Fall Fashion: Part Three

Fall is my favorite season. Mostly because it means cooler temperatures and a prelude to all my beloved holidays. It's also a time for nesting, for being domestic, and enjoying the changing milieu of colors, of scents, and of visual cues that the Earth's yearly journey is reaching its conclusion. And it is in those sensory experiences that we tend to also shift our fashion perspective. And while the weather certainly plays a part in that transition, it's the hues that many of us are drawn to in the fall months that make everything feel richer and more inviting.

I love wearing the shades of autumn: orange, burgundy, forest green, gold, cobalt blue. They make everything look more sophisticated and luxurious. Really, you can't go wrong in the fall. Pick a piece with a pop of color, and you're instantly transformed into a bonafide fall fashionista. And to give you a little inspiration, here are just a few ideas for some coats and dresses that partake of the palette for fall.

1.Double-cloth car coat, J.Crew, $350. 2.Twill vegan leather coat, Tinley Road, $129. 3.Galan dress, Anthropologie, $138. 4.Quilted Tema dress, Anthropologie, $158.

All I Want for Christmas: Part 3

My final Christmas wish of the year would be this sophisticated, quirky coat. It's got it all -- chic style, unique details and a dash of whimsy. But, because this is a blog about bargain chic finds, and this coat undoubtedly crosses the line of a bargain, I've also included some comparable coats that I think are just as great as the wish-inspiring one.  

Toggle-Front Cutaway Wool Coat, Mackage, $625

 Black Funnel Neck Coat, Marc New York, $198; Lennon Coat, O'Neill, $63.60; Military Jacket, Calvin Klein, $139.90

Military Coats

The military coat is a great fashion statement for Fall. You can dress it up, dress it down, be literal in the design or be more abstract.  However you wear it, you'll get plenty of attention.

 Right Track Jacket, ModCloth, $94.99; Evelyn Military Dress Coat, Delias, $76.50

Asymmetrical twill blazer, Fred Flare, $78; Military Puff Sleeve Jacket, Free People, $128

Mad About Plaid

Of the many trends that have come and gone for the Fall and Winter seasons, the one that always finds its way back to us is PLAID. Whether it be a plaid skirt, a vest, a dress, or even a shirt (remember grunge?), plaid has made its way onto nearly every piece of clothing over the last few decades. Sometimes it has worked; and, sometimes it hasn't.

This season, however, it does work, and plaid is more sophisticated than ever. It's all about the cut, the shape and the style. Here are two looks that take the plaid trend and mixes it with a classic pea coat to create a chic and modern look that will last for decades to come.

Photo credit: Glamour, October 2008 issue, pg. 305.

Designer Look

Coat, jeans, shoes, D&G; scarf, bag, Dolce & Gabbana.


Bargain Look

Coat, American Eagle Outfitters, $129.50


Editor Pant, Express, $69.50


The Ming Scarf, Tasaram, $49


Tatta, Naturalizer, $69.99. Croco Dome Bag, Chadwicks, $69.

A Coat of Many Hounds

A great coat can compliment any outfit, and this season's array of colorful and uniquely shaped ones are no exception. This whimsical houndstooth pattern is one such addition to the ever-growing collection of chic outerwear.

Designer Look

Houndstooth Coat, $2395, Michael Kors


Bargain Look

Wool Houndstooth Coat, $95, fredflare.com