LE CATCH

I had a fun catch-up-with-girlfriends lunch at the Beverly Hills Hotels last week. It was a pretty stereotypical LA scene: Kourtney Kardashian and her crying infant to our left, Kelly Preston to our right, and Shaquille O'Neal front and center, holding court. After the six of us had each ordered the same exact salad customized six different ways (one without dressing, one without bacon, another with feta instead of bleu, etc.), we got down to the serious business of the cashmere J.Crew sweater that not one but two (including me) of us was wearing. I was the opposite of embarrassed since my outfit twin is the glam girl everyone wants at their parties, who has worked with designers like Michael Kors and Ralph Lauren, etc. It turns out that she and I both own multiple colors of the sweater, and by the time we had finished extolling its virtues, it was clear that jcrew.com would be selling at least four more of those babies that night. The sweater is here. I (obviously) recommend it.

$130, shopbop

The debut of this excellent spring-y dress marks the end of a several-month-long wild-goose chase. Ever since I came across this picture, I've been searching high and low for something similar--and here it is! (Update: if it's sold out at Shopbop, try here too as they may restock.)

1. Club Monaco leather-pocket striped dress, $130, shopbop.com
2. C.Wonder pave heart stud earrings, $28, cwonder.com
3. Topshop parka, $120, topshop.com
4. Melie Bianco satchel, $65, piperlime.com
5. Charlotte Olympia leopard print loafers, $825, netaporter.com

This spring's statement sunglasses can help amplify your style message. The newest and coolest options range from circular to oversized to mirrored to embellished. Me? I am partial to subtly edgy sunglasses, like this round and retro Madewell, this oversized cat-eye Asos, and this angled tortoise-framed Karen Walker (pictured above). (P.S. How good is the girl's vibrant pucker, above? Her lipstick may just be this.) (P.P.S. Asos and Topshop boast an impressive stock of inexpensive sunnies to choose from.)

 Photos: Tuula Vintage, Jak & Jil, Pinterest

$95, piperlime

There's no mistaking this clutch's resemblance to the studded Valentino variety, yet it's almost incomparably more affordable and just as wear-with-everything versatile. Think spring-clean-simple, like this...

1. Topshop shift dress, $100, topshop.com
2. Illesteva sunglasses, $260, netaporter.com
3. Michael Kors pave stack ring, $125, shopbop.com
4. Rebecca Minkoff studded clutch, $95, piperlime.com
5. Manolo Blahnik gladiator sandals, $665, bergdorfgoodman.com

Couture show-goers, including Russian blogger Miroslava Duma, above, are not letting Paris' cold snap crimp their style, and it seems a chic fur hat is essential to their heat-trapping strategy. But it's not just these hot shots who are fur-hatting it (see last two images, below). I, too, have a faux fur one, and I wore it skiing on my last few outings, but now I have convincing evidence that this hat doesn't just belong on the slopes, but very much on the streets. Some heady faux fur options for you all to ponder from Nine West, Steve Madden andAsos, along with this knit and faux fur one on sale.

Photos: Harper's Bazaar, Pinterest

$177, joie

I had a fun LA adventure yesterday that led to, among other things, the boots above. It started with a trek for a meeting to Echo Park, which for me, a westside-dwelling Angeleno, is the equivalent of traveling to the other side of the world, gridlock traffic and all. Post-meeting I set out to explore some of the great food joints and vintage stores that I am always hearing about, but never seem to get to. I checked out Cookbook, a gem-sized grocery stocked with organic foods, sustainable meats, locally grown produce, and yummy pastries, a box of which I snapped up for a dinner party I was attending later. Then I mosied on over to Tavin, an amazing vintage store, chock full of fresh-from-Tulum embroidered Mexican lace camisoles and tunics (the lovely kind that look like they may be from Greece or Turkey) as well as vibrant Suno-like dresses. Next stop: the opening of Joie's new Melrose store, where I was greeted with a glass of champagne, and soon thereafter the sight of these boots. They were on sale. I tried them on. Perfection in every way. Good heel height. Super comfortable. Hits right where it should just above my ankle. In the bag. You might just see me this week wearing my new boots with...

1. Etoile Isabel Marant cardigan, $570, netaporter.com
2. Kenzo military trench jacket, $822, matchesfashion.com
3. Topshop beaded bracelet, $30, topshop.com
4. Whistles brass ID bracelet, $39, whistles.co.uk
5. Joie boots, $177, joie.com
6. Goldsign for J.Crew jeans, $288, jcrew.com

I've been thinking about what to pack for New York Fashion Week in early February, and finding clothes that can both stand up to the cold and the cutting-edge crowd outside Lincoln Center is no small feat! Pieces that can also be worn more than once would be ideal, and that's where this sleek pleated leather skirt comes in. I see it going from work (i.e., not just the fashion blogger kind!) to cocktail parties, all for $150! And the excellent colors (navy, green, and khaki) from which to choose! Check them fully out here.

$350, netaporter

Imagine having to quickly get dressed for a party and then the exquisite relief of putting on this glittery, comfy sweatshirt. Yessss....

1. Thakoon Addition sequin polka dot sweatshirt, $350, netaporter.com
2. Fallon Jewelry drop earrings, $140, shopbop.com
3. Assad Mounser cuff, $270, charmandchain.com
4. Alexander McQueen clutch, $795, netaporter.com
5. Gianvito Rossi plexi/suede pumps, $625, forwardbyelysewalker.com
6. Sonia by Sonia Rykiel skirt, $305, netaporter.com

The New York Times recently heralded Jenna Lyons, J.Crew's executive creative director, as "the woman who dresses America." I regard her as a fashion bellwether, at the vanguard of style, the first to try and validate new silhouettes, color combinations, and combinations (like teaming a denim jacket with a long pink satin skirt at the Met Ball). Looking at pictures of Jenna is like looking into fashion's crystal ball and divining what's next. This image, taken a few weeks ago at a premiere in New York, reveals a new jean silhouette on the horizon. One that's cropped, boyish, distressed, straight leg--and refreshingly different from all the skinnies we've been wearing. One that might be the next bestseller. One that we may all be wearing very, very soon. Here are some possibilities from Acne, Current Elliot, and Madewell (as pictured on Jenna).

Photo: Vogue

$198, french connection

This just in from the pre-school birthday party circuit: a friend of mine--who happens to be six-feet-tall, blonde, and a former model--wearing these sweatpants-inspired pants. Don't let the concept or the venue throw you--these pants were not of the throw-in-the-towel, motherhood-has-defeated-me-and-I-only-wear-sweatpants variety. They were chic. Grey, lounge-y, with elasticated cuffs at the ankles, and luxe-looking, the pants looked amazing with heels and an oversize blue blazer. So, of course, I set about scouting a few options for myself, and I found this sleek pair by Whistles, as well as the silk drawstring trousers, above, from French Connection, which have a subtle sporty vibe, but are definitely party-worthy--even if I'm not six-feet-tall, blonde and/or a former model.

1. Raquel Allegra cotton jersey top, $265, netaporter.com
2. Topshop striped blazer, $90, topshop.com
3. Anya Hindmarch bag,* $398, theoutnet.com
4. Christian Louboutin python T-strap sandals, $895, bergdorfgoodman.com
5. French Connection silk trousers, $198, frenchconnection.com

*60% off!