LE CATCH

I love an outfit that's refined but contrived. Stylish without trying too hard. The one above is all these things. Recreate this look (almost) with:
1. Coat
2. Jeans
3. Sweater
4. Ankle boots
5: Boxy tote bag

Photo: Look de Pernille

On Saturday I got reacquainted with a sometimes overlooked wardrobe staple: the white silk blouse. I pulled my newest one out (it's by Bonmot) and teamed it with a pair of jeans and Chanel flats and felt suited to go pretty much anywhere in LA, which that day included lunch at the recently opened LYFE Kitchen (where chef Art Smith churns out creatively healthy, super yummy dishes) followed by a movie (Twelve Years a Slave--compelling but emotionally devastating). As the pics above and below suggest, the white silk blouse should indeed not be forgotten, and I found a few eternally stylish ones including this Theory, this Vince, and this Equipment.

Photos: Pinterest, Harpers Bazaar

$169, warehouse

This go-with-everything blue tweed coat has an ingenious detachable bottom panel. Zip it off and you have a classic spring-ready biker jacket!

1. MiH Jeans waffle sweater, $225, netaporter.com
2. Warehouse convertible tweed coat, $168, warehouse.andotherbrands.com
3. Current/Elliott distressed jeans, $228, revolveclothing.com
4. Rebecca Minkoff back stud earrings, $58, shopbop.com
5. Oasis bag, $51, asos.com
6. Gianvito Rossi suede pumps, $620, netaporter.com

I've long been a fan of LA-based designer Jenni Kayne who's known for her gorgeously clean, elegant sensibility--think silk button-down shirts, tapered, pleat-front pants and lightly-structured blazers and well as her sleek (and all the rage!) d'orsay flats. So when Jenni asked to shoot me/my house for her popular lifestyle website Rip + Tan, I was flattered--and a little intimidated too, since her home as well as her boutiques pretty much qualify as masterworks on both the architectural and decor fronts. We finally made it happen though (after a bit of sprucing up on my part!), and you can see the pics and and interview with me here!

Photo: Coliena Rentmeester

$138, french connection

A little laser-cut lace underlay makes this black jumper evening-ready.

1. French Connection sweater, $138, frenchconnection.com
2. Jacquie Aiche ruby ear cuff, $1650, shopbop.com
3. Henri Bendel spike stack rings, $88, henribendel.com
4. Comme des Garcons metallic patchwork pouch, $243, forwardbyelysewalker.com
5. Brian Atwood sandal, $350, shopbop.com
6. Clu silk tapered pants, $225, netaporter.com

I love an oversize scarf that also works as a shawl. Especially right this freezing minute! (The one featured above is from Zara, last fall.) Some cozy options to curl up in: this super cute blanket stripe maxi scarf from Urban Outfitters, this tasseled chunky knit from Asos, and this basic black wrap from Guess.

Photo: Mango and Salt

$247, the outnet

This is the kind of go-to, fail-safe, forever-chic dress I'd like to have in my wardrobe. It's also 55% off.

1. Tibi matelasse satin dress, $247, theoutnet.com
2. Givenchy shark earring, $470, netaporter.com
3. Givenchy shark tooth bracelet, $580, netaporter.com
4. David Galan wristlet, $328, shopbop.com
5. Vince Camuto bootie, $128, nordstrom.com

Over the holidays, my family and I headed back to the powdery slopes of Aspen and Vail. This trip to the Rockies definitely amped up my newbie confidence and aptitude, which is to say I can almost keep up with my sons, though my 4-year-old did manage to beat me in an official slalom race (truth be told, I performed so terribly I missed a gate and got disqualified!). Those heart-thumping, white-knuckled jaunts through steeper terrain were padded by numerous hot chocolate breaks, yummy lunches at lodges perched high atop the mountains, and an apres-ski glass of red wine at the bottom. Herewith, more of my Rocky Mountain-high moments.

We were blessed with mostly good weather throughout our trip--cobalt blue skies, lots of sunshine and temps in the low 30s with an occasional night of snow as well. All of which made the snowy scenery even more sublime.

The runs in Aspen were so beautiful I had to stop mid-action to take pictures, which drove my speed demon ski mates (i.e., my kiddos!) a little crazy.

We celebrated New Years Eve in Aspen with friends and children by watching fireworks, drinking champagne, indulging in mounds of caviar, and sporting some cool new eyewear. Fun!

On New Years Day we arrived in Vail, where a snowstorm had just dumped several inches of powder. The excellent conditions emboldened my first foray to the back bowls, which had an other worldly feeling to it.

Venturing into new steeper territory meant higher chair lifts, some of which afforded the most amazing views. A part of me, namely my quadriceps, wanted to tour Vail via chair lift rather than my own two skis.

In Vail, we lunched every day at a friend's club, above, which, in order to get to, required skiing some steep runs or hiking up to with your skis (one could take a snow cat, but my adrenalin-seeking co-skiers would not even consider it an option!). Once there, you are greeted with a cup of hot mulled wine and slippers to change into. That mulled wine was like my carrot on a stick--the idea of it lubricated my engine and courage!

At 8,150 feet above sea level, I pretty much forsook most of LE CATCH's style tenets to stave off hypothermia. In Aspen, I borrowed a friend's US Ski Team puffy jacket, which, sadly, did not have the effect of making me look more like an expert, as my skills screamed intermediate skier! In Vail, I borrowed another friend's light blue puffer, which made me look less US Ski Team, more Apollo Mission.

However, off the slopes and even with ski pants on, I tried my best to make a style statement. A classic black cashmere turtleneck and lush fur trapper hat like this helped a bit!

$149, club monaco

A contrasting black trim and a zipper slit add the perfect amount of edge to this all-season skirt.

1. T by Alexander Wang striped t-shirt, $140, netaporter.com
2. Warehouse coat, $113, warehouse.andotherbrands.com
3. Club Monaco zipper skirt, $149, clubmonaco.com
4. Kenzo bag, $685, modaoperandi.com
5. Alexander Wang sandals, $222, neimanmarcus.com
6. Giorgio Armani Lip Maestro Matte Lacquer in Attitude, $32, nordstrom.com

With arctic air in the air--and the country's average temperature hovering around 14.4 degrees today!--I, like most people, have coats on my mind. Specifically on the statement-making, mood-lifting kind. Ones that say, "Bring on the elements!" Take for example: Club Monaco's graphic stripe topper with leather pockets, above. (This is the kind of outerwear I would not want to take off!) Also super cute: this checked biker Warehouse coat, this marbled calfhair Club Monaco coat, this sleek leather-sleeved Mackage coat (30% off), and this Isabel Marant Etoile double-breasted pea coat (60% off), and this Adam Lippes fur-trimmed convertible wool coat (80% off!).