There are some great things going on at the Elie Tahari private sale today…loads of wardrobe staples marked a healthy 40% off. So, what’s in my cart right now?

I’m so glad you asked!

Friends, I am seriously in need of pants. I went a little skirt-crazy over the summer, and I’m getting tired of denim every.single.day. A pair of classic straight black pants is never out of style, and I love the slim-but-not-skinny cut on these. And for a bit of fun (and a break from all that red denim), I love this pair in royal blue.

I’m always a sucker for tweed…nothing new there. And I do especially love the jacket/cardigan hybrid as a rule. So, while I need it least of all, this grey and gold tweed cardi is probably my favorite. (Also love the contrasting sleeves, another huge fall trend). And speaking of tweed, I’m pretty obsessed with this dress (though my dress needs are more than met for the year). It feels like one part Proenza Schouler, one part Chanel, and ten parts Elie Tahari – he’s just that good. If I still worked in an office, I’d snap this up in two seconds.

Best of all, not one thing I picked here is over $300…and most (all but the dress, really) are well under the $200 mark. According to their email, the sale is private for today only…so snap up your favorite pieces before anyone else does!

Anything catch your eye?

Have you seen all of the goodness going on at CARDIGAN this fall?

Sigh…I’m pretty sure it’s love. But, truthfully, I’ve always been smitten. Designer Lynne Hiriak has a way with creating the most covetable, classic cardis and striped sweaters – her styles have become a staple in my closet. But this season seems especially wonderful – all of those cozy, chunky knits and bold colors have me ready to curl up by a fire with a hot cup of cider.

While I’d happily snatch up absolutely anything from this collection, a couple of favorites may have made their way to my closet recently. This pretty polka dot Stella crew ($198) is the perfect step forward now that I’m feeling a bit stripe-weary. Wearing it feels just like pulling on your favorite menswear sweater – thick, warm and comfy – but this packs an infinitely superior style punch. Wearing it with jeans and a tee (you’ll want to layer, since it’s wool) is a no-brainer, but I love the idea of taking this up a notch with some warm fall colors.

Paired with: Rachel Comey Mars boot, $385; Rag & Bone Malin pant, $290; Old Navy chambray shirt, $29;
Botkier Brinks shoulder bag (again, I know- it’s just so good!), $425

As is always the case with this brand, the cardigans steal the show. I’ve gotten a compliment (or three) literally every time I’ve left the house in this beautiful Daphne cardigan ($298) – the fair isle knit is so perfect for cold weather, and oh, is it warm! I’ve paired it with everything from summery silk dresses to an all-denim look (it works, I swear!) with my Frye Engineer boots. Since casual is a cinch with a piece this classic, I thought I’d show you how to dress it up a bit.

Paired with: Linea Pelle clutch, $195; Oasis leather skirt, $160 (loving the leather skirts this season!);
Proenza Schouler silk tee, $187; Scout & Catalogue scarf, $118; Frye Naiya platform moc, $173.

You’re feeling warmer already, right? One little tip: these are built for a very oversized look, so if (like me) that doesn’t work for you, you’ll want to size down. (Always a nice ego boost as well, right?)

Do yourself a favor and peruse CARDIGAN’s fall lookbook…if nothing else, the pictures are transportingly lovely, and it will give you oh-so-many styling ideas for the season.

Mostly, though, it’ll make you crave sweaters. Lots and lots of sweaters.

Friends, I have two very exciting things to say to you.

First, drumroll please…it’s Friends & Family time at Shopbop!

And if that isn’t enough excitement…it’s also Friends & Family time at Saks! (Granted, there’s a monster list of brand exclusions, but it’s still a steal unless you’re in the market for Prada or Hermes.)

I hardly know where to start with all the fantasy shopping I’m conducting in my head right now. But a few pieces that may well make their way onto my credit card:

From Shopbop: Yarnz Chic scarf, $130; LNA knit pencil skirt, $95; Elizabeth & James booties, $350.

From Saks: Vince sweater coat, $395; Burberry shearling jacket, $1,195; Michael Kors cropped tweed jacket, $195.

I know, I know. The Burberry jacket is a long shot. But hey, a girl’s got to have dreams!

What’s on your shopping list? Whether it’s fantasy or reality, I’m dying to know!

Happy Friday, everyone…what a week it’s been! I’ve hardly had time to breathe, let alone blog, but that hasn’t stopped me from amassing quite a list of Friday Finds. Even when I’m swimming in things to do, I always manage to find time to covet.

First, I’ve found a new love: BeautyAddicts’ “Double Deception” concealer. The right half is lighter and creamier, so it’s perfect for under the eyes, and the left side works wonders for the rest of your face. It’s all very Alice in Wonderland/magic caterpillar mushroom, but the results are flawless.

