Not surprisingly, I want EVERYTHING from J.Crew’s Fall 2013 collection. I wish those coats and sweaters were all available now! But the one good thing about this cold weather is I can capitalize on all the wish-I-had-thought-of-that layering ideas I saw at the presentation. Check out the styling tricks I’ll be trying now — plus, more of J.Crew’s preppy-chic fall 2013 women’s offerings.

Here are the genius styling ideas I’m stealing from J.Crew’s Fall 2013 Collection

Emerald and bubblegum pink — who knew?

Pink doesn’t have to be sweet — just add a little texture, a bit of black, and some messy hair.

If you’re not ready to do the mixing and matching thing on a grand scale, go big with one print (like the graphic printed dress above) and small with the other (the striped scarf) for a chic contrast.

Counter the girly vibe of embroidered accents or designs with a graphic print for a modern look. Bonus points for adding a seemingly mismatched extra in a different print and palette, like this rose-colored python bag, for that how-did-she-think-of-that fashion editor look.

Putting together a chic going-out look is as simple as adding a cool scarf and statement earrings to the black basics already in your closet.

Stop wasting your time trying to match your clothes. A brocade skirt (yes, brocade is in again) feels so much cooler when paired with unexpected pieces that at first glance, might appear to clash. Who would have thought to pair a navy and orange brocade mini with cobalt ankle-strap pumps, a black embellished blouse, and tweed pumps? But here’s your proof that sometimes there’s nothing chicer than clashing.

After a few seasons of print overload, hopefully by now the easy way to mix prints has been drilled in all our heads (you know — stick to the same color family). But since we all already know that, and as we just showed you, clashing is cool, if you’re going to take the easy way out, jazz up your patterns with a shot of neon and a slightly mismatched accent print or two.

Now here’s an equation I would have never come up with on my own: florals + houndstooth + leopard = the perfect fall outfit.

Dress down camel pants with a sporty top and dress them up with fancy footwear on bottom to nail that impossibly chic without trying too hard look that makes Jenna Lyons so damn cool. PS: I need that sweater — and those shoes.

Jazz up your turtlenecks and tweeds with a shiny floral print blouse. Add shiny shoes to help bring out the contrast.

      Leopard isn’t too wild to pair with another print, even a bold patchwork pattern.

Tweed doesn’t have to be brown and boring. Try it in my new favorite pairing for fall — magenta and red.

Oxblood and hot orange actually play together quite nicely. Who would’ve thunk? The coat’s colorful print ties them together nicely, but I’m pretty convinced they would be friends on their own.

Windowpane prints are my new favorite print — and party pants and heels look so much cooler when paired with a slouchy sweatshirt or knit and a preppy peacoat. The takeaway: Mixing two different vibes = the peak of chic.

Shorts suits are amazing, especially with strappy heels. Just stick to not-too-short shorts with a tailored but not-too-tight fit to keep the look from veering into tramp town.

Even I can be a fan of florals. Feminine prints are so much cooler when paired with bold, artsy or Navajo-inspired designs.

Brocade + Tweed = BFFs. Also, a fisherman cable knit keeps any glitzy or girly look from feeling too … well, glitzy or girly.

     

Monochromatic looks are so much cooler with a statement necklace and nothing else.

White on white post-Labor Day is still the pinnacle of chic, but make it even cooler by opting for a slightly slouchy and oh, so cozy fit.

 

The perfect work outfit is as simple as all-black separates. Just mind the fit — and the extras. Oh yeah, and invest in a special statement coat in a neutral palette to elevate any look.