Recently in Coats Category

Are ponchos making a comeback? Please say it's true! This uber luxurious cashmere poncho is as cozy as a snookie but hello, this is a bazillion times more chic and it's not only acceptable to wear out, you will look fabulous! I know it's hot now but think about wind sheer and frost, and now think about how amazing you will feel wrapping this around you! I always bring a blanket on the plane with me (plane blankets are ewww and useless) but this would be the ultimate!!! I bet Donna has this in her carry on =) At Saks Fifth Avenue for $1495.

Since so many of us are traveling now that it's finally summer, I thought I would highlight another popular European chain of boutiques. You wouldn't know it from the outside, but Uterque is owned by the same folks behind Zara. The boutiques have the same minimalist-sleek decor as Zara stores, but they're a lot darker, sexier, and have significantly less merchandise clutter. In fact they're so dark and minimalist, you might walk by one of the boutiques thinking it's closed! Prices are about double what you'd find at Zara and they have everything from ready-to-wear and handbags to shoes, jewelry, hats, and gloves. You'll find Uterque locations in Spain, Russia, Turkey, Greece, Belgium, among others (see their website for full list) and they're most definitely worth going out of your way to check-out. The quality-for-price is great and they always have a slew of everyday staples I want to wear straight-out-of-the store!

I went to Madrid a few months ago to visit a friend who moved there for work. While the gorgeous city has got every designer brand you could think of (and many of them are conveniently close to the city's major museums!), the best discovery I made while I was there was Bimba & Lola. I keep meaning to start a Facebook group "Bring Bimba & Lola to the US!". The store has an amazing selection of affordable (think about double the price of Zara), ready-to-wear, shoes, handbags, and jewelry. They have a slew of boutiques around Spain and recently expanded to Asia (they have locations in Portugal, France, and a few other countries as well...). If you're traveling to Europe or Asia I urge you to look at their site to see if there's a Bimba & Lola boutique in the city where you'll be! The boutique targets 20 to 40-somethings and they've got a slew of original pieces that will take you from the office to the bar. The over-all aesthetic is feminine, but understated and most of the designs come in both neutral as well as popping colors.

When it comes to glamorous American sportswear, no one captures jet-set style like Michael Kors. The same can be said for his fur collection, which perfectly encapsulates the meld of sporty and luxe. The fall fur collection Kors presented this week boasted a fabulous sporty élan and young-edged glamour. The coyote and red fox vests and jackets, worn over cashmere sweatpants and sweaters, was incredibly appealing, as was a delicious honey barguzine sable plate coat that will, surprisingly, retail for less than $10,000; a graphite mink beauty, meanwhile, will sell for less than $17,000. Is it winter yet? Let it snow!

I clearly am not the only one who thinks Marni's fur collections are simply divine. The Italian-based company's business in this sector is booming--thanks in large part to the innovative and luxurious ways designer Consuelo Castiglioni continues to reinvent the wheel. For those of you who are against wearing real fur, please do not continue reading. In my opinion, fur has to be modern and fresh to keep up with the times. Consuelo's husband, Gianni, the company's CEO, started as a furrier at CiwiFurs, a fur company his parents founded in the 1950s. In 1994, Marni was founded based on the premise of offering eclectic women's clothing and accessories. Intertwined within the label's use of plastics, rubber, cotton and hemp was, undoubtedly, fur. In a preview of Marni's fall fur collection, it's clear why they are such a success--and why fans like Vera Wang continue to keep their temperature-controlled fur vaults stocked with Consuelo's sumptuous yet zany designs. While the ready-to-wear line utilizes prints aplenty, Consuelo continues to keep the fur collection prim and somewhat more conservative in color palette (exception: do you see the flirty fur pompoms?). My favorite piece without a doubt is the light brown mink that zips up in the front and has a sporty funnel neck. There's also a gorgeous hand-stitched piece that features an archival Marni print and an elegant fluted back. Perhaps what I love most about Marni's furs are their ability to fuse materials like mink with cashmere and astrakhan with wool.

The collection ranges in price from $2,070 to $12,400, and will be available at Marni stores worldwide and at select specialty retail stores.

Oscar de la Renta made a rare personal appearance at the Melrose Place boutique on Tuesday. He was showing the Pre-Fall and Fall 2010 run of show, each look from the runway shows in the order they were shown. Pretty amazing to be able to look up close and personal and put in your orders. These are my favorite looks from Fall. Green was a huge in this collection and you can see why it is so important, this sequins dress with the flared hem line made me swoon! This orange wool coat with purple fur collar is the most spectacular thing I've ever seen. The color combination is brilliant, playful and bold while the fitted body makes it ultra chic. The full length ruffle gown is sexy and sophisticated and a sure contender for the red carpet. The ruffles on the bottom are really full and incredibly glamorous! You can find all these looks as well as shop for current season at Oscar de la Renta online.

Go to jump page to see me giddy with delight posing with Oscar de la Renta.

I came across COS while I was walking around Munich's town center. I had never heard of the boutique before and was surprised at the mild prices (most everything is under 129 euros), given the quality of the materials used. The bi-level store was choke-full of monochromatic pieces that appeared simple, but had small details (exposed zippers, ruching, cowl neck...) for both men and women making for great staples; kind of like a frugal Ports 1961, no? When I paid for my buys I asked the sales woman about the line and she told me that it actually is owned by H&M! So far boutiques are only in select European countries (Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom), but hopefully they will roll out in the U.S. soon!

All the attention Kate Moss has gotten for sporting some gray streaks aside, her looks that seem to consistently draw the most attention involve leopard. Above on the left is photo of the Pencey High Collar Coat ($380) which looks like it could have been plucked out of Moss' closet. She has worn leopard coats, jackets, and separates on more occasions than I could count and like most of what she wears I want to run right out and get one for myself! Unfortunately while Moss pulls off the looks effortlessly, I look like I'm about to go work a street corner or in the midst of getting ready for a costume party every time I try on a leopard jacket. Plus I can't help but feel like an imitator because -- at least in my mind -- I think leopard I think Moss. So, alas, I shall remain leopard-less (at least if you ignore the lining of my Dolce&Gabbana shoes, bags, and a few bras:-) )

What do you think about Kate Moss-inspired leopard? Snob or Slob?

I understand taking risks in fashion is sometimes necessary to reach a new style horizon and that avant-guard fashion can be really cool. But at the end of the day I hope fashion is about flattering the human form and not the other way around. Take this Maison Martin Margiella trench cape for example--we all know that the past season is about the exaggerated shoulders but this coat with the filmsy slanted shoulder flaps reminds me of a defeated samurai warrior. I mean can you imagine wearing this in a crowded elevator or train? "Un, excuse me miss, your right shoulder flap is in my face" "Do you mind folding your flaps so we can squeeze one more into the elevator?" Personally I find the saumrai warrior custome ($60.88 at wondercostume.com) more musculine and dare I say "stylish" in a Modonna S&M kinda way, but if you find yourself purchaseing this $1155 trench cape, you migth consider getting the sword to match for the extra "umph" factor. Maison Martin Margiella trench cape available at ssense.com.