1. J. Crew The Great Caper, $398; jcrew.com

2. Milly Suede-trimmed tweed cape, $575; net-a-porter.com

3. Rachel Zoe Ava knit cape, $450; shopbop.com

4. Bird by Juicy Couture Leather-trim cape, $428; Neimanmarcus.com

5. Joie Tyra wool blend toggle cape, $548; Bloomingdales.com

Keep in mind that you have to balance the fullness of this style. So unless you are like my bff – a skinny bitch of 5’9″ – you will need to pair it with a slim pant and heel. Wide bottom (not leg) pants in a dark wash worn with heels would also work and slim, ankle-length pants worn with pointy-toe flats is another acceptable pairing.

I am not talking about the sexy bras you wear for a couple hours (or a few minutes), I am talking about the ones we live in. The ones we have to wear from morning until night, from a breakfast meeting to a cocktail party or from the morning drop-off at school to dinner with family. Some of you smaller ladies can get away with a bralette - the kind of bra with no underwire and soft straps. I’ve found some, through much time and investigation that support my size 34C frame but the argument can be made (and has been by numerous female friends and relatives) that I need more support and as I get older I feel I must acquiesce.

Also, and I am reluctant to share this, I’ve put on a few pounds recently and, thanks to genetics, they went right to my cleavage. This recent “development” was the impetus for my visit to the lingerie department at Saks two weeks ago where I discovered the Spanx Bra-lellujah collection. Hear me all female family and friends who have scoffed at my unwavering reluctance to wear an underwire – I have been converted. Bra-lellujah!

Here is what I love about these bras: they have almost NO hardware. You know, all those plastic and metal pieces that dig into your skin and constantly remind you that you are wearing the torturous thing. All the straps, including the back strap, are made of the incredibly smooth, gravity defying Spanx material and expand or contract to adjust to your shape so they don’t strain or agitate your skin and muscles. I made my cousin try one and she said she forgot she had it on! I currently own two but plan to purchase more in some of the other styles in the line – racerback, contour, non-padded, wireless and hosiery (their version of the bralette).

You can find them at Saks and I would guess most other major department stores but you can also buy them online at spanx.com. They fit true to size and I promise will be the best gift you’ve ever given your breasts.

Now for today’s long awaited post… I have been coveting a perfect pair of nude patent pumps for some time. For the simple reason that this style can go with almost any outfit, it is a shoe that will seriously alleviate my random wardrobe dilemmas. I am showing options in black, navy, nude, and red but if you have to chose only one, go with black. If you can go for two, go black and nude. The red and navy are just for those lucky girls. Nude can be worn throughout the year, with the exception of very cold temperatures. With the black, the opposite is true – don’t wear these in the dead of summer.

These are all designer styles and are priced accordingly, but remember that this is an investment you will have and use for a very long time. I made it a point make my selections wearable…none of these have over a 4″ heel, but they will all give you the height and elongation for which the patent pump is famous.

1. Brian Atwood Sally Patent Leather Pumps in Nude $525. Buy at saksfifthavenue.com. Love the unique shape of this heel and the pretty pinkish hue.

2. Jimmy Choo Gilbert Patent Leather Pumps in Navy, $495. Buy at saksfifthavenue.com. These are just simply the perfect navy heel.

3. Manolo Blahnik ‘Newcio’ Pump in Black, $575. Buy at nordstrom.com. The workhorse of this list…you will turn to these season after season. Paired with a cocktail dress or a jeans, these put the polish on any ensemble.

4. Jimmy Choo Locket Pump in Red or Black, $495. Buy at nordstrom.com. Candy apple red never looked so sweet. They are also available in black.

5. Stuart Weitzman Naughty Pump in Black, $298. Buy at shoptheshoebox.com. I threw this pair in because they are a lower price point and still have a great shape.

6. Christian Louboutin Simple Patent Leather Pumps in Nude, $595. Buy at saksfifthavenue.com. The quintessential patent nude pump – another workhorse for your wardrobe.

