It might sound sad, but Banana Republic has always been a part of my family’s life. When I was little, back when customer appreciation still meant something more than a 10% off coupon, the BR in Honolulu would throw huge holiday bashes, where the three-floor store was decorated with garland and holly and Christmas music blared over the speakers. I even worked there for a year in college. I continue to return to Banana Republic because their classic clothes have always been well made with high-quality materials that always fit nicely – particularly their petites (for us wee ones!).

Although I’m not particularly fond of their graphic print dresses this season, there are two dresses that I’ve fallen for. One is the chocolate Silk Wrap Dress, complete with subtle puff cap sleeves. Besides being perfectly classy, the dress just feels so good on. Like dark nails, this dress makes me feel like a) it’s fall and b) I’m a lady.

And even though it has quite the redundant name, the Wool Shift Dress is also one of those staple pieces that will transition nicely from these warm early fall days to the chillier ones with the addition of a blazer. What I like about this dress is what I always like about BR clothing: although classic and simple, there are details that convey personality for business casual clothing in a way that I just don’t see from any of its competitors.

I’ve been spending far too much time browsing Urban Outfitters website lately, but I’m way too excited about the amazing sale they’ve got going on to be ashamed of my online shopping addiction. A few weeks ago, I posted about three Free People dresses that I’d fallen in love with, one of them being the Flutter Sleeve Dress, which was being sold for $118. Well, while it’s still seasonally appropriate, UO has dropped the price down to $49!!! So while it’s not exactly a Forever 21 steal, it’s still quite the bargain for a very well made, sweet dress.

The Striped Open Back Dress is also by Free People, also on sale for $49, and long sleeved for these chilly fall evenings. This last one, the Lux Tube Knit Dress, is totally inappropriate for autumn no matter how you look at it… but it’s so pretty! And comfy! And happy! Oh, just buy it and write yourself a note to remember it when you take that trip to the Bahamas.

My all time favorite, Betsey Johnson, has captured my heart all over again with this flirtatious and totally girly Polka Dot Halter Dress. What I love about Betsey’s dresses is that they’re totally sweet, but they are always a little bit rock-and-roll sexy, too. Besides that, they always fit so nicely that it’s impossible not to feel fantastic in them. No sucking in, filling out, or alterations required…just pure gorgeousness.

Of course, I know it’s probably getting a little bit too cold to wear something like this alone, so I’ve found this chunky Cropped Shrug Cardigan by Chaiken on Bluefly. I like that the color is in the pink family without distracting from the juicy pinks of the polka dots on the dress. Urban Outfitters’ Fold Over Wedge boot nicely compliments the cardigan.

Oh, and I’m all about Hue’s cable sweater tights, which sell for $16 and hold up to a whole bunch of wear, unlike other, more expensive brands I’ve tried. Worn with a coat and hat, this ensemble will be warm and toasty. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself, because I’m too in love with this dress to let it hang in my closet until next summer.

Just when you think it’s fall and you’ve taken out all of your sweaters and gotten excited about being able to wear boots without looking like an idiot, it gets hot again! Well, at least that means that there are still a few more days of wearing sleeveless dresses out to dinner, like Rebecca Taylor’s Chiffon Bib Dress (which is a terrible name for a beautiful frock) on ShopLAStyle.com, a new site that I found thanks the tres fashionable Kathryn!

When it does finally cool down again, though, I’ve found yet another cute sweater dress in Taylor’s Cashmere and Silk Mini Dress.

This cut is really big this season, which rocks for functionality because it keeps your chest and neck covered but not in a librarianesque sort of way. While it’s still above forty degrees outside, I’m all about little flats with tights, like the Belle shoe by Sigerson Morrison on PiperLime. At $260, they’re a little pricier than the equally adorable O-Look flats by Kenneth Cole (on sale for $59).

Now, I never know what to wear with turtlenecks – I don’t really like the way necklaces outside of sweaters look on me, although I think it looks great on other people. Anyway, I’ve found that the best combination is a great pair of earrings and a chunky bracelet. My favorite is the Chunky ID Bracelet paired with the Sunrise Earrings by Vanilla Moon Jewelry designer, and my friend, Cathy Okinaka. Everything she does is hand stamped and absolutely gorgeous.

Okay, so, bottom line is this: while it’s still warm, wear the sleeveless stuff. But don’t despair when it gets chilly, because you can still rock the frock with cashmere, tights, cute shoes, and the perfect jewelry.

I like girls who are a little bit bitchy (and a little dorky), who aren’t afraid to make fun of themselves, and who know exactly what they want. You know, not all sweet and annoyingly saccharine. Okay, a little bit sweet, but you know what I mean. Natalie Portman, not Mandy Moore. These are also the things that I love about Diane von Furstenberg’s dresses: a bit of edgy sophistication and fun mixed with simple, classic shapes that just work.

Of course, Diane von Furstenberg is famous for her wrap dresses, but that’s because they fit so well. She knows how to design for women with shape, so every dress fits beautifully. It makes sense, then, to invest in a couple of her dresses, knowing that they will last for years and that each one has a sense of timelessness that will outlast the less expensive, trendy pieces in your wardrobe. You can’t go wrong with a wrap dress, or with my personal favorite from this collection, which is a little black tulip dress called the Anka. Not only is this dress totally adorable, it’s also great for traveling because it’s made out of 100% silk jersey, so you can throw it in your weekend bag, hang it up upon arrival, and it’ll be ready to wear by dinnertime. Nothing better than a beautiful dress that can stand up to a little bit of rustling around.