Fabulous Halloween!

Still looking for a last minute costume idea for this weekend? Try emulating one of your favorite fashion icons! It's hard to be stylish while dressed in a goofy costume, these ideas will keep you looking fashionable and still be appropriate for the costume party. Bonus: you may have many of these items already in your closet!

Costume Idea 1: Anna Wintour. This Vogue editor who inspired the boss in The Devil Wears Prada can always be seen in her large sunnies, fur and fabulous heels. You'll really pull the look off if you can find a blond bob wig to mimic her iconic hair style.

Look like Ann Wintour by throwing a fur jacket over your shoulders and wrap dress and adding fabulous heels, large sunglasses and a blond bob wig.

Costume Idea 2: Rachel Zoe. This stylist also loves fur and large sunglasses as well as sky high heels, wide leg pants and Starbucks. She also has a signature hair style in her wavy blonde locks.

One of Rachel's favorites is the fur vest. Layer it over a silk blouse, wide leg jeans, and the tallest heels you can find. Carry around an empty Starbucks cup and say things like "That is bananas!" and "I die" and no one will wonder who you are.

Have fun and be safe this weekend!

Handbag Envy

There's nothing that elevates your outfit more than a great handbag. The number one place for women to splurge is on the bag. I'd much rather see you all carrying a well made, stylish handbag with a Target dress than visa versa. I don't know about you, but every season, I crave a new handbag (I currently have my eye on this Tory Burch - I love the color!); it's the simplest way to change your overall look for the new season because you can carry it every day.

Below is a story I styled for the Washington Post Express paper - read on for the hottest handbag trends for fall.

1. Snakeskin Ellie Tahari available at Neiman Marcus

2. Chain Strap Elie Tahari available at Neiman Marcus

3. Zipper Detail Linea Pelle available at Ginger Boutique

4. Envelope Clutch Alexis Hudson available at Ginger Boutique

5. Colored Handbag Kate Spade

6. Wool Merona available at Target

7. Satchel Target
8. Animal Print Rebecca Minkoff available at Piperlime

9. Color Block Jason Wu available at Neiman Marcus

10. Printed Tory Burch available at The Shoe Hive

11. Cross-body CC Skye available at The Shoe Hive

What to Wear: Happy Hour

Colored skinny jeans are a big trend for fall. Try wearing them out for happy hour!

1. Roe Habitat Blouse from Anthropologie $168

2. Pilcro Serif Cords from Anthropologie $88

3. Metal Edged Bangle from Topshop $25

4. Floral Textured Flower Skinny Leather Belt from Topshop $32

5. Joe's 'Candy' Sandal from Nordstrom $224.95

Heading out to happy hour

top from Nordstrom junior's department, belt from Target, Pilcro

skinny pants from Anthropologie, thrifted bangle, MaxStudio heels

Fall Must-Haves

I set out to make a list of the top ten must-haves for fall but couldn't narrow it down so, it's a top eleven list. You, however, should narrow it down. Don't feel the need to go out and buy everything on this list, just pick 2-4 items that really speak to you to add a little freshness to your fall wardrobe.

1. Long pleated skirt: so feminine and ethereal; just remember to keep the pleats small and delicate not school girl-y
2. Navajo inspired prints: we often see tribal prints on trend but this season we're seeing some unique Navajo and western inspired ones
3. Cape: such a fun layering option
4. Colored jeans: these usually look best in a skinny version
5. Striped sweater: such a great weekend option paired with jeans
6. Color-blocked handbag: a unique option, choose a classic shape with two or more tones
7. Wedge ankle boot: great with a pair of wide leg jeans
8. Fur trimmed coat: or you can go with a fur trimmed cardigan
9. Stacked heel boot: all the height with none of the hurt, stacked heels are much more comfy than stilettos
10. Chunky knit sweater: so cozy!
11. Slim, cropped pant : pair with flats a la Audrey Hepburn or roll up the bottom and pair with a stacked heel

Article is reprinted from my fall newsletter. If you are not signed up for my seasonal e-newsletter, sign up below now!

