For those that know me well, one of my fashion pet peeves is wearing a red top with a black bottom. Why? Terribly predictable, unimaginative, boring. And around the holiday season?? Ugh – you see it all over the place! Well, it was not December quite yet, and I was just in the mood for a red sweater, so I went for it, with a few twists…first, wearing a pencil skirt with black stockings and high heeled pumps; ladylike elegance, classic but never boring. (Instead of black pants)  The sweater is 100% cashmere, from Ann Taylor. Surprise, it’s a V-neck. I wanted a more conservative look without layering a shirt underneath, so I cut out the back of neck tag (for comfort) and wore the sweater backwards…

It looked interesting from the back too!  Added chunky gold accessories to keep the look classy and business appropriate.

A scarf is a must even if I toss it in my bag ‘just in case’ it’s chilly indoors. Then what to wear for a jacket? Black leather jacket? Black cape? When I tried each of these options I knew right away –  too predictable. Like the colors in the classic Burberry scarf, tan, black and red are a great combination – this wool cape from Bloomingdales was the perfect topper for a fall day.

In addition to the nice color combo, the feminine style of the cape works well with the pumps/skirt and the fullness balanced the slim profile.

A great business casual look that combines seriousness with style.

Red top and black bottom. Yeah, I’m eating my words. 😉