As we continue to get deeper into the fall and upcoming winter season the colors in most people’s wardrobes tend to become darker; transitioning from deep fall oranges and yellows to navy, black and brown. Just because the colors begin to turn darker, however, does not mean that the clothing items need to be any less stylish than what you would usually wear.

Black is a very basic color and essential in everyone’s wardrobe, but don't keep your pieces looking as basic as your color. Take this week’s Fashionista for example, she is dressed in basically all black, yet her ensemble has a variety of aspects to it creating an overall chic look. I am loving her relatively light-weight, black ruffled jacket. An alternate style to a ruffled jacket would be a trench coat, which can be worn dressed up or dressed down. Most people tend to purchase trench coats in beige or light brown colors, but black is a great substitute color.

The next item that I want to focus on is this Fashionista’s great black leather boots. This pointed-toe style strays from the typical black riding boot that you see around many campuses lately which is why I like them so much. While her boots are very practical they are also subtly unique. Similarly, square-toed boots are also a great way to stray away from what everyone else is wearing without going too crazy.

Lastly, this Fashionista’s printed black and white floral skirt is a great addition to her ensemble. The demure pop of white helps to make her outfit less stuffy. Subtle prints, like this one, in neutral colors are a great way to add something special to your winter wardrobe (especially around the holiday season). When you wear a neutral color print it is also fun to add pops of color to your outfit, think about a fun colored pair of shoes or a bright scarf.