I’m obsessing a little over wanting a new pair of ankle boots for the fall. While I’m terrified of light-colored suede for a number of reasons (rain in Portland + denim = blue stripes all over my boots. Not cool.), these are calling to me. And, at $120, I can actually afford to listen.

Have you seen the latest goodies at J.Crew? I’m obsessed with a couple of things: specifically, this tweed jacket and that sequined top. Truthfully, I dream of being able to pull off sequins for day, and I’m thinking if ever there was a reasonable candidate, it’s this one.

And speaking of glitz and glam, I am fascinated by this ring. I can’t exactly figure out how it would look on, but how wrong could it be? I’m smitten.

Even though I’m mad as hell at Target over my whole Missoni debacle, I have to show you this Sonia Kashuk brush set. The brushes are great, the metallic tweed clutch is adorable (and actually cute enough to be carried as a clutch), and the whole thing is $25. I’d have bought the clutch alone for that price, so consider the brushes a highly useful bonus.

Have a wonderful weekend, friends. I’m hoping to spend a couple of hours with my husband and George Clooney…and I’ll see you back here next week!

I have this problem in which as soon as I buy a piece from a new designer, I become obsessed, and can’t get enough of any of their designs….for at least a few weeks.

Such is the case with Rag & Bone. While I was in San Francisco, I nabbed myself one of their delicious nubby tweed cardigans (this one, in fact, though it’s now half off!), which I can hardly wait to wear all winter long. Not two days later, Shopbop released their fall Rag & Bone lookbook, and it was official: I’m hooked.

I’ll take pretty much every jacket in this story, the skinny cobalt pants, and the leather skirt for good measure. It’s the first I’ve seen that manages to look sophisticated without being dowdy. Fortunately, the price points, while a bit splurge-y, aren’t prohibitively so. You could absolutely treat yourself to a piece or two from their fall collection without an ounce of guilt.

Check out the full Fall Rag & Bone collection at Shopbop, and let me know what’s on your fantasy wishlist!

Every year, I (try to) splurge on a beautiful new coat for fall. After all, no one sees the vast majority of my outfit for at least six months of the year in this rainy climate, as it’s covered up by some sort of outerwear. So, I think I’m entitled to a few fantastic choices. Right? Whatever I choose has to be be fun (yes, coats should definitely be fun!), luxe and always make me feel gorgeous…it’s the least I deserve in the midst of all this rain. This season, I’m set on red, and there are a few options I’m swooning for.

DVF Mikhaila coat (previously blogged, but I can’t get enough!), $745

Reiss 40th Anniversary Lilac coat, $935.

J.Crew Symphony coat, $350.

Then again, I could switch the whole thing up and go pink. I know, red is a statement and all that, but I have to tell you – I once owned a pink coat, and I never received as many compliments on anything I owned than I did on that coat. (Which was, incidentally, picked out by the hubs…a fact he loves to point out).

J.Crew Majesty peacoat, $245.

Smythe Mini coat, $895

Or I could ditch the trend and go with a color I’ve been loving for years. This bright kelly green would be the perfect antidote to grey rainy days, and I know from experience that it’s more neutral than it appears at first glance.

DVF Harrington wrap coat, $695

As evidenced by the lovely Leighton Meester…

What coats are you craving this season?

Wow, that was a seriously alliterative title. I’m skipping the usual Friday Finds extravaganza this week, because there are so many fantastic sales going on around the web this weekend, I thought you might rather hear about those. I know you all love a good bargain just as much as I do!

First up, nab this cute little Joie crossbody bag free with any $250 purchase at Saks – just use code WCONTEMP2 (you’ll also get free shipping on $200+ with code SFASHIP). Ordinarily, I’m not much for free gifts, as they never live up to the hype. But even though this one’s free (and faux suede), I actually love it, from the chain strap all the way down to the tassel detail on the closure.

Lots of Friends & Family love going on this weekend. Get 20% off all purchases with code FALLFRIENDS11 at Bloomingdale’s this weekend, plus free shipping (no code required)! It may be time to splurge on that DVF Mikhaila coat I’ve been eyeing all season…or maybe the Harrington vest. {It’s worth noting that Nordstrom will usually match this deal, especially if they carry the same item.}

And more Friends & Family excitement at Endless (thanks for the tip, M!) – again, take 20% off storewide (with the usual exceptions) through the weekend with code SEPEVENT. I’m thinking it’s an excellent excuse to get a little more Loeffler Randall in your life.

Remember when I told you about Matches Fashion a few weeks ago, but lamented their pricey US shipping? Well, today only, free worldwide shipping at Matches with code WWFREE. Some pieces are a little pricier than they would be stateside (damn conversion rates), but some are a steal…like this orange herringbone coat from Weekend MaxMara, which I’m pretty sure would be about $300 higher here.

Quite a weekend for indulging your inner compulsive shopper, no? Any other deals you know about? Share them in the comments, won’t you? Just think of it as retail karma.

