urban jungle

I'm ALWAYS weary of thematic trends. Nautical, for example, generally feels very costumey to me (probably because I'm not a boat person, so I feel like a poser).

I admit, I was hesitant to explore the whole Safari thing. On the surface it seems harmless enough: a little khaki never hurt anyone, and I DO adore leopard print (who doesn't?)...still, I questioned, "will I look chic? or will I look like Indiana Jones' crazy sister?"

I didn't become a true convert until I had to adapt a Safari look for a recent episode of NWA. I had more than a little help from my lovely friends at Marios; we built a sophisticated look around the sleekest, splurge-worthy Dolce & Gabbana leopard print jacket ever. The result was gorgeous and slightly edgy. So perfect.

Now I'm sold, and I urge everyone to explore Safari. Here are some tips to help you venture safely:
Tip 1: only one animal per outfit. Think of it this way: if a leopard encountered a zebra in the wild, the result would be pretty gruesome and ugly. That translates to fashion!
Tip 2: Pair your bold pieces with sleek basics. For NWA, we paired the Dolce coat with classic black pants, simple black heels and a crisp white shirt.
Tip 3: Don't forget to add color! A pop of bright turquoise or red (think shoes, jewelry or bags) will make your outfit come alive.

I created some looks here to get you started: Safari for casual weekend, professional work attire, and glam cocktail! Enjoy!

biker chic

I found the fiercest leather jacket in the world. 

I've been envisioning this exact jacket for about a year and a half: cropped black biker jacket, with a side zip and a wide collar. Yummy leather.  Chic as opposed to punk (because, really, who am I kidding trying to look punk?).

I was prepared to shell out a pretty penny, if and when this mythical jacket appeared in my life. I've been dutifully combing the inventory at Mario's, Barney's and Nordstrom (as well as my favorite consignment stores and vintage hot spots), and I had all but given up hope until I found it last month! My dream jacket! Hanging on a wall at Nordstrom TBD. The fit was perfect, and the price was even better ($298. For leather!).

I've been proudly sporting this jacket around town. I even wore it on NWA (even though it was about 87 degrees in the studio that day). And, I'm not kidding, every time I wear it, at least 2 people come up to me and say, "I've been looking for a jacket like that for years! Where did you get it?" 

I'll tell you: you can get it at Nordstrom.com. And--GUESS WHAT--it's even on sale now for $177.90. Rock on.

how to tie a neck scarf

Long scarves are my favorite Spring Transition fashion accessories. They add interest, color, and texture to almost every outfit. And even the cheap ones look great. I love a light, gauzy scarf worn with a structured blazer or a drapey sweater. And who can resist the perfect contrast of a delicate scarf over an edgier piece, like a fierce leather jacket? Divine.

Thanks to some great deals at Old Navy, Urban Outfitters and J.Crew, my scarf collection grew substantially this weekend, and I can't wait to find more creative ways to integrate pattern and bright colors into my closet. 

If you've been avoiding scarves because you simply don't know how to wear them, fear not! There's no single "right way" to tie a scarf, but there is one simple technique that always works. Lloyd Boston recently showed Oprah: click here to watch.