Leopard Booties

Rihanna exited a London hotel rocking a transitional ensemble that's edgy and sophisticated at the same time. The singer started with a pair of distressed denim cutoffs and a gray sweater, then topped it with a superchic black coat. Her funky accessories — leopard lace-up booties and these Stella McCartney round printed sunglasses ($225) — gave her look that signature Rihanna edge. While this outfit may be too out there for many, the key takeaway is to balance your distressed denim with a sophisticated coat. Then add a few printed accessories for a unique spin.

While grabbing lunch in Studio City, Rachel Bilson stuck to her simple yet snazzy style in a black tee and these Current/Elliott denim shorts ($178) with exposed striped pockets. Her new white Chanel bag, Ray-Ban Wayfarers, and these ShoeMint leopard booties ($80) also accompanied her casual cool LA style. If you've been looking for new denim shorts to spend Summer in, we recommend Rachel's pair — the striped exposed pocket detail will make you stand out among a sea of denim cutoffs. As for her leopard booties, they'll take you from Summer to Fall flawlessly, so they're definitely worth the buy.

Gossip Girl Jessica Szohr is known for her disheveled-chic look off camera, but the actress went unusually polished for her appearance at Chris Benz's Fall 2012 show at New York Fashion Week. Up top she wore a navy, schoolboy-style blazer with a black sequined tie-front blouse, which you can re-create by tying a sequined scarf around your neck. Down low, Jessica lightened things up with a pair of tan skinny jeans, which she cuffed at the bottom. But it's her feet that stopped the outfit from veering into too-preppy territory. The pointy leopard booties lend just enough roar factor without being obnoxious, which is just the way leopard should be worn, in doses. Re-create this preppy-cum-wild ensemble at the office, then remove the blazer to reveal a more nighttime feel for after-work sips.