Wednesday Wishlist: Muppet Chic

Here's a list of things that Floridians don't need:

1. Snow shovels
2. Volumizing hair products
3. Fur coats

Guess which one I'm obsessed with right now? To be clear, it's a faux fur I'm digging -- I don't need any critter to be harmed for the sake of my looking fabulous. I spotted a couple of good ones at Forever 21 this weekend, and now I'm dreaming up all sorts of reasons I need one.

Since they're relatively inexpensive, I think a cute faux fur is a pretty smart buy. There are times when fashion should just be fun, and draping yourself in a bit of ridiculousness seems like it could be a whole lot of fun. Let's take a look at the furriest options in stores right now...

clockwise from l to r:

Kristen Blake Spotted Faux Fur Jacket ($138) -- or, how to be very chic while being very lazy. So great.

Modcloth Gallery Glamour Coat ($90) -- sometimes it's fun to make people wonder, "is she wearing her bathrobe in public?" But also kind of fun to throw on over your a simple dress or an easy weekend look.

Zara Long Furry Waistcoast ($70) -- a cool way to get a little fur action without committing to a full jacket.

Forever 21 Collarless Fur Jacket ($53) -- one of the coats that sparked my obsession, a perfect topper for your holiday party looks and an easy way to add a little drama to your Saturday night.

MANGO Leopard Faux Fur Coat ($150) -- for some ladies, a big fur coat just doesn't make enough of a statement. You know who you are. This leopard print should do the trick in turning every single head in the room.

River Island Light Pink Premium Fur Coat ($170) -- this one actually does look a bit like a skinned Muppet, in the most rock and roll way possible.

Anthropologie Blushed Faux-Fur Coat ($178) -- probably the most wearable option. This little cropped jacket could almost work as a blazer, giving you a great way to add color and texture to lots of different looks.

Fall Wishlist Part I

1. A Perfect Trench

A classic trench coat has been on my wish list for some time. It's timeless, versatile, insanely practical. And you really only need one -- choose correctly, and you'll be investing in a piece you'll reach for year after year.

If this is the year you want to add a trench to your closet, there are plenty of good ones to consider:

Modcloth East Coast Tour Coat -- a super sharp, super feminine option. The black piping and ribbon belt help create a really lovely silhouette.

Zara Short Trench Coat -- this is sportier version adds a little drama to your look. It's boxy, so you'll want to try on a few sizes to make sure the fit is sharp and not sloppy.

Mango Flowy Trench -- I like this soft, flowy cut. Also available in charcoal gray if you're not a fan of the traditional beige.

UNIQLO IDLF Trench Coat -- if you're looking for a truly classic trench, I think this is the best (and most affordable) one on the market today. UNIQLO has a great reputation for outerwear, and the influence of French model Ines de la Fressange delivers perfectly chic styling. If you've been considering a Burberry trench, you might want to test drive this one first and see if doesn't save you about $900.

Of course, there are a million ways to wear a trench...

For early fall, I'd throw it on over a t-shirt, skinny crops, and flats with a hint of summer sweetness (tip: on those warm days, leave the coat open and tie the belt in the back to keep things neat). On those truly cold fall days, layer it up: a turtleneck, cozy scarf, warm pants, and chunky boots will keep you warm without being bulky. Don't worry, there's always time for your Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man impression in January.

2. Cozy Knits

I can describe my favorite season in just two words: sweater weather. You know what I'm talking about. Cool, crisp air that makes you want to snuggle into your favorite cozy knit pieces. This is the ideal time to add a few new sweaters into rotation. Here are some of my favorites:

1. Gap Moto Sweater Jacket -- I love the use of a nontraditional waffle knit material in this very classic shape. Perfect for layering, interesting on its own.

2. J. Crew Cambridge Cable Turtleneck -- totally classic style in a bold, bright color. A lot of people look great in red, so a turtleneck like this could be a great pick-me-up piece for gray fall days.

3. UNIQLO Cashmere Crewneck Cardigan -- a good cardigan is a wardrobe staple, and it makes sense to invest in one in a good quality material like cashmere. UNIQLO does affordable cashmere better than almost anyone.

4. Modcloth Corner Coffee Shop Cardigan -- I love the shape of this sweater -- so sharp, and the funnel neck and three-quarter sleeves are feminine and flattering. Think about how much fun you'll have pairing this with fun prints to peek out at the hem.

Sweater weather is the best, and there are so many great styling options...

For early fall, you can pair with a denim mini, tights, and simple chunky boots. This is kind of my ideal "bopping around the neighborhood" outfit, so I'd add my favorite summery shades and a fun tote bag for lugging home library books, farmer's market goodies, a stack of magazines, etc. For later fall months, I'm thinking wide-leg tweed pants, a great watch, cool heels (did you score these Rebecca Minkoff beauties during the Nordstrom Anniversary sale?), and a bucket bag.

*note: I'm leaving prices out of my posts because they'll be over the place this season. Remember, watch for holiday weekend sales, check your email for codes (signing up for a company's email list usually generates an extra, stackable coupon code, so get your burner email addresses ready), comparison shop, and try to avoid paying for shipping. 

