Have you ever gone shopping and come across one item you can’t leave in the store? Perhaps a piece of clothing, some jewelry, or a pair of shoes that must come home with you immediately? On a trip to Zara a while back I found a leopard midi skirt I couldn’t leave without. Although I admire them from afar, animal prints are not plentiful in my closet. Many of the pieces I’d owned for years have long since been consigned. Luckily leopard remains a wardrobe staple and I intend to capitalize on the current trend.

Beside the lovely print it was the pleats that caught my attention in Zara that day. If scientists ever confirm the existence of a gene for personal style, I’m sure that I inherited a love of pleats from my mother. A light nylon material ensures the perfect drape across the hips. The midi length brings an air of sophistication to the overall look. A white button down was chosen on top out of habit. After realizing they were all in the hamper I grabbed the next best thing, a denim shirt.

There seems to be nothing I can’t pair with a denim shirt. The heavier material is great for the season. It’s the fall and winter version of a white oxford. Since I’d worn my quilted red purse before as a crossbody bag several times, I opted for the fanny pack here. On a trip to New York back in April I found this in Aldo Times Square. I’d seen it in white online the day before and was determined to buy one. When I saw red it was a wrap.

Having a pop of color dead center in the outfit I chose my go to black stilettos with the red heel. As for the red lipstick, it was the only one in my purse lol. The hardest decision for the entire look was whether I should wear these statement earrings. Are they too gaudy? Overpowering my face? Too busy against the leopard? The earnings won and I love the finished product. Besides. I can be just as gaudy as I like!

Top//H&M , Skirt//Zara , Purse//Aldo , Shoes//Donald J. Pliner