Trench Time: Club Monaco Harper Trench

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There are a few wardrobe staples that every girl should splurge on and a trench coat is one of them. Synonymous with Fall, a trench coat is a classic coat that can be worn again and again, season after season, year after year.

Each season, the classic silhouette is updated to suit upcoming trends; cropped, long, textured, printed, metallic. I am a big believer of – if it ain’t broke… The classic design has been around since World War I and is still going strong.

Two qualities of my perfect trench coat are classic in design and beautifully tailored. My current favorite is the Harper Trench by Club Monaco. It features the classic double-breasted style with button closure and belted sleeve hem. The fit is strong but feminine and very flattering.

A trench coat is a versatile fashion piece that can be worn with both light and heavy layers. Rain or shine the trench coat is a classic and chic must-have.

5 under $50: Summer Dress

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Take the guess-work out of summer outfits. With the simple summer dress, one can quickly and casually throw it on all summer long.

Look for universal prints and colors. If you choose a more trendy version, i.e neons and/or bold prints, it will be more recognizable and you will not get as much wear out of it. Let the summer dress be the base of any ensemble and change it up with different pairings: jackets, scarves, layers (crop-tops/slouchy tees) and accessories. These dresses will be in your closet for numerous summers to come. Here are five favorites all under $50.00.

Volcom ~ Festivus: $45.00

Element ~ Robin Striped Dress: $44.50

BB Dakota ~ Dora Stripe Dress: $49.00 (sale)

Hive & Honey ~ Floral Blousant Dress: $39.99 (sale)

Forever 21 ~ Casual Chambray Dress: $15.50

Fashion & Function: Bleulab Reversible Denim

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Having a hard time committing to new denim trends? Try reversible. Bleulab has created a new breed of denim that is the perfect combination of fashion and function.

Bleulab’s founder and inventor Carl Jones discovered a double-faced fabric during a trip to China in 2009 and brought it back to the U.S. to begin testing various washes and treatments. The jeans’ design uses a double-headed tack button and a reversible zipper with five pockets featured on either side to achieve two distinctive looks per pair.

Built for today’s woman “an adventurer who is constantly in motion” the styles are named with that in mind: shortcut, paved, curve, rotate, detour and interhoodie.

Great for travel, reversible jeans mean more suitcase space and spending money. These jeans will take you from day-to-night with “superman-like” abilities. And lastly, I love how one is able to dive into a new trend (i.e. colored denim, coated denim, printed denim) without bellyflopping. The reversible side is always a neutral more mainstream style, wearable for years.

Double your outfit options with Bleulab.

Back to Basics: Layering Favorites

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Layering articles of clothing is not only practical but stylish. The art of layering will create insulation to keep you warm but will also lay the foundation for a very versatile wardrobe.

Start with your favorite basics. When shopping for basics, buy for comfort and quality. This will ensure getting the most wear out of the article of clothing. Then… buy in quantity. If you love a particular piece – purchase in different colors, patterns or styles.

For instance,  H&M tanks and camis are great – they are cheap, come in an array of colors/patterns and are made long in length. It is quite difficult to find a good tank, long enough to cover the bum when wearing leggings or tights. These tanks will also layer beautifully under just about anything, without any added bulk.

Old Navy is another great place to find layering basics. I love the light-weight v-necks and crew-necks. They are soft, comfortable, inexpensive and come in great basic colors. I wear them everywhere from the gym to work. On their own, accessorized with a great scarf or layered under a sequin/leather/boyfriend blazer to create a textured-casual look.

When it comes to quality, Splendid and KAIN Label, are unbeatable. They both provide silk blend basics that are extraordinarily comfortable and styles that are continuously on trend each season. These are the best basic pieces to collect each season, that will last a lifetime.

What are your favorite basics?