Here’s an easy guideline for boot wearers who like the idea of keeping their assortment minimal and versatile. The heel height, colour, pattern, fabrication and style integrity are to your taste, although I’ll make a few suggestions along the way. 

You’ll essentially need five pairs of boots, which sounds like too many for the minimalist wardrobe. But if you have a proper Autumn and Winter, as well as a cold Spring, wearing boots more frequently makes perfect sense. Note that this list does not include snow boots and rain boots. Also, tall boots refers to knee-high boots and mid-calf boots, while booties also includes ankle boot lengths. 

1. Dressy Tall Boot: Heeled, knee-high boots in a neutral colour with a streamlined fit are extremely versatile. The heel can be as low as one and half inches but heels are a must for dressy boots. Wear them with dresses, skirts and culottes. Flop proof. 
2. Casual Tall Boot: Go either heeled or flat. Riding boots, Fryes and biker boots come to mind, but any casual tall boot will work. They can be streamlined or slouchy, and ever so distressed. Wear them over jeans and leggings, or with skirts, dresses and shorts.
3. Dressy Bootie: Again, a heeled version is best for a dressy look, but the heel can be low. A bootie that fits more closely around the ankle tends to look dressier, and is a more flattering option for those with dainty ankles. A neutral shade for this bootie type is a good idea. These days, you can wear booties with anything, which makes them even more versatile. 
4. Casual Bootie: Cowboy boots, Fryes and Dr. Martens boots come to mind, but any casual bootie will work. The fit can be roomy and slouchy, and the leather distressed. As with dressy booties, you can match the casual version with just about any relaxed outfit. It’s merely a question of whether you like the outfit combination with a high vamped shoe. 
5. Extra Fun Boot or Bootie: Go wild with this option. Choose any tall boot or bootie style that’s more daring, be it in terms of colour, pattern or design. How about a pair of floral or green snakeskin booties. Or a pair of flat studded over the knee boots. Or yellow embroidered cowboy boots. Or silver Go-go boots. Or three toned colour blocked booties. Or monster wedges. Anything at all. 

Remember that there is life after black boots and booties. Neutral can mean ANY neutral shade that is light, mid toned or dark. Also, those questioning whether they need dressy boots and booties when they lead a very casual lifestyle have a point. In that case opt for either a dressy tall boot or bootie, and double up on one of the casual options.

By all means purchase more pairs of boots and booties if you have ample opportunity to wear them. Also, if you’re just starting out with a new wardrobe, don’t feel that you need to fill out your complement of boots and booties all at once. Working towards your ideal wardrobe is an ongoing effort.

I love to wear boots and booties, and have many pairs because they suit my climate. I can wear booties virtually year round in Seattle and tall boots at least eight months of the year. This means that I have many more pairs than this complement suggests. 

Years ago I used to wear a cocktail ring almost daily. These days I sport a jewelry-free style and I don’t wear cocktail rings very often at all. Occasionally I wear one of my late Mum’s rings because it’s nostalgic to see one of her gigantic, fine jewelry pieces on my hand. My Mum and I had the same size fingers, so all her rings fit me perfectly. 

Although I don’t wear cocktail rings very often, I still enjoy looking at them. The ones below recently caught my eye. They make a statement on their own, or as part of an arm candy ensemble.

Do you wear cocktail rings? Or do you find them impractical and uncomfortable?

This post is a little late this season, so without further ado, let’s get to it because Autumn has officially begun. Here are my top 13 must haves for Fall and Winter 2012. The items cut across all body types, lifestyles, budgets, fashion personas and age groups. It’s a question of finding the right version of that item that works best for you. 