I am sucker for lace but this is also embroidered! The bodice is lined (so no extra tank necessary) and the shape and detailing are so pretty. Check it out at shopbop.com. Direct link: http://tiny.cc/t5tt2

American Retro Jill Suede Over the Knee Boots $545 – Buy at shopbop.com.

Ash Intense Suede Over the Knee Boots $325 – Buy at shopbop.com.

Rosegold Verve Suede Boots $168 (on sale from $240!) – Buy at shopbop.com.

Frye Dorado Riding Boot $458 – Buy at zappos.com.

Kors Michael Kors Veronica Flat Riding Boot $450 – Buy at saksfifthavenue.com.

Joie Caravan $379 (0n sale from $545!) – Buy at piperlime.com.

Pour La Victoire Pilar $395 – Buy at zappos.com.

Michael Michael Kors Greenwich Boots $295 – Buy at saksfifthavenue.com.

Modern Vintage Tall Wedge Boot $395 – Buy at saksfifthavenue.com.

Chloe Wrap Buckle Leather Tall Boots $1,195 – Buy at intermixonline.com.

Which ones do you love? Leave a comment and let me know. I wish for Chloe. Shocking!

Thanks to a lovely Indian summer the gloves I now desperately need are still tucked away in the far recesses of our coat closet. Up until now, we have been spared the arctic blasts of fall that remind every Chicagoan not to get too comfortable without our winter wardrobe. Living here you learn to quickly amass an arsenal of hats, scarves, coats, boots, face shields and, most importantly, gloves. When worn together, these items transform the mere Midwestern mortal into a winter warrior from December to April.

I have yet to give into using a face shield and I try to keep my winter outerwear look less mountain climber and more sophisticated snow queen. To do so, I start with a great coat and I always wear gloves. The skin on your hands is extremely delicate and exposing it to harsh temperatures can be very damaging so keep them covered and use A LOT of hand cream in the winter.

You might think that buying gloves online is impossible. I did too. Isn’t that something you need to try on? No, not if you know how to measure your hand to get your exact glove size. Thanks to my bff, who was the impetus for this post, I went to the web and found some easy instructions on glove.org. Take the following two measurements of your dominant hand (the one you write with): (1) around the hand at the fullest part (exclude thumb) and (2) the tip of the middle finger to the base of the hand. Use the larger of these two measurements to determine your glove size – the number of inches correlates to the size of the glove you should be wearing.

Giorgio Sermoneta is the undisputed king of the glove. His company, Sermoneta Gloves, has been exclusively specializing in gloves since it opened its first shop in Rome in 1960. With stores in 10 international cities, including Manhattan and Chicago, it’s possible you’ve passed one of their fabulously colorful window displays. A high level of craftsmanship (to produce one pair of gloves requires at least 10 artisans) and reasonable prices makes them a very smart investment. Each style comes in a rainbow of colors and prices start at $85 for their Kid Cashmere Glove (see pink glove above). You can shop their collection online at sermonetagloves.com/shop. This weekend I plan to unearth my winter accessories and take inventory. I may need a new pair of gloves in some snazzy Sermoneta color.

And while I don’t think friendship jewelry should be strictly relegated to bracelets, it is the most recognized form of friendship fashion. I found these Scosha bracelets last year when I wanted to buy my bff something special after she held my hand through a very difficult loss. The real gemstones combined with beautifully woven silks and linens in muted colors give them a very rich feel.

Most of Scosha’s bracelets are made from hand woven silk fly line so they are durable enough to wear everyday, even in the shower. The versions with diamonds, rubies and emeralds set in gold and silver are delicate and unexpected, making them the perfect gift for a special friend. Scosha also makes unique rings, earrings and necklaces. The bracelets range in price from $159 to $322 depending on the stone and setting. You can browse their collection at scoshanyc.com.

I am taking a mini vacation with my husband so you won’t hear from me until next Friday. I know, boo. While we are talking updates, the new site will be ready to go live in November – I can’t wait to show it to you all. I think I’ll have to include some photos from this vacation in the new “Musings & Me” section. Ooh la la. Stay tuned.