It’s an oft-cited fashion rule that you shouldn’t combine black and brown, whether it’s on your clothes or with your accessories.  But rules are made to be broken, with beautiful consequences.  The trick to getting the black and brown look right is proportion and keeping color contrasts to a minimum.  We kept the proportions of black and brown such that they were both well represented in the look - so it didn’t look like one of the colors was a mistake.  Secondly, we paired the black accessories with a rich shade of brown that complemented the deep black of the handbag and hat.  Here’s how to get the look:

You may have bought a sequinned dress over the holidays.  If you’re me, you may have bought two.  But now that the holidays are long over, you may be wondering how do you get more mileage out of your sequinned dress.  It’s simple - be bold and just wear it, paired with daytime appropriate pieces.  We took inspiration from the embellished texture of the dress and paired it with complementary textures that play well with daytime - knit, denim, and suede.  Here’s how to get the look:

1. Start with your foundation piece: your sequinned dress.  It’s still chilly out, so layer it over a pair of leggings to keep your legs warm.
2. Wrap yourself in a sweater (or a sweatertrench) to keep you nice and cozy.  I love how the soft knit of the sweater pairs with the hard, glam look of the sequins.
3. Accessorize with a pair of boots or booties (suede adds a nice third texture), and grab a snakeskin clutch before you head out the door to finish off the look.

Today, we’ll outline the 16 key pieces you’ll want this month to keep your closet on point.  And for the rest of February, we’ll show you how to mix and match these pieces into key looks that you can recreate with your own wardrobe.  From left to right, top to bottom, here are the 16 pieces you’ll want to have in your closet this month. 

The Open Blazer
Co-ord Navy Blazer | $130 at Topshop
The open front makes this navy blazer all the more easy to layer.

The Sweep Me Up Trench
Bottega Veneta Gabardine and Knitted Cotton Trench Coat | $1,950 at Net-a-Porter
This knit trench is a cozy alternative to a winter coat - and it looks fabulous both indoors and outdoors.

The Embellished Dress
Native Dress | $495 at AllSaints Spitalfields
Sequins and beading make this dress a true standout.  Plus, the tribal inspired pattern is perfectly on trend.

The High-Low Dress
Knitted Side Stripe Tee | $84 at Topshop
What I love about this dress is how well it layers, thanks to the high front and the low back. 

The Cropped Sweater
Alexander Wang Cropped Jacquard Sweater | $385 at Net-a-Porter
This cropped textured sweater pairs especially well with high waisted skirts and pants. 

The Oversized Sweater
Adam Chunky Knit Cotton Sweater | $395 at Net-a-Porter
Cozy and oversized are the hallmarks of this perfectly proportioned grey sweater.

The Pilot Shirt
Pilot Smock Shirt | $175 at AllSaints Spitalfields
Military inspired, but decidedly feminine, this shirt works just as well layered as it does alone.

The Tribal Shirt
Elizabeth and James Beaded Silk Satin Blouse | $365 at Net-a-Porter
Tribal inspired detailing at the cuffs and hem make an ordinary white shirt something extraordinary.

The Slinky Tee
Raquel Allegra Shredded Cotton Jersey Top | $275 at Net-a-Porter
Shredded detailing on this drapey tee gives it such a sensual texture.

The Silk Tank
Kain Classic Washed Silk Tank | $155 at Net-a-Porter
The classic black silk tank.  Nothing more, nothing less.

The Lace Shell
Lace Mix Shell Vest | $64 at Topshop
Lace brings refinement to any outfit, casual or dressy.

The Denim Leggings
Black Denim Leggings | $40 at Topshop
Go black when you wear your denim skintight - and you’ll get double duty out of them, wearing them in place of jeans and leggings.

The Tweed Skirt
Lanvin Neon Tweed Mini Skirt | $1,190 at Net-a-Porter
Don’t you love neon green?  This surely isn’t your grandmother’s tweed skirt.

The Leather Skirt
Michael by Michael Kors Chain Detail Leather Mini Skirt | $300 at Net-a-Porter
Make sure that your skirt isn’t super skintight - or too short.  Keep it classy.

The Sequinned Skirt
Juicy Couture Sequined Mini Skirt | $250 at Net-a-Porter
Because everyone could use a little sparkle in their lives.

The Maxi Skirt
Maison Martin Margiela Brushed Matte Satin Maxi Skirt | $640 at Net-a-Porter
Drapey, effortless, and elegant, this maxi skirt can go from day to night.

I’m a big believer in the little details.  You can craft the most fantastic look - but if you don’t top it off with the right accessories, it can fall flat (or at least, short).  Paired with this cheeky colorblocked look are a pair of shiny accessories that really finish the look - a sequined scarf and a bold cocktail ring.  What we love about these pieces is the texture they add to the otherwise graphic outfit.  Here’s how to get the look:

Just because it’s Monday doesn’t mean your day has to be grey.  Or…at least your wardrobe doesn’t have to be.  You can embrace color from head to toe and still look ready for work - here’s how:

Military boots make an aggressive statement - but you don’t have to have a hard edge to wear them.  All you have to do is soften your look with a few feminine pieces, and those buckled boots suddenly look more modern than military.  Here’s how to get the look:

Choosing the right accessories is key to making a look more than the sum of its parts.  And while a statement necklace or pair of earrings can transform the most basic of looks, sometimes you want to mix and match your accessories to tell a more visually rich story.  The secret to mixing and matching your accessories is to carry a theme throughout.  Maybe it’s a color, maybe it’s texture, maybe it’s shape - but some common element should resonate.  This sparkly sequined number is a standout piece on its own, but it looks just *that* much better when you pair it with the right accessories.  Here’s how to get the look:

There’s a certain rhythm that you get when you see a pattern in triplicate.  This "rule of threes" is pleasing to the eye, which is why you see it not only in fashion, but also in home, in graphics, and really, everywhere.  Here, we’ve done colorblocking in triplicate - on the dress, on the clutch, and on the shoes.  By itself, each colorblocked item is lovely.  But combined as a team, they’re more than the sum of their parts, creating a sense of vitality in the look - but also a sense of balance. Here’s how to get the look:

The right accessories can really make a look.  By itself, this purple blouse and green skirt can run the gamut from mod to prim and proper - but with a set of ladylike accessories, the look reads firmly polished - with a sense of fun to boot.  Here’s how to get the look:

Once you’re comfortable wearing color, the real fun begins.  You don’t have to limit yourself to a single color - or even two or three.  You can embrace the world of color, combining a kaleidoscope of different hues in a single look.  But how do you wear that much color without looking crazy?  The secret to getting the look is to keep one color dominant - and to add the rest of the colors as accents.  Here’s how to get the look: