Your Most Important Purchase for Fall 2014 - The RLS Outerwear Guide

What is your most important purchase for Fall 2014, you ask? A new coat! Every so many years the silhouette of coats goes ALL the way the OTHER way. That time is now! Coats are BIG and BRIGHT. So pick up your credit card and start shopping. 

Quick note about the lack of a blog last week for my loyal readers. As noted in previous posts, we are hard at work over here at RLS on a new blog and website. We did not put a blog up because the new site was about to go live and we didn't want any snafus when we sent out the blog. And then guess what happened? A big snafu! So, no new website quite yet. To make up for it, our Fall 2014 Outerwear Guide is very comprehensive!

Thanks for your patience peeps and we promise you something new and fabulous very soon. If you think you can't wait, imagine how we feel! 

Boyfriend Style 

Elie Tahari Sicily One-Button Wool Blend Notch Collar Coat, $615

Trina Turk Claire Wool Blend Coat, $545

Topshop Maisie Top Coat, $135

Capes

Burberry Prorsum Wool and Cashmere-Blend Wrap, $1,395

Milly Sienna Zip-Front Wool Cape, $795

H Brand Stella Hand Knit Rabbit Fur Cape, $587

The Fall Runway Colors: Cornflower Blue, Forest Green, Orange

Maje Germain Oversized Felt Coat, $755

O'2nd Slim Fit Long Wool Coat, $595

Nina Ricci Belted Brushed-Gabardine Coat, $3,150

Band of Outsiders Trompe L'Oeil Welt Coat, $1,695

Rebecca Minkoff Sam Coat, $548

Roksanda Ilincic Helston Oversized Boucle and Textured-Felt Coat, $3,070

Armani Collezioni Virgin Wool Caban Coat, $1,645

Lands End Boiled Wool Walker Coat, $74.99

Bomber Jackets

Coach Leather Trimmed Wool and Satin-Twill Bomber Jacket, $795

Rag & Bone Sabina Leather Trim Knit Bomber Jacket, $550

Rag & Bone/JEAN Bomber Jacket, $363

J.Crew Leather-Trim Mixed Bomber Jacket, $410

Athleta Slub Bombtastic Jacket, $108

Fun Fur

Diane von Furstenberg Fur Finale Coat, $3,200

Elizabeth and James Tarra Rabbit and Coyote Fur Coat, $1,495

Ladylike Coats

Matthew Williamson Wool-Blend Coat, $2,650

Rochas Wool Coat, $1,975

J.Crew Double Cloth Lady Day Coat with Thinsulate, $432

Chic Puffers 

Alexander Wang Distressed Cotton-Blend Twill Parka, $1,895

Helmut Lang Petal Leather Puffer Jacket, $1,425

Vince Shawl Collar Puffer Coat, $895

Barbour Axle Biker Jacket, $629

J.Crew Shiny Puffer Jacket, $230

Burberry Brit Oakcliffe Jacket, $444.80

Robe Coats 

Altuzarra Pollock Wool-Blend Felt Coat, $2,395

10 Crosby Derek Lam Oversized Belted Coat, $1,300

Ted Baker London Nevia Stand Collar Wrap Coat, $525

Trina Turk Ali Wrap Coat, $545

T Tahari Belted Notch Collar Wool Blend Coat, $228

Shearling

Armani Collezioni Lamb Shearling Coat, $6,295

Miu Miu Oversized Shearling Coat, $5,930

Belstaff Ava Leather-Paneled Shearling Coat, $5,595

3.1 Phillip Lim Shearling Patchwork Coat, $4,500

Elizabeth and James Iris Faux Shearling Coat, $695

The RLS Guide to Picking Pastels for Fall

Fall is just about here and it's time to break out the pastels! Huh? Pastels, particularly pink...for fall?! I know, I know. It sounds crazy to everyone but true fashion folk, who love anything they haven't seen before.

The look on the runways for Fall Winter 2013/14 favored head-to-toe lilac, mint, baby blue, and the aforementioned pink. Too much for real life? Here are some tips to pick your pastels.

Step 1. Choose how far you are going to go with the trend: small, medium or large. 

Step 2. The easy part: pick your favorite pastel! Let's say you decide to go big or go home. The other hot fashion story on the runway is the voluminous coat. Imagine a pale pink coat over a monochromatic charcoal or black look, probably already hanging in your closet. Très chic, non?

Rochas Oversized Wool-Blend Coat, $1,870

Ted Baker London Wool Blend Peplum Hem Coat, $525

Eileen Fisher Boiled Wool Coat, $235

Theysken's Theory Belted Wool-Blend Coat, $995

Does it scare you to buy an investment piece, such as a fall coat, in such an improbable fall color? Then take it a step back and grab a fall bag in your pastel color of choice. Just like the coat example, mix it with the dark colors you already own. Imagine a baby blue bag next to a cozy chocolate brown sweater...

Vince Leather Trim Blanket Sweater, $290.98

Giorgio Armani Medium East West Tote, $1850

Alexander Wang Rockie Textured Leather Tote, $795

Topshop Large Leather Padlock Bag, $190

J.Crew Mini Edie Purse in Python, $795

For those of you still wincing, how about a pastel pump or ladylike clutch with a little black dress to your next cocktail party? Minimal investment, maximum impact.

H&M Sleeveless dress, $49.95

Topshop Gwenda Pointed Courts, $95

Betsey Johnson Dance Glitter Flats, $79

Repetto Camille Bicolor Patent Leather Ballerina Pumps, $285

Cole Haan Chelsea Pointy High Pump, $169.95

Almama Handbag, $415

Moda-Luxe Envelope Clutch, $24.99

Topshop Chain Handle Clutch, $40

Post on my Facebook page to show us which colors you pick and how you choose to wear them!