fashion week from afar

well, hello.  i've been so busy with work and packing (more to come on that) that i almost forgot that new york fashion week is going on! just kidding.  i think i actually may be spending more time post-work scrolling through instagram and style.com to catch up on all of the new shows.  here are a few looks from some of the more recent shows that i absolutely love...i have to say, that while fall isn't even in full force yet, these are making me crave spring! 

robert rodriguez spring 2014 RTW

alice + olivia spring 2014 RTW

alexander wang spring 2014 RTW

j.crew spring 2014 RTW

oscar de la renta spring 2014 RTW

what are you loving this year? are there any trends in particular that you're absolutely going ba-na-nas (in typical rachel zoe fashion, of course) over???

skirt flirt

i've officially fallen for the fluted skirt trend.  although i'm hesitant to call it a "trend" because in reality, the shape of these skirts will never go out of style.  they compliment every body type and are seasonally neutral; wear with a chunky knit and tights and boots for cold, or throw on a pair of sandals with a lightweight blouse for warmer weather.  for me, any piece that is multi-functional that way is a good investment and screams "buy me now" from the racks.  

i've picked out a few favorites below (i actually just got the ivory jcrew mini) in a variety of neutral colors for your browsing pleasure.  let me know what you think; are you as much of a fan of the fluted skirt as i am?

Theory Skirt  //  J.Crew Fluted Skirt in Double Crepe  //  Tibi Italian Ponte Yoked Skirt  //  Zara Skirt with Asymmetrical Frill

falling for plaid

one of the fall trends i'm most excited about is plaid.  maybe it's because it's a subconscious reminder of my pre-teen years in the nineties and all of the time i spent watching my so called life, clarissa explains it all, and of course the endless viewings of clueless (i'm pretty sure someone was wearing plaid in every scene of that movie).  or perhaps the more likely reason is that it's because it's such a timeless and classic print.  while it may not pop up in runway collections every season,  it plays a major role in street style from year to year and is seen worn in an endless amount of ways once the temperatures drop and the leaves start to change color.

here are just a few plaid pieces that i'm lusting after currently.  i especially love those joie flats and think they would look perfect with a pair of skinnies and a big cozy sweater (and maybe a pumpkin spice latte in my hand).  can you tell i'm ready for fall?!

Madewell Pentfield Chatham Buffalo Plaid Shirt  //  Joie Pointed Toe Smoking Flat  //  PJK Plaid-Front Silk Popover  //  Zara Checked Wool Coat  //  Alice + Olivia Weston Straight Skirt with Buckle

these boot(ies) were made for walking

1. Dolce Vita Jaxen Bootie  //  2. Chloe Susanna Studded Bootie  //  3. Sam Edelman Mariel Bootie  //  4. Hudson Riley Bootie  //  5. Joie Dalton Bootie  //  6. Jean-Michel Cazabat Noni Bootie  //  7. Rag +Bone Harrow Bootie  //  8. Madewell Biker Boot

i'm currently coveting some new booties for fall and have rounded up a group of my absolute favorites here!  some of these are definitely dream purchases (ahem, i'm talking to you, Chloe studded booties) and may be out of reach for now, but others like the madewell biker boot or the dolce vita jaxen bootie are totally attainable additions to your closet.  by staying with a neutral color like black or brown, it allows you to easily pair them with anything; i'm thinking skinny jeans + a moto jacket, tights + a mini, or a cute  and feminine dress to balance out the toughness of the booties.  i also love the seasonal versatility of booties...they're one of the only year-round shoes in my closet.  and since you're able to get so much more mileage out of them compared to traditional boots, it makes splurging on an amazing pair that much more worth it!

animal instinct

it's old news that i love a good leopard print.  i think that it works so well as a neutral and really adds another dimension to  what can be an otherwise simple outfit.  i had a pair of jeffrey campbell leopard flats for the longest time and they finally reached their end recently.  while looking for a suitable replacement for them, i've stumbled across some other pretty gorgeous leopard print pieces that i'm now coveting!

Clare Vivier Flat Clutch Supreme  //  Velvet Leopard Sweater Dress  //  Elizabeth and James Leopard-Print Calf Hair Satchel  //  DVF Kay Printed Dress  //  Equipment Liam Top with Contrast Sleeves  //  Club Monaco Mackenzie Leopard Slippers  //  Mural Leopard Print Skater Skirt

i will definitely be getting those club monaco flats to replace my worn and torn jeffrey campbell pair! i also adore anything by equipment, so i'll be heavily considering that top as well.  what do you think of wearing such a loud animal print? do you love it or is it too intimidating? i personally can't get enough of it, as long as it's in tasteful doses ;) !

skort-ing the issue

last week i finally took the plunge and purchased the oh-so-popular white zara skort.  i literally tried it on two months ago in the store and loved it, but was trying to be conservative with my spending and let it go.  sad day (needless to say).  well, i couldn't resist any longer and added it to my bag, along with these gorgeous tan heels.  hopefully i'll get a chance to wear both soon!  unfortunately not this weekend though, as i'll be on the water all weekend.  i can't wait...three days off, kiteboarding lessons on saturday, and a mini-vacation sunday and monday on a nearby island that boasts much warmer weather than san francisco.

when i am finally able to wear said skort, i'm thinking i want to dress it up with a cool graphic tee (maybe my home tee, or one of these manifesto tees that i'm loving right now), a black blazer, heels, and one of my bauble bar x honestly wtf necklaces.  one of the reasons i decided to finally cave and buy the skort is because it's so versatile.  while it is very popular right now, every single way i've seen it styled is different.  here are a few of my favorite ways i've seen it styled so far...

i love this neutral outfit paired with metallic strappy heels seen here on BettyStyles

alicia of Cheetah is the New Black pairs the skort perfectly with this amazing tie-front blouse and neutral strappy sandals

i love this sporty look from VintageVirgin too-the sweatshirt is totally awesome and the clutch is so fun!

i seriously can't wait to wear it, and i promise to do an outfit post on it (did i mention how i just learned that my boyfriend took photography all through high school? photographer: check!).  do you like any of the looks styled above? how would you style it?

classic

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i've been gravitating toward solids lately and have been getting (p)inspiration from the simple and classic black and white color combination.  it looks so chic and effortless; you really can't go wrong. i am especially loving the last outfit, with the pop of color in the burgundy bag.  follow me on pinterest to see more of my favorite looks!