LE CATCH

$110, j.crew

"Silk sweatshirt" seems borderline oxymoronic--but it's brilliantly wearable. I love it in grey too.

1. J.Crew silk sweatshirt, $110, jcrew.com
2. Bauble Bar crystal earrings, $34, baublebar.com
3. Alice & Olivia zebra bag, $225, shopbop.com
4. Alexandre Birman sandals*, $595, shopbop or here
5. McQ Alexander McQueen skirt, $435, netaporter.com

*I was recently gifted these high heels, and I adore them!

When we bought our house six years ago, I was daunted by the task of decorating it. First, I had to wrap my head around shopping for furniture, which is so unlike buying a pair of ankle boots or a cocktail dress, because you have to commit to these things for years, if not decades. You're surrounded by these choices each and every day, and making the wrong decision terrified me. But the more I spruced up my house, the more I enjoyed the decorating/shopping process. Plus, it helped to have some great hand-me-downs to work with, such as the bureau above, given to me by my mother. Still, six years later, I have yet to complete the task. I find I go through spurts of nesting--weeks when I all I think about are paint, new rugs and throw pillows, followed by weeks when I can't be bothered to change a light bulb! Last week the impulse to refresh my house took hold. I'm now laser-focused on a stairway that could use an amazing new runner. Windows that need fantastic (black-out) shades. A sofa that will look so much more inviting with another vibrant pillow. Fortunately, the lacking sofa will be an easy fix, thanks to fabric designer (and childhood friend!) Lulu DeKwiatkowski's new home decor site Lulu DK. But my walk-in closet? That's another story. It needs a lot of help! Small improvements have begun, however, with the help of two Moroccan-inspired West Elm rugs, which have made things much cozier. The finished makeover includes a new paint job (I'm thinking high-gloss red!), light fixtures (perhaps brass pendants?), felt hangers (all my friends swear by these), and some serious weeding out of things I no longer wear! This might take 2+ spurts of my nesting mode!

$68, nordstrom

Yes, this French Connection carry-all is derivative of a certain Celine bag, but it is excellent in its own right: the zipper trifecta, the color blocking, the cross-body ease factor. Oh, and the girls over at Vogue are smitten with it, too.

1. Tibi crepe blouse, $115, theoutnet.com
2. Lauren Wolf pearl earrings, $132, shopbop.com
3. Warehouse check coat, $214, warehouse.andotherbrands.com
4. Henri Bendel watch, $178, henribendel.com
5. Paige jeans, $189, netaporter.com
6. French Connection bag, $68, nordstrom.com
7. Pour La Victoire boots, $352, shopbop.com

My kids, who basically run around in short sleeves all year round, seem impervious to cold. Me? Not so much. I am one of those people who always run... freezing, even on a 70-degree day! So this winter's fuzzy sweater trend is right up my alley. It's like wearing a cozy, heat-trapping blanket around all day long, one rendered in tactile cashmere, shearling, angora, mohair or even faux fur. Sweaters like this Dorothy Perkins, this Topshop (or this fluffy one!) and this Sophie Hulme will keep me extra warm without adding major heft. I also love that I could wear this Thakoon or this Alexander Wang in lieu of a jacket--as a plush stand-alone statement.

Photos: Collage Vintage, Pinterest

$138, all saints

This is a seriously cute fix for those challenging run-out-the-door days. BTW: how good is that chain-link detailing?

1. All Saints chain-link tank top, $175, allsaints.com
2. M Missoni tweed jacket, $1095, netaporter.com
3. Topshop bracelet, $60, topshop.com
4. Madewell satchel, $168, madewell.com
5. Vince calf-hair flats, $295, shopbop.com
6. Stella McCartney twill pants, $620, netaporter.com

$320, topshop

My husband is watching NBA re-runs from the '90s--and I am daydreaming about wearing this dress out to dinner with him somewhere.

She must be French, this woman. Because who else could make black high-top Converse sneakers look so incredibly chic? Dare I say, I am tempted to try!

Photo: Pinterest

$195, shopbop

Isabel Marant's lace-trimmed Spring 2014 collection has given me a serious case of lace fever, and this top offers some immediate relief. (P.S. You can pre-order the Spring 2014 collection at Moda Operandi here through the end of the week!)

1. Maison Scotch lace top, $195, shopbop.com
2. Mango leopard print coat, $189, mango.com
3. Anthropologie woven clutch, $48, anthropologie.com
4. Paul Andrew suede pumps, $965, shopbop.com
5. Frame Denim jeans, $200, netaporter.com

The last time I wore a slip dress (over a cap-sleeve t-shirt) was on my first day of work as an editorial assistant at Seventeen Magazine in the '90s. But, they are back, and styled right they are quite compelling, as photographer and blogger Hanneli Mustaparta, above, demonstrates in her slinky floral slip by Louis Vuitton. Come Spring 2014, designers like Altuzarra, Rag & Bone and Vera Wang will offer a variety of wearable options, and if you have the body to pull one off, I say why not. That being said, I'd insist on some type of cover up--a leather biker jacket, a chunky cardigan--so you don't look, er, indecent. As for the dresses, Zara has a seductive one that could be test driven at little cost. I also like these more demure options from Jenni Kayne, Topshop and Flynn Skye.

Photo: Collage Vintage

$398, shopbop

The other day a good friend of mine asked me where she could find that singular black sandal that goes with everything. The answer is this mesh Diane Von Furstenberg heel.

1. Christopher Kane velvet dress, $3081, kirnazabete.com
2. Mango leather jacket, $359, mango.com
3. River Island embellished bag, $59, asos.com
4. Diane Von Furstenberg mesh sandal, $398, shopbop.com