Growing up I learned when the temperatures drop, your coat is your outfit. And so it goes for this unusual fall with all it’s outdoor dining and activities.  These looks showcase warm coats that leave plenty of room for layering underneath as needed.  Baum und Pferdgarten’s Destiny Check Wool Coat $539 has nice seaming at the back to give a waist but sleeves that allow oversized sweaters to slip in effortlessly.  Cardinal of Canada’s Wool & Cashmere Car Coat $595 has a interior knit layer with stand collar to protect against the elements without sacrificing style for comfort. These two outerwear options are high quality pieces you’ll have for years to come. Stay warm!

Pair Baum und Pferdgarten’s Destiny Check Wool Coat $539 with Echo’s Chevron Fox Glove $105, Naadam’s Unisex Signature Ribbed Cashmere Hat $75, and J.Crew’s Diagonal Rib Cashmere Scarf $96. 

Cardinal of Canada’s Wool & Cashmere Car Coat $595 looks great with Club Monaco’s Long Windowpane Scarf $98, Stone Island’s Patch Wool Beanie $145, and Banana Republic’s Leather & Merino Blend Gloves $68.

For more coats and everything else, head over here to view my selects.

With work from coast to coast and frequent jaunts to Ireland over the past year, lately I’m all about making life easier. So in part this post aims to help you simplify too, because with all the fun that the holiday season brings no one has time to waste.

A client recently wondered why she came down to breakfast wearing an outfit that looked so similar to her daughter-in-law’s. “What’s going on here? Who’s wrong?” she asked. I believe a few things are at play. People are aging better and dress more according to their (often active) lifestyle; more casual work environments lead people to mostly forgo suits; and due to our nearly 24/7 life-online trends spread fast and blend quickly. None of this is exclusively bad, but together, can leave one feeling like they are lost in a sea of sameness. 

These are some of the reasons I believe so deeply in having a wardrobe that is purposely built to truly represent who you really are at this time of your life. Try trends that speak to you, but only buy into those that work for you. Unknown confidence and actual joy will result when time, thought, and investment is spent to figuring and finding what you need to make your heart sing. And doing so will make your life easier. I promise you.

As you may, or may not, know I’m emotionally invested in keeping J.Crew floating.  So as promised, updates!  The bad news is sales have dropped by more than 5% this year and that Jenna Lyons’ replacement as head designer resigned after only a few months at the helm. Jenna did leave some pretty big shoes to fill. The good news though is, a transfer of debt and their new CFO is proving to be a good step towards building the company back up. The crew hasn’t sunk yet! Thank you to my clients who have been filling me in on your great finds there. You make my heart flutter!

Speaking of heart, this year has been a whirlwind for me, especially those who lived through and on the edge of California’s fires and were affected by the hurricanes.  No amount of thanks or appreciation can accurately express how profoundly grateful I am to do this work. Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season and New Year!

Hear ye, hear ye! This spring, there is COLOR! And I’m not talking about the three pastels recycled every spring. I’m talking about the deep blues, clear greens, washed yellows, rich oranges, bright pinks, stark reds, and soft purples that are on shop shelves and in department stores. After what felt like years of collections offering mainly neutrals, this season it seems nearly every collection has plenty of color. There is finally something to flatter every skin tone! So for all the clients who have been asking me for more color in their wardrobe, now is the time. It is a beautiful overdue transition for fashion. Click the image above for some of my top picks and get this color while you can, before someone, somewhere decides that color is “out” again and we are plunged back into a neutral world.

I’m reading a reprint of a book titled Fashion Is Spinach. Though initially published in 1938, it is incredibly current. The author, Elizabeth Hawes writes, “I don’t know when the word fashion came into being, but it was an evil day. For thousands of years people got along with something called style and maybe, in another thousand, we’ll go back to it.” Exactly. I read this and immediately thought of the state in the American retail sector – one I feel largely built on sand. After all, people don’t need a million pairs of anything, just a few of the right things please. While the industry has outgrown itself to a certain extent, I’m dismayed to see brick and mortar stores closing because one of the best ways to teach my clients how to make their wardrobe work is through in-store shopping. So while I never advocate shopping just for the sake of buying, hopefully you find some great solutions in this newsletter and you can do your part to help America’s retail economy thrive.

Men

Paint Splattered Denim

Combination Stripes

Pink & Purple

Light Anoraks

Club Tropicana Prints

Retro Athletic