I’m craving a great dress this fall. Something I can dress up or down, that will look amazing solo but has enough versatility to be styled a dozen different ways. I hadn’t seen anything that really fit the bill…until I spotted the Brijitte from Milly’s fall collection.

Yes, that’s exactly what I had in mind. The big, bold print is strong enough to stand on its own (just leave that neckline open a bit, so there’s some skin to break up the pattern), but will be easy to mix into all sorts of styling options. And I’m so grateful to finally see a dress I love with a knee-length hem.

For work, styling is simple. Loosen up the neckline, and pair it with a classic blazer with a perfectly nipped-in waist – something in black, navy, even chocolate brown is easy, but I’m feeling tweed for this look too. Keep the leg bare, or add an opaque tight and a great jewel-toned pump (suede if you have it). If you have a less conservative office, a heeled bootie would be amazing too. You don’t need much jewelry with the neck tie on this dress, but a classic gold hoop would be a perfect pairing.

But then, of course, there’s the weekend…and the thing I love about this dress is its 24/7 appeal. Ditch the blazer and add a long cardigan or vest – oh how I love this herringbone vest from Elizabeth & James. You could even funk it up with one of the fur vests you’re seeing everywhere (I know, I know…but trust me – but the fur vests aren’t as scary once you try them on). Keep the ankle booties or try a riding boot* for a bolder choice. Push up the sleeves, add a long pendant necklace in gold (I’m thinking of that pretty chevron locket from Acanthus) or something bolder (perhaps from that amazing Elva Fields), and you’re ready for just about anything.

*Speaking of beautiful riding boots, I have to take a moment to tell you about these. I’ve been wearing those very boots, the Frye Amelia in cognac, nonstop. I cannot get over how much I adore them. The fit is perfect (size down a half size), the color is so striking, and they’re ridiculously comfortable. Best new boot this season, if you ask me.

How would you style this beautiful dress?

Happy Friday, friends – I have so much to show you for this week’s Friday Finds! Apparently, I’m having one of those weeks in which I’m all about pattern. There are worse things.

I may be the world’s only naysayer on the maxiskirt/dress trend, but I just don’t get it. Or, I didn’t…until I tried on this silk version at Madewell on my SF trip last week. It is un-be-lievable in person – the holy grail of maxi skirts. Sadly, floor-length silk felt a little impractical for rainy Portland, but if you’re in a more temperate climate, nab this the second it goes on sale.

Speaking of silk (well, polyester in this case), while I had high hopes for the Karl Lagerfeld for Macy’s collaboration, I only managed to find one thing in the entire collection that I liked: this delicate zigzag blouse. Those high collars are no good on me, but if you don’t have that problem, this is lovely, and a perfect layering piece for fall.

There’s so much Vogue love in the book world this fall…I hardly know which way to turn. But I’m a sucker for a coffee table book with both substance and style, making Nostalgia in Vogue (available in Oct) and Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel (covering her years at both Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar) my picks. Nostalgia in Vogue is a collection of the best Nostalgia columns from the magazine’s history – always a favorite series of mine – paired with some stunningly memorable photo shoots. And if you’re a Vreeland fan, the latter is simply a must – so many fantastical, avante garde photo shoots are reproduced and paired with her inimitable outlook on style.

My sweet friends over at Hammocks & High Tea just launched a few new patterns, all of which are utterly delicious, as Martyn Lawrence Bullard would say. (It’s possible I’m watching too much Bravo these days…) But then there’s also the matter of their new scarves…and, as you’d expect, the combination of supersoft silk and bright color is making me very, very happy.

I’ve been obsessing about these LL Bean Signature trousers since I first saw their fall linesheet over the summer. So far, best trouser of the season if you ask me. Now that the weather’s (almost) cooperating, I’m dying to rock these with a chunky sweater or my Vince moto jacket.

And, last, with all that practicality, we need a bit of fantasy to start the weekend, don’t you think? All of the gorgeous enameled azure and gold in Tiffany’s new Picasso Venezia collection is making me positively giddy. It’s like Van Gogh meets the Medicis…bright, opulent, and definitely a showstopper.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone…see you back here next week!

It’s been a considerable amount of time since I really fell hard for a Marc by Marc Jacobs collection. In years past, the collection has become a bit too juvenile for my taste – though I love the aesthetic, it’s time to admit that I’m no longer 19.

But this fall’s collection is just a touch more grown-up, a bit more refined, and I’m smitten.

The genius of the whole collection, in addition to being adorable, is that it’s incredibly cohesive. Each and every one of those pieces could be mixed-and-matched to dazzling effect – the warm caramels with the vivid emerald green and a hint of tomato red to keep the whole thing from being too serious. In a perfect world, the entire collection would be mine…but if nothing else, those two bags and maybe the color-blocked cardigan definitely deserve a prime spot in my closet.

Check out the entire runway collection here, or skip the middle man and shop it right here.