Poncho Perfect

Chilly days (and nights) are among us. Say goodbye to our southern warmth and welcome winter with open arms. This season, the addition of a poncho (or 2, or 3) into your collection is a must! Originally a Native American outer garment, the poncho has evolved into a style essential. It protects for from fall's chill and keeps you cozy in winter.

When the chill of fall is not overwhelming, wear a tiny or thin poncho over your tank or light sweater paired with jeans and riding boots for additional warmth. Because the poncho is formfitting, keep the bottom portion of your attire more structured and fitted. A skinny jean, legging or ponte pant will work well.

When transitioning from fall to winter, you need outfits that are not too warm, yet are enough to keep you comfortable when the wind turns chilly. A longer poncho can achieve this! Choose a poncho that can be worn as a coat or heavy wrap-around dress. A belted poncho can quickly be worn open when it's mild or wrapped tightly around you when the wind requires. A longer poncho allows you to transition from pants to tights. This can create a dressier look. Pair with booties or keep with the higher boot.

As temperatures drop and winter months set in, make sure the fabric of your poncho is sufficiently warm. Go for thick wool and cashmere blends. Add a turtleneck sweater teamed with a fitted pant and over-the-knee boots.  Have fun with your poncho and mix materials. Leather or fur trim looks classy, yet fun for cool temperatures. The addition of fur is also sure to keep you cozy.

We are loving our selection of ponchos for every-day or happy hour!

LBD with a Twist

It has been a fashion staple and go-to for centuries. We think it's safe to say the LBD is put on heavy rotation. For brunch, with friends, office meetings, girls' nights out, or your hot date, the LBD can be transformed time and time again. While you can always play it safe in this "can't go wrong" look; why not amp up your typical LBD? It's true the frock is timeless, but step up your style and opt for a twist on  a classic.

A casual day of holiday shopping can call for a black shirtdress. Simply pair it with boot or tights and flats for a cool and preppy look. Add a shape by belting the dress and don't hesitate to add a bold earring or necklace if you feel the need for bling.

A black leather dress is the ultimate in sexy. Pair it with tights and a crystal or jeweled collar necklace for date night or an evening out on the town. Because the leather is dramatic, keep the rest of the attire low key. Keep with the black theme and go with your simple black pump.

A black sheath dress is always a favorite, but pick up a little bit of attitude by choosing a sheath with embellishments or texture. We are loving the use of tweed and a tweed sleeve is all you need for a modest, yet upscale look. If you crave sparkle, look for a sheath with the embellishment on the sleeve or around the neckline. Embellishments are festive without seeming overboard.

Metallics have been a trend for not only jewelry, but garments as well. Choose a LBD with a touch of metallic. This can be shimmery thread woven into the dress or a panel of silver. The use of a silver, gold or pewter will give the attire a dressier flare without having to go full on cocktail.

Play around with texture and fabrics. Incorporate lace, fringe, feathers or tulle. It doesn't have to be as dramatic as a feather skirt, but can be subtle such as a panel or cutout lined with tulle.

It's true that there is something to be said for a classic, but a little fashion update never hurt anyone. Play with fabrics, bring on the glitz and glam it up for the season in your remixed LBD!

Put on Your Party Pants

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Present wrapping, festive cookies, holiday parties! Spread good cheer with holiday and party attire that is just right! Don't be fooled that pants aren't considered dressy when it comes to party attire. Put on your party pants and get noticed this season!

We are loving the emergence of the textured pant! Fall in love with jacquard prints that add pattern. Embrace the power of print such as a damask. Combine your printed pant or crop with a deep hued top or blouse. Go festive in a shimmer pant. Don't limit yourself to the generic metallics (though also a great option) stand out in royal blue shimmer or a jeweled tone emerald for the season! Go glam in a sequin legging. These scream festive, so keep it simple on top. Opt for a simple blouse or solid blazer such as black, navy or winter white.It's no secret that leather is a hot topic as we transition into winter. Pull your fun and sparkling top out of the closet and pair it with leather pants. Another great option with the leather is a silk blouse tucked in or your faithful peplum sweater. Wax denim has been the rage for fall and it will take us straight into holiday season as well. We don't always consider denim holiday appropriate, but with the right top, jewels and accessories you will be a party princess. Let the denim serve as the most casual part of your outfit. Dress it up with a lace top and large sparkling earrings. This is your chance to add color with a bold suede pump in a hue such as red or a sequin flat.  

If you fret that your party pant is too casual, always dress it up with accessories! A gemstone necklace or dazzling drop earrings can add the extra "umph" you are looking for. A crystal clutch will catch anyone's eye or a shimmery pump exudes festive style!

Happy party hopping!

Fabric Blocking

Forget color blocking for fall; it's the stark contrast of various fabrics that have caught our eye! Fall 2013 collections are showcasing multi-patterned patchwork and fabric blocking creations, half and half fabric swatches like abstract leather panels on wool or silk sleeves on suede and tufts of fur make mixed media dressing a game changer this season.

