As a New Yorker, and as my mother's daughter, black on black should be second nature to me. But I'm not a native New Yorker and my mother and I have different style philosophies, so this is not the case. I don't disagree that all black looks are always classy and it's hard to go wrong. Many times they look automatically more stylish and sophisticated, and one of the many upsides is that it's easy to accessorize. My complaint is that all black and be boring or sometimes too heavy, and throughout the winter, I like to try to keep it light with brighter colors so my SAD doesn't kick in. If every all black outfit was like Zina's here, though, I think I could subscribe to the all black believers. There are so many good things going on here, so let's start at the top.

First, her necklace is really cute AND it stands out without competing because it's the ONLY thing (minus the gold details on the bag, which don't count. And maybe some rings we can't see?) that's not black in the outfit. The sweater is large and chunky and long, so the necklace isn't too much for it, and the high neck is probably the best neckline for this particular statement necklace. I love how the sweater hangs long over the skirt, which is leather making the texture contrast very striking in the absence of color. The sweater isn't so long as to hide the skirt and it's also not awkwardly reaching just past the waistline so you're not sure if it's intentionally long or wonder if it should be tucked. The opaque black tights and cap toe heeled booties are simple but not boring finishes to an overall simple but not boring all black outfit. This is great for fall and winter, and is also great to note with all the holidays that will be upon us in a matter of weeks. 

It's starting to feel genuinely cold out, but that doesn't mean style goes out the window. It does, however, probably mean that you can't go sockless and layers are something to actually consider. Summers can suck for guys because suits just kind of aren't fair while girls get to wear airy skirts and sleeveless dresses, but winter is really where suits can be the most convenient cold weather option while leaving guys looking dapper, put together and on top of their style game. If traditional suits aren't required for work, or a whole suit look might seem too stuffy, roll up the sleeves and throw on some sharp sneakers and a hat--all solid colored as to not take away from the pattern in the suit. This guy went with a sweater wrapped around his neck instead of a tie or just nothing at all, which isn't necessarily everyone's look, but that sweater could be thrown over the button down under the jacket to keep it even more casual. This guy knows his way around a suit and all the options that come with what's normally considered formal wear. This outfit can serve as a how to for taking off the suit accessory staples and replacing them with something casual and cool.

This week, we'll end with a glamorous note to start off the weekend. Miley Cyrus walked the red carpet in Marc Jacobs to honor MJ with an award at the FGI Night of Stars, and she nailed it. I believe Miley knows exactly what she's doing with her image as she struts around nearly naked, unable to contain her wild tongue. So it was a nice contrast to the last few weeks of weird mesh, cropped and barely there fashion statements she's been making. This dress shows some skin, in true Miley fashion, but keeps it limited to just the backless region while keeping everything else covered up but still very sexy with the slinky fit. The all-over shades of green sequins also give the dress Miley-mandatory personality. She looks youthful but sophisticated and very, very polished, keeping the rest of the styling to a minimum. It's almost as if Miley decided it was time to try normaling. Not that the common folk get to go to these types of black tie events, but it's easy to take a cue from Miley on this carpet: you can have a lot going on without an x-rated outfit, and polished and sophisticated is not limited to the LBD. Also, it's possible for her to go a night without seeing her tongue, which is good news for people who possess the gift of sight everywhere.

J.Crew just released looks from their November style guide and, not surprisingly, it's filled with great new outfit ideas that sticks to the reinstated simple basics that J.Crew originally became famous for (and was criticized for straying from, though I didn't mind). Here we have one of said looks, and I think it pretty much sums up how we generally feel about November. It's pretty cold, not quite transitioning anymore, but it's also not quite Christmas season yet. It's the casual fall month that calls for more committed layers than October, but when a month of possible parties and potentially stuffy family gatherings lurks not far in the future, you want to keep it simple, easy, quick and comfortable. This girl keeps it cool with a pretty glamorous twist. I love the rich fall jewel tones incorporated in the outfit, and that the sweatshirt is a very luxurious velvet(?) with nice cropped pants that can work with so many different outfit combinations and shoe choices. The chambray shirt layered under the sweatshirt and bejeweled baseball cap keep this outfit casual and cool while the heels balance out the rich solids and keep it feminine and dressy. It's a balanced mix of casual and dressy with nice color combinations and punctuating pattern. It's not trying too hard, but it doesn't look completely thoughtless. Great inspiration for November go-to outfits when the last thing you want to do is leave your warm, comfy bed. 

