I am so.excited. about fashion this fall. I am obsessed with the 70s luxe vibe that’s been all over the place, the resurgence of ladylike dressing, the fact that classic camel is the new (or resurrected-from-the-70s) neutral, and the plethora of fun leopard and chic fur accents that have cropped up in fashion outposts as varied as Forever 21 and Chanel. There are so many pieces that I want to snap up, my head is spinning and my “lust list” is pages long. (And yes, I do keep one — it’s my “little pink book.”) So now, without further adieu: the fall 2010 Magpie Musts.
Magpie Must #1: The Blouse.
I know I’ve been blathering on about this in post after post, but I positively need one of these ladylike washed silk blouses.
I think I’m gravitating towards a “nude” color, as pictured above — something like this Reiss style is right on point ($175, Reiss):
…but you can’t go wrong with classic white ($178, Revolve Clothing) — especially from It label Equipment:
Alternately, an olive green color is a solid choice for this fall’s utilitarian chic look ($245, Net-A-Porter):
Pair with anything from skinny jeans to tweed skirts to printed minis to utility jackets. Insta-chic.
Magpie Must #2: Classic Camel. Everywhere.
I’ve pretty much beat this into the ground, but o.m.g. I die over the rich caramel color.
I mean. The gold-clasped satchel, the blouse, the camel cape, the drapey wool, the red nails?! This girl has got it going on. I’m looking to invest in a classic camel coat — Talbots may not be the hippest label out there, but they get the classics rights ($328, Talbots):
I’ve been “I-spying” this Barney’s coat for a few weeks now — I adore the belted waist and the collarless neckline ($1,195, Barney’s):
So darlingly Jackie O-esque. Speaking of whom — I saw this pure Jackie O dress and did a quadruple-billion take and then pouted at its price tag because I wanted it so badly and knew I’d never permit myself to snap it up (Michael Kors, $750, Yoox):
I mean. You would be Jackie in it.
I also l.o.v.e. this tweed camel skirt (especially its equestrian vibe) — it’s The Ellison, by Ralph Lauren ($698, Saks) — but think I’m more likely to snag this far-more-affordable variation ($49, Express):
Alternately, channel Chloe by investing in a pair of wider leg camel tweed pants —
I like Elie Tahari’s version ($232, Zappos) — and they’re perfect for pairing with one of the silk blouses featured earlier:
Magpie Must #3: The Denim Shirt.
Hannah MacGibbon (of Chloe) is pure genius, and I trust her fashion instinct with every fiber of my being. When I saw her Fall 2010 ad campaign, I knew I had to recreate this look in some capacity or another:
I snapped up a denim button-down awhile back, and have been dutifully pairing it with a black pencil skirt, black flats, and tangles of necklaces, but my must have look for fall revolves around denim tucked into some wide-leg camel pants. The Current/Elliot denim shirt is “It” ($198, La Garconne):
(And I love the military-style buttons on the epaulettes.) However, you can find denim shirts at a range of retailers nowadays — I’ve seen ’em in Gap, J. Crew, Forever 21, and right on up to Neiman’s. I also like the idea of a denim tunic for this fall (on sale for $29, Gap), cinched with a rich leather belt ($52, Madewell):
I pretty much would kill to be able to able to pair the outfit with these Chloe cutout boots — they are out of control gorgeous ($1,295, Net-A-Porter):
Magpie Must #4: Pop of Red.
Old habits die hard, and I don’t think I’ll ever abandon my signature red nails. Though I got into the orangey-coral-reds this summer (Essie’s Geranium and Escapades were among my favorites, but Clambake was also a regular in the rotation), I am now returning to classic, full-on red for the fall wardrobe. I’ve been getting Russian Roulette in particular ($8, Essie Shop):
This Alexa Chung for Madewell blouse also caught my eye (I l.o.v.e. Peter Pan collars — so retro, so unexpectedly buttoned-up, and so delightfully Blair Waldorf-esque — $110, Madewell):
Meanwhile, some inexpensive red leather flats might add just the right touch to an otherwise straight forward wardrobe palette ($45, BC Footwear):
Magpie Must #5: Plaid please.
