LE CATCH

If you are a LE CATCH devotee, then you already know I am a Topshop devotee. Years ago, before Topshop shipped to or had any retail stores in the U.S., I used to fly from LA to make what felt like bank robbery raids on their London stores (so good were the scores). Upon returning home with my loot, everyone would obsess over the amazing pieces which were otherwise rarely if ever spotted in NY, let alone LA. Of course those days are now over, and though I kind of miss the feeling that Topshop was my little secret (not to mention a good excuse to go to London), the silver lining is that today we all get to shop all the goodness that is Topshop from the comfort of the couch.

Given the above, I am pretty excited that Topshop recently anointed LE CATCH as one of their "favourite fashion blogs" and asked me to highlight my favorites from their current selection for a feature on their site. You can see them here!

$59, mango

Everyone is salivating over Stella McCartney's just-out leopard print pants. It's completely understandable as this animal print has major staying power, and it was already spotted in many pre-Fall 2013 collections. It's no wonder, then, that Stella's pants have spawned some wildly good wannabe's, like this pair from Mango (which sold out in its first-run a few weeks ago, but, thankfully, have just been re-stocked). I'd work them with...

1. J.Crew cashmere t-shirt, $128, jcrew.com
2. Topshop moto jacket, $96, topshop.com
3. Club Monaco gold cuff, $59, clubmonaco.com
4. Asos clutch, $23, asos.com
5. Madewell flats, $69, madewell.com
6. Mango leopard pants $59, mango.com

Now here's a good styling trick: This girl winterizes a punchy print lightweight jacket with a simple knit neutral turtleneck. The effect is merry and bright! You can work some winter wonders with these spring-ready jackets from Free People, Isabel Marant Etoile and Rag & Bone.

$129, club monaco

One of Spring 2013's biggest trends--the railroad stripe--is already in bloom, brandishing these new cute cropped jeans from Club Monaco. (You might recall how designers from Altuzarra to Rag & Bone to Suno played up these pinstripes in their collections.) The stripes are subtle enough that these jeans are just as wearable as your solid blues.

1. Givenchy embellished sweatshirt, $1002, matchesfashion.com
2. Mango leopard print jacket, $129, mango.com
3. Asos quilted bag, $35, asos.com
4. Rachel Roy boots, $247, shopbop.com
5. Club Monaco railroad stripe jeans, $129, clubmonaco.com

LE CATCH got a nice compliment (above) from Gwyneth Paltrow yesterday on her blog goop. Needless to say I am always flattered when someone calls LE CATCH an "awesome fashion blog", but particularly so when that someone happens to be the object of one of my longest running girl-crushes. You can see the the rest of her list of website faves here. Thanks, Gwyneth!

$460, clare vivier

My new Clare Vivier bag is causing quite a stir. I can barely leave the house before the questions and compliments commence. From A-list Hollywood actresses, to editors (Vogue's Meredith Melling Burke already has one), designers, friends, and every other girl on the street in LA and NYC, everyone, it seems, wants to know where this bag came from and how to get one! So here it is in all its glory, and yes I do love mine, and no, I am not worried about everyone having one, since fortunately, the monogramming option helps clare-ify whose is whose. Wear it with...

1. J.Crew sweater, $148, netaporter.com
2. Warehouse coat, $169, warehouse.andotherbrands.com
3. Clare Vivier duffel bag, $460, clarevivier.com
4. Madewell boots, $209, madewell.com
5. Current/Elliot metallic jeans, $73, netaporter.com

It's well documented on this blog how much I adore sequins (see my recent post focused on sequined leggings). So, stop me, if I am being redundant, BUT I thought I'd add that now I'm also taken with sequin trousers, like the kind Leandra Medine (a.k.a., Man Repeller) is wearing. They're arguably more relaxed, less razzle dazzle--and comfortable, too. I just snapped up this silver pair from Topshop (order a size down, because they run big), and I am also hungrily eyeing these navy ones from Madewell and this black pair by Free People.

Photo: Man Repeller

$79, mango

I came across a picture of a cooler-than-cool European woman, perched on a moped, wearing a blue velvet suit and then it hit me: a pair of tailored velvet trousers are most definitely cooler than cool.

1. J. Crew pinstripe blouse, $36, netaporter.com
2. Heather Hawkins layer gemstone necklace, $145, shopbop.com
3. Juicy Couture bracelet, $58, shopbop.com
4. Chloe tote bag, $1137, forwardbyelysewalker.com
5. Jimmy Choo patent leather pumps, $525, netaporter.com
6. Mango velvet trousers, $79, mango.com

Next week heralds the winter solstice and fashion, too, inexorably marches on, with the debut of the pre-fall 2013 designer collections. (Kinda crazy as we're just acclimating to this fall's clothing!). The trends, in short: more sexy leather, more black and white, more moto jackets (and zipper detailing galore), sweatshirts/sporty silhouettes, and a new hue on the horizon, emerald, which Pantone recently announced the official color of 2013. Here are some of my favorite looks (especially loved Phillip Lim, pictured above and below, for its edgy but still entirely wearable vibe), along with what we can look forward to wearing a year from now.

Phillip Lim

Phillip Lim

Phillip Lim

Phillip Lim

Phillip Lim

Alexander Wang

Narciso Rodriguez

Narciso Rodriguez

And, by extension, of course, the Daily Beast/Newsweek online (you can see the slideshow here).