Cheryl Shops

When I lived in parts of the country that got a proper winter, this is the time of the year that I usually couldn’t bear to look at my winter coat any more. Things aren’t that dire here, but I am starting to look forward to spring. That said, this is an outfit that could be worn any time of year in San Francisco. The coincidence is that it’s inspired by one of my style icons, Kate Moss, which was exactly who inspired this leopard-coat look that I posted around the same time last year. What is it about me, Kate Moss, and February? Let’s find out.

Kate Moss has been my style icon for as long as I can remember. She's only four years older than me, which makes her the perfect age to idolize—she's old enough for me to look up to, but close enough in age that we're of the same generation. While some may criticize her for not evolving her style over the years, I love that she remains true to herself and doesn't feel the need to "dress for her age." At 45, Kate looks just as cool and sexy as ever. She also has some go-to outfit formulas, and a Who What Wear story dissecting one of them, Kate Moss has been wearing the same outfit for 15 years, inspired this post. The two key pieces are a leopard-print faux fur coat and a little black dress, but I made a few adjustments for winter (and the fact that I don't roll around in a chauffeur-driven car like she probably does). Here's how I recreated one of Kate Moss's most iconic looks.

Buy It: Ben Amun coin necklace
The Long Island-based website Singer22.com sends me daily emails, usually about items they carry that C-list Hollywood starlets and celebutantes have been spotted wearing. And usually I delete them. However, recently they sent one announcing the arrival of Ben Amun jewelry, as seen on Kate Moss, and, you know, anything that Kate Moss wears is good enough for me. Fashionologie had actually reported on Kate and her new necklaces back in August, and I'd been keeping an eye out for them ever since. Looking like something she would've picked up whilst on vacation in Morocco, the necklaces fit so easily into that Kate Moss bohemian-rock-chic look that I try to emulate with varying degrees of success. Luckily, since Singer 22 so conveniently uses paparazzi photography as their product shots, it's easy to steal any star's style. Which brings me to the Ben Amun necklaces (before anyone points it out, yes, I know I missed the Ben Amun sample sale this week). I like the 36" silver coin necklace the best; it's $198, and the site is currently running at 20% off promo sitewide with code HOLIDAY20 through 12/25, conveniently bringing the price down to a totally manageable $158. Hey, it's a lot more affordable than Kate's Balenciaga bag.

Buy it: liquid leggings
Back when Kate Moss was with Pete Doherty (it was only last year but seems like ages ago, doesn't it?), she showed up at the Glastonbury Festival in what appeared to be latex leggings. Of all the Kate Moss looks I've knocked off, I filed this one under Do Not Attempt. However, in the last few months, so-called liquid leggings have been popping up all over the place, from the celeb favorite Kova & T to American Apparel. The finish is less shiny and more leather-like than Kate's pants, but the fit is even tighter (leave it to Kate Moss to make latex--a substance most people need baby powder to get into--look baggy), and until my friend ES bought a pair of Kensie's Liquid Leggings at Dillard's over Labor Day weekend, I was skeptical. They looked so amazing on her, I was finally inspired to give them a whirl.

I ordered these Aqua latex leggings (which are not, it should be noted, actually latex, but a poly/spandex blend) last week during Bloomingdale's private sale; I tried them on today, and wow. They are surprisingly flattering, albeit a little warm, and totally sexy, and in spite of the 5 or so extra pounds I'm currently carrying, my legs do not at all look like sausage casings. In fact, they make me feel like a total rock star. I plan on wearing them with an oxford shirt or a boyfriend cardigan, for a smart-meets-sexy look. And, of course, heels are in order. High heels.

MasstigeWatch!
Late last week, Fashionista broke the first photos of the Go International Erin Fetherston for Target collection, and my first thought was, "How adorable!" And then I thought, "Wait, Cheryl, you're supposed to dress your age now." Fetherston's aesthetic is very innocent and girly, which I love, but on a woman of my age and body shape, it looks more Lolita than Eloise. And at this point, I'm kind of over the whole dress-like-a-6-year-old look. The coats are cute, though. The collection hits Target stores in November (Libertine is next, on July 15th, followed by Temperley in September).

And speaking of Target, if you go to the website and type in "Devi Kroell," you can preorder her excellent Masstige collection, which is due to hit stores next week. I like the clutch (pictured here).

And if you're not over it yet, Barneys' website has restocked its Kate Moss Topshop collection. To which I say...yawn.