Falling in Love (Again) with The Limited

There was a place in time when my closet was definitively comprised of clothes from two specific retailers, one of them being The Limited.

I distinctly remember this splendidly magnificent black wool varsity jacket with creamy leather sleeves that had The Limited’s international logo (remember the one with all of the flags??) embroidered on its back.  There were also the numerous pairs of culottes, jeans, sweaters and my very first black suit made of fine merino wool.

In case you couldn’t tell by the culottes reference, it was quite a number of years ago that my closet was overrun by The Limited.  But after what I saw on Monday, that’s about to change…and fast.

Earlier this week, I was invited to a blogger brunch at Blue Fin in New York City to check out The Limited’s Fall 2012 collection and meet their creative team.

I was intrigued for several reasons. 

I had heard some buzz here and there that The Limited was turning things around a bit, and I was curious to see where they were on their journey to becoming fashionably relevant once again.  

I was also excited for the invitation because I felt it was time to get reacquainted with a brand I once loved.

And lastly, as someone who spent a career putting together press events such as these, I was giddy with delight to experience this one from the other side.

So in the 90-minute fashion presentation over fresh fruit and Southwestern scrambled eggs, I got the chance to see firsthand how The Limited has evolved to become a mainstay in many working women’s wardrobes.  And let me clarify who the “working woman” is to The Limited: she’s both the corporate executive AND the stay-at-home-mama.

From what I could see, The Limited seems to get how we want to look – confident, put together, on trend — and at the price we want to pay.

Most pieces are sold for less than $100 and are effortlessly chic, classic and transitional.  Look for wardrobe essentials like richly hued skinny jeans, skirts of all shapes, and layerable knit and woven pieces. Fun details like exposed zippers, leather (or pleather) trims, and lots of prints – from plaids and python to menswear and mini dots – are what make this collection a stand-out.  I also really loved the blazers and this amazing, amazing wool cape.

Trend alert: mix things up!  Don’t be scared to wear prints and plaids together, ladies. It’s all about balance and proportion, and selecting a neutral color to ground the look.  I spent a few minutes chatting with The Limited’s creative head, Elliot Staples, about this.  Check it out here:

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So make room in your closet for some pieces from The Limited! Here are mom a la mode’s must-haves for Fall:

–          Black wool cape

–          Leopard print technology clutch (designed to fit an iPad!)

–          Printed silk layering pieces worn under printed blazer

–          Skinny jeans in a dark, rich color

–          Tall, quilted leather boots

 
With Fall just around the corner, what wardrobe pieces are on your must-have list?

0x0x
-mom a la mode 
{I was not monetarily compensated for this post. I did receive a beautiful necklace in the event goodie bag.  All opinions expressed are solely mine. }