Bringing preppy back?

Last week, Capitol Hill Style's intern Alison blogged about the "return of preppy." I took slight issue with the piece because, honestly, preppy never left. How can you say the style of Jackie O and Katherine Hepburn was ever not chic? And in DC, the preppy look comes standard; the degree to which it is stylish or frumpy depends on how the person wears it. And I truly believe that preppy can be - and has been - incredibly chic and stylish.

However, we can agree that what Peter Som has done with the Hilfiger brand is a very good thing.

Alison put together a preppy look complete with schoolboy blazer, boat shoes and crew neck sweater. But the preppy look is also more than Polo and Lilly Pullitzer and J. Crew. You can seamlessly incorporate preppy pieces in your look without looking like you come from the pages of a LL Bean ad.

I put together two looks - a weekend look and a work look - below that exude preppy without coming off as stodgy or basic.

Weekend wear:

Rebecca Minkoff Claude plaid wool capelet, available at Bloomingdales: $495

Equipment Signature blouse, available at Singer22: $188

Rag and Bone The Skinny, available at Piperlime: $180

Michael Kors belt, available at Yoox: $158

Elizabeth & James bootie, available at National Jean Company: $375

Trina Turk Grecian Links necklace, available at Bloomingdales: $218

Forzieri pashmina: $78

House of Harlow 1960 Horseshoe ring, available at Pink Mascara: $25

Fossil 'Vintage Reissue Lock' leather crossbody satchel, available at Nordstrom: $238

Work wear:

Tory Burch Simone cardigan, available at Bergdorf: $225 

Vineyard Vines Charlie dress: $195 (this is way cuter in person,  I swear)

Anthropologie River Bow Necklace: $38

Kate Spade enamel dot bangle, available at Nordstrom: $48

Cole Haan Stephanie Air pump, available at Shoe Box: $298

Kate Spade Summerville Jenkins: $311

And finally a couple basic, preppy accessories to wear with both looks:

Michael Kors midsized chronograph watch, available at Net-A-Porter: $195

Tiffany & Co. pearl stud earrings: $300

Like the preppy look? Stay tuned, because coming later this week, I'll feature an upscale preppy look - one I dream of wearing.

Pencil me in

Over the summer, it's hard to get me out of a dress, but now that it's fall, I'm ready to get back into separates: pretty blouses that look great layered with cardis, skirts with thick, opaque tights, and pants to keep me warm on a chilly day.

Every fashion editor and stylist will tell you that a pencil skirt can be universally flattering. Just make sure the pencil skirt fits well (nothing too tight - we all know how tacky VPL can be!). A skirt that hits just above the knee is the most flattering length on most people.

Looking for the perfect pencil skirt? Whether you want basic, bold colors or fun patterns, try one of these gorgeous options:

Banana Republic classic pencil skirt: $59.50

J. Crew double serge pencil skirt: $118

BCBG ribbed pencil skirt: $118

Anthropologie Hortulan pencil skirt: $128

J. Crew sterling jacquard pencil skirt: $198

See by Chloe metallic wool-blend pencil skirt, available at The Outnet: $78

Milly black pocket pencil skirt, available at Stylebop: $230

Burberry Prorsum lace pencil skirt, available at Net-A-Porter: $995

Tuesday's Facts: Ferosh and femme

Leopard pants that look ferosh and feminine? Don't mind if I do! (Credit: Refinery29)

• Tired of Fashion Week Month? Never! Paris Fashion Week wraps up the big four, and Refinery29 has the best of Parisian street style. Where else could a lady pull off leopard pants but Paris!
• Now that it's actually fall, I guess it's a more appropriate time for "fall essentials" lists. And so they continue. WhoWhatWear and Style Republic list their must-haves for fall.
• As you've been able to see, sky-high heels and half-foot platforms are here to stay. FitSugar has some exercises to help you strengthen the muscles and balance needed to wear stilettos and wedges.
• Lauren Conrad's newest book, Lauren Conrad Style, is out today. In an excerpt on Fashionista, she reveals her go-to pieces.
• Marie Claire profiles the office styles of four unique women: retro, sporty, classic and rocker.

Pucci, take me away...

Sometimes, on a chilly day like today, the best thing is to imagine that you are vacationing somewhere warm and fabulous. Think Saint Tropez, the Greek Isles, the Italian Riviera...

