Every September, I ravage through my favorite magazines – Elle and Vogue, most notably – in two different cycles. In the first, I read the issue cover-to-cover, taking in each and every word and image and letting the fabulous fall inspiration soak in. But the second time around, I rip out all the articles, fashion features and advertisements that strike my fancy. This season, one of my absolute favorite ad campagins was Tommy Hilfiger which perfectly captures the clean and preppy sense of style that only Tommy Hilfiger does best. And thanks to my complete obsession with all things classic and preppy, I immediately tore out my two favorite full pages of his fall ads and taped them onto my so-called Inspiration Wall.
I'm not the only one who loves prep, though, just as I'm probably not the only one to mount Tommy Hilfiger's fall campaign onto my Inspiration Wall. In fact, classic beauty and fashion never goes out of style. Which makes me feel a little bit better about hoarding as many pea coats, cable knit sweaters and collared button-ups as I do.
This Fashionista caught my eye for that sole reason, mainly because of her killer sand-colored peacoat and maroon cap. I've never been one for hats (unless they're sporting the Chicago Cubs emblem), but I love how well this one's cranberry color coordinates with the jacket. Not to mention that the structure of the coat, eternally classy and perfectly preppy, contrasts oh-so-well with the slouchiness of the hat.
Getting this Fashionista's look is easy, simply because that effortlessly pulled together classic look is largely taken care of by the peacoat. In my previous columns, you may have noticed that I'm a huge proponent of investing in pieces for the long-term (i.e. investment pieces), and this is no exception. A great piece of clothing constantly does wonders, including allowing you to pair it with an item as edgy and trendy as this Fashionista's knit cap. As always, J.Crew has a glorious selection of classically gorgeous wool pea coats. My favorites include the double-cloth ingenue coat, the stadium cloth pea coat and, my new obsession, the dollop coat, as well as a plentiful selection of other preppy items that will literally make your mouth water. For hats, Urban Outfitters is your best bet. They've crowned themselves as the place to shop for inexpensive, trendy pieces, like this oversized beanie.
Follow these rules, and who knows, maybe one day you'll end up on my Inspiration Wall, too.