LE CATCH

Looking into my own fashion crystal ball, I see lots of fair isle sweaters and jeans ahead of me this winter. Check out these pics--along with these statement-y but everyday-practical options from BP, J.Crew, Land's End , Milly, and Kule--and you'll see very clearly why.

$22, forever 21

Thanks to LA's recent warm (er, hot!) weather, I've got cute, short dresses on my mind--specifically ones like this that will work fantastically well on tropical winter getaways, too!

1. Forever 21 dress, $22, forever21.com
2. J.Crew straw fedora hat, $58, toryburch.com
3. Ray-Ban thick cat-eye sunglasses, $144, jcrew.com
4. Tory Burch straw tote bag, $250, toryburch.com
5. Giuseppe Zanotti lace-up sandals, $750, nordstrom.com

It's still all about layering your jewelry, but for a fresh, right-now look, try doing it with delicate, understated jewelry rather than big, chunky baubles. As of late, I've pared things down to simply this Jacquie Aiche ear cuff and this Lena Wald inverted diamond stud, both of which have garnered a zillion compliments. (I love the un-matchy-matchy-ness of this look.) As far as the arm and hand party go, I'm gravitating toward a stack of thin bracelets, nothing too expensive, such as this one or this one, along with a few dainty rings, like this diamond and rose-gold plated Monica Vinader and this Maria Black to make a mega-sophisticated statement. (P.S.The chain finger bracelet, above, is by Jacquie Aiche and you can find a very similar one here.)

$110, j.crew

This all-season striped blouse can be teamed with the most disparate things, from leather leggings to denim cut-offs.

1. J.Crew embroidered stripe blouse, $110, jcrew.com
2. Whistles sheepskin-lined parka, $745, whistles.co.uk
3. J.Crew leather leggings, $750, jcrew.com
4. Burberry Prorsum bag, $2995, netaporter.com
5. Vince slip-on sneakers, $225, shopbop.com

Many summers ago I bought a beautiful knit poncho in Ireland (of all places!). That I stumbled upon it in some random, very un-fashiony store in Dublin made it even more fantastic. I wore it pretty much the entire time I was in Ireland, as it was chilly and overcast. But then somehow I got back to LA and--poof!--it disappeared. Lost in the shuffle. Gone. Now, the sting of losing it is once again re-surfacing, because I keep seeing glamorous ponchos everywhere. On Alexis Traina. On Clare Vivier. (Both are wearing Figue.) On Spanish blogger Alexandra Pereira, above, whose cozy version is by Bgo & Me and which sadly comes with a 45 Euro shipping fee! Then I spotted several options at Nordstrom, some of them 40% off, including this one, this one and this one. (P.S. Nordstrom is staging its bonkers half-yearly sale right now!) These graphic cardigan-like iterations from BB Dakota, Free People, Anthropologie, and She Inside are also seriously tempting.

Photo: Lovely Pepa

Yo, peeps! Read about my favorite places in LA to swill cocktails, Sunday brunch, and dance the night away--all on The Tory Blog here.

$62, asos

I knew I was on to something special the other day when I zeroed in on this party-perfect sequin skirt--and apparently so were others as it sold out before I got to publish this post on LE CATCH! Le sigh... The good news is that this skirt also comes in a pretty green hue, which I think might even be better. I actually just ordered it!

1. Gucci cashmere turtleneck sweater, $2000, netaporter.com
2. Henri Bendel stud earrings, $88, henribendel.com
3. Coralia Leets mother-of-pearl heart ring, $218, henribendel.com
4. MAC Retro Matte lipstick in Flat Out Fabulous, $15, nordstrom.com
5. Lee Savage clutch, $2550, modaoperandi.com
6. Zara furry leather ankle boots, $129, zara.com
7. River Island sequin skirt, $62, asos.com

As long as we're on the subject of statement coats (see last post on leopard-print outerwear), let's talk colorful furs. I am an ardent fan of the faux variety, and the more print-happy, over-the-top, the better. I would love to swagger around in one of these decadent jackets by Unreal Fur, River Island, and Maison Scotch. I am also deeply obsessed with this Asos faux fur stripe scarf for days when I want a kaleidoscope-color jolt with my everyday winter coat.

$36, old navy

With leopard print coats wildly trendy this winter, this Old Navy is so spot-on right.

1. Warehouse cashmere sweater, $178, warehouse.andotherbrands.com
2. Old Navy leopard print coat*, $36, oldnavy.com
3. Paige jeans, $260, netaporter.com
4. Givenchy Medium Pandora bag, $1965, forwardbyelysewalker.com
5. Sarah Magid bracelet, $690, shopbop.com
6. Topshop ankle-strap pumps, $110, topshop.com

*Use code ONSAVENOW to get this price (50% off) today only.

At a party the other night, held outside in a friend's backyard, I found myself trying to balance on the balls of my feet to keep my stiletto heels from sinking into the grass--or what felt like quick sand! Then a good friend of mine appeared and proudly announced that she had bought an inexpensive pair of shoes to wear, knowing that her heels would be submerged most of the night. Ah, good thinking! Next time I will be prepared, whether it's for a squishy lawn or (literally) running to a meeting in the rain--and I am thinking these Nine West pumps are the ticket. Clearly, these are no ordinary black pumps. The scalloped edging lends a punk twist and you can't deny the sexiness of the d'orsay silhouette. Oh, and they're $89.