Can't Change A Leopard's Spots

Leopard accessories are everywhere this fall - showing up on both bags and shoes. But it seems that faux-fur leopard coats are also staging a trend takeover. The celeb inspiration for this post is the one and only Rachel Zoe. She rocks her faux-fur like no other, and her stylish choice of leopard coats is no exception.

Here are three great choices in faux-fur.

Leopard provides a natural color scheme to work with - black, white, cream, deep brown, and gold - which all look wonderful paired with these coats.

Wear a faux-fur leopard coat with a white bow blouse tucked into flared black pants. Layer on top with an open black vest over the white blouse. Put on a couple rings in plain gold or embellished, and finish off the look with black booties or pumps. And I think even Rachel Zoe would approve.

Play on the natural palette of leopard with this blouse from Gap in the color "bone" not exactly white, not exactly cream. Wear the flowy top over a black bandage skirt. Since bandage skirts are tight, often short, and therefore quite sexy, I recommend wearing a flat. Don't wear booties or foot encasing sandals because it will break up the line of your leg that is created with a bandage skirt. It cuts you off at the ankle and your legs will look blockier than they are. If you prefer a high heel, go with a basic pump. But I love these flats with a ruffle at the heel, it adds a little something extra without being too cutesy with say, a bow. Finally, wear a gold cuff like this one from French Connection and a black and gold ring to polish off the look.

  Another garment that looks fabulous with a fur coat is a long dress. This simple black strapless dress would look stunning paired with a leopard faux-fur coat. Since it's strapless, wear a bold necklace like this gold one from Marc by Marc Jacobs composed of chain links and safety pins - I love how he mixes classic links with the more edgy pins to create this look. Add on this ring that spans two fingers for another touch of glam. For your feet, I love these peep-toe flat sandals - a little gladiator, a little bohemian.

Gilty as Charged

On the opposite end of the spectrum from minimalism is opulence. While minimalism has certainly dominated the trend discourse -- opulent gold actually had its own moment on the runways for Fall/Winter 2010. Main inspiration: Alexander McQueen, but gilded dresses showed up everywhere from Dries Van Noten to Diane von Furstenberg to Lanvin (left to right in the above image).

There are two keys to mastering this trend. First, don't look trashy in some sort of overly tight, gold lamé business - there is no reason for this to trend look cheap, it should look the opposite, it should look expensive. Second, please, oh please, keep it simple. These dresses are gold all over the place, there is no need to pile on jewelry as it would quickly become what Tim Gunn calls, "a lot of look." Here are several lovely gilded out dresses in a variety of prices.


Now here are the simple things I would wear these glamorous gold dresses with. I recommend keeping it really simple with just black pumps, but if you love to accessorize - stick to rings. This will add bling without going over the top.

Living in Leather Part II

 Welcome to Part II of the leather series. This episode is dedicated to a more controversial leather item - leather shorts. These are the definition of trendy. Whereas leather jackets seem to have staying power, leather shorts are new to the scene. Well, new to the scene of fashionable items - as leather shorts actually stem from traditional lederhosen a la Kurt in Sound of Music. Sans suspenders and pastoral embroidery, leather shorts have made quite the impression this season, earning a "Love It or Hate It" reputation. That's probably because, being honest about leather's reputation, it can look trashy and cheap. I think that we would love it if leather shorts looked good on all of us, but we are hesitant because our better instincts say to avoid tight, short, leather products. So approach this trend with caution. I do genuinely think there is a way to make this trend work, and it may mean forcing yourself to go up a size. Because when it comes down to it, it isn’t about the number it’s about how you look in the clothes. And this is not a trend you want to fit snugly, they will look so much better a little bit wide in the leg.

 1. ASOS Airtex Leather Shorts 102.

2. Sparkle & Fade Leather Shorts 128.

 3. Theory Iselin Leather Shorts 315.

Leather shorts look great with a bold printed sweater - I really like this tiger print sweater in cream and brick red. Keeping the top a little big over leather shorts keeps the look classy. 

A tight top and leather shorts, would probably be described this way by Louse Roe via a Plain Jane episode "you look sexy! The kind of sexy men pay for..." 

Make the look sexy with the oversize sweater by wearing black booties like these woven ones. And I like the bangles picking up the tiger print in a different color scheme and the white Kenneth Jay Lane gold and glass bangle.

For a more formal look, like Olivia Palermo's in the above photo, wear leather shorts with a flowy white blouse, a feminine necklace like this glass necklace from JCrew, a boyfriend blazer, black tights and black platform pumps. 

Leather shorts can look feminine and delicate. For a feminine look that is also cozy for fall wear a nude colored tank with some embellishments like this rhinestone studded one from JCrew. Pile on an oversize knit and scarf for some warmth, and wear metallic flats to pick up on the embellishments on the top. 

Living in Leather Part I

Time for another series! This time, it's all about leather. And we are starting with leather jackets. This is hardly a novel trend for fall/winter 2010. Leather jackets have been around for a long time. But perhaps that's why they are such a great trend, they just keep coming back, and therefore it is a decent investment to buy a leather jacket. The three options I present are hardly the most expensive out there, if you want to go for a more expensive jacket, you won't have trouble finding one.

1. Via Spiga Side-Ruched Faux Leather Jacket 98.

2. Victoria's Secret Washed Leather Motorcycle Jacket 198.

3. Anthropologie Biker Melange Jacket 248.

Leather jackets are wonderful because they can be integrated into a variety of styles. Here are three very different ways to wear leather jackets. First, a traditional "Bad Sandy" look, second, a leather jacket outfit to wear to the office, and third, a feminine leather jacket look.

For a modern update of the "Bad Sandy" look, wear a bomber jacket with dark wash skinny jeans and an oversize striped tee. Keeping the look baggy on top and tight on bottom makes the look sexy but classy. Wear it with black wedge ankle booties, and wear silver bracelets - I love the mix of this classic chain wrapped bangle with the silver studded leather bracelet. Make the look a little more 1950s by layering on a printed silk scarf.

For an office appropriate look, wear a leather jacket with a pair of wide leg camel colored pants. Wear a printed top in modest colors and pair with pumps in a complimenting color, in this case, pebble gray pumps with this blouse, camel pants and a leather jacket make for the perfect professional ensemble. Throw on a thick chain link bracelet to complete the look. With a different blouse, a draping necklace would look lovely, but since this blouse has a bow, a necklace doesn't make a lot of sense.

Leather jackets don't have to look tough. So for fall, pair it with a ruffled winter white dress in a light material like chiffon, opaque black tights, and a black wedge. Pair it with a full feminine scarf in a pretty color, like this ombre purple one. Finish it off with some thick bangles, for example, this braided chain-mail bracelet