Dear Ethers,

I’ve been looking at my past “Wish Lists” and they have seemed very “adult.” Very “grown-up.”  Now, I have nothing against this—in fact, I think there is nothing classier than a woman who is wearing something understated, well-cut, elegant with just a slight tweak of trend to her outfit.  But, being on the cusp of (cough, cough) 30, I want to embrace the joy of reckless youth and funky dressing.  And I DO indeed mix it up.  I don’t have a particular style that you could connect me to.  I could buy a smart pair of clean, black trousers from Joseph and then order something from Net-a-Porter and buy something outlandishly fabulous.  I think life would be boring if you didn’t put your clothes in a funky blender.  

Now, many of you will think this Monday’s choice is a little bonkers.  But, I figured if I am going to go for it, MAN am I going to go for it!  I chose Sonia Rykiel because she is so French and so fun.   English Gent’s mother bought me a sweater from Madame Rykiel that is so beautiful.  It’s taupe with multi-colored cherries all over it.  I get compliments every single time I wear it.  What’s ideal about her collection is she has a diffusion line for the younger crowd and a higher-end line for the more sophisticated bunch.  But what’s great is that both collections mix and match beautifully, and I’ve done that with my “Wish List.”  Just keep in mind, Rykiel is MEANT to be a bit off the beaten path.  I’m not crazy here—she is known for her abstract colors and wild ways.  But that is what makes her so unique! Now remember, a “Wish List” has to be all from one designer top-to-toe, so you are getting 100% Sonia!

So here’s the back story on our girl.  She’s a trendy-chick who is studying in France for the year and really wants to embrace everything she can about the country. She’s REALLY into fashion and she knows that she looks totally tongue and cheek in this get-up but loves the attention.  It’s a bit of old world Paris style that’s been given some LSD and brought to 2009.  She’s got a great figure so even though this might look a little out there, it’s “catwalk crazy” to the folks who notice her and they might applaud the endeavour.  She’s keeping slightly toasty because the season is changing, but no need for a heavy coat or stockings yet.  She loves art, Karl Lagerfeld (but of course, he’s a “LEGEND DARLING”), crepes, black coffee and men with nicotine stained fingers and wing-tipped shoes.  She’s bloody wealthy, but shhhhhh, you mustn’t tell anyone, for she must be part of the starving artists to get in with the salon sitting groups and must secretly sneak into Colette to get her fashions.  She’s always got a camera with her snapping away the sites and a great group of friends whom she rides the Metro with and speaks scatty French to.  She loves to have a smoke on the top of the Musee de Orsay and her dream  is to fall in love with a man who looks like Cary Grant, but can dance like Justin Timberlake.  Shall we meet our belle femme?

PS: This is dedicated to a follower of mine named Julie who is French Canadian and who I thought of right away when I began to think of this post. To you Julie, une source d’inspiration!  xoxoxoxox

Dedicatedly yours,

—One of 365

This cheeky and fun sweater is fab because of the French word play (come here darling, pull over)--but it is also describing what the actually piece is--a pull-over! I think it would fit our girl snugly, be very cool and she would make a lot of her French citizens laugh. I also think it looks kinda retro with the lettering--almost as if her granny sewed the words on for her! Wool Intarsia Sweater, 550 pounds, soniarykiel.com

I love that this has an artists look to it. There is an illusion of a belt there, but it is merely just part of the fabric. Slung low on the hips with the sweater, I think it is all Tres Artistic! And again, playing with different mediums in cloth is really fun. You'll see how the pink will be key with the other elements of the outfit in the next few choices. Trompe L'Oeil Belt Skirt, 198 pounds, soniarykiel.com

How fun are these! They are the perfect pop of color, they match the top and the pink in the skirt perfectly and they show off the legs beautifully in a wild and funky way. I think this is such a great alternative to tights because you are not corseted around the waist and they are not as heavy and stuffy. If you think these are bonkers, wait till you see what's coming up! Isn't our belle incroyable? Multi Striped Socks, 25 pounds, soniarykiel.com

Aren't these so old world French? They are the perfect shoe to wear with the socks and the skirt. This is a girl who is running about town. She is in no mood to be dealing with heels and besides, these are very "I'm an artist!" The vintage feel goes with the sweater and the whole idea of French culture. This style shoe is globally very hip right now so this can be worn with shorts, linen trousers, a skirt. They are just a good, comfy purchase. Derby Moccasin Flat, Originally 207 pounds Now 100 pounds, soniarykiel.com

Oh yes! You knew it was coming! A beret of course! But in hot pink--never! And now you know why the belt on the skirt and the stripes in the socks make sense! This is such a cute play on the classic and she can wear it with her tresses long and flowing or in a side bun with a dollop of gloss and some cat eyes and mascara and she'll look gorgeous. LOVE IT! Beret, 35 pounds, soniarykiel.com

