they go west

During my senior year of high school I had the distinct honor of playing Sally Cato in the spring show, Mame. The role came with the pivotal and plot-twisting musical number in which I sang the line “Giddy-up, Lightening Rod” to my invisible horse for two whole minutes, in about a dozen different octaves, while a crowd of 300 wondered why I didn’t wear nude undergarments and why I was holding my whip upside-down. I still pray to this day no one has footage of that scene to hold over my head when E! News profiles my True Hollywood Story in ten years.

Although Sally Cato was nothing short of a harsh blow to my dignity, it did give me a leg-up on one of this season's most prominent trends: Equestrian.

Everything from riding helmets to horse-patterned sweaters made their way down the catwalk this past season. But, since a stallion graphic knit can seem a little My Little Pony-ish and wearing a riding helmet will probably get some “Halloween was last month” reactions, pieces like plaid shirts, buckled accouterments and riding boots are the perfect cavalry translation.

lauren jerdonek.

essentials: leather sleeves

Adding black sleeves to your wardrobe this fall amps-up the classic tee. Noir-siding not only slims your upper arms, but also turns a simple top into a Lagerfeld-approved ensemble.

{contents: 1. jason wu lace + 2. tibi silk print + 3. reed krakoff + 4. 3.1 phillip lim leather sweater + 5. h&m color top + 7. rick owens jacket}

lauren jerdonek.

boyfriend: mr. burgundy

Never in a million years would I have dreamed of lumping a fictional, (local) Emmy-awarded anchorman into the same category of such swanksters like Andrew Garfield and Zac Efron. In fact, I'm sure I'm committing some kind of fashion cardinal sin even comparing the two! But sometimes, ya gotta do what you gotta do.

  If there's one thing I've learned in my experience with guys (cue laughs!) it's that if you want them to listen, you need to give them something they want to listen to. So, alas I have shamefully resorted to Mr. Ron Burgundy in a plea that guys to show their support for the autumn 2012 champion color.

Burgundy in menswear was all over the runways for fall/winter 2012 collections in February. From Tommy Hilfiger to Ovadia & Sons, the legend of the deep hue lived on. 

Now, do I expect you gentleman to dawn tailored suits to 9:30 chemistry lecture? Yeah, I do. But I know you wont. So, five burgundy items that you're down to flaunt & that're girlfriend-approved.

Stay classy, San Diego. 

{contents: 1. NN07 basic tee + 2. Beams Plus Zip-Up Jacket + 3. Illesteva Sunglasses + 4. Common Projects Leather Low Top Sneakers + 5. Canili Woven-Silk Tie}

lauren jerdonek.

essentials: autumn's check-list

{contents: 1. madewell denim shirt + 2. t by alexander wang white shirt + 3. sheinside draped collar + 4. helmut lang leather + 5. j.crew cashmere polka dot + 6. proenza schouler cobalt blue + 7. karl leather leggings + 8. j brand denim low rise + 10. alexander mcqueen skull scarf +11. bindya printed scarf + 12. steve madden printed loafer + 13. forever 21 plum bootie}

lauren jerdonek.