For those readers who work in a corporate environment, we bet donning a blazer seven days a week can get super boring.  Sure there’s double breasted, single breasted, 3/4 sleeve, big lapel, small lapel…the list goes on but at the end of the day it’s still a blazer.  And since most suits we see on the street are of the black, grey and navy variety so we thought we might suggest spicing it up with a white tuxedo blazer in lieu of the usual dark neutral.  As seen on the Fall/Winter 2011 runway at Jason Wu and Stella McCartney, the white tuxedo blazer isn’t just for hot summer nights or swanky holiday parties – it can actually be incorporated into your everyday autumn wardrobe, if worn correctly.  Take for example, model Candice Swanepoel who took menswear-inspired suiting to a new extreme when she stepped out in a full white slim fitting tuxedo style suit.  Head to toe white looked great on Candice on the red carpet but it may not be the best option for a day at the office.  Instead take a page out of Anne Hathaway’s style agenda and pair your new white tuxedo blazer with a pair of black pants that you already have hanging in your closet.  Or layer it over a shift dress and pointy toe pumps for another take on the trend.  Whichever look you choose, find a white tuxedo blazer that best suits your needs by shopping our fave finds starting at $70 a pop!

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Read the rest of Spotted: The White Tuxedo Blazer (307 words)

Still believe the antiquated notion that brights should only be worn in the spring and summer months whilst greys and browns are the only wardrobe colours of choice once the leaves start to change?  The times they are a-changin’ so get that thought out of your head!  Just because the nights are getting darker a little earlier and your toes now suffer from goose bumps when exposed to the crisp fall air (i.e. sandal season is officially over!), doesn’t mean you need to store the mass of brightly coloured garments you purchased this summer.  Vibrant shades should be carried through to your autumn wardrobe – see DKNY, Diane von Furstenberg and Gucci’s Fall/Winter 2011 runway for proof – and worn regardless of the season.  The key to pulling off the look? Anchor your brights with a neutral like camel or grey and keep summer’s love of colour blocking alive!

We never know the right time to buy a new coat for fall but we do know the wrong time.  Every year without fail we wait until the mercury drops to buy a new topper for the season and every year without fail the selection of coats left on store floors is subpar.  That’s why this month we’re getting our hands on something warm yet stylish before we actually need it.  And what exactly will we be looking for in terms of trends?  Something plaid (at Joe Fresh!) or furry (at Topshop), minimal or moto, vested (at American Eagle) or wild (at Old Navy) – basically so long as it’s cute and $200 or less, we want to wrap it around our body.  So even though the thermometer still reads 20°C you can bet you’ll spot us shopping for a new coat this week because rumour has it we’ll need it sooner than we think!

For several months now we’ve been turning to the top knot as our updo of choice.  It’s the best look possible when you’ve only got  a couple of elastics and your fingers as tools.  However, we think we’ve found a simple little fastener that’s going to give our top knot a run for its money.  First spotted at the Prabal Gurung Spring/Summer 2011 show, the shiny metal “Jenna” barrette by Goody was considered an effortless way to create a clean low ponytail.  It wasn’t until  half a year later, at the Fall/Winter 2011 shows, that the “Jenna” barrette went from part-time accessory to showstopping statement piece thanks to Alexander McQueen’s decision to use the barrettes like a helmet.  And while the look was stunning on the runway, we plan to stick to Prada’s more basic use of the barrette – pulling our hair back neatly at the nape of the neck.

Last spring it was stripes and this fall in keeping with the geometry trend,  it’s all about the polka dots!  We spotted (pun intended) an army of polka dot clad models hitting the Fall/Winter 2011 runways starting at Marc Jacobs, the official king of dots for the season, Diane von Furstenberg, Dolce & Gabbana, L.A.M.B. and even at Stella McCartney.  Little spots or big, black white or blue, polka dots have already made their way from the runway to the red carpet.  Mila Kunis wowed London with a  navy and white polka dot Oscar de la Renta while Olivia Palermo’s asymmetrical Bensoni spotted number was definitely a party in the front and all business in the back.  Even fashion writer Stephanie LaCava stepped out in a polka dot Z Spoke by Zac Posen pajama style blouse (that we love!) in New York City.  Click through to shop our three favorite dotted blouses for fall and remember, whichever one you choose you’ll be spot on for fall!

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Read the rest of Scrimp, Spend, Splurge: Hot Spots for Fall 2011 (205 words)