This season, it’s all about the plaid (I’m actually wearing a plaid button down tucked into a high-waisted pencil skirt today!) Madewell has some lovelies on their sale racks ($49 apiece, Madewell):
(And — related to Must #4 — I prefer a plaid with red in it. Don’t know why. Just a thing I have.) Steven Alan has some lovely, well-made shirting to “check out” (excuse the wretched pun) as well (on sale for $109, Steven Alan):
I like the idea of matching a seemingly “down home” item like a plaid shirt with unexpectedly stepped-up add-ons, like glossy nude flats, a classic camel coat, or a big chain handle bag. Balances out the “country mouse” in me. I particularly enjoy the idea of a plaid shirt layered beneath a dress coat, as shown below —
While on the subject of outerwear and plaid, however — I mean. Just take a gander at this incredibly chic, I-want-it-so-bad bomber by Lauren Moffatt (yes.please. — $390, Lauren Moffatt):
Ay!
Magpie Must #6: Leopard Accents.
Hope you haven’t gotten too sick of hearing about the leopard trend (it’s been so all over the place, I’m almost over it), but it looks seriously luxe paired with camel and red in particular. Though I’ve seen the likes of Kate Moss pull off the leopard chubby, I haven’t seen a leopard-print coat that looks “rich” or “sophisticated” enough to justify purchasing. So I’ll stick to little accents, like this darling See by Chloe crossbody bag ($364, Zappos):
I’m also mega-into these pony-hair Pigalle flats by the one and only Christian Louboutin ($775, Barney’s):
And I pretty much wear my gauzy leopard print scarf every few days ($35, Harmony Lane):
Magpie Must #7: Keep it ladylike.
In a previous post, I waxed poetic about Louis Vuitton’s 2010 campaign, which was all about old-school, Mad Men era feminine accents. And I’m seriously inclined to invest in some classic pieces, like these dainty kidskin gloves ($124, Forzieri) and this old school hatbox vanity ($90, TopShop):
I’ve been in the market for a ladylike thin-strap leather watch, a la Hermes, and this Peugeot standout may just have won my affection (without robbing my bank account — on sale for $50, Endless):
Now, if I could just gather the funds for this Hitchock Heroine structured crocodile bag (Nancy Gonzalez, $3,200, Net-A-Porter)…
Magpie Must #8: Fur Flair.
Regardless of whether you go real or faux, there has been so much fur out there this season, I can hardly help myself. I’ve already advocated for the fur vest in past posts (the one below is by Ann Taylor Loft, but is not yet available in stores — check out Rachel Zoe’s version from her line for QVC — $79, QVC or BB Dakota’s affordable options — $65, Shopbop):
If you want just a touch of the trend, try out this uh.may.zing stole from TopShop ($50, TopShop) or these DVF earmuffs (to die! — $95, Net-A-Porter):
— well, beware the price tag. That stuff is expensive. You can get “just a taste” with one of these little stoles from their collection (only available in J. Crew stores at present — $98):
(P.S. In a dazed, shopping-addicted state one sleepy Wednesday afternoon, I randomly ordered a stole of this ilk by Graham and Spencer on final sale from SSense for $112 (down from $250). I now see it hanging in my closet every day and tilt my head curiously: “Now where and how will I wear this?!” So think seriously about a frivolous purchase like this, planning out specific looks you can sport it with. I’m sure I’ll figure something out but…I must have blacked out for that purchase.)
I also toyed with the idea of the kids’ size vest from Crewcuts, but it’s pricey ($398!)
Still. It looks pretty kickin.
From Vogue UK via Everything Fabulous
Magpie Must #9: Unexpected Prints.
I l.o.v.e. Tucker by Gaby Basora blouses because they come in the kitschiest, most unexpected prints and patterns, as below ($264, Saks ; $275, Piper Lime; $280, Net-A-Porter):
Get the look for muchmuchmuchmuch less ($14.50 to be exact!) at Forever 21! You’re welcome.
But back to Tucker — you can also get that look for muchmuchmuchmuch less thanks to TARGET, which unveiled their designers-for-less collection by Tucker just this past Monday (and yes, I’ve already snapped up a few of the pieces — they are too.good.to.be.true!)
Just check out how chic this little bargainista is wearing the Tucker for Target blouse:
Love a good price!
Magpie Must #10: Moc it out.
This one goes without saying given my near over-obsession with the classic Minnetonka (I’ve featured them here and here and here. And probably multiple other times as well.) Do yourself a favor and snag a pair. They are little pillows of joy (…what?) for your weary, high-heel-suffering feet and I love the little devil-may-care ‘tude they bring to any outfit ($45, Zappos):
