One of the biggest shopping dilemmas for many women is price point.  When it justifiable to splurge on something new?  If you want my opinion and I'm guessing "probably yes" if you are reading this, the one item to go for when it comes to investment pieces is a beautiful winter coat. Having lived in the north east my entire life this  "must have" essential needs to be functional as well as fashionable. Your coat is the first thing people see,  and if you are like me, it's on and off at least ten times in the course of the day.   Most of us have a closet (or two) full of them and yet often none are really all that great or exciting.  There are the hand me downs from mom, (I have those mink jackets in my closet too) the big, cozy, ratty ones we wear on the soccer fields, the ones that were on sale for such a good price -but never fit all that well but we bought them anyway, the ones your kids friends left behind and were never returned etc., etc.   My guess is that 1. Coats are expensive so we keep the ones we have longer and 2. Coats not an impulse purchase like a pair of jeans or a sweater. So what to do?  Its getting colder here in Jersey and Sandys on the way...
Approach your coat closet the same way you would your clothes closet.  Give away all of the ones that don't fit, flatter or suit your current lifestyle.  There are so many local charities that would be more than happy to take them off your hands.
When buying a new one go for classic style and make sure it fits perfectly. Most important-make sure you LOVE it. You want to feel GREAT everytime you put it on (and off and on).

Before we get down to the winter coats , check out these amazing jackets on the left- My very chic and fashionable friend Freddi introduced me to this line- Veronica Beard. The jackets have zip in and out sweater linings, collars and cuffs. You can buy additional linings in different colors to change the look of the jacket- Pretty cool!  Cashmere throw on right is by Minnie Rose, I love these to throw over a jacket, coat, dress or sweater. They are great to travel with too- 

The coats above are all by Burberry and Max Mara two of my favorite cloth coat brands. They are definitley not cheap but will never go out of style and you will feel polished and pretty every time you wear one.  Wait till the next Bloomingdales friends and family sale in November and get an extra 20% off...

Classic Coats from J Crew are colorful, reasonably priced, and come in a variety of styles.  I love the navy pea coat in the middle picture - simple, classic and forever. 

If you want to try something fun, maybe a faux fur vest?  Great style, not too pricey...This one's available at Barney's: $255.00

I realize that one coat does not a wardrobe make - You do need a few just not twenty!  Next week I will post some great down jacket choices - a must have for winter here in the North East.   Hope everyone stays safe and dry...

If I had to pick just one item of clothing/footwear that women should purchase this season for an instant fashion update , it would be a pair of ankle boots.  Ankle boots/booties have certainly been around for several seasons but suddenly they are everywhere and available in a variety of terrific, affordable options.  Why the renewed interested and how to pull it off? 

With every trend comes new challenges re: how to wear . The good news is that ankle boots can be worn with almost anything and will add an instant edge to your outfit that a pair of shoes just don't do.  
Try pairing with your favorite skinny jeans/pants - you can scrunch your pants to the top of the boot.  Or if you are looking for a more discreet way to wear - cover the boot with your pants.  For a clean line and to avoid that chopped at the ankle look, your pants should meet the top of the boot.  
For high style, wear booties in lieu of a high heel with tights and a skirt or dress. Keep the skirt length just a little above the knee - too short = tacky.   One more thing - be careful of the style of the boot when wearing with skirts/dresses.  Try to go with a style that cuts a little lower on your leg for a longer leaner result. Wearing tights as opposed to bare legs is also a lot more forgiving.  As with any trend, the most important thing to think about always is your body type and how something will look on you!  

Left to right:  Michael, Michael Kors - York High Heel - $195.00, Bloomingdales.  Gucci motorcycle boot -Gucci.com.  Via Spiga booties, Sophie lace up wedge $275.00, Bloomingdales.  Cole Haan - Suede Ankle Boot $228.00 Neiman Marcus.  Prada Distressed Leather Buckle Strap Boot, Neiman Marcus. 

