Sometimes black and white is just so easy, and with unexpected items can still be very interesting. I found this top at TJ Maxx earlier this summer and loved that it looks so much more expensive than the $16 it cost, plus it's extremely versatile. Here I have it hanging loose over a pair of leggings that have a tuxedo stripe down the side, and layered under a sheer baseball jacket. I finished off the look with mid-calf black leather boots to give the outfit some edge, but counteracted that with some feminine, sparkly jewelry. I focused more on rings than a necklace because with the collar and the baseball jacket that has a smaller circular neck, there's already a lot going on in that area.

I'll be the first to admit that I'm not the biggest art fan. I like my share of certain types of modern art, I love street art and I'm a fan of photography, but when it comes to fancy art museums and analyzing a brush stroke or a color choice, I'm pretty lost. Nor do I care so much. But when it comes to fashion in art, I can easily get on board. The Cut put up a slideshow with images from a book about fashion illustration, and I excitedly clicked through and it got me to thinking. I love the internet for bringing creative people to the masses and introducing fashion fans to people who combine fashion and art. Whether it's painting, illustration, graphic design with a message or comical depictions of industry realities, I can't get enough. It's easy to keep an eye out around the web, but some of my favorite sources for fashion art are below! 

The Cut: Between illustrated fashion personalities, photographs re-imagined or fashion shows drawn andpainted, New York Magazine's fashion blog really knows how to find and commission people who create some of the coolest fashion art. Search through the site for more.

Paper Fashion: I follow Paper Fashion on Instagram, and I love the beautiful embellished drawings that come up in my feed. Katie Rodgers is extremely talented and really has an eye for bringing out the subtleties.

Honestly WTF: One of my favorite blogs, they cover real art, which I almost always love, but also fashion art and illustration. They find people from all over the world and bring it to their great blog. It's led me down a lot of hours of rabbit holes.

Pinterest: My board titled "Create" logs all the artistic ideas I find on Pinterest and all around the Internet. It's not just fashion art, but there's a lot of fashion art in there, and each pin will lead to where I found the work if it wasn't from my Pinterest feed.

UPDATE: Honestly WTF highlighted Vogue's December cover spread which used inspiration from iconic art pieces for recreations featuring Jessica Chastain.

Boots, besides weather specific ones, are not part of the "must-have" mens wardrobe. That doesn't mean they shouldn't be a part of them anyway, though. Options are fairly limited when it comes to cold weather and you have to wear socks, so boots expand those options both for dress and for casual.

There are several different kinds of boots, and they fall under a number of different categories, but today we'll split them into casual and dress. Pretty self explanatory, but casual can be worn with most things while dress are best kept with suits. Ben Ferrari has some great examples of casual options in this slideshow for GQ. 

Dress boots are a little more daring, so we'll go there first. Dress boots are typically leather and much more simple than casual boots. Boots with embellishments like buckles, plain boots and chelsea boots are the best to wear with suits. Some dress boots look sort of like a taller version of a dress shoes, and those work too. You want something that easily and invisibly fits under the pant leg and doesn't have too heavy of a sole for a formal look. They're easy to find at any store that sells men's shoes, but I advise trying them on with the pants you'll wear them with before committing, because it definitely gives the suit a different look.

Now for casual boots. There's a much bigger variety here, whether it's in color, sole type, closure type, height and style. Much of the choice comes down to opinion, but there are "norms" for wearing boots and what you should wear them with. Casual boots can go with pretty much anything you'd wear your casual shoes/loafers/boat shoes with. Jeans, cords, khakis, and the different colors those come in. Boots can really elevate the look of an outfit, but make sure your pants either fit over them, you will cuff them right or that you'll master the sloppy pant tuck. Desert, hiking, duck, chukka--there are lots of options, but for cooler weather and the possibility of snow in the not so far future, leather is good for the seasons to come, and the risk is definitely worth it. Take the chance, and make the investment.

Ashley Madekwe of Revenge is publicly a fashion lover with a fashion blog photographed by her photographer husband. There aren't a ton of close up detail shots, but when there are, it shows her excellent accessorizing sense, especially when it comes to rings. Whether casual or more formal, she likes to load on the rings of all different shapes, sizes and metals, and she's so good at doing it without looking too heavy or crowded. Here are some of the shots that showcase her ability best. Check out her blog for even more. 

The Canadian tuxedo, once a fashion don't, like all fashion "rules" have been challenged and broken beyond recognition. Daring fashion rebels have worn denim on denim for a long time, but in recent years, the new crop has come to prove that it's not just for 90s dads, Canadians, Texans and those other labeled groups known for anything besides being fashionable. Street style and blogs let us see how people pair light with dark or dare to go monochrome with their wash. We see what footwear they choose and if they attempt to break up the all over denim. And it should be noted that this is definitely not a girls-only style. Below are some great examples of why, exactly, we decided to start ignoring that rule in the first place. And why we can do so all year round.

Source unknown photos are from a Pinterest search of "denim on denim."