And as a final little accessory, this is a lovely little ribbon pin that she can put in her beret....but I was thinking what would be cooler is if she held her bun up with bobby pins and then attached the ribbon to it using the bobby pins to keep it in place. Look, it may be too much, but ribbons are SO on trend right now and this girl is going for it, so I say tack it on! Little Ribbon Pin, 80 pounds, soniarykiel.com

PS: If you enjoyed this “Wish List” please visit my sidebar under Wish List for other brands and see the fab stories and colorful creations I’ve come up with. I’m a magazine writer so the posts are like fun editorial pages. Also check out “Fashion Fridays” on the side bar if the Wish List still hasn’t fed your fashionista fancy. It’s a lot of fun too. Happy Monday

Dear Ethers,

Hark! It is September.  Does this mean the leaves are starting to change and it’s going to get chilly?  Where did Summer go?  I still have white, strapless dresses that have tags still attached and sandals that don’t even have scuff marks on their bottoms.  Well, thank goodness I live in Los Angeles, but for most of the world this means the changing of the closet!  Unwrapping those cashmere sweaters, buying new wooden cedar hanger inserts, and starting to say good-bye to the romper trend. (For some of you that’s a “thank-god.” Though, owning a cute silk butterscotch Marc Jacobs one myself, I loved it!).  So, to debut our Fall look I decided on the lovely Celine which is oh so French, and oh so divine, that you can’t help but look sophisticated in its luxurious fabrics and its “I didn’t try too hard” look.  I know when the seasons start to change I wanna be cozy.  I hate being unprepared for the weather outside and being itchy with bad wool or sweaty by being swamped by too much fabric.  I like light layers that keep me warm.  The Fall is great for layering lightly while experimenting with fabrics that will mesh with your lifestyle.  

The outfit I’ve chosen is the one I would have liked my mom to have picked me up in school wearing and proudly beamed, “Yep, that’s her, that’s the queen of chic.”  My mom tended to enjoy the art of schlep, which is fair enough, but I swore if I ever had kids, I’d always look fab when I was around them so they could be proud of me fashion-wise.  Hey, I’ll never be Kate Moss, but I can be a fashion icon to someone, right?  The Celine look is great because it’s comfy with sumptuous fabrics so you could work in the ensemble and then chill out with the kids after school or a friend after work and not need to change.  The over-the-knee boot look is a Fall staple so girl, you are right on trend!  The ruffled front of the blouse is also tres chic for the season (collars, ruffled fronts–all to be on your tick list).  The over-sized sweater is cut fashionably so it doesn’t look like it’s eating you alive, just comfortably acting like a warm layer.  The leggings are always perfect–hey–you know me—elastic waist=perfection.  And finally, the bag is really adorable because it’s an unusual color with a bit of shearling and suede so you aren’t looking SO heavy and dark for winter yet.  So, shall we “Fall” in love with this look?

Dedicatedly yours,

 —One of 365

This lovely wool-blend wrap coat is a perfect shade of grey. It's not too dark so it transitions well into Fall rather than a heavier charcoal which would be better for Winter. It has a kimono-style fit so sleeves will look lovely billowing out of it and you can even replace the tie it comes with using your own leather cinched waist belt to dress it up. Wool-Blend Knit Wrap Coat, $1,300, celine.com

This silk and cotton ruffle front blouse has a look of "sheer" comfort. It is light so you won't be sweating underneath your wool wrap coat, but it is not flimsy enough to cut right through to the skin. I love the color. I think the taupe is such a unique match with the gray and works so beautifully together. It's not a color combination you'd expect and yet it is seamless in its compatibility. This is again, all about comfort. This is not too form fitting, yet it is still flattering enough to show off your silhouette without constraining your body. The ruffled sleeves will look heavenly edging out from the coat. Cotton-Blend Ruffle Blouse, $760, celine.com

These have become the new staple of every woman's wardrobe. They ARE the new jean. This will be the perfect comfort piece with the elastic waist and the cotton-wool blend. The top-layers will hit the leggings perfectly so nothing will show that shouldn't, and these will be the ideal platform for your KILLER boots coming up next Everyone should own a pair of leggings. Their versatility and easiness is just A+ and you can dress them up or down. Cotton-Wool Blend Leggings, $495, celine.com

I need these. I want these. Some rich Duke reading my blog, donate these to me! The over-the-knee boot is THE look this coming season. EVERYONE will be showing these. There will be grubby, cheap imitations. DO NOT GO THERE. You don't want to be mistaken for a hooker in Hollywood. You need to keep it quality and classy. The leather has to have integrity. The fit has to be excellent. No droopiness. No bagginess. These have to show off those gams. Don't give up. You will find a pair. They are out there for a price you can afford. Just don't succumb to the cheap, call-girl look, okay? Wear over leggings with a short top like we are doing with this outfit and you'll look relaxed and chic. Wear dressed with a tunic. Wear over jeans! These are really gonna take over fashion. If only these were cheaper. Oh Celine!!!! But anyway, how gorgeous is this going to look with our Fall debut outfit? Leather Over-The-Knee Boots, $1,310, celine.com

