Photography: Tre Thomas

So, Fall finally showed up. A lot of people find Fall very draining to dress for, because you are dressing for two different temperatures in one day. Most likely it’s freezing in the morning when you leave your house for work, and by the time you head out for lunch, it’s hot. This is why it’s important to step up your layering game. You just add and take away layers as the temperature changes throughout the day (more on this in a later post). An essential layering piece for the season is a leather jacket. You’re welcome to get a faux leather jacket, but for the love of God please don’t choose faux leather that looks like a trash bag. Unless you want to look like Missy Elliot circa 1997. In which case, go right on ahead. You should also choose a leather jacket that is sufficiently lined. We like to dress for both function and fashion over here, so please don’t waste your money on a thin leather jacket that you’ll only be able to wear twice. Real or fake, a good leather jacket should have some weight to it so you don’t freeze when the sun goes down.  I also love to layer a fur vest over my leather jacket.  Fur and leather together is almost always a good idea. Here are some tips for buying a good faux leather jacket if that’s the route you want to take.

Photography: Tre Thomas

• Check the texture.  Real leather has a grainy texture, so a good fake should mimic that as well.  A completely smooth texture is a dead give away of faux leather.
• Avoid the shine.  Genuine leather is more matte than shiny, so if you’re going for a natural look opt for jackets with less sheen.
• Check the flexibility.  Actual leather has some give to it, as does quality faux leather.  A stiff leather jacket is no one’s friend.
• Go for some color.  You don’t have to play it safe with a natural leather color like brown or black.  In fact, some people find that trendy colored faux leather mimics the real thing better than natural colors.  Whenever I have to choose an accent color, I go with cobalt blue.  I’ve never seen anyone of any skin tone look bad in cobalt blue, and it pairs well with so many other colors.

Photography: Tre Thomas

I am obsessed with midi dresses and midi skirts. For one thing, they look very classic and sophisticated for everyday wear IMHO. The other reason is that I can’t do mini anything. I don’t have the highly coveted (by some of you) thigh gap. My thighs touch, and I feel overly self-conscious walking in things that are short. I’m constantly pulling them down, and adjusting them, and who has the time for all of that all damn day?! A midi length lets me show my legs, and still walk comfortably. H&M has some of the cutest midi length dresses each season. I chose this one because I love the color, and it’s heavy. If I can’t tell the quality of something, the weight of it is good indicator of whether or not it’s worth the purchase. I also prefer a split in the back for ease of movement, and this dress has a cute hidden zipper detail that allows me to make the split as low or as high as I need to.  Because it’s so stretchy, I can walk pretty easily though; hence, why the zipper is down in these shots.
Click through for more shots of this look.

Photography: Tre Thomas