As with anything fashion, there is a vast range of styles, price points, heel heights etc to consider when purchasing something new. Think about your lifestyle and budget ... High spiky heels are clearly not for running around town, and do you really need Gucci or Prada?  Thats your call, but know that there are many excellent choices for every budget out in the market this season!

 "I have a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear!" More often than not this seems to be a very common complaint I hear from many women. Even those women who don't like to shop, seem to end up with a lot of stuff that just doesn't seem to work for them.  Clothes that don't fit well, that don't suit our personalities or age, clothes acquired from well intentioned moms or sisters or friends...the closet freeloaders - you know who you are... are the culprit for all this confusion.  The end result being - you guessed it- a load of pieces that take up space, make no sense, and as a result never see the light of day.....  A few simple "rules" to correct this:
1. keep only the things you can fit into now- or within one dress size
2. keep the things you really wear, are in good condition, and still like- if you haven't worn something in a year or more get rid of it - unless its a classic Chanel - pass that one down to your daughter or a good friend.
3 when shopping, resist impluse buying- i.e.- just because something is a great deal doesn't mean you must buy it-  there will aways be another deal, sale, closeout, sample sale, etc. etc. .....

It makes more sense to sometimes spend  more on a quality piece that you love and can be worn many different ways for more than one occasion.  For example take the beautiful grey cashmere sweater by Ralph Lauren below-  Its definitely pricey, not an impluse purchase by a long shot -but very wearable, well made and versatile. See my combinations below-  Same piece 4 ways for 4 different occasions-
1- Charity event
2-Cocktails after work
3-Sunday brunch
4-B'nai Mitzvah Service/Kiddish

By making future purchases with careful thought as to how they will work in with your existing wardrobe, you will not only save space in your closet, but a lot of money as well.   Be very picky with fit, fabric and proportion.  It will save you from buying a bunch of things you don't need and don't look flattering. Added bonus- no more future massive clutter in your closet!  One gorgeous piece (aka-grey cashmere sweater)  might cost 6 times more than that pile of other pieces you might want to purchase because they were on sale for such a good price. BUT: Grey cashmere sweater will probably end up costing you less than the sale items once you realize how many, many times you will wear it- Don't misunderstand - I love a great deal too- But it's really important not to get seduced by the sale itself.  Even if something is free don't take it home if it doesn't flatter, fit and isn't perfect for you!

Be honest- how many black dresses, skirts, shirts, shoes etc. do you see when you open your closet door? If you are like me probably a lot!  Yet how many times when you are out shopping for something new do you end up with yet another black piece to add to your already overstocked sea of black items?  Here's the thing: "basic" black is  flattering, a wardrobe staple, and most importantly not hard to figure out how to wear. The flip side - it can be pretty boring. An easy way to add an instant upgrade to this sometimes drab and predicable color may seem pretty obvious but I'd like to explore it anyway - the black-and-white color combination.  Black when paired with white can be worn day or night and is seasonless and timeless.  It's no wonder why even with all of the rich vibrant colors in fashion every season, women seem to gravitate toward this simple but chic dressing palette - and like the basic black look it's almost impossible to screw up... The trick with this classic color combo is how not to look boring and predictable but fresh and innovative. 

 #1 - Accessories are key- With a minimalistic look such as this, mix in some nice chunky jewelry - gold tones or jewel tones look great.  Don't be afraid to go bold - wear a big bangle or two together or layer a few necklaces, just just not at the same time.  One bold statement piece, is eye-catching.  A handbag, a great pair of shoes or boots, a scarf in a beautiful color or print completes the look.
 #2 - Mix together textures, fabrics and patterns  - Luxe materials like leather, silk, lace and suede update and add major style to a simple black/white color palette. 

The black /white combo is incredibly versatile- just pay a little extra thought and attention to the details. The end result will be sleek and chic - You don't want to blend in and look like the wait staff!