Isabel Marant Cocoon Phase

In typical Isabel Marant fashion, this runs extremely large. So if you're 5'3" like me, you'll want to size way down. Don't worry, it'll still have an oversized, cocoon fit. (Mine's a size 34, for reference).

Shop it here, here, and here.

Wear This Now: Lean and Mean

Shop it:  1. SAINT LAURENT  (here and here)/  2. REPOSSI (similar here) /  3.  3.1 PHILLIP LIM    / 4.  ZARA   ( here and here) /  5.  NSF  (and here) /   6.  LANVIN   /  7.  CELINE     

Zara Is Snatching Céline and Saint Laurent's Wig This Fall, Budget Conscious Women Drool

  
 Photos courtesy of ZARA  .

No. 21 Bleeding Pockets

One of my way belated favorites from Fashion Week was No. 21. It has the conservative and preppy elements, like collars, cardigans, an pencil skirts, but with an element of boyish cool. At first I was on the fence about the bleeding pockets, but now in retrospect find them very charming in the way they disrupt the overall buttoned-up nature of each look. Reminds me of Comme des Garçons and Dries can Noten, with an element of 3.1 Phillip Lim cool.

It's a Woman's World. Dress the Part.

There was a lot of reasons for me to love Paul Smith. Sure, there was the occasional piece that made me go, "What the Katrantzou?" as it walked down the runway, but overall I am just consistently impressed by the man because he knows how to dress a business woman. The qualifier there, "business," is entirely necessary, as I am a woman in business. Meaning, I get dressed and go to work in a field that is high anxiety, and money is on the line, and the people are smart, and people shake hands, the expectations are high, and things move fast. It's a man's world of sorts, only because it is predominantly dominated by men, not because anyone is in doubt that I can play ball, too.

I balance my love of fashion with work appropriateness during business hours, so it's no wonder that Paul Smith always understands my needs. I felt a comfort watching these well dressed women walk down a runway and look like they've got a million dollar account contract nonchalantly tucked away in their super chic folio clutch. The berry colors to me are beautiful, but it's even more appealing to describe them as wine names instead, like merlot, Bordeaux, and even Shirazey — #imadeupthatword, and furthermore, #dealwithit.

Paul Smith knows the man's world, so it's more amazing to me how he translates those skills to a woman. The tailored pants are pretty much what a man would wear, except we get to have them in berry rich hues, and mix them with each other. The subtle sex appeal of a sheer sleeve and the playful addition of minty accessories adds up to a delightfully bright sartorial inspiration, even if my day is all meetings. I see myself kicking ass in outfits like these and I find that vision motivating and inspring. You can't argue with a beauty routine like what is displayed here either; clean, no frills hair, berry stained lips, a light shimmer on the inside corner of the eyes and you're done.

Pajama Party

While I don't particularly like the entire idea of going out with my pajamas on — it conjures up memories of college, or me outside in my oversized pants waiting for a fire department to let me back into my apartment, and other stressful times — I would be more open to it if the quality and overall look was as fantastic as this. The theory goes that if your outfit is casual and overly loungey, you have to make sure to up the ante by accessorizing with more "luxury" things, like fur, velvet, sequins, and silk.  Marc Jacobs did pajamas a great service with his newest collection. He delivered them on a silver platter, decked out with fur and chains and sparkly sequins.

It only seemed fitting to pair such a daringly casual outfit with an equally shiny counterpart. Enter Tabitha Simmons. Her gorgeous shoes for Fall 2013 are the perfect pairing to a borderline Michael Jackson at the courtroom outfit.

Shop the look:

1. MARC JACOBS pajama top, 2. MARC JACOBS  fur Stam, 3. TABITHA SIMMONS F/W 2013 Mary Janes, 4. MARC JACOBS  pants

Proenza Schouler

You've got to hand it to the two men behind Proenza Schouler. Being the cool kid is such a transient part of someone's life, if ever, and yet they have continuously found the formula for transforming fabric into such an effortlessly cool and feminine piece. The shoes, for one, are right on top of my Fall 2013 wishlist. They embody the bows that I am so enamored with, plus the intricacies of what can only be described as oversized doilies, but in leather. I fully support the turtleneck becoming the next "it" accessory. Turtlenecks have a deep-rooted place in my memory, starting when I was a child and wanted to wear them under everything. They remind me of everything cozy and practical that was part of my childhood, even the beautiful way my mom layered them under both mine and her clothes. That memory may not be front-row fashion worthy, but fashion to me is personal, and my favorite part of this collection was how comfortable it made me feel. Proenza Schouler trampled on completely known territory for me, memories even, and that's why I love it: Oversized layers, fuzzy fabrics, and a sense of being completely covered, yet absolutely desirable.

3.1 Phillip Lim

 Let's just begin by saying that 3.1 Phillip Lim has hardly disappointed me once since the brand's start in the mid-2000's. I appreciate the consistent ability to create beautifully subtle prints and combine them with large textured knits, shiny leather, and hardware-like embellishments without going over the top. The quilted pink is such a beautiful color to see here — it's an unexpected feminine twist to an otherwise moody and dark looking runway.
I must admit, though, that my favorite aspect of the Fall 2013 runway was the expert layering. It takes real skill to layer clothes and volumes on top of each other and still create a sexy female silhouette. Best of all, in true Phillip Lim style, the details are where the magic is. The sheer sleeves, apron hems, and color-blocking cuff details literally make the outfit, creating 360 degrees of appeal and interest.
It can be hard to see how a collection like this can be worn on the sidewalks of San Francisco, or the East Bay on a pretty night out without looking like I'm trying too hard, but the thing about Lim is that he makes it so easy to dissect the runway look and achieve levels of it by only applying one or two things. That bronzed lip on a clean face? Check. The pairing of super rich brown leathers with warm feminine tones? Of course. Layering collared shirts in varying lengths under sweaters and coats? Done. His clothes make me feel modern, feminine, and confident, which is truly a rare trifecta in today's fashion.