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what it is: Forever 21 Men's "Burnished Button Plaid Shirt" why I love it: I just purchased a shirt from Forever 21 men not too different from this one, and I love it, but what drew me to that one and the one pictured above was how much I like it for men (and obviously that's who it's supposed to be for). It's the perfect casual button down and can be worn with jeans, shorts, khakis and a number of types of shoes to give it a very different look depending on what you choose. And it's a great layering piece as well. But for me, I've worn this as a "jacket" over a classic striped sheath dress, and it's great tied up over or tucked into a skirt. It works over leggings and under anything from a jean jacket to a blazer. The square, big fit can juxtapose feminine silhouettes and adds a sense of casual ease to any outfit. But that's true with this shirt for either gender. where to get it: Forever 21, $27.90 -E
Most people's skin concerns can't be summed up in one simple adjective. It's never just oily, acne-prone, dull or aging; for most of us, it's an unfortunate combination of issues. But whether you're concerned about fine lines, huge pores or dark spots, one of the best tools you can use to improve the overall condition of your skin is an at-home peel. There's pretty much a peel designed for every skin issue, and most of them use glycolic acid or other exfoliators to combat a wide range of issues. They're especially great for fighting blackheads, reversing signs of aging, fading dark spots, minimizing pores and exfoliating for a brighter complexion. Just be careful to use these peels as directed on the package, as overusing or applying to super sensitive skin can cause chemical burns. Here are a few of my favorites: favorite for anti-aging/dark spots:Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel, $78, sephora.com
favorite for dull skin:
Origins Brighter By Nature High-Potency Brightening Peel with Fruit Acids, $38.50, sephora.comfavorite for delicate eye area:Ole Henriksen Truth is in the Eyes Eye Peel, $42, sephora.com-S
what it is: Zara studded camouflage shirt why I love it: I'm not really a camo girl, but I saw this hanging not where it was meant to be hanging while at Zara and the thing where I instantly come up with about 1,000 outfits happened. Then I couldn't stop thinking about it for days and eventually went back and got it. I got it a little big so that I can wear it as a "jacket" over pants and a shirt or a dress, or button it and wear it as a modern take on a button down with pants or a skirt (tucked in, left out, sloppy tucked, sleeves rolled, etc, etc I could go on and on). The green is a neutral and the studs and gold accents make a regular casual-leaning shirt more interesting, modern and dressier. It looks great against dark or light solids and is the perfect element for pattern mixing, and it's just right when you're traveling or don't know what to wear; you can just throw on and it basically makes and outfit instantly. where to get it: Zara, $79.90 -E
what it is: J.Crew Toni tassel loafers and Mona tassel heels why I love it: Where do I start? I have a weakness for menswear-inspired pieces (just as I have a weakness for menswear), and both of these shoes strike the perfect balance between menswear elements and a feminine shoe. The black-on-brown color combination makes these shoes able to go with literally anything, and I love the oxford detailing and the tassels as a nice extra touch. I think what made these catch my eye even more than other well-designed loafers, though, is the shape. Instead of a classic loafer or a trying-too-hard to make a feminine shape out of a classic loafer (read a shortened or too-rounded toe area), these take the shape of a smoking slipper, a shoe I also love. Sometimes hybrid styles can turn out less ideally than intended, but these are perfect. I wish I could stop staring. where to get it: J.Crew (flat), $238; J.Crew (heel), $268 -E
what it is: JINSoon nail polish why i love it*: It's fitting that this shiny new line of nail polishes launched in the middle of Fashion Week mayhem; their creator Jin Soon Choi is a fixture backstage, where so much Fashion Week mayhem occurs. She's basically the rockstar of the manicure world: she does all of the top shows and major celebrity photo shoots, and she has three successful eponymous salons in NYC. That's why it's baffled me for so long that she hadn't come out with her own line of nail polishes (yet somehow we live in a world where the Kardashians and Justin Bieber have). This line of polishes couldn't come Jin Soon enough (wow, I'm really sorry about that). Enter Space NK's JINSoon line. I was lucky enough to try out Nostalgia, a pinky-nude color, and I can report that these long overdue polishes don't disappoint. First, the shades: between the two "collections" (the "A La Mode" collection has trendier, bolder shades, while the "Quintessential" collection is more classic), there's really something for everyone. I'm pretty anti-shimmer when it comes to by nail polish choices, so I love that there's not one speck of iridescence in any of these shades. They also earn bonus cool points for being named by top models. But in my opinion, the formula is really what sets these nail polishes apart. I'm not kidding when I say these lacquers made it feel almost impossible to mess up even a rushed DIY manicure. The nude color I tried was opaque with just one coat, which pretty much never happens with other brands (sorry, Essie Mademoiselle). The polish goes on smoothly and dries with a super shiny finish, so you can pretty much skip base and top coat. where to get it: spacenk.com, $18 -S*This should say "why I really, really, really, really love it." Yes, I am aware that I just wrote a love letter/ode to a nail polish. Try it and you'll understand.
