Laura Vidrequin, Feb. 10, 2012

Laura looks beautiful in chic proportions. She effortlessly mixes a minimal look of men's and women's wear. Her statement coat, which looks amazing layered over her below-the-knee skirt, ties everything together. And the length of her skirt looks amazing with her oxfords.

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Sundays were made for friends: ADR and George

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Ulyana Sergeenko, White Swan

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Red Military Bandleader Coat

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Max Mara Atelier

A few weeks ago while walking home from an appointment, I passed Max Mara which had recently dressed its window to display its Fall 2010 sun glass collection. The collection is gorgeous, but what really caught my eye was the first few pieces of outerwear used in the display. After the dominant presence of camel and fur coats/fur accents on the Fall 2010 runways, I had decided early out (in March) that it was an absolute must that I visit the incredibile Italian fashion house to pick up a coat for the fall. Seeing these few pieces in the window amplified my excitement for what was to come and jogged my memory about the house's Fall 2010 Atelier collection of coats that I had the pleasure of viewing back in March.

The collection of "made to measure" sartorial beauties includes these two key fall looks. This camel coat is an exquisite example of feminine-meets-masculine. The coat, inspired by the traditional men's dress coat, is tempered with a feminine silhouette along the waist and is accented with a superbly draped collar. The grey coat also takes cues from men's wear and is fabulously decorated with a luxe fur hem. Both coats are sophisticated and timeless, qualities that are synonymous with the Max Mara design aesthetic. If there is one thing that I have learned since moving to Milan, it's that Italians know their outerwear. I feel like with two coats like these in your closet, you could fulfill not only all your Fall 2010 outerwear needs but also those of the not-so-near future. What do you think?

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Leopard

This is my staple leopard-print piece. I got it on sale five years ago at Club Monaco. I wear it whenever I want to make a statement. Even though I have worn it consistently since I purchased it, I was psyched last winter when designers sent animal prints down the catwalks. Pat on my shoulder for a good purchase! I was further encouraged after the Burberry Art of the Trench collaboration with The Sartorialist was launched, and the word trench found itself on the tip of every one's tongue. I thought, wow a two-for-one! But this fall when I pulled it from my closet to send it to the cleaners for a seasonal freshening-up, something just wasn't right.

Image courtesy of style.com

I revisited collections like Isabel Marant and decided that it was the silhouette of my coat that wasn't working for me anymore. I didn't want a faux fur trench. I wanted something more of-the-moment. Then I remembered that a friend of mine found a great vintage leopard coat at an estate sale a few years ago. I decided to take the vintage road. I looked around for a cute version, but as of a week before the men's collections here in Milan, I hadn't found anything interesting. I did however, see something cute at the Mango end-of-season sale. But, deterring me after I get an idea in my head can be a daunting enterprise. I remained on my vintage course.

There are ways to knock me off course though. And it often has to do with stylish men or women that inspire me. So, on the last day of the men's shows, Anna, Aurora and Viviana transformed themselves into Anna's angels. Fabulous! I drifted south as soon as I saw them.

Later that day, I described my leopard situation to Tommy of Jak & Jil who aptly encouraged me to go to Mango and get my leopard coat.

Top image: Hat, Zara; coat, Club Monaco; jeans, superfine; thigh-high boots, Prada; necklace, H&M.
Last image: Turban, vintage; tights, Wolford; suede peep-toe wedge sandal, YSL. Turtleneck worn throughout, Zara.

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Time for the statement coat

One with long sleeves, no cut-outs or cut-aways. You know, one that takes over when trying to be cute will only get you pneumonia?

O.k., sit down. I have a confession: Sometimes I don't have it in me to wear my short sleeve Opening Ceremony swing coat. I know, gasp! And, I know that the sales associate at Barney's said that motorcycle jackets aren't meant to be zipped up. Or, yes, I almost broke my ankle running down Mercer street to pick up my Napoleon-inspired, cut-away Phillip Lim coat. I know, I know, I could wear my beloved parka. But what if it just isn't a parka day? What if it's a chic day? What if I want to be plain chic and not military or edgy chic?

Well once again in the midst of my frozen-limb inspired wining, I have decided that next winter I will invest in a verrrry warm coat. I say it every year, but by the time September rolls around, I am fully distracted by conceptual outwear. In the meantime, I'll take inspiration from these two chicettes.

Statements are made to be bold! Imagine the audience I could conquer in Pamela's (pictured above) eye-catching Michael Kors tweed (it would be graphic); or the bold stance I could take in Iris' "you cant lose me in a sea of gray" John Galliano?

Hmm! Great pieces to keep me focused!

Besos! Tamu

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