I'm pretty much in the minority of people who aren't under the Blake Lively spell. She famously doesn't work with a stylist, and I really think she should because her fashion choices, particularly for red carpet events, often underwhelm me. But she's famous and beloved and married to Ryan Reynolds, so what do I know? Anyway this isn't about me (or her, really), it's about the outfit. It has been legitimately cold over the last few days and I've been dreaming of living in thick sweaters that make up half of an automatic outfit (side note: there are some great sweaters in stores right now if you are sharing this sentiment). Blake here is doing this sweater dressing in a more risky way while still keeping it together exceptionally well. She's got the black and white color scheme going in so it's safe to mix the Isabel Marant stripes and houndstooth pants (which are extremely awesome but also look sort of navy in this picture?) and the black Louboutin flats and gray purse are the only necessary accessories and they're remarkably unfussy. Bonus for the matching shades. There's so much potential for there to be a lot going on here, and it all just jives. Next time you're wanting to be lazy and uninspired like me, reach for a more interesting knit and a patterned pant instead of the normal ancient sweater/jegging combo and feel like Blake. Or wish you were her, especially after her recent admission of never working out and eating a lot of chocolate. Something to aspire to.

what it is: Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick
why I love it: On days when you're really trying to make a beauty statement via lip color, you really want something that packs a punch in terms of color saturation. The last thing you want from a lip color is for it to be disappointingly sheer, requiring too much time layering just to have it wipe off immediately. Well, this lip color is the answer to any woes you might possibly have. I have the "Icon" and "Raven" shades. The former is a true red that makes me feel old Hollywood glamorous every time I wear it, and the latter (pictured above) is a coralish/orangish red that is the perfect choice for when I need something just a few blocks from classic. Jessica Alba wore "Riviera," their perfect shade of orange to the 2013 Golden Globe awards and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it ever since. Apart from the colors being absolutely perfect and coming in a range from neutral and feminine to bold and head turning, the colors are truly opaque and one swipe on each lip is pretty much all you need. You apply the color like gloss, but it has the consistency of lipstick and it stays on for hours. I just wore "Raven" yesterday from about noon until 10PM, eating, drinking, talking and generally living in between and only had to reapply the color once. I would say the only thing to potentially improve the color is to add a clear gloss on top if that's the look you're going for. If matte is what you want though, nothing extra is needed. The tubes seem small, but when you need so little so seldom to get the same coverage and staying power as other lip products, you don't need one the size of your normal gloss.
where to get it: hourglass.com, $28
*Note: the colors on the Hourglass website seem a little off on my computer screen. A little extra research into the true appearance of the shade might be required!

The temperature is dropping, and that means your favorite pair of worn-in jeans and paper thin t-shirt won't cut it to walk outside anymore. This is when reaching for your shiny new pair of corduroys is the best option. As it continues to grow colder and throughout the subsequent winter, there are days when you need something that works harder if you're not willing to layer long underwear beneath your legwear. Sometimes texture can scare guys away, but cords are a great investment. They allow you to add color to your wardrobe without going with the daring colored denim, and having these will really help keep things interesting during different seasons. These will differentiate between your cold and warm weather clothes. I recommend getting these in gray or a warm khaki color so building outfits and pairing with shoes and belts doesn't require extra thought, but you can go with navy (like the stylish guy above), black or even other colors like red or dark green to mix it up if you're confident in your outfit building ability. These also serve as dressier casual options than jeans, so pair them with oxfords and a quarter zip, a comfy shawl neck sweater or a v-neck sweater with a button down underneath. It doesn't matter whether you're into a bigger or smaller rib of corduroy (though smaller is a little younger and more modern), just invest in a pair or two...or more, and start the cold season off right. Esquire can help get you started shopping.

Curious about cords at all? GQ has you covered. And if you want to get fancy with it, they have some full cord suit options here.

Happy Monday! Today we're keeping it casual with this easy, cool outfit. It's a little cold to go sockless at this point in the season, but this works with socks just as well. Maybe better if you don't go with a cuff, though. First things first, get jeans that fit with a nice wash that can be taken from day to night, from dinner with her parents to the seventh fireball shot on a Saturday night. This look simply doesn't work without some well fitting grownup jeans. Grab your favorite (also grownup) casual belt to polish it off. Take a t-shirt that you'd wear on its own and throw on a shallow v-neck sweater in a color that works with the t-shirt. To finish it off, throw on a casual jacket and get a little risky with white oxfords. White isn't the only risky but cool option, though. Just go with anything that might make you think twice, or that you might think is a little too out there. But just a little bit. Don't forget your watch and sunglasses, and you're good to go. This outfit is so easy it's almost painful every guy doesn't already dress this well. But now you know.

When it finally felt like fall, I was so excited to cook with butternut squash. I immediately looked up recipes on my favorite food blogs, and I came upon this one, which is easy and pretty quick and perfect for a vegetable side dish. The combination of flavors was so fresh and perfect for the season, I can't wait to make it again.

crusted butternut squash
serves about 4

1 Butternut Squash (about 2 lbs.)
2 tsp. Olive Oil
1/2 tsp. Fresh Ground Nutmeg
1/3 Cup Fresh Breadcrumbs/Panko
1/2 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
1 Minced Garlic Clove
1 Tbsp. Finely Chopped Parsley
1/4 Cup Fresh Thyme Leaves
Salt and Pepper