Then imagine yourself in this fabulous pieces from Emilio Pucci's spring/summer 2011 collection. Perfect for a European beach vacay, these pieces retain the fun prints for which Pucci is known, but soften them with feminine shapes and a more muted palette.

Can't you just smell the warm, salty water of the Mediterranean? I am ready for my honeymoon now.

Thanks to FabSugar for the fabulous photos!

Would you wear these? United Nude black frame triangle heels

United Nude black frame triangle heels: $498

Refinery29 showcased these architectural shoes, saying they are perfect to wear to trendy Thai resto Kittichai in NYC. The straps and sole are made out of leather, but the heel is made out of carbon fiber - similar to a bicycle frame. These shoes are so out there - a little robot dominatrix with an Asian influence - but I sort of love them. They don't even look that uncomfortable, but they do look like hell to walk in.

So what do you think? Would you try these shoes?

Monday's Facts: Let loose

Sometimes we all need to loosen up a little, right? (Credit: Daily Front Row)

• Daily Candy has five fall trends that men don't like or understand.
• The Fug Girls pick the best- and worst-dressed characters on TV on Vulture. Olivia Palermo from "The City", Emma Pillsbury from "Glee" and Blair from "Gossip Girl" make the best list, while everyone except Blair topped the worst-dressed.
• Apparently, it gets a little bit chilly and everyone's all about being "cozy" (myself included - did you see my posts this weekend? Today had me thinking about celebrating "Bring Your Snuggie to Work Day"). So Much to Smile About and All Things Lovely have some outfits to keep you warm.
• Speaking of being cozy, if there is one thing I can guarantee you I will NOT be wearing on my wedding day, it's a cardigan. To each her own, I guess...
• On a more serious note, Marie Claire published a piece about six "healthy living" bloggers, but it's very clear the author does not think these bloggers are at all healthy. I've read these blogs, I support their efforts to document their personal stories, and I think any community that supports developing and maintaining healthy lifestyles is a good thing. Visit HealthyTippingPoint to read a response from one of the bloggers. What do you think about this?

Foodie Fashionista: Lo-cal ice cream

On Friday, I learned about Arctic Zero. I was told that it's a super low-calorie ice cream, available at Whole Foods. How low-cal? Try 150 calories per pint - that's right, PER PINT. Well, I had to stop at Whole Foods to pick up some produce anyway so I just had to try this seemingly mythical creation.

I'm of the mindset that a great meal is (almost) always topped off with something sweet. I actually advocate having dessert because you change tracks. New York Housewife Bethenny Frankel agrees, saying in her book Naturally Thin that if you stop eating one delicious food and have a bite of another, totally different food, you stop yourself from overindulging. Keeping small, sweet treats around, like Weight Watchers Minibars or Fudgsicles, satisfies my cravings for something sweet and also stops me from going back for seconds or polishing off an entire Subway foot-long.

That said, I don't want to waste all of my day's calories on a giant piece of chocolate cake. I can indulge my sweet tooth without overindulging. So I am always on the hunt for tasty, light treats, like the aforementioned minibars, sugar-free Jello pudding, Fudgsicles, Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches, etc. Food manufacturers are recognizing the consumer desire for smaller portions - which is why you see 1/2 cup servings of Ben and Jerry's in the frozen section now. But don't be tempted - Ben and Jerry's is still Ben and Jerry's and has a ton of fat and calories - even in super small portions. Luckily for us, Arctic Zero is there to take its place.

And luckily for me, they had it at my local Whole Foods. The myth materialized before my eyes I couldn't help myself (they were on sale!) and bought all three available flavors: chocolate, vanilla maple and strawberry banana.

The chocolate flavor is great if you are a chocolate fan like myself. However, I'd liken it to watered-down frozen yogurt. It will definitely satisfy your chocolate craving, but it's not going to beat Edy's Slow Churned double chocolate.

The strawberry banana was my least favorite. It tastes like an artificial fruit-flavored candy. I actually think if you blended it with some ice and real fruit, it would make a great smoothie though.

The vanilla maple was my favorite, which pleasantly surprised me. As we all know, there are two kinds of people in the world: those who like chocolate and those who like vanilla. I always fell into the former category, but this ice cream might make me a convert! A strong vanilla flavor with a touch of warm maple syrup-y sweetness, this would be AMAZING with some nuts on top.

Arctic Zero, for what it is, is unbelievably brilliant. It tastes good, and it gets the job done. I am now on the hunt for the coffee and pumpkin spice versions. Let me know if you can find them!!