Last season, it was all about saturated, color-blocked head-to-toe looks. I loved all of the fanfare after a few neutral-heavy seasons. Now it’s back to the POP of color — an all black ensemble with a pair of kickin, boldly-hued tootsies as the exclamation point. Love, love, love. Consider, for example, a collarless jacket (this style is bank-breakingly beautiful, but I’m confident you can find something comparable at Club Monaco, Zara, etc — Moschino, $2,955, Net-A-Porter), a lipstick pink blouse ($170, Reiss) with black skinnies and some MAJ booties (Jimmy Choo, $975, Net-A-Porter):
P.S. Scared of the tootsies? Don’t be — check out how amazing they look on Elle MacPherson. Me likey. I’d accent with gold pyramid stud earrings ($24, Lord&Taylor) and a gold fan necklace (I have something verrry similar that I obsess over from J. Crew — $59, Modcloth):
I’d finish with the J. Crew leopard Edie (grrr, can I just own it already?! — $448, J. Crew):
Or how about a gray-and-black jacket (ACNE, $570, LaGarconne) with a classic white blouse ($110, Madewell), some denim skinnies, and these eyecatching shearling booties (I may be having a long-term flirtation with the idea of shearling…don’t be scared — Zanotti, $895, Intermix):
— all offset by a pop of green in the form of this idyllic little Reed Krakoff style ($525, Reed Krakoff)?
I’d add oversized gold button studs (Alexis Bittar, $80, Charm&Chain) and this statement necklaces ($46, Fashion-Conscience):
Or — imagine layering this luxe, ladylike coat (Vanessa Bruno, $680, LaGarconne) atop your favorite neutral top, skinnies, and snakeskin flats ($118, Ann Taylor), accented with some upscale big-gem earrings ($320, Bounkit):
Punch things up with a cherry red bag — I think this Victoria Beckham style (sold out now) was perfection, but the J. Crew Edie in flame ($238) would be lovely as well.
I’d finish with cobalt blue pumps (Michael Kors, $295, Net-A-Porter), a BOLD yellow clutch ($270, Bluefly), and some glitzy earrings ($120, Ben-Amun):
Finish with a pop o’ green in the form of these TDF nubby pumps (Aperlai, $660, Kirna Zabete):
Round it all out with a leopard tote (Jerome Dreyfuss’ styles are suddenly explosively popular — check out this version, for $1,520, Net-A-Porter or go with a larger, roomier tote in the form of this Clare Vivier style) and a fierce cuff($85, Noir):
Also loving the idea of a prim set of pearls ($1,400, JenniferElizabeth), a classic trenchcoat (Burberry, $1,095, Net-A-Porter) with some “get to business” pumps ($320, ScoopNY) —
— shaken up with a BRIGHT yellow bag ($87, ASOS) and some oversized sunnies (did anyone else notice that my much-coveted shades are available on sale at TheOutnet?! — $115, TheOutnet):
Other easy ways to get the look? Try pairing your standard black work outfit with a pair of boldly-hued flats ($50, TopShop), a BRIGHT clutcherooski ($149, ClareVivier), or an unexpected kelly green pair of earrings ($10.80, ASOS):
As an alternative, test drive a bold orange lip color (I finally took the plunge and have been showing some serious love to YSL’s Rouge Pur color 21 (“Indian Orange” — $27, Amazon), a KABAM pink iPhone cover (around $60, Eley Kishimoto):
It’s electric!