LE CATCH

$116, warehouse

This embellished dress is not only Miu Miu cute but thoroughly throw-on-and-go easy. Love that!

1. Warehouse embellised dress, $116, warehouse.andotherbrands.com
2. Noir earrings, $57, theoutnet.com
3. Kenzo bracelet, $205, netaporter.com
4. Lizzie Fortunato clutch, $333, shopbop.com
5. B Brian Atwood metallic leather and snakeskin sandals, $375, saksfifthavenue.com

From the looks of things, we have a new "it" bag on our hands. Meet the M2Malletier. Clean and modern looking, with a signature top handle, the Barcelona-made bag is all the rage with fashion insiders from W Magazine editors to stylists and street style stars Miroslava Duma and Caroline Issa. I love the chic (and refreshingly original) colors it comes in, but like all "it" bags, they're hard to come by. You can find a few styles here.

Photos: M2Malletier

$198, j.crew

When you arrive at Lincoln Center for a show, you face a fashion editor's "moment of truth." As you make your way through the photographer's gauntlet, either the the camera lenses get raised and pointed in your direction...or they don't. Of course, there is more to life than passing this test, but it's obviously more fun to get the "P!" And, unless you're Anna Wintour, it's typically your outfit and sometimes even just the right accessory that seems to make the difference. Yesterday as I was struggling to get it together for said gauntlet walk, I pulled out this necklace and decided to give it a whirl. Thirty minutes later, the bulbs were flashing. Needless to say, I think it's a keeper!

1. Alexander Wang sweater, $275, revolveclothing.com
2. J.Crew necklace, $198, jcrew.com
3. Zara chain link necklace, $19, zara.com
4. Gap clutch, $29, gap.com
5. Givenchy boots, $1250, netaporter.com
6. Kenzo skirt, $342, netaporter.com

Fashion Week may be about dressing for attention, but the woman pictured above proves that dressing up basics can be just as compelling, if not more so. I'm loving her (past season CH Carolina Herrera) classic pumps the most--they literally elevate her outfit, after all--and it didn't take me long to find a similar pair, thanks to J.Crew, which, as fate would have it, is offering 25% off all shoes (and bags!) through September 8. Oh, and you might also find other tempting on-sale basics there, such as these everyday wearable block-heeled boots (love the faded black suede!), these ballet slippers and this leather clutch. Use the code EXTRAS at checkout.

Photo: Chicismo

$60, topshop

It seems that every fashion editor in New York City got the memo to wear a skirt for the first day of New York Fashion Week--or at least the ones I spied on my way into Lincoln Center this morning. This sleek wrap skirt would have fit right in.

1. Isabel Marant sweater, $520, netaporter.com
2. Ray Ban mirrored sunglasses, $165, shopbop.com
3. Asos leather clutch, $75, asos.com
4. Michael Kors ankle strap heels, $395, shopbop.com
5. Topshop wrap skirt, $60, topshop.com

$278, j.crew

In prepping for New York Fashion Week--i.e., packing my bags at the 11th hour--I rounded up my favorite new fall pieces in my closet, including these J.Crew block-heeled boots. Note: the perfect faded black shade. Not only will they be perfect for running around in between shows, but back at ho-hum home, too. (P.S. They're 25% off through September 8.)

What I'd wear underneath this outfit-making buffalo check coat is almost irrelevant--it's just that good!--but it would look something like this...

As I walked by the Time & Life Building (where my father used to work!) in Manhattan the other day, a trio of impeccably dressed women paraded out of the revolving doors. They must be fashion editors at In Style, I thought. One of them had on a particularly excellent outfit: a leopard print flounce skirt with a denim button down blouse and black flat sandals. Easy to emulate, provided that one can track down the elusive cute leopard print mini, of course, so I wondered where she got it and whether it was old or new. I figured I'd be able to hunt it down somehow, someway and, sure enough, a few days later I came across the picture, above, of Olivia Palermo, wearing the same skirt! Turns out it's by Zara from last spring. It's available in various sizes on Ebay--but now I'm thinking I'll just re-create this look with other eye-catching versions, such as this striped one from Club Monaco, this floral Thakoon, or this animal-print Antipodium. Come winter, I'll definitely take some layering cues from Ms. Palermo and go for it with opaque tights and a big, cozy knit.

$59, mango

Back to school. Back to work. Back to reality. Slipping into this one-step-chic (Isabel Marant-ish) dress would mean one less thing to stress about.

1. Mango ruffled dress, $59, mango.com
2. Topshop leather moto jacket, $120, topshop.com
3. Fendi shearling bag, $1750, netaporter.com
4. Pour La Victoire boots, $369, shopbop.com