1. Booties: All outfits can be worn with some form of bootie these days. From jeans, classic pants, cropped pants, jumpsuits and trendy trousers, to dresses, skirts and shorts. An assortment of booties, from casual to dressy, in all sorts of colours, heel heights, patterns, fabrications and styles is THE way to amp up your cold weather wardrobe. Start building a bootie collection. 
2. Trousers: It’s the third trouser season in a row, and the abundance is amazing. Add a few pairs of trousers to your wardrobe, be they classic boot cuts, wide legs, slouchy styles, a baggy silhouette with waist pleats, cigarette pants or harem pants. 
3. Leather: Add a leather (or pleather) piece to your wardrobe, be it a jacket, coat, skirt, pair of pants or shorts, dress or top. A leather trimmed item is just as on trend and a nice substitute if a full leather piece is not your thing. Think ALL colours of leather. 
4. Texture: Faux fur is an easy way to add texture to your outfit. So are items in suede, bouclé knit, houndstooth, tweed, mole skin and waxed denim. 
5. Pattern: Pattern mixing is bigger than ever and judging by what I see on the catwalks for next year, there is no stopping the trend. Think pattern in ALL wardrobe items. If patterned clothing is not your thing, think patterned belts and bags. 
6. Colour: Add colour to that neutral wardrobe in the form of brights, pastels, earth tones, mid tones or jewel tones. We will miss the colour when it’s not as widely available so stock up now. 
7. A Chunky item of Knitwear: Think cables and fisherman’s rib knitwear in pullovers and fast pull-on cardigans. Wear them oversized or in a tailored silhouette. 
8. Something Burgundy: It’s the colour of the season and any wardrobe item in burgundy will count. 
9. Something Metallic: If the sci-fi trend is too crazy, there’s always lurex thread and sequins to use as a substitute. 
10. Something Oversized: Surrender your shape, ladies. Think oversized knitwear, a boxy jacket, boyfriend jeans, slouchy trousers or something else that looks too big but is supposed to fit in an extra roomy way. 
11. Something Lace: Lace is a classic, although as a nod to the Baroque trend it’s particularly on trend at the moment. Think lace top, dress, skirt, trousers, shorts, jacket or shoes. If a lace item is over the top, sport a lace trimmed item instead. 
12. Daytime Clutch: You can probably think of 10 bad reasons not to carry a daytime clutch handbag, but I can think of five good ones and will cover them next week. I dare you to sport a daytime clutch.
13. Something Out of Your Style Comfort Zone: Last but not least, try a daring outfit combination, a new colour, a new clothing or footwear style, a new pattern, or an atypical item for your style persona that speaks to you for some reason. Just for fun. 

Peplums, slipper flats, high top sneakers, sassy sweatshirts, utility jackets, midis, printed pants, metal capped footwear, flat oxfords, menswear inspirations, vintage brooches and strappy pumps are a few more ways to add seasonal pizazz to your cold weather look. 

I’ve just ordered a chunky item of knitwear after not wearing chunky knits for 20 years. I have my eye on a pleated rubberized midi skirt to take me out of my comfort zone. And I’ve just bought a multi coloured pullover with a burgundy stripe as my nod to the burgundy trend. If these work out, my items on this list are covered. How about you?

I’ve been saving my new blush pink moto jacket to wear in October so that I could make a special statement for Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM). My Mum died of cancer 12 years ago and pink was her favourite colour. So I like to make a point of wearing pink, the international colour associated with breast cancer awareness, at this time of year to express my support for those who are currently fighting cancer. I also want to pay my respects to those who have passed away. 

I don’t wear pastels other than light blue and faded denim because I prefer black and white, and sour brights. But in the same way that I unexpectedly fell in love with a mid-toned pink floral midi dress last year, I fell in love with this blush moto jacket at this years Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. It keeps your style journey interesting when you go for something out of character, don’t you think? 

Blush pink is not my best colour because it washes me out. But I can make it work if I wear it with stronger colours that are flattering against my complexion, like black, white, cream, charcoal grey, tomato red, coral and citron. Here, I’ve added a blush and slate grey silk scarf right up by my face to bring out the colour in my cheeks as well as strengthen the softness of the jacket. I further strengthen the shade of blush leather by wearing a richer shade of blush lipstick.  

All you need is a tailored, good quality top to provide an effective and crisp backdrop for the scarf and jacket. These refined wool crewneck pullovers by Valette are ideal for me because they are simple in design, warm, high in the neckline, and beautifully made. I love the back buttoning detail too. I bought this style in three colours because I can wear them for eight months of the year in Seattle with all my bottoms. The black that I’m wearing here provides a nice contrast with the blush, and bookends my retro specs. 

These are the same charcoal trousers that I wore a couple of months ago for a semi-structured trouser look. They are my favourite wool trousers, not just because the fabric is luxurious, but because they are “baggy and fitted” at the same time. That’s my favourite type of fit at the moment because it’s extra comfortable and looks modern to my eye. 

I enjoy tucking tops into trousers, so that means wearing a belt to fill up those belt loops. I chose a nondescript black belt to create a column of colour beneath the blush moto and scarf.

I finished off the look with an old pair of black patent biker shoeties and small black Chanel day clutch. I actually prefer this outfit with my cream snake skin booties because the effect is softer, and the pattern mixing interesting. These black booties, as much as I love them, can look too severe at times. But hubby Greg preferred this outfit with the black booties because it created a clean line from top to toe, and their buckles matched my belt buckle. So I wore them for him!

My minimal accessory style means no jewelry apart from my watch and wedding ring. 

The happiness factor of this outfit is a ten out of ten because I love wearing trousers, and because the sentiment behind the pink moto jacket is a meaningful one. If you like to wear pink, please join me by wearing any shade of pink this month to show our support for BCAM and for all those who are fighting or have suffered from cancer. I’m thinking of you and your favourite colour Mum.