LE CATCH

I truly felt like an alien when I was child. Perhaps it was because I really was different: An identical twin and the daughter of an Indonesian mother and Dutch father (less common in the States than say, Amsterdam or Jakarta). These days I feel less like an alien and more like a foreign exchange student, especially when I am with my Southern friends, of which I have many and with whom I am very close! For starters, their sayings leave me both confused and amused--like they're speaking a different language, parts of which I get... and don't. Then there's the food: TK. And how I wish I had their Southern grace, their ability to converse and light up a room! This season's must-have western boots, a staple among my LA-based Southern girls, may help me bridge the gap. I believe I can adapt them into my city slicker wardrobe and still look like... me. Particularly these by Alexa Chung, above,

P.S. I highly recommend my friend Reese Witherspoon's new book Whiskey in a Teacup, chock full of hilarious stories, amazing recipes, and explanations of all those darn sayings!

When I was child, I sometimes felt like I was an alien. Perhaps it was because I really was different: An identical twin and the daughter of an Indonesian mother and Dutch father growing up in NYC. These days I feel less like an alien and more like a foreign exchange student, especially when I am with my Southern friends, of which I have many and with whom I am very close! For starters, their sayings leave me both confused and amused--like they're speaking a different language, parts of which I get... and don't. Then there's the food: TK. And how I wish I had their Southern grace, their ability to converse and light up a room! This season's must-have western boots, a staple among my LA-based Southern girls, may help me bridge the gap. I believe I can adapt them into my city slicker wardrobe and still look like... me. Particularly these by Alexa Chung, above,

P.S. I highly recommend my friend Reese Witherspoon's new book Whiskey in a Teacup, chock full of hilarious stories, amazing recipes, and explanations of all those darn sayings!

Although my twin sister lives approximately 8.7 miles away, weeks can elapse between our seeing each other. Work, traffic, kids' schedules, travel, and yada, yada, yada are to blame. Even so, when we do get together, somehow we are always in sync. Our most recent twinning moment occurred during a rare mid-week lunch when, as per usual, we shared our recent shopping notes. I boasted about my new Heron Preston camouflage chinos, above--not too baggy, not too military-ish. She claimed she too had found a pair, but by J.Crew, that she guaranteed were even better. Turns out, we're both right (maybe for once) as hers fits are flattering, fitted with a bit of stretch and feminine.

Speaking of beautiful long knits, check out the incredible slit sweater, above, worn by Ukrainian fashion director Julie Pelipas in Paris the other day. It's by Joseph, but I can't seem to find it anywhere, though I did come across these similar lovelies by Elizabeth and James, Stella McCartney, and Free People.

P.S. My mom loved my recent post about this season's sweater layering so I thought I'd share another good scarf/jumper find from Mango, below.

Long knit dresses are beautifying the boulevards of Paris during Fashion Week right now, and in true Gallic style, they're seductive yet simple. Fortunately for us, we can also sport them back home--and get them along with beaucoup de la chic fashion--on sale at Shopbop! (Spend under $500, get 20% off, spend $500+, get 25% off, get the code here.) The dresses pictured above are by Jacquemus, and the plush balloon-sleeve sweater, below, which I've been craving for weeks, is by Ganni (I snapped it up in yellow). I'd also like to have these Rosie Assoulin-spirited beaded Shashi bracelets (last pic, another fashion week fave!), this Ulla Johnson party dress, these Hermes-inspired Steven sandals, this ruffled Rebecca Taylor blouse, and these perfectly-cut AGOLDE high-waist jeans. Shop the whole shebang here.

All the statement-making, eye-catching printastic shirts that punctuated Milan Fashion Week (pictured here) has me hankering for one of my own! I sourced this Fendi logo lookalike (similar to below) from here, and also dug up these graphic head-turners from Chloe (above), La Double J, Saloni,Veronica Beard, Proenza Schouler, and Ulla Johnson.

$138, nordstrom

Perfection because I can wear this dress with sneakers and run daily errands or with sleek ankle boots and party into the night.

1. AFRM leopard print dress, $138, nordstrom.com
2. Isabel Marant mismatched earrings, $85, shopbop.com
3. Tom Ford Ultra Shine Lipstick in Bare, $55, neimanmarcus.com
4. Prada cross-body bag, $1620, nordstrom.com
5. Acne Studios ankle boots, $570, netaporter.com

Last night at 6:30PM was the first time in a long time I wanted to wear a warm jacket. I was standing on the sidelines of my son's flag football game acutely feeling fall's chill through my thin army coat. (News flash: Tomorrow is the first day of autumn.) Now I'm ready to cozy up in this season's "shacket," a combination of a heavy shirt and an oversized jacket. Fashion show attendees in New York and London, pictured below, have convinced me of their inherent versatility and cool edge (and football fan-friendliness). I am considering these guys from Topshop, Alexa Chung, Mango, Isabel Marant (immediately below), and, like the ones, above, Chloe.

These days, a chic necklace party isn't complete without the in-demand Celine letter necklace, above. My sis bought hers in mid-August and hasn't take it off since! I like this version from Monica Vinader because it's a little bulky and a lot less expensive.

Forget the coat-thrown-nonchalantly-over-the-shoulders look this fall. (It may not come off so nonchalant anymore?) Instead, try layering up with an extra sweater or chunky scarf--and make it look like it was an afterthought: grabbed from your closet, while running out out the door, thrown on and tied at the neck or around the torso. Lauren Santo Domingo has mastered this layering trick, and to make it easier for us, The Frankie Shop has combined this sweater/scarf combo to expert effect (another option here). You can also pull off this look with these knits from Goen J, White & Warren, and PushButton, and these chunky scarves from Mango, Acne Studios, and Zara. The sweater below is by Joseph.

If you haven't yet gotten your paws on this season's animal print skirt, don't despair. There are currently loads of great options to choose from, including these by Alice & Olivia (similar to above and below), The Frankie Shop, Topshop, Proenza Schouler (immediately below), and Asos.