Legends of the Fall: Part Deux

2 - The Booty Calls...

Confession: I am a shoe feine. I crave the perfect boot like a junkie and go searching the city streets (hello West 4th!) until I find it. Why do you ask? Because the right boot can take your old, warm-weather looks through fall without missing a beat. 

Let me explain: no one notices that you're still wearing your gray t-shirt dress from two summers ago when it's paired with a killer pair of fringed, embroidered boots (trust me, this happened Wednesday). Whether knee-high or ankle, leather or suede, boot or bootie, this season's shoes are a step in the right direction.

-Knee-length boots

Believe it or not the more tarnished and beaten down your boots look from trekking through city streets, the better. Wear them flat or with heels (from three-inch to kitten). I personally can't get enough of the contrast of knee-length boots with pretty dresses, but they're just as glam over skinny jeans, tights and leggings.

You better work, Ang!!! And Vanessa's slouchy boots are so laidback glam.

How amazing are these boots! Get the slouchy, sexy look for $180 at aldoshoes.com.

-Peeptoe booties

"It's Fall, why on earth are you showing your toes?" Because it's fierce, that's why. 

The dominitrax style peeptoe will murder any outfit (in a good way)! These killer booties are $119 at ninewest.com.

Okay, I'm drooling. Jimmy Choo gives you a more subdued, sultry version in suede for $550, jimmychoo.com. I know, the price is outrageous, but aren't they just beautiful?

-Fringed suede boot

Fringe adds the perfect Western, bohemian flair to any outfit. Keep the rest of your outfit artsy (i.e. no structured menswear pieces or lacy, frilly looks) and you've got a look that's retro, carefree and fun. 

TIPS AND TRICKS

Just limit it to one fringed piece per outfit or you'll end up looking like Pocahontas...def NOT glam.

These cute, girly Betsey Johnson booties are $320 at zappos.com, and come in black and pink for the adventurous types. (And very cute pink bottoms, Betsey, a la Christian Louboutin...love it!)

Or you can go for a classic, Western look with these suede boots by Minnetoka that boast removable bead and feather details. $75.95 at dsw.com.

3 - The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantsuits

Okay, there's nothing wrong with the Hillary-esque tailored, monochromatic pantsuit...umm, right? 

But Fall's pants are just as smart, sassy and confident---and more stylish by a landslide.

-Loose wideleg pants

They're flattering on everybody, I promise. If you're hippy or boy-shaped, get in good with your tailor.  If you're short like me, invest in some comfy heels. 

And the wideleg jeans are pure genius. Throw on a blouse and blazer and you've got the most comfortable work pants ever.

And for $34.50 at oldnavy.com, they're a no-brainer.

TIPS AND TRICKS

Be mindful of the hem. It should break right at the top of your shoe and slant on an angle toward the back. Highwaters are a natural disaster.

-Skinny jeans

...are back with an edgy, rock and roll vibe. Look for an ubercool color like washed-out grey or fresh details like ankle zips and cropped lengths. Dress them up with red shoes, dress them down with black patent flats. Gap has an amazing pair for $55 on gap.com.

Work, Rih Rih!

-Leggings/Tights/Knee-Highs

Please somebody tell me where I can find those amazing liquid leggings Miss Rih-Rih was wearing. (Update: I spotted them at Urban Outfitters for $88 by Members Only but I'll be getting the H&M version...thanks).

I'd shy away from the brights since in the words of my gay crush, it's allllll about monochromatic color this season. So lengthen your legs in gray and black hues with matching footwear. And pair your leggings/tights with a long tunic or cardigan to keep the sex appeal at bay (remember proportions are key!).

The best selection of tights, leggings and knee-highs I've seen so far is at H&M. They have everything from leopard to metallic to striped for reasonable prices. 

Oh and ladies, by the way, you can never look like you tried. You literally woke up and threw your clothes on and voila, you're a bonafide glamazon. 

Let me know which trend you'll be rocking, and which you wouldn't wear to your funeral if you were paid in advance. As for me, I'll be rocker chic in a cropped leather jacket and peeptoe booties (already bought mine from Aldo!). But I'm won't be wearing harem pants unless it's Halloween and I'm Princess Jasmine...

Talk soon.

