LE CATCH

While the style pros have globe-trotted all September long, I've armchair quarterbacked, calling out cool style strategies and winning trends, both on the catwalks and sidewalks. My most favorite plays, however, are the ones that keep it real--i.e., the MVP clothes that I can actually sport IRL. Moda Operandi's fashion director and street style star Lisa Aiken has one of the best and thoroughly inspiring games in the biz, turning up at shows in thoughtfully-crafted, but not-at-all-contrived looks, like the Goldsign jumpsuit, above, and the bold Peter Do blouse, below. (Thankfully, for us, her employer stocks what she wears, so we too can jump into head-turning action, and go for the crazy yummy belted leather pants by Zimmermann, below, or even pull off the more aggressive and camera-ready Attico, below. P.S. MO's new curated under-$500 trunk show hits my sweet style spot, with everyday-chic goodies like this double-breasted Apparis blazer, this Proenza Schouler PSWL boucle dress, and this Helmut Lang classic knit up for grabs.

You might want to start wrapping your head around cuffed jeans. Right now, they're less major trend and more cool trickle. Which makes them more appealing, IMHO, especially when the jeans come cuffed, like these by Citizens of Humanity (waiting for them to hit my doorstep), Rag & Bone (relaxed fit) Current/Elliott (cropped), and Nobody Denim (straight-cut). Then again, you could just roll up the hem of these long-loved Levi's (above) and be done with it!

More news to share this morning: Shopbop is staging a two-day sale (spend under $500, get 20% off, spend $500+, get 25% off through 9/27, get the code here) and it's all the cool and current stuff you want to wear now including the floral (and street style-worthy) Self-Portrait, above, and the gorgeous Ulla Johnson sweater, below (pants here). Also on my shopping list: this holiday-ready sequin Sea dress, these spot-on, perfect-wash AGOLDE jeans, (I also love this pair by Re/Done), this Alpine-chic Line sweater, this outfit-punctuating faux leather Goen.J trench coat, these wardrobe-updating Loeffler Randall knee-high boots, this super flattering warm-to-cold Baum and Pferdgarten leopard-print dress, and this up-to-the-minute/classic Shashi gold link necklace. Go nuts here! P.S. My much-complimented Farm Rio dress (see here) is also on sale!

$245, nordstrom

One way to shake things up a little!

1. Zara dress, $69, zara.com
2. Chan Luu earrings, $55, shopbop.com
3. Rodin Lip & Cheek Oil, $35, netaporter.com
4. Frances Valentine fringe bucket bag, $245, nordstrom.com
5. Prada buckle strap kitten heels, $890, netaporter.com

I never knew how much I needed a pair of army green pants in my life until now. Seeing all these great new versions--in leather, cotton, silk--recently flitting around fashion shows from New York to London to Milan convinced me. Additionally compelling: they're practical, versatile and right-this-very-minute cool. Plus, people, they're not jeans (i.e., refreshing!). I'm happy to go green in any of these super different but equally chic possibilities by Citizens of Humanity, Marimekko (below, also in street style action here), Frame, Remain Birger Christensen, Golden Goose, and Le 17 Septembre. Good luck deciding!

Just in: the French Editor uniform acquired an American twist: the white t-shirt. Naturallement, c'est tres chic! And, lucky for us, easy to emulate. The key lies in its fit and heft: slightly oversized, luxuriously heavy-weight and, perhaps most importantly, snow-white clean (i.e., not distressed). I like these new iterations from ATM Anthony Thomas Melillo, Bassike, Splendid (cashmere!), and Ninety Percent.

After Gwyneth Paltrow and Kerry Washington talked motherhood, education, parenting and, um, vibrators(!) at a Goop podcast taping in Beverly Hills yesterday, I participated in a bit of Q&A, myself, with a handful of attendees inquiring about my faux leather top. Frankie Shop, I replied, adding another morsel of helpful info: $119! It also comes in a tailored button-up version. My question for you though, as written on the image, above: How cute is my Missoni sweater scored at Celebrity Owned?

Milan's more-is-more mantra echoed across the city yesterday with its fashionistas uniformly clad in BIG, BOLD botanicals. Many paraded around in Prada (the skirt, above, in green, and below, in pink and the 3-D rose print immediately, below)--all bellissima! Okay, ragazze, I want to get in on the fun, floral action in any of these wow-em-all pieces by La Double J, Asos, Topshop, Ulla Johnson, and Whit.

$125, farm rio

Sweater weather could use some fun colorful beads, no?

1. Farm Rio beaded sweater, $125, farmrio.com
2. Ganni jacket, $395, netaporter.com
3. Frame jeans, $245, netaporter.com
4. Vasic bucket bag, $335, shopbop.com
5. Anne Sisteron diamond and gold signet ring, $4400, annesisteron.com
6. Sam Edelman booties, $180, neimanmarcus.com

The fashion crew has moved on from London to Milan for the next round of runway shows--and taken fall's romantic dresses with them. Signatures include exuberant florals, saturated hues and exaggerated sleeves, and the cumulative result is swoon-worthy.Take for example, the unabashedly pink puff piece, above, by Michael Kors or this (way) less expensive version. Also these by Asos, Preen (last pic), Love and Lemons, Proenza Schouler, Topshop, Farm Rio, and Keepsake.