what it is: Keihl's Midnight Recovery Eye why i love it: This deeply moisturizing cream does exactly what the title claims: it helps your skin recover and bounce back from a late night or a few days of neglect. Light enough that it doesn't feel greasy but hydrating enough that it does its job, this product brightens and smoothes skin around the eyes like Photoshop in a tube. I love to use it as a base before I apply my makeup because it seals in moisture and serves as a kind of primer to help my undereye concealer stay on throughout the day. where to get it: keihls.com, $34 -S
what it is: Zara long pleated skirt why I love it: I love maxi skirts, but the normal neutrals like black or white can be overwhelming in long skirt form. My first maxi skirt was a charcoal gray color, and I found that to be more versatile than black, because anything I'd pair it with is automatically less of a stark contrast. That's how I feel about this pretty blush color. It's surprisingly versatile, and the knife pleats and light fabric give the skirt an ultra-feminine feel that allows for more outfit options in a way. The styling in this photo doesn't really show off how flattering the skirt is, but with a white t-shirt and flat sandals the skirt is perfect for a day, and with strappy heels and a silky tank, it can be dressed up. Pair it with combat boots and/or an oversized cardigan or crew neck sweater in colder weather and you've given the skirt a new vibe altogether. Zara isn't the only place to offer a skirt in this style and color, but I love the fabric and perfect blush shade this one comes in, and the price isn't too bad for something that is, after all, a trend. where to get it: Zara, $89.90 -E
 Doheny Tomato Multi |  Walden Cement Electric Blue |  Monti Charcoal Black Fluo | what (who) it is: Ruthie Davis why I love it: I was fact checking something for work last week when I first found out about Ruthie Davis, and I instantly felt FOMO for not knowing about this amazing shoe collection before. The above are just three shoes from the fall collection, but each style comes in multiple colors/color combinations. I love how the styles and colors take traditional shoe styles and add a little excitement to them without making them too crazy. The color combinations are just right. Any one of these shoes adds instant interest to an outfit while still being very wearable. They can serve as both an outfit maker or a great complement to a great outfit, and that is a balance that is incredibly hard to strike. where to get it: pre-fall and fall collection not yet available, but shop available shoes at Ruthie Davis-E
what it is: J.Crew Tippi sweater in polka dot why I love it: When I was about 14, I went through a polka dot-loving phase. This was when my interpretation of matching included colors, as well as patterns. I had a white tank top with pink polka dots that I would always pair with a white scarf belt that also had different shades of pink polka dots in the same size as the tank top. Those were dark times. Anyway, this phase came and went (I think it lasted a little too long), and since it ended, that "outfit" I used to wear with pride is what usually comes to mind when I think about polka dotted clothing. This makes me cringe. That is, until I was at J.Crew the other day and I saw this sweater. I'm not sure what color combo I love the best, but I love the contrast in this pink and gray option, even though I'm not much of a pink person. The polka dots are just large enough to be sophisticated but not so big that they could be part of a circus costume. The sweater itself is perfectly classic and a great weight for both layering and standing on its own. The kind of random placement of the dots I think was what sold me in the end. They are populous (yeah, I used that word) enough to make this a polka dotted sweater, but not so systematic that I feel like I'm in 8th grade shopping at Delia's. Per usual, my mental outfit generator is going crazy, and per usual, I think I'll be staring at this from afar for a while. Though, an extra note, if I go back and they have only an XL on sale, this is a sweater that works just as well in an oversized look! where to get it: J.Crew, $89.50 -E
what it is: Face Stockholm for J.Crew lipstick in Chili Flake why I love it: I was doing a little browsing to escape from the NYC heat the other day, and obviously ducked into J.Crew to see what's up with pre-fall over there. I usually don't gravitate to the beauty products because of the backhaul I have at home, but at the sight of a shade called Chili Flake, one of my favorite seasonings of all time, I had to see what was inside. The picture above doesn't fully capture how amazing this shade is. It is a red, but with a touch of orange and the slightest hint of a coral that makes it more striking than almost any other red I've seen. I kept taking the top off of the lipstick and looking at its amazingness. At the time, I was just taking mental inventory of what's in store for the season, but this has been on my mind for almost a week now, so I think I might have to go pick one up, even if my lipstick collection is heaping over the tray where I store it. where to get it: J.Crew, $20 -E
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