Happy September!! I am a warm weather person myself, but there is no denying that fall clothes are infinitely more fabulous! The blow of summer coming to an end was softened for me by Sak’s Fall Fashion Look Book. It’s 156 pages crammed with the finest knits, tweeds, boots, fur, leather and much more. While Saks is not the place where the average person can stock up on fall pieces, it is the perfect place to find inspiration. And if you are in the market for investment worthy bags, coats, and shoes there is no better place.

Reed Krakoff, a new designer highlighted by Saks, definitely caught my attention. Krakoff describes his collection as, “balancing cool minimalism with warm sensuality.” Think leather wrap skirts with soft cashmere sweaters, smooth suede totes wrapped with sturdy belts, and leather ankle boots trimmed in fur. My very favorite piece was the black and white leather knee high spectator boots. The only draw back to this new designer’s collection is that it comes with an “old designer’s” price tag. Most pieces are made in Italy.

Hurry to Saks to pick up a copy of their fall catalog. With everything from Alberta Ferretti to Valentino, there is more to drool over than Vogue’s Sept issue. And it’s Free!

The Most Fabulous Time of the Year

There are tons of trends to choose from this fall. I prefer a more vintage, eclectic look and try never to be overtly trendy, but i like to mix a few “IT” styles into my fall wardrobe. Below are my 3 favorites.

1) The Stylish and Functional Boot: If you live in an area that sees real winter weather it is so difficult to find boots that look good and that you can actually walk safely in and be warm. Everywhere i see open toed boots, suede boots and stiletto boots. None of these work if its icy, slushy, snowy, etc. Forgive me shoe industry if i want to look good and not break my neck! I have found 2 very stylish boots that are as functional as they are good looking. The first is the Naya Nefertiti which is a hearty, chestnut leather boot with a sexy but stable platform heel, lace up, and fully lined in shearling for warmth. The Helm Jarmon boot is my second choice with its dark leather, heavy canvas, and low heel. The only drawback is these are both pricey, but if you have the cash to invest they will last for years.

2) The Skinny Cargo Pant: Every store seems to have their version of the skinny cargo pant. They reach all ends of the spectrum from the affordable Black Denim at $78 to Superfine’s “Adventure Pants” for $350. My favorite, the Paige Denim “Layne Cargo Pants” come in a rich, dark green or toffee brown. The quality is superb, they are the softest pants ever, plus they have the perfect combo of skinny and slouch. If you hurry, these regularly $169 pants, are $99 at Anthropologie.com for a limited time.

3) The Twill Military Jacket: If you scroll down you’ll see a super chic Italian girl with a comfy army green jacket pulled over her floral dress. J’adore! Juicy Couture’s Skylar Jacket has a feminine cut and gorgeous buttons. Urban Outfitters Ecote Jacket is the runner up and a steal at $78!

Let me know what’s on your “It” list. Happy Shopping!

Give ‘em the boot faux fur boots

Isn’t it funny how we are permanently programmed since childhood to think that fall means new bags, clothes and shoes? While back to school is long gone, every fall i have an ingrained impulse to update my wardrobe. Times are tough though, causing me and lots of other gals to really think about their purchases and to get a little creative.

Last week i entered the world of the thrift store, a realm i was too snobby to consider before. I went to 2 local, Buffalo Exchange type stores, to try to make some cash from my old clothes. I did not consider buying anything until a super cute denim dress on a mannequin caught my eye. Giving it a once over, i judged that it had to be a designer dress. I was right, it was a $189 7 For All Mankind dress priced at only $35. From the looks of it, no one ever wore it. This wet my appetite so i perused a bit more and found a Joie magenta blouse with white polka dots for only $12. Joie tops sell at Shopbop and Saks for well over $100. Score! Maybe i was just having a lucky day?!

On another note, I have new hope that Target’s next designer collaboration with Tucker (due out in mid Sept) will be much more promising than the recent Zac Posen and Jean Paul Gaultier collections which were frankly cheap and unattractive. A Tucker for Target black boucle mini dress caught my eye in the September issue of Lucky. I also saw an adorable camel and red ruffle blouse online. Things always look good in pictures though so we shall see.

One good way to look fresh for the new season is to adapt what you already own to what’s in. Camel is hot, soft gray is hot, and bows are really hot. I didn’t know i liked bows so much, but suddenly they are everywhere. Unbeknownst to me i have a shirt with bows, jeans with bows, a bag with bows and even shoes with bows. So i’m set as long as i don’t wear everything with bows at the same time!

Let me know if you’ve come up with some interesting ways to revamp your fall wardrobe without cleaning out the bank. I just found out that the boots i had been coveting for winter are $285!! I saw them in a catalog a month ago and only today was able to discover the price. Wow was i shocked and disappointed. I thought we were in a recession here people? Time for plan B. Uh, what’s plan B? No idea! Suggestions welcome!

A New Hope

It is on my list of things to accomplish to be photographed by the Sartorialist! This girl from Milano could be me! The floral dress and jacket combo is completely my style and another inspiring example of how to transition warm weather pieces for cooler temps. J’adore!

This girl looks so aloof. Her outfit, light summer dress and utility boots, is a perfect melting of summer into fall. It totally makes me want to get those new boots i’ve been craving ASAP, even though it is entirely too hot to consider wearing them now where i live!

While we are in the middle of summer here in the northern hemisphere, the fashion industry is trying to push sweaters and boots on us. By the time we are wearing sweaters and boots, they want us to wear swimsuits! I do enjoy looking at the smart and fabulous fall clothing in the magazine, but i never actually thought about buying a sweater in July…until yesterday!

I walked into Juicy Couture to see if any more summer items had made their way to the sale racks. What i discovered instead was a gorgeous and sophisticated fall collection. Now there is a cashmere houndstooth skirt and a black lambswool sweater with a row of darling bows down the open back that i desperately want. Juicy consistently has some of the cutest wool toppers and this year is no exception. Also featured was a long sleeve mini dress in a red rose print, a black perforated leather jacket, and a swiss dot button down in the seasons most sought after shade of camel.

There was more to drool over at Burberry which seems biker inspired with lots of zippers and leather done very tastefully. I saw a gray cashmere, belted cable knit that was so inviting and a khaki green cropped trapeze jacket which would look very sharp over their zipper ankle skinnies. By far my favorite item was the overdyed, teal check wool jacket with off center zipper and buttons. It is 100% wool but feels like cashmere. The only thing that kept me from grabbing my credit card was the “Made in China” tag. Who wants to pay $1000 for a jacket that is made in China? Certainly not me. Burberry has been slowly sneaking in imported merchandise for over a year now, but this fall the majority of the collection (with the exception of Prorsum and accessories) was made in China. Burberry seriously needs to put the Luxe back in Luxury. Designer items should be made in Europe or America by artisans. Louis Vuitton and Chanel are made in France; Versace, Gucci, and Ferragamo are made in Italy. That is what you are paying for. But apparently some designers are trying to save a buck so please let them know what you think with yours.

On another note, if you are looking for the perfect fall jeans try Anlo or Current/Elliott. Both are fashion forward, celebrity faves and made in the USA. I saw an adorable pair of Anlo jeans with a bow embroidered on the back pocket (what is it with me and bows lately?) and Current/ Elliott does distressing better than any designer i’ve meet. Just some things to consider while you sit by the pool.

Winter Where?

Dust off your Dr. Marten’s and get ready to party like it’s 1999 because for the first time in a decade the 90s are back baby! Designers must be really hurting for ideas since i thought it would take a good 20 years (at least) for a fashion decade to become retro, but oh well! The late Carolyn Bassette Kennedy and Gwyneth Paltrow best personify this streamlined look primarily based on black, camel, gray and white. The look was seen all over the fall runway with tartan mini skirts and boxy jackets at DKNY, menswear inspired suits at Bottega Veneta and Marc Jacobs, simplistic camel coats from Chloe, Max Mara and Michael Kors, and stripes, chambray, chunky boots and penny loafers everywhere.

Of course fashion never looks in one direction, so there is still lots to choose from if you aren’t ready to relive the 90s. Louis Vuitton is having a fabulous 50s moment; fur was prominent with some of the best pieces at Fendi and Gucci; Chanel somehow managed to make a shag sweater with white pom poms look sexy; and animal prints hit hard at Lanvin, Blumarine, among others. Stella McCartney created a gorgeous ensemble with a slouchy cashmere crew neck and sateen skinny pants in soft gray, that i could cozy up to. Although my style tastes lend more toward mid 19th century i am willing to dabble in the resurgence of 90s minimalism. After all i was too young to appreciate it the first time around. My 90s was more grunge (baggy jeans, flannel and bad hair) which is also back. A little Nirvana anyone?

The 90s

It’s no secret that i really love dresses. To me they are the epitome of fun, flattering and feminine style. Of all the colors, styles, and cuts to choose from, those with a wink and a nudge to the 50s are my favorites. I have a few that look like i borrowed them from Doris Day, June Cleaver, or Audrey Hepburn. In my imagination i live on the set of I Love Lucy!

So you can imagine how excited i was to find a dress which was all out 50s fabulous! Think wasp waist, sweetheart halter neckline and full circle skirt on blue cotton with cream polka dots. This is the first i’ve seen a brand new dress with completely vintage styling. The only thing not to love about it is the price tag. But because it is just so gorgeous and because it completely sold out in every size the day after it hit the store, i may have to keep it. After all i did just clean out my closet right?

See if some of the pieces i’ve assembled below inspire you to add some 50s aesthetic to your wardrobe. If dresses aren’t your thing consider adding some vintage peep toes to your favorite jeans or a cute sweater set for fall and…voila!

50s Fabulous!