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Shopping for Missoni at Target

That's right, you read that correctly: Missoni has created a line for Target! This is probably one of the biggest designer collaborations Target has ever done. The 400 piece collection will hit stores (and online) on September 13 and I have a feeling these things are going to go fast. Here are some of my favorites:

The swimsuit is adorable, the maxi and long cardigan, while a little matchy-matchy together would be great individual pieces and I would wear that cape/cardigan with an all black outfit or jeans all winter.

If you're intimidated by Missoni's sometimes loud prints, take a baby step with some accessories. Prediction: those flats will be one of the first things to sell out and the printed bobby pins are to die for!

There are even pieces for men and kids. I'm loving these ties. And this jacket and rain boots are so adorable for a little girl.

I'm actually most excited about some of the pieces for the home. I would buy everything pictured above.

And how can you resist this bicycle?! I rarely ride a bike and this one might motivate even me to hop on two wheels more often.

Happy shopping and let me know what you score!

Photos courtesy of Target via Fashionista.com The line is not on the Target website yet but follow that link to see a preview of the entire collection.

Embrace Your Personal Style

I recently started reading the book Everyday Icon: Michelle Obama and the Power of Style by Kate Betts and I am really touched by her message. She uses Michelle as an example but the book is mainly about the power of personal style and she's managed to articulate the way I feel about style better than I think I ever have. The opening paragraph of her book is as follows:

"In many cultures - French, Italian, Russian, and Japanese, to name a few - why style matters is self-evident and arguing in defense of it is like arguing on behalf of music or art or even clean water and fresh air. But Americans are ambivalent about style. We are by turns attracted to and afraid of style, fascinated and suspicious. We confuse it with transient fashion trends and logo-splashed clothes. Too often American women subvert their sense of style and don a uniform instead. They play it safe so as not to detract from their intellecual contributions. Style is frivolous; style is for airheads. Tenacious conventions pit style against substance and suggest we have to choose one or the other as a defining focus or sensibility: you can work for shoes and bags or you can work for world peace. But not both."

I sometimes worry that other people think what I do is superficial or frivolous and I have to stop and remind myself that I don't think it's silly. I think style can be so powerful. There is a quote that I believe is from Chanel and I cannot find it at the moment but it says something to the effect of, your clothes do not change who you are but they can change how you feel and that, in turn, can change who you are. Feeling good in what you wear and how you look can give you confidence, which can change your life. Once you've changed your life and are happy in it, you can move on to changing and improving the world around you. You can have fabulous shoes and bags and world peace. Plus, it's just nice to be surrounded by beauty. It's part of human nature to be attracted to things that are visually appealing and we all tend to be happier and more relaxed when we're surrounded by things that comfort us and that we find attractive. So, don't worry that the people at the office won't take you seriously or that your intelligent friends will think you're silly for dressing with style. In fact, the confidence you gain by doing so will make people stop, think again and take you seriously for you who are and what you have to contribute.

I Can Relate: A Personal Shopper's Tale of Shopping Frustration

My fiance and I have been working on our wedding registry lately and after several slightly overwhelming trips to Crate and Barrell, Bed, Bath and Beyond and Bloomingdale's, I had an epiphany: I finally truly understand how my clients must feel when they're shopping for clothes because I feel the same way trying to shop for housewares. I don't really enjoy it as much as shopping for clothes, I don't really get excited about water glasses or toasters, I don't feel like I have all the information I need to shop efficiently and successfully so I end up spending a lot of time trying to figure it out and I don't really have as good a sense of style for my home because there's definitely a different approach to things you use everyday than items you can change multiple times a day if you feel like it. But, at the same time, it's important to me to have things that work well for my home and add a sense of style to my life. I could really use someone to just come in and tell me: what is the best cookware brand for the best price? Where is the best place to shop for china? What kitchen appliances do I really need? What is my personal home style?

This made me think about what I do for my clients. When my clients first come to me, they generally don't like to shop that much, they don't have the information they need to shop efficiently and successfully, and they don't have a good sense of their personal style or what works well for their bodies and lifestyle. I help my clients figure out where to splurge and where to save, what are the best brands for the best price, where is the best place to shop for jeans, which items of clothing and accessories they really need and what is their personal style? I walk them through the process so they don't have to spend time figuring it out on their own.

I know it would save me a ton of time and money if I had a personal shopper to help walk me through this process of shopping for my home. This is a whole new shopping experience for me.