It's All in the Ladylike Details

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Skirt: Madewell  ||  Shirt: Old Navy  ||  Hat: Urban Outfitters (old, similar) ||  Heels: Jessica Simpson (DSW) 

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Skirt: Madewell  ||  Shirt: Old Navy  ||  Hat: Urban Outfitters (old, similar) ||  Heels: Jessica Simpson (DSW)  || Jacket: Abercrombie (old, similar)

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When I'm dressing for fall, I like to add a few ladylike details. One of the biggest trends we're seeing this season is a floppy felt hat. The flowly structure gives you that girly look while still keeping your head warm during the inevitable cool weather. It's effortlessly chic plus it's perfect for a dirty hair day! (ie more time sleeping in!)

Layering is key for autumn and can add a feminine touch to any outfit. I like wearing a jean jacket over my shoulders because I think it's a really fun way to update your wardrobe and give you that classic, 1950's style. Of course when it's really cold, you do need to actually wear it! :)

Some of the other ladylike details I adore from this look are the perforated holes in a stripe pattern on my midi skirt and the cute words that read "Live, Love, Laugh" on my top. (Note: This shirt actually has navy stripes...don't be afraid to pair black with navy or plum and navy. And while mixing colors, textures and patterns might seem risky, it really can have a big payoff! My advice is keep it subtle; you can't go wrong.)

This ensemble was inspired by Bayleigh Bingham, a sweet girl I met while hosting my New York Fashion Week video for Loehmann's. Her street style was definitely one of my favorites and I seriously wanted to steal her hat! (see her full look in my Top 30 List). It made me want to take my summer midi skirt and transition it for fall with the right accessories. Fashion tip: Try wearing a sweater with your midi skirt to get even more wear out of it this season!

DIY Distressed Jeans

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Jeans: Abercrombie (old)  ||  T-shirt: Old Navy  ||  Shoes: Madewell

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When I see DIY, I usually think to myself, that's really cool but I don't think I have time for this "Do It Yourself" craft. Well if you can relate, don't be scared by this post! You can do it! And if you're on a budget, like me, you sometimes have to choose a DIY version to get the trend on a dime! In 2004 I used to absolutely love these ripped Abercrombie jeans (yes, in college I wore all Abercrombie all the time!). So I decided to hold onto them...for 10 years! Recently, I wanted to figure out a way I could wear them again as the ever-so-trendy distressed boyfriend jean. But the outdated sown in capri length was holding me back. My only option was to cut out the cuffed hem. I'll admit I was nervous at first but once I made the cut, I was so happy! I had the length I wanted to then roll them up "boyfriend jean style."

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T-shirt: J.Crew  ||  Jeans: Abercrombie (old)  ||  Heels: Guess (DSW)  ||  Necklace: Lola Accessory Boutique  

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My next DIY creation was turning an old pair of skinny jeans into an edgier ripped style (specifically with a hole in the knee) that we're seeing in all the stores. I took these black skinny jeans that are maybe 4 years old and decided to cut about half an inch (it widens once it's on) at the top of my knee. I'll admit I google imaged "ripped black skinny jeans" and "skinny jeans with hole in the knee" before I got started! I was debating between a hole on one knee or two (I've seen it done both ways) but decided for now to just do one hole/one knee. Who knows, maybe I'll do the other side!? Note: Make sure to try them on first and make a slit so you know exactly where to cut. My advice is to start out smaller, try them on again and then see if you'd rather make the hole bigger. The good news is you can't really mess it up. All distressed jeans are unique. Plus it takes about 2 seconds and now you've completely updated your denim look!

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T-shirt: J.Crew  ||  Jeans: Urban Outfitters  ||  Heels: Old Navy  ||  Necklace: Lola Accessory Boutique

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Graphic Tee + Midi Skirt = Dressy Casual Perfection

Top: Vintage Ruehl shirt  ||   Skirt: Madewell   ||  Shoes: Aldo

Top: Tanked (from Parts and Labour Boutique in Austin, TX)  ||  Skirt: Zara  ||  Shoes: Aldo

Top: Tanked (from Parts and Labour Boutique in Austin, TX)  ||  Skirt: Zara  ||  Shoes: Aldo

 Growing up, one of my favorite things to do with my mom was going "Back to School" shopping. We would have so much fun picking out a week's worth of new outfits and choosing the cutest one for the first day of classes (which meant a photo for my scrapbook would be taken of course!) You might be thinking, "Why are you telling this story? You're not going back to school." Correct. But as I've been walking the streets of New York with "Back to School" shopping signs all around me, I couldn't help but think what I would wear if I was. This! A graphic tee paired with a midi skirt. It is the perfect mix of dressy casual, plus you can't help but feel oh-so-stylish. The skirt gives you that classy, ladylike feel while the graphic tee dresses it down with more of an edgy, street style. Maybe I'm channeling a little Carrie Bradshaw here, but I love it! This was one of my favorite trends from last year's NY Fashion Week and it's just stuck with me. It looks so effortless. And isn't that always what we want, ladies? We all have old graphic shirts in our closets which I personally think makes this look all the more interesting (and affordable) to put together. The more vintage the tee, the better, in my opinion! You can also tie it into a knot to create a crop top. I do, however, have one midi skirt rule though: You need to wear it with heels. Otherwise it really cuts off your legs. For all you ladies thinking your legs aren't long enough to pull off a midi skirt, I challenge you to slip on a pair of heels. And for an added style tip in cooler weather: try wearing a leather or jean jacket over your shoulders. You'll look uber chic!