I am so...

excited to actually be able to rock collegiate style this fall/winter. Due to the fact that I now go to school in Oregon, I can actually wear some classic looks that just were not right in SoCal. I love argyle, blazers, cords, scarves, sweater vests, cable-knit, ribbed turtleneck sweaters and anything else that is a part of the classic college look. It’s a little retro—college girls in the mid-to-late seventies define this look. The colors are very muted, classic autumn colors: burgundy, olive, mustard, and shades of brown. If you too decide to go for the college co-ed look, my suggestion is to play it subtle. You don’t want to look like you think its 1975. Just go with one or two items, like a cardigan with cords.  Don’t try to do argyle and plaid; it just won’t work. Personally, I think argyle goes on sweaters and plaid on skirts. Leather chunky-heeled knee-high boots complete the look.

I want a beret.

I just think that they are very pretty, very glamorous.  A beret is not your typical hat, meaning that it’s not the type of hat you can throw on to cover a bad hair day.  I love both the classic beret and the floppy beret, but there are different rules for each.

My tips for if you decide to try a classic beret: if your hair is short, I think your best bet is going strait.  I’m thinking (cliché alert!) Faye Dunaway in Bonnie and Clyde. Long hair? Try a little bit of a wave. You can also go strait and where it pulled back in a loose ponytail.  Place the hat on a slight angle, but don’t obsess. Own it, and it will look fantastic.

As for floppy berets, think Rachel Bilson. Slight wave, no matter your hair-length. Embrace the boho quality, and go with a darker colored beret, maybe park purple.  Again, wear at a slight angle letting the flop fall where it may, it knows what is best. Your clothes should be more classic, with maybe a printed scarf. 

One of my absolute...

favorite things to do is to get a manicure. As Ace can attest, it usually takes me about nine hours to select a color. This gets a little annoying, so I’ve decided to at least narrow it down a little. I am a big fan of the dark, moody nails that were all over the place last fall, and am happy to report that they are back for the upcoming season. This time around, however, they are a little less goth-chic and a little more…beautiful. I’m thinking dark burgundy, merlot, deep plum and my current favorite, chocolate brown. You can go a little sparkly with any of these colors, but nothing too glittery. Just a little bit of shimmer built into the polish is perfect.

My Wish List for Fall:

-A short-sleeved pea coat

-Grandpa-cardigans

-A suede-fringed bag in that slouchy, casual messenger style

-Corduroy minis to wear with tights

-A zebra-print anything. Purse? Shoes? Scarf? Pants? (Just kidding about that last one.)

-A sweater dress to wear with (you guessed it) tights

-A purple-leather bag

What’s on your wish list?

There are times...

in every stylist’s life when she realizes that some trend that she dismissed is in fact adorable. And it is here that I find myself today. A few months back, I eschewed the whole “colored jeans” look.  However, I have seen the error of my ways, and so help me, the next pair of jeans I buy will be magenta. Or bleached and then died that way.

Go forth and wear your bright jeans with a neutral top. I suggest lighter ones, like white and light gray; black tops with neon jeans screams 80’s, and unless that’s the look your going for, steer clear!