homage to coco

 jacket: zara (similar here). blouse: theory. jeans: dl1961. shoes: cole haan. earrings: vintage. glasses: stella mccartney.

"If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be?" My answer: Coco Chanel. I am in the midst of reading one of her biographies and am reminded how much she influenced the modern fashions we wear today. For this outfit, my vintage Chanel earrings and Chanel-style jacket (courtesy of Zara) are my homage to the one and only Coco Chanel. 

If you could meet any designer, who would it be? 

orange you glad i didn't say...

top: zara. pants: j.crew. shoes: kate spade (similar here). necklace: jewelmint. bangles: j. crew, banana republic, jewelmint, h&m. watch: michael kors

As you may remember from here & here, I love a colored pant, and these chinos from J.Crew are no exception. And as difficult as it may be to fit my curvaceous post-baby body into pants these days, these lovelies fit to perfection.

One tip I like to follow when wearing cropped pants: slip into a nude or gold heel to provide some height and lengthen that leg line!

shout out to chambray

 shirt: j.crew. skirt: torn by ronny kobo (purchased at poppy). shoes: kate spade.

If you don't own a chambray shirt right now, get on that! It is one of the most versatile pieces in my closet (and I know Casey's, too). I love how it can dress down a pencil skirt and, in this case, was just the right top to pair with my favorite casual maxi skirt.

yee-haw

blouse: zara (similar here & here). shorts: citizen of humanity. hat: topshop (similar here). shoes: elie tahari. watch: michael kors.

In an effort to channel my Texas pride, I tossed on my cowboy hat, pulled up my cowboy boots and shouted yee-haw as I rode off into the sunset! Ok, well I may not have cowboy boots or the horse but I do happen to have a pretty nifty hat. I love a good hat, and I've had to search high and low for this felt fedora from Topshop. It's got the perfect ratio of flop and structure as well as a neutral navy to be versatile enough for almost any outfit.

in the abstract

 blouse: reiss. jeans: 7 for all mankind. shoes: stuart weitzman. purse: kate spade.

Wide-leg trouser jeans in a dark wash can do wonders to lengthen your legs (and camouflage your hips). Add heels and a great silk blouse—I love the abstract pattern in this top—and you are ready for date night or an evening with your girls.

coral flash

dress: dvf (similar here). shoes: calvin klein. sunglasses: gucci (similar here & here). watch: michael kors. bangles: j.crew, jewelmint, thrifted. necklace: helen ficalora. lips: chanel "rouge allure velvet 32".

For my busy days in the city, it's far too easy to just throw on a dress and walk (read: run) out the door. I can especially appreciate a good wrap dress. On this particular day, I added a punch with my coral lipstick and armful of bangles.

the kim conundrum: you weigh in

(Photo: Pari Dukovic/NY Mag)

My New York Magazine fall fashion issue came in the mail today, and it posed an interesting question on the cover: 

Does Kim Kardashian belong on the cover of a fashion magazine?

I know my answer, but we want to hear what our fellow fashion-loving readers think.

--Nat 

drop-waist divas

 

   DVF, $485

Drop-waist dresses were first popularized in the Roaring Twenties when women were ready to ditch their restrictive dresses and shake their flapper fringe in comfort and style. They gained popularity again in the 60s (shout out to my girl Twiggy) and currently are back with a vengeance with designers like Marchesa, Proenza Schuler, and Moschino showcasing them on the fall 2012 runway. 

The traditional style works best for taller and slender women with minimal curves, but let's be honest, that only includes a small percentage of the population. So here are some tips for different body types: 

Topshop, $84 (also available in petite)

 Petite

—Make sure the dress ends above your knee, especially if it's a shift dress (like the one above). 

—Or you can look for a more fitted silhouette that cuts in at your natural waist and that can be worn with a skinny belt. A drop waist can visually shorten your legs, and this will counter that.
—Pair the dress with a high-heel shoe or at least a pointy-toe flat. No ballet flats!  

 ASOS SALON, $255.45

 Pear shaped

—Find a dress in which the waist hits above your hips and not at the widest part. 

—Make sure the skirt does not have a lot of extra volume. A simple A-line would be most flattering.

—To create balance to your figure, look for a dress with a strong shoulder or shoulder details like epaulets or one that looks great with a blazer.

—Use rules of color, and find a dress with a darker-colored skirt with a lighter color on top. 

--Nat

spruce up your boyfriends

top: madewell. jeans: jbrand. shoes: kate spade. purse: banana republic (old). jewelry: michael kors, j.crew, vintage. 

I have been on the hunt for the perfect pair of boyfriend jeans for at least 2 years, and this pair finally fit the bill. Always wearing them with a T-shirt and casual shoes would be boring. So I like to add some feminine touches to create a more diverse and unexpected look. 

It's an easy way to show great style while still being comfy. 

aqua lace

dress: dvf. belt: j.crew (similar here). shoes: j.crew. earrings: jewelmint.

This dress is comfy and perfect to go from day to evening. 

Since I have an hourglass shape, I cinched in the waist with a skinny belt to give this shift dress some shape.