Different fabrics add texture and a fun element to any article of clothing. It is a way to switch up from your typical monotone sweater and add dimension. Leather is a huge addition to garments this fall. Leather panels on pants, leather sleeves on a top or a leather pocket on a dress. Dress up your attire with silk. A silk bell sleeve or silk hemline is perfect for an evening out! The use of lace is elegant! A lace overlay or panel is sure to draw eyes your way. Stay cozy by adding suede! Mix and match any of these desirable fabrics with your everyday cotton, wool, or cashmere.Blocking these together make for an irresistible ensemble, plus steps up your fashion game!

We are swarming with fabric blocked pieces. Lots of leather, denim, silk and more! Whatever the occasion, we have day to evening looks in store now!

Power of Ponte

My word of advice for winter...purchase the ponte! The Ponte pant is stylish, yet comfortable and easy to dress up or down. Did I mention COMFORTABLE? It is the legging's slightly more sophisticated cousin. They are your answer to an alternative for the skinny jean or wearing leggings as pants. Think of them as a cross between a legging and skinny jean. They are made of ponte, which is a thick, double-knit fabric with two way stretch. We love the two way stretch because it is able to mold to your body shape, while also acting as shapewear.  This also enables the comfort factor!

Since they are a thicker fabric than the legging, they become appropriate for work or a dressy occasion and the thickness offers a little more support due to the nature of the fabric. Wear them as you would a skinny jean. Keep in mind that it is all about balance. The ponte pant is still a fitted pant, so they look great with a loose or more voluminous top. Think over-sized sweater or cardigan or a blouse that offers a little more length. These pants are travel perfection, as they fold easily into a suitcase without wrinkling! They can be your lazy Saturday pant with a cozy sweater, or hit the town with a dressy top and heels. We are loving the BB Dakota ponte in store with exposed zippers. We are also slightly obsessed with the ponte the has leather panels or opt for a colored ponte pant if you are looking past classic black. Try on the ponte pant in store and let us pair them with one of our ponchos, studded blouse, or leather front top. Fall in love this winter with the comfiest pant yet!

Leather Lust

The further into cooler months we get, the more lackadaisical we get with our wardrobe choices. It becomes simple to throw on jeans or leggings and run out the door. Looking for a way to dress things up? Look beyond the LBD! Love your leather this fall and embrace this edgy trend! Though it has become increasingly trendy over the past year, you might not realize that it has always been a key part to any stylish woman's closet: from shoes to bags to jackets, consider leather the pre-requisite to chic!

Look past your traditional leather pieces and incorporate this versatile material into your fall wardrobe. It's highly versatile and can be done in so many color and silhouettes, and it looks great paired with nearly every other fabric. If you dare to take on the leather trend in full force, opt for pieces such as a leather pencil skirt, pants, a cropped moto jacket, or the sultry leather dress! If you choose one of these major pieces, let that be all the statement leather within the ensemble. No need to pair leather boots or or a stack leather on leather. The exception is with smaller accessories such as a leather clutch or gloves. Don't let the material become overwhelming.

If you are hesitant to wear full-on leather, remember that it's all in the details. You can wear a piece that simply has leather detailing, such as a top with leather sleeves or a jacket piped in leather. We are seeing many combination pieces that incorporate your wearable cotton with leather accents. If you are worried that the leather is too edgy, soften it with light-weight fabrics such as a silk blouse. As always, you can accessorize in leather with a leather wrap bracelet, leather gloves, or even a leather headband to keep up with the trend. Love your leather this season and learn to rock it for fall and into winter!

Green with Envy

It's always fashion talk of what will be the IT color for the new season. Unlike texture or shape, there is a shade of every color for every person. Color is a surefire way to adopt relevant style with each and every change of the fashion guard. Green is officially a thing for fall 2013. From emerald to army, there's a shade for every skin tone, hair color, and personal style. Leading the pack is the deep lichen green. (think between army and khaki). This hue topped the women's list and finished third on the men's side for fall color trends. It's not exactly a shocker of a fall color, it turned up in the more unusual hues of emerald and linden. Green is a big one for Fall, 2013 in a variety of ways, in a variety of hues. From dresses, outwear and tops to pantsuits and gloves, you can't go wrong picking something up in the color infamously associated with envy.

Choose emerald, or go for a deeper hue, but it pairs well with many skin and hair colors. Opt for a green dress, paired with black tights and booties. Saunter into the office in deep green pants, paired with a simple white blouse or lighter color. Black and green are always a trusty combination. When in doubt, pair black or white. Use the black articles in your closet to pair with the newest tone for fall. A green pencil skirt or even dark green denim are all options. Fall style doesn't have to be dark and dreary. Add color with a cobalt blue necklace or earring. Another piece we are swooning over is the green blazer. Easily thrown on over jeans and a blouse or over your LBD for evening. Polish the look by adding a bold red lip! You are sure to turn heads in fall's latest and greatest color!