Wishlist Wednesday: The Perfect Silhouette

The wrap dress gets a lot of love. It's simple, it's versatile, it has a nice feminine shape, and everyone loves the woman most associated with the wrap dress, Diane von Furstenberg (can I get a "YASSS Queen"?). But here's what I think: the wrap dress is overrated.

Go on, clutch those pearls.

If you're looking for a flattering, feminine dress silhouette, I'd like to make a case for the shirt dress. A classic shirt dress is super flattering. It can be demure or sexy, subtle or incredibly bold. The belted version, my personal favorite, instantly creates that sleek, feminine silhouette, but without the fit issues that a wrap dress is prone to. How many of us spend time trying to figure out how to prevent the gaping and shifting that inevitably happens with our favorite wrap dresses? Maybe you wear a camisole, maybe you add a hook or snap, maybe you just safety pin that bad boy and call it a day. If you're standing still, a wrap dress looks great. But if you need to move and bend and generally behave like a normal human being, a wrap dress can be a real bitch.

The shirt dress is a fall staple, and one of the few fall fashions that can be enjoyed in just about any climate (like, for example, sweltering Florida!). Here are some of the versions that I'm loving this season:

1. Mango Cotton Shirt Dress ($43) -- a very streamlined version available in several traditional colors, and also this pretty pale pink. This isn't the color that comes to mind when you think fall, but how great and fresh would it look with all of those autumnal shades like plum, oxblood, forest green, and navy?

2. Boden Silk Shirt Dress ($198) -- I am in LOVE with the mod feel of this print. I want to layer it up with tights, a blazer, and chunky heels for cool days, but it works just as well with bare legs and sandals if you just need to wear it right away (no judgement!).

3. Alexa Chung for AG Jeans Denim Mini Shirt Dress ($325) -- this is how the downtown girl does a shirt dress: very slim, pretty short, all denim. One of my favorites, for sure. 

4. Samantha Sung Audrey Forest Stretch Cotton Dress ($585) -- I love this print, because it is almost identical to the wallpaper I had in my childhood bedroom. If that's not enough to sell you, think about how flattering a bright, pretty print is around your face. 

5. A.P.C Shirt Dress ($325) -- the very chic, very French way to do a shirtdress. Fit is so important in this style, and you know the tailoring on this one will be impeccable. 

6. River Island Gray Check Shirt Dress ($70) -- I'll be honest, I'm not a huge fan of Buffalo check, but this gray and white version is kind of intriguing. Add a long, chunky cable knit cardigan and ankle boots for a super cozy fall look. (*linking to Polyvore because River Island's site seems to be down)

7. River Island Beige Color Block Shirt Dress ($100) -- the color blocking is cool, and the black ribbon belt gives you a very teeny waist.

8. Dorothy Perkins Black D-Ring Shirt Dress ($59) -- my favorite of the bunch. A perfectly fitted black dress is heaven, and you can't beat the price.


A few fit tips...

*I think the belted version is most flattering (particularly if you are curvy), but the boxier/drapier cuts look great if you want help creating a shape
*Watch the length -- people should not wonder if you just, in fact, belted some old button-down shirt
*A fabric with a little weight is best -- a light fabric can get too floaty and reveal the lumps and bumps, but a fabric with some heft will make sure the dress lays perfectly

Three Ways: Statement Shoes

Love, thy name is Roxie Iridescent Foil Pumps. I stumbled across these a few days ago and I can't stop thinking about them...why I need them, how I would wear them. Of course, they are sold out in my size. Hear that, J. Crew? I would happily fork over $300 (blowing my monthly budget to smithereens) if you stocked more pair of the larger sizes. Think of the supermodels, think of the drag queens!

While I'm waiting for my size to come in, I've been dreaming up ways to justify this splurge...

These are shoes that want to be taken out dancing. They also want to be the center of attention, so an unfussy black dress (sorry if you are sick of hearing about this one but...too bad, it is perfection) is just right. I'd keep everything else pretty simple -- sparkly earrings that will catch the light when you twirl and just the right pop of color in a pretty clutch.

One of my first reactions to seeing Roxie was "those are birthday shoes!" My next birthday is still a few months away, but I already know what I want to wear to a fun dinner with friends. My night out uniform is pretty simple -- a pretty blouse, a good blazer, and boyfriend jeans. It's perfect because it never feels too dressy or too casual, and the overall effect is like an arrow drawing the eye right down to your shoes. I still love a great chunky gold watch with a black dial, and one more eye-catching piece of jewelry feels right. This clutch seems really versatile and I can't get enough snakeskin these days -- maybe I'll treat myself to an early birthday present?

I tried to come up with a way to wear these to work -- my office doesn't really have a dress code so I'm sure I could throw them on with a blazer and jeans, but I don't think I would. These party shoes just don't want to see the inside of an office, so let's take them somewhere fun. For a fab little summer get together, I'd go light and neutral -- a crisp camp shirt, leg-lengthening flare jeans, and a classic bucket bag. For just a touch of fun, I'd add a thin gold belt and big "look at me" sunglasses.