I've only just begun season 2 of Revenge, but Ashley Madekwe's character, Ashley Davenport, is easily one of my least favorite characters on the show as of now. However, real life Ashley seems pretty great and also has an extremely endearing fashion blog that I discovered while working at StyleWatch (they love her over there). Pretty much everything looks good on her, but she has a knack for creating colorful outfits with great proportions and brings some of her British influence to the predominantly LA-based photos. Here we have a great transitional outfit that's very easy to re-create. My obsession with oversized chunky sweaters continues, and this is a great example of why. It's not too overpowering, but the oversized-ness of it makes it hang nicely, almost like a flowy shirt. She keeps the rest of the outfit snug with some perfect black jeans and Zara two-toned sandals that I'd really enjoy having in my life. Neon jewelry and, of course, that red Chanel bag add some vibrant touches to this mostly casual and neutral outfit. The heeled sandals and punchy accessories really dress up an easy sweater with jeans look, but nothing competes with each other and nothing is overdone. Perfection.

The blogger behind 9 to 5 Chic doesn't work in fashion, but she's made it her mission to showcase her style sense in work-appropriate attire, something I'm personally a big fan of. Just because you have to dress professionally, doesn't mean you have to be drab. And this outfit is anything but. Like Jenna Lyons, I consider leopard to be a neutral of sorts, and she outfit mixes perfectly with an almost magnified version of leopard. Keeping everything in the same color family, she grounds the print mix with a belt and black pumps with wooden heels. This is such a simple, easy outfit that is made up of normal workday wear at its core, but elevated and made much more interesting with complementary pattern play. This is a job well done.

Today's menswear look comes from the ever-difficult blazer over t-shirt look that walks the fine line between not quite there and effortlessly polished casual. This guy achieved the latter with his simple casual outfit. I'll admit that I'm not quite sure why sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn't, but fit and blazer choice definitely have something to do with it. This guy has some well-fitting lightly distressed jeans that set the tone for the outfit. He paired them with a t-shirt that also fits well and, though it is a "graphic tee", it's clearly not something he got for free from a frat party, nor is it anything close to an Ed Hardy situation. It's understated and alone, it would make a nice casual outfit under the plaid/flannel button down that peeks out under the blazer, which is important. Again, sometimes that look--t-shirt under unbuttoned button down--can look sloppy and juvenile, but if you choose the right items, it won't look that way. He finishes off the foundation with some nice sneakers. These aren't what he'd wear to the gym and they aren't scuffed and worn, they're a sneaker for the purpose of a casual outfit. They work. Then comes the hard part: the blazer. It's not part of a suit set (which would make it NOT a blazer), and it fits him well, like a sweater. It's a well considered afterthought that doesn't scream structured and polished over a casual outfit, he styled it to make it fit with the casual vibe. It's neutral coloring and winter textures help with the casual feel as well. The finished look is easy and not fussy at all. It doesn't look like he's trying too hard, and it really elevates a simple jeans and t-shirt look for day or a more casual night.

Happy Friday! To celebrate the almost weekend, I think a casual look is in order. Blair Eadie of Atlantic-Pacific is one of my biggest style inspirations. She really thinks outside of the box in terms of what can or should "go" in an outfit, and though this is one of her more casual looks, it's no exception. This is the perfect fall put-together lazy day outfit, and it's so simple when deconstructed. At its base, it's just a classic striped long sleeved shirt over distressed, (not too) boyfriend style jeans. Instead of a jacket, she layered a chunky, shorter-sleeved fisherman's sweater over top and dressed it up with some fall-appropriate strappy velvet heels in a nice rust color. Pile on the lighter statement bracelets and opt for a clutch instead of a big bag and this outfit seems so light and girly with a cozy twist. It's something fresh now that there's a bite in the air.

Fossil commissioned the blogger behind Song of Style to model in and style one of their past lookbooks, which is where this look comes from. I think this is perfect for fall, and when it gets a little cooler, would work well with tights. Fall is the season for layering, and she did a good job choosing the fit and colors that went into her cozy looking layers. The oversized sweatshirt in a faded yellow under an oversized flannel worn unbuttoned under a longer but more snug coat look effortless. All the oversized works against the short shorts (or skirt? I can't really tell, but either way the bottoms are short). This perfect weekend look is made even cooler by adding peeking socks to the heeled desert boots she chose as footwear. It looks haphazard and effortless--like she overslept for a brunch date and picked up what was on the floor, yet the chaos is controlled to the perfect proportions and mix of warm fall tones and a little bit of flirty that makes this interesting outfit one to try for the weekend.

How cool does she look? I love the straightforward sweater tucked into this patterned skirt that's not so long that it looks like it needs to stay at work, but not so short that it looks like it only can go to the club. Like a t-shirt, but a little more interesting and fall appropriate. The pattern is eye-catching and the whole outfit is just easy, but much more elevated than the sweater would be with jeans, which is also easy for fall. A clutch instead of a handbag make this even more stylish and the hat punctuates the look with a statement that offsets the femininity of a tight, short skirt. I wish we could see the shoes, but it's maybe for the best that we can't because this look would work with so much. Combat boots, riding boots, pumps, sandals, chelsea boots, interesting flats, sneakers, booties--depending on where you're going, this look invites a selection of footwear. A statement necklace or scarf could also work with this, but sometimes simple is best. I definitely want to go to lunch AND after work drinks with this girl.