Get Into Bold Prints With The J.Crew x CJR Collection

Holiday season is upon us and that means it's time to start organizing gifts, getting the Christmas decorations up, and planning holiday party outfits. And speaking of outfits, going from everyday dressing to party dressing is not completely straightforward. Holiday parties tend to be more formal and require a more intentional process than workwear or casual outfits. Whether you go for an evening gown, a little black dress, or a sequin ensemble, looking the part for a New Year's get-together is a not only a matter of the clothing, it also has a lot to do with the accessories, including shoes. Satin and velvet heels adorned with rhinestones have been at the top of classic formal wear shoes. Those are great options to amp up the glam effect and bring a touch of red carpet allure to an outfit. However some of those shoes can be so dressy that it's hard to get much wear out of them and rock them for more frequent activities such as going to work, or a night-time dinner date. And if you're like me, you like a good, quality pair of shoes that can multitask and go with more than just a velvet dress. I find that classic pointed toe silhouettes with minimal bedazzling, or even flat shoes in rich materials such as velvet offer a more versatile take on holiday party shoes than the traditional satin pumps with crystal embellishments. After all, who doesn't want to be able to wear the same shoes to a Christmas party as they do to a girls night out in April?

Check out this party shoe roundup featuring picks that will glam up your party fits, and also be perfectly appropriate for your less formal feats.

It's that time of the year when it's still very much Summer but when we start longing for the crisp Fall air, the changing landscape colors, and the fashion adventure. Fall is the best season when it comes to fashion in my opinion. Contrarily to Summer when you have to spare the amount of clothing you wear and are limited with fabric choices, Fall offers total style freedom. No need to haul around a big coat, yet we can play with all kinds of materials and layers without feeling like we'll succomb to a heat stroke. Going from Summer to Fall is a great time to get back into trench jackets, update your color palette, and introduce texture to your outfits. Here are 5 easy tips to nail the Summer to Fall fashion transition:

Add a Classic Fall Color

We all recognize Fall's classic hues. They are mainly marigold yellow, burgundy red, burnt orange, olive green and brown. Adding any of these colors to your outfits instantly gives them a Fall mood.

One option is to pair blue jeans with a jacket in one of the Fall colors I mentioned above. To keep it transitional, I opted for off-white shoes.

Another way to straddle Summer and Fall in style is to again go for blue jeans, but this time with a blouse and accessories in berry tones such as this blouse and this oxblood leather handbag.

Wear Brown Boots

It doesn't matter what you wear, if you throw on some brown leather boots, you're sure to create a Fall vibe. For this elevated casual outfit, I went for a brown pleated skirt with a denim jacket and brown leather boots. The generous amount of brown, boots included, keeps this look in tune with the season.

Throw on a Trench or Leather Jacket

Just as the sky is blue, everyone needs a good trench coat and leather jacket. These are classic Fall staples and offer a lot of styling versatility. You can wear them more formally or casually, with just about anything in your wardrobe. For this office outfit, I paired wide-leg linen pants that I wore during the summer with a wide leather belt and a leather jacket. This is an easy way to keep your Summer favorites in rotation while making your way into Fall.

I followed the same formula here, pairing Summer's staple white jeans with a long khaki trench coat. Mixing Summer and Fall pieces is sure to deliver the perfect transitional outfit.

Have Fun Layering

Layering puts so much fun into dressing! It's really the part of it that lets you create unique outfits and stand out. When it comes to layering, there are really no hard and fast rules. It's all about being adventurous and going for what strikes your fancy. Here, I paired black-brown jeans with a longline printed top that I layered with a knit vest. Keeping to sleeveless layers keeps the outfit breathable in the transitional weather.

Play with Texture

If not during the Fall, when else will you get away with mixing textured knits, silk, leather, and suede all in one look? Fall's definitely the time to just reach for all your favorite materials and creatively assemble them into a look. Case in point: this outfit featuring a silk midi skirt, a cable-knit sweater, a leather moto jacket and suede knee-high boots. To keep everything flowing, try and keep the pieces in the same color family.