Kisses,

Coutura

Legends of the Fall

Are you one of those people that are in denial when summer leaves in an instant (seriously, wasn't it just warm out)? I am. I swear I'm going to wake up one day and it's going to be ferociously hot and I can't walk down my block in my havianas because it's sectioned off for cook-outs that last to 1 in the morning with ribs sizzling away on the grill and loud club music blasting and iceys for days. But alas, the only people out that late anymore are the crackheads, the only ribs you get on the grill are made the George-Foreman way (which you gotta love, but sigh, it just doesn't taste the same). And club music blaring while I'm snuggled under the comforter watching Project Runway? I wish somebody would.

For people like Rihanna saying good-bye to August means packing up their summer clothes and getting in a Fall-to-Winter shipment. Lovely for them, but I'm a little too entry-level for a complete wardrobe change. And I wouldn't blow the money if I had it. All I do is pick three double-duty pieces from their wardrobes and my closet becomes cold-weather-ready faster than you can say "65 degrees." Here's how.

1 - Under the Cover-ups

God bless the Bohemians! I shamelessly wore my little Ikat boho dress to work with a long cardigan and cowboy boots and it felt brand new! And thank the Lord because I just moved into an apartment and do NOT have the $ to buy anything really new without sacrificing lesser important expenses...like food and electricity. My cardi singlehandedly saved what would have been a drab Fall wardrobe. 

I know what you're thinking: rocking your pretty tank tops and sleeveless dresses under a cardigan is an old trick, but the Fall season gives you plenty of ways to update your cover-ups. The number 1 difference? These cover-ups should become a part of your outfit, instead of feeling like an add-on.  

-Knee-length cardigans

Glamazons, it doesn't get any chic-er than this. Buy a neutral color like gray, brown, navy or black, even deep purple. Pair it with a dress of a similar length and a complimentary hue...or a blouse and a pair of knee-length shorts...or a fitted top and short skirt. And you're done.

And the cost of your new go-to piece? A mere $19.80 at www.forever21.com. (They have a million cardis that I just love, including the open front cardigan for $22.80...so glam!)

You can belt it for a shapely silhouette (skinny belts work) or just let it flow. The look is stylish, comfortable and somehow, supersexy.

TIPS AND TRICKS

But ladies, beware. A few missteps and this lax, luxe look can go irreversibly sloppy. Keep these tips in mind:

-It's worth it to invest in a cardigan that's constructed well. Read: an unfinished hem, loose threads and moth balls will make you look like you went shopping in your grandma's attic. 

-Balance it out. Wear loose cardigans/sweaters over fitted dresses, skirts and tops. Or long cardigans over skinny jeans. Too loose begs the question of if you bothered washing at all. Too tight completely misses the mark.

-Have fun with it. Bohemian is synonomous with understated, uninhibited cool. Play with texture, experiment with color. Just don't go overboard (i.e. bulky layers, accessories galore). When you've got it right, it will feel pulled-together and effortless.

-Cropped jacket

Two words: contrast proportions. Keep the top long/fitted and the bottom full (or vice versa) and you're good to go. Exhibit A: this glam Jil Sander look.

Mariah, Mariah, Mariah. Here's how NOT to do the cropped jacket. The pop of color is glam, but the proportions are all wrong. The look is too tight and the length of the top and short hem of the leggings is a jarring combo.

With a flowy top and fitted skinny jeans, Rachel Bilson gets it right.

-The Blazer

I am just in love with how a blazer can make a look instantly sharp and sophisticated. Don't believe me? I remember going to my internship at Marie Claire wearing a great blazer, my old Express jeans (atleast three years in) and a flimsy white tank top...and looking like a million bucks (for about $50 altogether, I swear!) 

This season brings new styles like the smart contrast piping (below on Vanessa) and the All-American color scheme, worn by the fabulous Blake Lively (Gossip Girls).

You can just as easily throw your blazer over a corset and be ready for a night out with the girls.

The right blazer is worth every dime. In terms of fit and construction, a little quality goes a long way. Ralph Lauren works their signature look for about $300 at www.macys.com (love the crested emblem, it gives a preppy, Gossip Girl, private-school-snob feel). 

But I'd get the Nine West blazer for $129 (also, www.macys.com) with the edgy zipper pocket detail.

-A leather jacket

A la Rihanna. Rocker chic is one of the few winter looks that's just as irrestibly sexy as an Herve Leger bandage dress. It's tough and glam with just a touch of goth. 

Just avoid over-styling like the plague. The jacket should take the lead, think Beyonce, and everything else is Kelly and Michelle. 

Everywhere from Bebe to Member's Only has incredible styles. Check out leather stores too, like Wilson's, for amazing variety.

