Outfit Details: Valentino Jacket (last seen here, similar here), Alessandra Rich Dress, Roger Vivier Heels, Sherman Field Necklace

I’ve always been drawn to romantic details: a ruffled hem, a sparkling embellishment on a cuff, delicate embroidery, a playful bow, or a color combination that looks like it came straight out of a candy shop. To keep all that whimsy from tipping into overly sweet, I look to accessories, like a polished shoe with a little twist, a funky stocking, jewelry with some attitude, or a stronger color to contrast the softness. The outfit usually feels right once there’s a bit of tension between the femininity and something sharper.

I like when those sweeter details appear in small doses throughout an outfit, almost like little punctuation marks, so the romance carries through without becoming the only thing you notice. For fall, that mix feels especially good, decorative and feminine with just enough edge around it.