Saddle up for these winners

     The Oxford and Derby saddle shoes are the new fall favorites stepping into the fashion arena.  All the hottest celebrities like Taylor Swift, Kristen Stewart, Sienna Miller, Leighton Meester, Jessica Biel, and Rihanna (retrovintageshoes) have been seen trotting in these preppy and stylish shoes.
     They are perfect for fall because they come in an array of earthy tones like brown, black, tan, yellow, and white. 
     Oxford and Derby shoes go well with virtually everything from dresses to shorts.  They can be worn with a cute pair of ribbed tights and a casual dress or skirt if you are looking for something a little more chic.  If you are looking for something a little more professional you can wear them with some high-waisted pants or a skirt and pair it with a cute blazer.  To add a little fun or spice to your outfit, wear a patterned pair of tights or leggings under your shorts, dresses, or skirt.
     They also come in a range of styles.  Some of them have more of a feminine flair while others might have a bulkier sole and be more simple.  They also come in a high-heeled shoe if you are looking for something a step above the rest.
     Although the Oxford and the Derby shoe names have been used interchangeably, there is a slight difference between the two.   The only difference is when you take a look at the vamp of the shoe.  The lace facings on the Derby shoes are not stitched to the bottom while they are stitched to the bottom on Oxford shoes (retrovintageshoes). 
     Whether you chose to wear Derby or Oxford shoes, you will jockey your way to the top of the fashion list.

Kristen Stewart, Zoe Kravitz, and Taylor Swift in Oxford/Derby shoes. (retrovintageshoes)

 Ashley Greene, Taylor Swift (again), and Leighton Meester in Oxford/Derby shoes. (retrovintageshoes)

Sienna Miller wearing Oxford/Derby shoes with all sorts of styles. (retrovintageshoes)

Lady loves Levine

     Asher Levine has caught Lady Gaga's eye with his unique sense of fashion.  Lady Gaga has been seen wearing two of the 22-year-old's custom pieces.  She recently wore his white strait jacket coat while performing on the Today Show and one of his long black motorcycle jackets in an issue of Rolling Stone (ladygaga.bandaiders).  
     Levine recently graduated from Pace University in New York and in a matter of weeks Lady Gaga was donning his designs.  According to a Pace University publication, Levine said that he chose to go to Pace over Parsons because he needed to know how to do other things like accounting and marketing, all the things a fashion school like Parsons leaves out (thepulse.blogs.pace.edu).
      The Port Charlotte, Florida native just presented his second full collection at New York Fashion Week in New York City (pressroom.blogs.pace.edu). 
      Levine is beginning to experience the fruit of his labors with Lady Gaga.  Where will this newfound publicity lead him next?

Asher Levine (thepulse.blogs.pace.edu)

Lady Gaga wearing Levine's black motorcycle jacket (style.mtv)

Lady Gaga in Levine's motorcycle jacket (thepulse.blogs.pace.edu)

Lady Gaga in Levine's strait jacket coat (dailymail)

Click here to see Asher Levine's latest collection.

The skinny on leggings

      Leggings are fashion forward this fall.  Celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker, Kate Bosworth (fredgal), Sienna Miller (thequickanddirtydirty), Charlize Theron (denimideas), and Miley Cyrus (leathergirlsblog) have been spotted wearing leggings.
     They are being worn with all types of clothing like over-sized t-shirts, dresses, tunics, and tailored shirts.  Some people are even wearing leggings under their shorts.  Leggings can be made dressy or casual.  Some leggings have accents of lace, leather, and gold or diamond studs; and some are just solid colors.
     Leggings can be worn with different types of shoes depending on the style you are aiming for.  Ankle boots or heels can be worn with them to get a more chic and dressy look.  If you are going for a more relaxed look you can wear flip flops, sandals or ballerina flats.
     One kind of legging that is popular this fall is the jean legging, or "jeggings."  These leggings are like a pair of really tight skinny jeans, but they are extremely stretchy and comfortable.  Some brands even go as far as adding fake zipper stitching in the front and pockets in the back, while others are just a plain denim legging.
     Although leggings can look super cute and fashionable, they can also look distasteful at times. You should NOT wear a short shirt with leggings.  Leggings are not a substitute for pants.  So, please be classy and wear a shirt long enough to cover the rear.
     Leggings are perfect for those fall days when the weather is slightly chilly.  Whether you are making a quick trip to Starbucks or having a night out on the town, leggings are a perfect fit.
 

Charlize Theron in jeggings (denimideas)

Miley Cyrus performing in latex leggings (leathergirlsblog)

Sienna Miller wearing jeggings (thequickanddirtydirty)

Kate Bosworth and Sarah Jessica Parker wearing leggings (fredgal)

Kate Bosworth and Kim Kardashian wearing leggings (celebdelacream)

Enlist in the new fall fashion

      The military trend is this fall's hot new style.  The colors of camouflage, khaki, army green, navy, and dark brown are detonating throughout the fashion world.  Celebrities like Beyonce (jonesmag), Victoria Beckham (victoriabeckham-jenna), Kim Kardashian (intheircloset), Rihanna (fashionshops), Carmen Electra, and Katie Holmes (mylifetime) are just a few of the celebrities that are soldiering this new style. They each chose a slightly different look and added their own touch to their outfits.  Whether they added sunglasses, big belts, high heels, or the perfect hat to their wardrobe, they all managed to keep it soft and chic.
      Some hot items to include in your military wardrobe are cargo and "military" jackets, leather leggings, tall boots, faux fur-lined collars, and brass buttons.  These might sound rough and masculine by themselves, but when you put them together they can create an astounding ensemble.  The leather leggings can be paired with a cargo jacket and some tall boots to create a strong, yet feminine appearance.  Adding brass buttons or a sparkly headband or bracelet is another way to give this trend a feminine boost.  The array of colors used in the military trend are mostly neutral colors, too.  It will be easy to get the most out of your wardrobe by mixing and matching some of the elements from one outfit with another.  Now,  let's see how long this war on fashion will last.

Beyonce wearing a Balmain military jacket (jonesmag)

Kim Kardashian in a military-style romper (intheircloset)

Rihanna wearing a Balmain military jacket (fashionshops)

Victoria Beckham wearing a Balmain leather military jacket (victoriabeckham-jenna)

Olivia Palermo, Carmen Electra, Elle Macpherson, and Katie Holmes pictured in cargo jackets (mylifetime)

 military trend pieces (fashionforlunch)