Ankle Boots are hot for the cool season ahead.  They are meant to be shown off with skinny jeans, and long tunics or sweaters with leggings.  Want to wear them with a knee length skirt?  If you don’t want a fashion citation, be sure to pair those knee length fashions with matching opaque tights. While there is nothing wrong with long, wide pants, why hide the details of the ankle boots?  They deserve to be shown off!

Ankle boots are fun boots, not to be mistaken with the galoshes your mother wore or some kind of practical flat boot!  Look for fun accents like zippers, trims, cuffs and bright colors and prints.

The ankle boots pictured here are the Landon from MaxStudio. These luxurious lace up ankle booties are guaranteed to keep your feet warm and step upbeat. A great value, these boots have wonderful details: uppers of soft and textured napa leather, a lining of plush shearling, along with a painted wooden sculptural heel and a fresh pushed up bullnose shape. These glam booties are more practical than you think, as they are as well suited for the slopes as they are for pounding the pavement in style. With a padded footbed, leather lining and fit true to size with a leg lengthening heel.

Click here to learn more about these nappa leather and shearling ankle booties from MaxStudio. 

Click here for complete outfit ideas from MaxStudio. 

Yesterday, I was having lunch with an associate, and the inevitable style question popped up.  But this was an excellent question.  And hence, the topic of my daily blog. 

Can you build a wardrobe around a favorite accessory, such as a favorite purse or leather jacket.  Not only is the answer “yes” but it is a very smart idea.  Good accessories are what make a signature style.  They are often the “investment” pieces in your wardrobe.  If you have a great sense of style, but are limited by the choices available in plus sized clothing, you will find that an accessory will never let you down. 

If you have a limited income, I always recommend that instead of buying a large quantity of cheap junk, that you invest in a great piece, such as a purse, a leather jacket or a great pair of shoes that you can wear every day.  While you want this purse or leather jacket to make a statement about who you are, take care that it is versatile enough to be worn throughout your life. 

If you are limited to the clothing choices available in plus sized clothing, a great purse is the perfect centerpiece to your wardrobe.  It is guaranteed to be a perfect fit and the choices are without limit.  Again, you will want to invest in purses of the best quality and highest versatility. 

Once you have selected your “centerpiece” purse or leather jacket or shoes, then begin to select wardrobe pieces that will work around it.  Work toward pieces that will allow the purse to stand out or be complemented by the piece.  Neutral pieces or those that pick up the color in the purse or leather jacket will work best.  What you do want to avoid is being too “matchy matchy” with everything the same color, style and print as the amazing piece.  It may look great on Barbie but she’s only 18 inches tall!  In the real world, too much of a good thing is just that…

We are going to be talking a lot about accessories in the upcoming blogs.  Look forward to having you join us! 

Looking for a beautiful outfit to wear for a casual evening out?  Once again, I am calling on a few of my favorite trends this season:  black and white, beautiful leather jackets and animal print. 

This leather jacket is a buttery soft and elegant yet sporty suede design.  With this leather jacket’s round neck,  full length sleeves and simple button front, you have many options for tops to wear underneath.  Once again the buttons on this jacket are like and accessory with a faux horn button closure.  Don’t mistake casual for sloppy fit:  with front and back princess seams, another seam at the center back, and a waist seam, this leather jacket will fit like a leather glove.  These are couture details which require care in construction and are often found only on couture originals at a much higher price point.  The cross stitching detail at princess seams and front and back sleeves really make this jacket look sharp.

Under the jacket is an geometric print blouse constructed of neat and comfortable stretch jersey.  The neckline is very interesting–the blouse itself has a round Neck but sewn into the neck is a V-Split Neckline. This is a great choice for those ladies who prefer to cover their arms and are looking for something with a little more style than a mass produced tee-shirt.  The full length sleeves have a black stretch velvet trim shirring detail at the sleeve cuff, front and back shoulder yoke

At the bottom are luxurious and comfortable stretch moleskin pants.  Everything about their construction says style and comfort: the pans sit just below the waist with no waistband to pinch and dig.  The fit so well because of an invisible dyed-to-match zipper at front, and princess seams or great fit and easy alteration.  The Bootcut Leg and the Flat Front are very flattering while still looking stylish.

This great outfit is set off by the printed haircalf handbag with cut out patent leather handles.  I just love the inside zipper pocket and magnetic closure. 

Look great, feel great, have a great time!

I just love the fact that it is perfectly acceptable to wear white after Labor Day.  According to tradition, you would create a fashion emergency if you dared wear white in the Fall or Winter unless it was your wedding day!  I also love the fact that this Nappa Leather jacket is double breasted and has a notched collar.  And the buttons are a beautiful faux horn.  There is much being said this season about replacing boring buttons with interesting ones as a way to update a look.  These are just a few clever ways to modernize the otherwise very classic look of this beautiful leather jacket.

The difference between a truly amazing leather jacket and something that looks run of the mill are details.  But be careful where the details are placed.  If you do not want to call attention to your chest or midline, avoid details that pull the eye to that area.  On this leather jacket, the full length sleeves have a sleeve tab and silver buckle detail.  Notice the shoulders with the button down shoulder flap, which gives an appearance of strong shoulders. 

Something to be careful of with a double breasted jacket, especially a leather jacket, is that it does not look too boxy.  To avoid this and make this leather jacket more fitted, Doncaster has designed in a back shoulder yoke to balance the double breasted front, and added front and back princess seams so that the jacket does not hang loosely at the bottom.  To keep the leather jacket neat and fitted, there are vertical besom pockets with a zipper closure. Patch pockets on a  leather jacket like this would look very boxy. 

  So often, women who are more of a spring skin tone…that is blonde with light skin and eye tones are at a loss for what to wear in the Fall and Winter.  This season, there are beautiful warm autumn blends, such as lavender to wear with brown, which give them beautiful options without appearing washed out. 

This beautiful leather jacket of a foiled suede is so elegant with its tailoring and buttons.  Notice the way the leather jacket is constructed and the softness of the suede.  The blouse under it has browns, lavenders and creams all blended together in a very wearable pattern.  It is paired with brown and lavender plaid pants with a flattering cut that is generous through the hip and thigh and a slight boot cut.  I must admit I am still getting used to the fact that it is perfectly fashionable to wear plaids and prints together, but with this top and leather jacket, it looks sensational. 

When I think about a word that describes this outfit, it is approachable. That is often not an adjective I would use to describe for an outfit anchored by a stunning leather jacket.