ll want to have a bag big enough to carry all that you will need for the day ,including maps and all information on the city. You’re in Paris, so play the part. Kick your normal fashion up with a fun piece like a knit cap, or big sunglasses. Paris is about glamour, glamour, glamour. Embrace it, live the dream while you’re there. At the end of the day, you’ll crawl into your room, order cookies and hot chocolate, and wonder what they’re doing back home.

items in this observation (clockwise):

This isn’t exactly ancient Rome, although sometimes our lives can seem like a battle in the gladiatorial games. Lucky for us, this season we can actually dress for it. As you may already know, gladiator sandals are a big trend this season. Like a lot of things lately, the ancient sandal has been modernized. It now comes in all shapes and sizes, and is accessible to more women. Gladiator sandals can be tricky for some. The question “what would I wear them with?” is on the minds of a lot of women. We have picked a few of our favorite styles and put together some outfit ideas. For instance, a simple gold gladiator can take a gold shimmery evening dress from ultra formal to ultra fabulous. It’s a look that can easily be worn to a cocktail party on the beach. The classic brown leather gladiator looks great with a white cotton summer dress. It’s a “bohemian meets roman goddess” look that is perfect for running around on a hot summer day. The snakeskin gladiator is another style that we love. This one is perfect for casual chic days, or casual fridays at work. It’s a more sophisticated gladiator, and can easily be dressed up or down. You can pair it with white jeans, slacks, or shorts. Finally, the high leg gladiator. Keep it simple on top with this style. Let the sandal be the focus. We’ve paired it with a basic black summer dress, which works for day or night. The high leg gladiator sandal is the riskiest of the styles we’ve selected. It makes more of a statement than the other styles. Hopefully, this will help you pull your gladiator together. What makes women crazier than Russell Crowe portraying a sweaty, muscular, man of honor? Well, shoes of course.

items in this observation (clockwise):

Saturday morning I had a rare treat, a couple of free hours. So, I decided to go shopping. I started out in one of the major department stores, where I browsed the racks for about an hour. I tried on 15 things, but was disappointed with the options. Nothing knocked my socks off. It was the same stuff I was seeing everywhere else. Yawn! Feeling unsuccessful as I walked out of the store, I noticed a Zara International. I wandered in, and was immediately intrigued. The clothing looked fabulous. The pieces had nice detail, and the designs looked beautiful. It was the perfect combination of fashion, style, and elegance. I found myself pulling several items. I glanced at one of the price tags, and practically fainted. Could the price be right? How is it possible that this couture-esque coat could only be $150? A designer coat in a department store starts at $350. I frantically started checking all the other price tags. They were all even lower! The prices ranged from $29 - $150. Fabulous fashion at a really low price! Was I dreaming? I figured the price would show itself in the fitting room, and the clothing would be constructed terribly. Aside from the sizing running small, everything had really nice lines. I was shocked, because the fashions were so tangible. They certainly didn’t feel like they were made as cheaply as they were priced. Usually when you come across a store with clothing as affordable as Zara, you can tell immediately. The clothing is either made from cheap fabric, or the design is inferior. Zara gives us great fashion at affordable prices. We are in love with the entire picture! Could Zara be the elegant woman’s Gap? Finally!! Unfortunately, Zara does not have an online presence. So, you have to find a store to view the fabulous collections.

Leather earned a reputation early on when it defined characters in movies like The Outsiders, and Grease. It became a texture that was reserved for the rebels, the “bad” boys. Well, leather has come a long way from the “wrong side of the tracks,” and has made its way to Fashion Ave. Designers are using leather to top off some of springs best looks. It works beautifully over fabrics like cotton, denim, and silk. This season, leather is being paired with everything from cotton jersey dresses, flowy skirts, blousy tops and, of course, denim. A texture that adds weight to spring’s airy feminine lines. It’s a great “grab and go” piece. Leather has a wide range that makes it reachable for almost everybody. Plus, this season the sky’s the limit on styles. There are several to choose from: the cropped, the biker, the classic and the colorful. There’s sure to be one out there to complement your wardrobe. Which one suits you?

items in this observation:

Is it possible to put together a great looking outfit for under $250.00? The answer is, unequivocally, yes! We’ve selected pieces that have designer appeal without the sticker shock. All the items in this outfit can easily be mixed with other pieces in your wardrobe. They are basic in nature, with modern design. When you want to update your look without spending a lot of money, stay basic on most items. Try not to go overboard on “of the moment” patterns or prints. In six months those pieces will serve only to date your look. Clean lines always look fresh and current. If you want to introduce a trendy print or piece do it subtly. A print shirt over white denim, a clutch that dabbles in color. Keep it simple. Accessories that are neutral are always your best bet. They have a longer shelf life, and can go with a number of different ensembles. For example, a muted gold or silver shoe is one of todays best neutrals. It’s the shoe that walks with all kinds of outfits. That is truly how to get more bang for your buck. Kimora Lee says it best: “Be stingy with your money! Don’t splurge at the mall, … and definitely don’t give it to your boyfriend.”

items in this observation:

Gryphon tulip skirt jacket @ Nordstrom

Juicy Couture belted trench @ Net-a-Porter

Burberry Prorsum piped edge trench @ Net-a-Porter

Burberry Ivybridge cotton trench @ Net-a-Porter

Every spring we are reminded just how versatile and classic a trench coat can be. It’s probably one of the best wardrobe investments you will ever make, because it will never go out of fashion. If you currently have one from years past, you can easily update it by shortening it to the knee or slightly above.  If you happen to be in the market for a trench, there are two ways to go: 1. You could go for a trench in a bold color, which is very au courant. Or, 2. You can choose a classic black or tan trench. The latter may be the smarter buy if you don’t have a trench. However, if you already have a classic then you may want to consider punching your wardrobe up a little with a bold color. Or you can choose one with a modern take on the classic design like the Gryphon trench pictured above. It’s no loner about the rain, this coat goes anywhere, anytime, and with anything. It looks sassy and sophisticated with jeans and a tee. It also looks sexy and mysterious belted over a skirt or dress.  Either way, a trench is smart looking and makes any look polished and pulled together. It’s a must; ponder the purchase no more!