This is the first time Wardrobe Builder has been a COLOR.  But color is the basis of how I build a wardrobe and this Fall’s merchandise offered much inspiration in this rich chocolate.  Plus, I think fashion overplays its hand with black quite a bit.  It is the default color and often the only option.

However in color theory, brown is actually flattering to all, not black.  So if you find yourself looking to expand your wardrobe with neutral items that will enhance your face and stand the test of time – consider adding some brown hues – natural tans, cocoa, latte, cinnamon, rose brown, to dark chocolates are wonderful additions that will easily pair with black, blues, creams, and whites.

WOMEN
(clockwise from top left)
Hobbs London Limited Collection Bromley Check Trench Coat ($795) | Bloomingdale’s 14K Yellow-Gold Huggie Earrings ($1,200) | Polo Ralph Lauren Relaxed Mulberry Silk Shirt ($348) | Staud Cantilever Merino-Wool Skirt ($325) | Neous Phoenix Leather Shoulder Bag ($935) | Loeffler Randall Deidre Over-The-Knee Leather Boot ($750)

MEN
(clockwise from top left)
J.Crew Cashmere Herringbone Jacquard Crewneck Sweater ($168) | Polo Ralph Lauren Suede Shirt Jacket ($698) | Bergdorf Goodman Men’s Pebbled Leather Belt ($150) | Hereu Alda Chelsea Boot ($540) | Daniel Wellington Classic St. Mawes 40mm Watch ($229) | Peter Millar Superior Soft Corduroy Five-Pocket Pant ($170)

Boots Made for Walking

Hers
/ 1 / J.Crew Ribbed Chelsea Boot $248
/ 2 / Ugg Elisiana $170
/ 3 / Emu Australia Billington Boot $200
/ 4 / AGL Lug Hiking Boot $495 

His
/ 1 / R.M. Williams Craftsman Boot $495
/ 2 / Cole Haan Gramercy Chukka $160
/ 3 / Ugg Boysen TL Waterproof Boots $200
/ 4 / Aquatalia Dakota $495

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.

Holiday Party Ready

These two pieces not only guarantee to be some of the most festive gear at your holiday party, but both pieces score triple points for playing well with others. The sequin dress can be worn to future cocktail parties and weddings. While the snazzy blazer can hold it’s own at the office or a night out for seasons to come. 

Pair J.Crew’s Two-Tone Chevron Sequin Dress $298 with a black patent 27 Edit Alanna Pumps and The Met x St. Xavier Galaxy Clutch for the perfect holiday look. 
Bonobos’s Italian Knit Blazer $350 looks well this black Knit Silk Tie and a black Silk Pocket Square.
Happy Holidays!

His
/ 1 / Robert Mueller’s Classic Digital Watch $12 / 2 / Bloomingdale’s The Men’s Store Cashmere Quarter Zip Sweater $99 / 3 / Majestic International Waffle Knit Robe $60 / 4 / Cole Haan Office Approved Waterproof Boots $168

Her
/ 1 / Nike Air Max 270 Premium Sneakers $150 / 2 / Cuyana Cami Sleep Set $85 / 3 / CalPak Travel Wallet $70 / 4 / J. Crew Sherpa Lined Chelsea Boot $250  / 5 / Celine Lefebure Victoria Convertible Clutch $420

Kids
/ 1 / Faces Organic Cotton Leggings $24 / 2 / Lenon & Wolfe Supima Cotton Sweatshirt $72 / 3 / Great Pretenders Color-A-Cape Fairy $24

Summer Essentials for Him & Her

Mid-summer dressing can be difficult. It’s still hot enough to wear shorts, but if you stay outside past 6pm the breeze rolls through and all out pants! Sift through the 12 curated Summer transitional pieces, you’ll want them all.

What to Buy

/ 1 / Onia Calder 7.5″ Swim Trunks $65 / 2 / Krewe St. Louis Mirrored Seaglass Sunglasses $255 / 3 / The Face Tan-Lux Anti-Aging Rejuvenating Tan Drops $60 / 4 / Riviera Cotton Mesh and Canvas Espadrilles $75 / 5 / J.Crew Stretch Cotton Poplin Crop Pants $85 / 6 / & Other Stories Leather Snake Textured Bag $79 / 7 / Massimo Dutti Cotton/Linen Bermuda Shorts $70 / 8 / Soludos Frayed Mules $65 / 9 / Free People The Isha Tube Dress $88 / 10 / M&S Linen Miracle Tailored Fit Blazer $175 / 11 / Odette Kaj Earrings $165 / 12 / Zara Belt Bag with Ring Detail $20

My topic of discuss for a few months now has been my concern for long-time favorite J.Crew. It practically keeps me up at night, I simply can’t imagine retail without them.

Since the announcement of Jenna Lyons and Mickey Drexler stepping away from J.Crew, James Brett from West Elm has taken over as CEO. It seems it will take at least 2 years for J.Crew to climb out of the debt, the widely lauded Drexler, drove them into. He didn’t anticipate the dramatic rise of tech in the retail sector and that lack of ability to morph and change with the times, ultimately failed J.Crew. While the new CEO has officially started taking over the reigns, Drexler is still advising on matters.

While they have ebbed and flowed in my top ten through the last decade, they will have a special place in my heart. In high school – when you had to mail-in orders (shudder) – my sister and I finagled opening up a J.Crew credit card to call in and secure our orders. So it’s a personal mission to keep J.Crew doors open and in lieu of continuing to write them ideas about how to save their business, I am dedicating this newsletter to them in hopes that you shop to your hearts content. Click the image and shop the look, with a few extra below!

Him
/ 1 / 1040 Athletic Selvedge Raw Indigo Denim $168 / 2 / Oxford Shirt With Embroidered Rabbits $88 /3 / Bowery Slim Pant Glen Plaid Wool $98 / 4 / Navy Italian Silk Tie $70 / 5 / Italian Merino Wool Cardigan in Forest Green $108 / 6 / Keaton Plain Toe Boots $248 / 7 / American Pima Cotton Plaid Blue Shirt $65 / 8 / Sailboat Print Swim Short $50 / 9 / Wallace & Barnes Chore Blazer $150 / 10 / Ludlow Italian Stretch Wool Suit Jacket $425

Her
/ 1 / Orbit Earring $48 / 2 / Italian Silk Scarf in Paisley $70 / 3 / Colorful Floral Hoop Earrings $65 / 4 /Destination Italian Silk Scarf $35  / 5 / Double Strap Leopard Flats $258 / 6 / SeaVees for J.Crew Legend Velvet Sneakers $88 / 7 / Parke Blazer in Caramel $178 / 8 / Floral Silk Ruffle-Bib Top $78 / 9 /  Mens-y Cardigan With Tiger Patch $80 /10 / Collection Thomas Mason Sleeveless Top $118

I hope you had a wonderful summer! In New York it seemed to happen in fits and starts but you can tell from parents’ happy faces – fall is here. Seemed all too fast! But, hopefully the fall inspiration in this newsletter makes putting away your sandals and sundresses a little easier.

It’ll be a different start to the school year for families affected by Harvey & Irma. While money is the best way to donate, closet edits can be sent to Goodwill Houston at 12533 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77077; and for Irma, Global Giving will work directly with the Caribbean Islands and Florida for immediate and on-going relief efforts. Our hearts go out to them!

With all else aside, Fall is already here, click the image above to shop my Fall “Get The Look”. If you love that red cashmere beauty in the top left corner as much as I do, you can purchase that Duffy Cashmere Sweater With Zipper Back for $375 through me. I’ve partnered with Duffy NYC for exclusive ordering!

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