The combination is great, Encore! You look fab and polished. I love combining denim and animal print, and the white shirt and black pants pull it together beautifully. I like the brown bag better than the cream one in this outfit (but I'd also try the red if it doesn't feel like too much for me.)
Are your pants just a teensy bit short with these shoes? I'm not 100% sure though.

Encore - this looks good and not too much. I personally like red with animal print a lot. And prefer the brown over the cream bag in the photo. Might be the angle but your pants do seem a bit short and I can't exactly tell if the jacket should be a tad longer too. It could all be the angle of the photograph. Love the animal print belt.

Wow- I love this, Encore. You make me want to go out and get an animal print belt! I also prefer the brown bag with this look.

LOVE it!! You look fabulous!! I'd go with the cognac/whiskey colored bag as well. :)

Also love it! With the brown bag. Red might work too. The cream is nice but I think it's too matchy with the white shirt.

That's a great jean jacket!

thanks all - I typically wear these pants with flats so that might be where the conflict with these heels and PPL comes in. I THINK it might be ok.?

I think it looks great, and I like the brown bag best too. Red might work, depending on the shade. I love the belt - you look fantastic.

I LOVE this outfit! I would wear this in a heartbeat. I am definitely going to copy this. May I ask where you got the belt?

I love it -- very current looking yet appropriate. I don't think it's too much. I've even consider adding a pin on the jacket or a long necklace!

You always look sharp. Do you mind telling those of us on the hunt for a denim jacket where you got yours?

Encore, in general you'd want your pants to be either "pants for flats" or "pants for heels". I know it's a bit of a pain in that it makes them less versatile, but that way you'll get PPL (perfect pants length) every time. You can get away with these pants in this outfit, but you might want to plan on purchasing a second pair of black pants in the future that have PPL for heels.

Not at all too much going on, because black pants and a jean jacket are both "neutrals", so you can do more without it looking too busy. I agree with everyone above who suggested that a red bag would be great with that belt, though you'd have check to see if it looked too stars-and-stripes with the white shirt and blue jacket.

Well done! (And yes, please let us know the source for belt and jacket...)

Encore, I have nothing further to add because the lasses have said it all. But I will say that YOU ROCK. I love watching your style enthusiasm and hard work come together. You have got it going on. Big feather in your cap!

Thanks Angie and all - this is indeed hard work but I am feeling MUCH better about "what I wore today" :)

Wow, this is a fantastic look - very modern & trendy and polished at the same time.

This is so not too much! Looks great and very stylish.

Love it! Agree with the previous comments about the cognac bag over the cream one, and red would be another good one to try.