Crisp and classic. $595 at www.membersonly.com.

This jacket is calling my name! The tough luxe leather meets the soft ruffle trim for an unbelievably sexy look. $249 at bebe.com.

-Colored scarfs

For $5 on a New York street, the wrapped scarf looks unjustly expensive. It's the perfect way to cover your chest lest you get a cold (like your mama told you) with style. And a color that pops---orange, green, fuschia---looks so fashionable against a casually cool ensemble. 

If it's super cold, take it off and wrap it over your shoulders. If you just got a touch-up and there's a surprise rain storm, Erykah-Badu it until you get under cover. Worn over a blazer, blouse or dress, this scarf is your new best friend.

Avoid getting a too-long scarf like Lindsey (below) as it tends to overwhelm the look. 

Beyonce's scarf falls at the perfect length. 

And if it's too long, tie it like Kylie..

Btw, love the YSL mail bag...very glam!

More Fall styles to come...talk soon!

Kisses,

Coutura

Photos: JillSander, WireImage, Getty Images. 

I Wanna Be A Super Model.

Really?! Really.
I would quit my day job in a hot second if I received the phone call asking me to come and walk in some shows...or pose in a catalougue (hello Victoria's Secret) or magazine advertisement. I'm secretly obsessed with the world of models and even pretend that I'm one when I walk the streets of New York. As soon as I walk out my front door, I imagine that I'm about to walk the runway of the Zac Posen show and all of the top fashion editors are in the front row watching my every move. The media awaits me at the end of the runway to take shots of my outfit and Andre Leon Talley elbows Anna Wintour to comment on what an amazing walk I have and who is that fabulous girl?!
And then I almost walk into a pile of dog poop and my dream bubble has burst.
In reality, there's the loud drilling noises coming from the condos going up both next door and behind my apartment building (I can't remember the last time I really used my alarm clock), the cat calls from both the construction workers and the men running the automotive repair shop across the street (which I'm honestly convinced is actually just a chop shop) and the Tejano music blasting from the 24 hour laundry mat across the street (which, BTW isn't really open 24 hours but for some reason they haven't taken down the sign that says it is).
Also, nowhere within my dream bubble exists the fact that I have to sprint to the bus because I'm always and forever running late.
So, for now, I'm ok with attending Fashion Week shows and hanging out with the models backstage...and using the streets of New York as my catwalk.
You better work!
xoxo
Ferocia


A model named Hollis taking a second to pose for my camera before getting her makeup done before the Nanette Lepore show. We were avidly discussing hair and she confessed that she always brings her own extensions and hair tools saying that she's seen too many models who have no edges due to the wear and tear of Fashion Week.
"If you don't look out for your own hair, no one else will," she said.


Exhibit A: I found this pic online of Naomi Campbell pushing back her hair only to reveal that she has no edges.



If were to walk in the Nanette Lepore show, I would have loved to rock this frock!


This Nanette Lepore frock comes in a close second in my book as a favorite compared to the one pictured above.


The designer gave all the models who walked in her show these swag bags. Right after I took this picture, I tried to sneak a peek to see the inside and looked up only to notice a lady with a headset giving me a nasty look. So, I ducked behind another rack of clothes before she could come chastise me. It's always important to avoid those with head sets when backstage.....


A model backstage waiting to get her hair done at the Christian Siriano show. At first, I was looking at her like why is she a model? And then I asked to take a shot of her and she quickly made this face. Fierce. And that's why she's a model.


And then Selita Ebanks walks in backstage at the Christian Siriano show and plops down to get her makeup done (makeup was done by Victoria's Secret beauty and she was one of the models in the show) wearing those Balenciaga sandals from the Spring/Summer 2008 collection....can we say jealous?! Yes, I was. I completely forgot about covering her makeup look and instead lusted after those shoes.


Some staffers pushed me out of the way to remove them. See, models don't even have to take their own shoes off!


One of the models getting 'greased up' backstage at the Baby Phat show. Ok, it wasn't grease, more like body oil.


Models backstage at the Baby Phat show.


This model was practicing her walk backstage at the Baby Phat show before it started....or maybe she was adjusting to the super high heels on her feet? I just couldn't get over her long, elegant legs. So I asked to take a pic with her (which she obligingly did). I consoled myself while standing next to her with the thoughts that I could TOTALLY walk in this show if I were only wearing short shorts and 8 inch pumps....