LE CATCH

$99, mango

This faux fur bag is wildy statement-y but great for everyday. It's also so soft you might want to pet it all day long.

1. J.Crew elbow patch sweater, $98, jcrew.com
2.Sheriff & Cherry mirrored sunglasses, $145, shopbop.com
3. Noir Jewelry ring, $65, shopbop.com
4. Mango faux fur bag, $99, mango.com
5. Christian Louboutin patent leather pumps, $625, netaporter.com
6. Tory Burch tweed pants, $325, netaporter.com

The fall chill may be in the air, but evidently, it's not yet time to put away our summer rompers. With a sharp grey flannel blazer and a wool fedora, this woman fall-proofs her sleeveless black playsuit. The effect is both clever and chic, chic, chic. Hats like this and this can pull off the same trick. And as for blazers, check out this 3.1 Phillip Lim and this Gucci for endless winter wearing.

Photo: WWD

My family and I recently snuck in a quick two-day getaway to Santa Barbara. It's a place we go to often as it's close to where we live and yet it feels like we're worlds away. It's also where my husband can surf some of the best breaks California has to offer. Most of our time there is spent on the beach, as my husband's surfing addiction demands close proximity to the waves from morning till night. Which means I pack my beach bag more like a survival kit and stock it with everything from a sun-protective rash guard for paddle boarding (mine is by Parasol, a stylish line of SPF clothing designed by former Vogue editor Alexandra Kotur) to an extra large beach blanket (like this chic one by Chance), which can accommodate my entire brood, to extra bathing suits (The Outnet has a lot of cute ones on sale right now, such as this Marni bikini). I also pack a cozy, warm sweater like this to wear when the sun goes down, a ski jacket (this is not overkill--it gets seriously cold and windy post-sunset!), workout clothes for when the mood strikes, crazy amounts of food and refreshments, and some good reading material (Beautiful Ruins, Crazy Rich Asians, The Marriage Plot). Read on for trip highlights...

We kept busy on the beach, building forts made from driftwood, boogie boarding the sand dunes, and burying each other, in this case, my youngest son.

This is the entrance to the beautiful house we rented. It was perched way up high on a mountain in what my husband calls the back country (perhaps because it's 2.3 miles away from the ocean!) It had a ping pong table in the garage, which allowed me to resurrect my childhood skills and beat all of my competitive opponents (i.e., my husband, and four and seven year-olds). We also played musical beds. My kids have a knack for evicting my husband and I out of bed in the middle of the night and into their twin cots whenever we go on vacation!

I definitely felt like we were in the back country on Sunday morning, when about a dozen vultures circled above us as we ate our breakfast on the porch. I managed to capture a picture of one, as we braved a brief hike outside our house. I seriously felt like we were in the movie Birds!

We met up with some friends on the beach and ended up barbecuing and pool partying. Evidently for the kids, it was an all-out rager!

We got treated to this pastel-perfect Santa Barbara sunset before driving (bumper-to-bumper) back to reality on Sunday night. I am already looking forward to our next trip!

$210, monsoon

Happiness is wearing this candy-hued sequin jacket. Especially on a Monday.

1. Topshop fluffy t-shirt, $48, topshop.com
2. Monsoon sequin jacket, $210, monsoon.co.uk
3. Carven suede bag, $1090, shopbop.com
4. Vans slip-on sneakers, $47, madewell.com
5. J Brand pants, $213, netaporter.com

Season after season, Isabel Marant defines what I want to wear: feminine, laid-back yet cool clothing--with a bit of Parisian je ne sais quois thrown in! She hit another home run with her Spring 2014 collection, which debuted today in Paris. Ergo, it's now clear that my spring wardrobe will not be complete without a ruffle (or 10!), cut-out ankle booties, short white lace dresses and slouchy black blazers. Check out my favorite looks from the show--plus some ways to get in on these soon-to-be-highly-coveted silhouettes now with this, this, this and this.

Photos: Style.com

$249, asos

This genius, multi-textured biker coat can be worn myriad ways. Wear as is, or zip off the bottom piece for a straight-up biker jacket. The faux-fur vest also comes off and can be worn separately. Now how cool is that?

1. J.Crew cashmere sweater, $248, jcrew.com
2. Warehouse coat, $249, asos.com
3. Gemma Redux bracelet, $220, shopbop.com
4. Burberry bag, $1395, luisaviaroma.com
5. Nine West lace-up booties, $119, ninewest.com
6. Victoria Beckham jeans, $285, netaporter.com

You gotta love them, the Vogue Paris editors (obviously I do!). Not only how they dress alike--despite all the fashion peacocking around the international runway shows-- but also how they stay true to their understated yet polished uniforms, anchored in jeans (which I've highlighted here before) and pointy-toe pumps. Photographed in Milan last week, they demonstrate that the black pump looks equally sexy with a high and low heel. I also have an affinity for these shoes, but they have to be the right kind, with a leg-enhancing heel height and foot-flattering cutaway. I swear by Christian Louboutin's Pigalle 100mm black pumps. In fact, I have them in the beige as well. They are forever shoes--i.e. the kind worth investing in. Other styles that hit the Gallic-chic spot: Gianvito Rossi's suede mid-heels (90mm), Jimmy Choo's patent leather kitten heels, Manolo Blahnik's classic BB pumps, Sole Society's black suede shoes, Topshop's straight-up version, and Alexander Wang's ankle strap kitten heels.

Photo: Grazia.it

$130, topshop

The cerulean blue hue. The furry texture. The boxy cut. I like!

1. Thakoon top, $525, modaoperandi.com
2. Topshop jacket, $130, topshop.com
3. Henri Bendel bangle, $78, henribendel.com
4. Proenza Schouler bag, $1875, forwardbyelysewalker.com
5. Gianvito Rossi suede pumps, $620, netaporter.com
6. Le Frame Denim jeans, $200, netaporter.com

Ever since I started following Russian stylist and jewelry designer Nastasha Goldenberg (@ngoldenberg) on Instagram, I've been marveling at her ability to reconcile impossibly good style with (toddler-rearing) motherhood. The woman just always looks incredible! Like even when she's pushing a stroller! Or while sitting on her bed with her daughter pulling her hair! I love that Natasha doesn't think her fringed Dries Van Noten skirt is above a stroll around the neighborhood; Instead she pairs it with practical yet chic Sigerson Morrison loafers, so she can walk--and walk and walk and run, if necessary. Then there's the family vacation-ready maxi dress, below, that just makes me relax (and coo) looking at her. Clearly, this woman has the chicest yet most utilitarian wardrobe building blocks down. Paramount are outfit-making print skirts such as this Carven (similar to the one she's wearing on her bed) and this No. 21 (like the one pictured, above. Too bad her striped Dries Van Noten, below, is sold out); flowy, feminine, easy-to-move-around-in dresses and like this and this; and of-the-moment but thoroughly versatile outwear like this camo bomber and this pastel moto that goes from the playground to, oh, Paris Fashion Week. I'm inspired!

P.S. You can follow me on Instagram at @marlienrentmeester

Photos: Collage Vintage, Natasha Goldenberg, You Just Got Spotted, Style and the City, Pinterest

$310, the outnet

If you're going to go big, go all the way, I say. This dress would take me there, just like that.

1. Issa print dress, $310, theoutnet.com
2. Topshop leather moto jacket, $370, topshop.com
3. Michu embellished clutch, $335, modaoperandi.com
4. Aquazzura peep-toe booties, $595, shopbop.com