To compliment the color of the silk-blend ruffle blouse I thought this bag was perfect! I love that color combo with the gray and the taupe and thought this was the icing on the cake. I love the suede and shearling and the understated Celine stamp on the front. I love the messenger style. Again, great for comfort factor. It's adjustable so you can make it handbag length easily. It's sumptuous in fabric, but slightly casual in fashion. This bag makes me want to curl up and sleep inside of it! Dimitiri Shearling Bag, $2,200, celine.com

And just in case it gets a bit colder than you expected, stick these cashmere lined leather gloves in your shearling bag. We don't want any rough hands this season! I like that these are slightly rugged with their seams---makes them seem a bit badass with the boots. All in all the outfit comes together and makes sure you are comfortable, cozy and well looked after. Leather Gloves, $590, celine.com

Dear Ethers,

Another week bites the dust.  That means another outfit is dusted off.  This Friday I’ve gone with a cooler looking color palette (it looks like a Fall transition, but totally fab for Summer too). I know the tights and the wool skirt are also making you ask “what season does this girl think we’re in?” But notice the OPEN-toed heels, and the sleeveless vest/waistcoat.  I love working with season benders because it allows for your wardrobe to extend itself beyond and you get more bang for your buck!  I LOVE wearing tights with open-toed shoes and a dress or skirt.  It is my solution for any cold weather or evening attire situation where I want to wear something light, but might find myself getting a bit nippy.  Invest in a good pair.  They’ll cost you up front, but they’ll last you a lifetime.  

This week we’ve got our cocktail party girl look.  She’s wearing subtle colors so she doesn’t upstage her host, but her choices are trendy and the skirt adds just the right amount of excitement with the cut and the color to make a statement.  The heels blending with the tights make her legs look lengthy and the sleeveless waistcoat is a fun way to play down a dressy affair.  The bracelet is simply there to draw all of the colors together and add a bit of texture to the outfit–also she’s not wearing any other baubles, so why not?  To me, this outfit says fun, hip, young and ready for a cocktail and some conversation.  I’d wear the hair pulled back in a slicked-back high ponytail and wear smoky eyes with a bit of color (a splash of MAC Pigments in “Copper Sparkle”) to the inner tips of the eye so when they catch the light they really shine.  It’s all about they eyes with this outfit, so do it up (remember tips from Beauty Trend: Say “Da” For Russia without overdoing obviously–just stay on trend without going over the top).  And if it is a cocktail you’re after, and the barman is game, try an Orange Crush Martini to match that outfit.  If he doesn’t know how to make it, explain it’s 1 1/2 oz gin, 1/2 Grand Marnier, 1-2 splashes of orange juice and 1 scoop of crushed ice.  Tell him to shake his moneymaker for 25 seconds, take a frosted martini glass and strain the deliciousness in!  If he has any orange slices to adorn the rim of the glass, all the better!  Cheers!  Now let’s check this cocktail cutie out.

Dedicatedly yours,

—One of 365

"I like to drink martinis. Two at the most. Three I'm under the table, four I'm under the host." Dorothy Parker

A cute little vest is a great investment because you can wear it casual with jeans, layered over a top or dressy as our cocktail chic-chick is doing above. A really versatile item, the snugger the fit the better. This should show off your curves and lines in all the right ways. The featured piece is actually slightly too big on our girl, but if she could go back in time she would definitely buy a size or two smaller and have it tight! Show off whatcha got and maybe you'll score and extra special drink from the barman. Vest/Waistcoat, H&M Approx. 20 Quid, London

Poof! Literally-of color and design. This is such a perfect cocktail party skirt. Couldn't you totally see Carrie Bradshaw working this at one of her do's? I love the high-waist, the pockets (for slipping gent's digits in) and the tulle underneath to give it that extra stand-out factor that will make YOU stand-out even more. Orange Wool Skirt, H& M Approx. $50 Los Angeles

These really are a must-have investment. They'll cost you an arm and a leg (maybe 2), but they are worth it. I've had mine for 3 years, and have worn them so often and they STILL look brand new. Wear them under trousers for extra warmth in the Winter, team them with open-toed heels in the season- change to keep legs guarded or just rock em' when you want your gams to look sky-high with black pumps and a mini-dress. Really, this is like a bra or a knicker. A MUST! Falke Wool Tights, $65 Any Fine Department Store

These beauties are back. And you'll be seeing a lot more of them. My KG's are FAB! The platform and thick heel make them totally wearable, so you can stand and gab for hours holding that martini glass. You'll also be so tall, you'll be able to tower over the barman to get drinks orders fast! KG Heels, Originally 100 Pounds Sterling Reduced To 50 Pounds Sterling, Harrods, London

Just a bit of fun to add some texture and color to your outfit. Designed to be worn as a necklace but wrapped around wrist as a bracelet. Fun, ethnic and punchy--I say, why the hell not? Handmade Fabric Covered Marble Necklace, Bought From Student In Brighton, England For 2 Quid!