(INSTAGRAM // badgalriri)

From her Grammy wins and her stint as Creative Director of Puma to her uber successful makeup line, Rihanna has made a name for herself in pop culture and beyond. She’s constantly revinventing the scope of whatever industry she finds herself in, as she popularizes Caribbean beats and changes beauty standards with cosmetics catering to all skin tones and undertones. Bold, daring, body positive and inclusive, it’s no wonder her fandom have bestowed her with the title of Queen RiRi. Did I also mention she’s a diplomat?

Her successes evidently speak for themselves, so today, we’ll just be talking about her influence in the fashion world. Never one to follow the rules, Rihanna continues to surprise us with her unique style choices, especially with her most recent decisions regarding outerwear.

Normally, jackets, coats, and generally outer layers of clothing serve as secondary details to the dress, separates, or whatever you have on underneath, which we could regard as the main component of the overall outfit. Rather than treating them as accessories, Ms. Fenty sees outerwear as an opportunity to change the way we utilize this clothing category.

So what are the new ways we could wear our coats, according to Rihanna?

Outerwear as the Statement Piece

It’s so rare for a coat or jacket to be the center of attention in an ensemble. Although there’s nothing plain about Rihanna’s outfit in the Insta snap below, her coat is clearly the most eye-catching among all the pieces.

You don’t have to own an eccentric coat in order for it to make a statement. In fact, any piece that seems slightly out of the ordinary, such as this Flecked Textured Coat, will work as the standout item of the ensemble, as long as you wear basics underneath in neutral tones, may that be an all black outfit or a nude ensemble. Try to avoid vivid colors and prints if you want the main focus on your coat.

Coats as Dresses

Something else that Rihanna likes to do is turn her coats into frocks (or maybe the coats were designed to be dresses in the first place). Whatever the case may be, she’s definitely been obsessed with turning her outerwear into a sexy dresses for the fall.

These looks can easily be executed with a classic trench, buttoned just high enough in order to have exposed shoulders and a waist belt to hold everything up. If you don’t have a trench coat, anything like a Hooded Jacket could potentially work. Remember, a waist belt is key in making this look like a finished product, rather than you looking like you’re naked underneath your coat.

Puffy Jackets with Sexy Silhouettes

Puffy jackets are not usually the first thing that come to mind when you need a coat over a bodycon or fitted dress, as the majority probably opt for outerwear that offer shape, just like their under layers. Not RiRi though. She’s all about mixing up those silhouettes, matching sexy clothes with conventionally unflattering winter wear, particularly parkas.

If slips and skin tight dresses aren’t really your thing, you can also try wearing a fitted crop top with leggings or skinny jeans. You can also switch the crop top out with a low-cut bodysuit.

Just because outerwear like a Short Fur Winter Jacket don’t exactly conform to your body shape, it doesn’t mean you can’t take any risks underneath. Don’t be afraid to show a little more skin. The poofy nature of the jacket will seek to balance out the provocativeness of the ensemble.

As strange (and perhaps questionable) her ensembles can be at times, she owns her style and wears everything with confidence. Though it may be too much to ask of you to get to her level, what you can do is take bits and pieces of her street style, and maybe after channeling your inner Rihanna, you’ll find the confidence in yourself to wear anything you want.

(INSTAGRAM // lizasoberano)

I don’t know about you, but packing is one of the most exciting aspects of traveling (other than the vacation itself, of course). Your bag is essentially the holiday edit of your wardrobe, which consists of your best threads, your quirkiest prints, basically the trendiest of the trends. You’ll likely bring items you would never wear on a day-to-day basis, such as beachwear or winter clothes. It’s almost like having an entirely new closet without draining your bank account.

However, there are others on the other end of the spectrum who absolutely hate packing, and it’s not surprising. There’s a limit to how much you can bring with you, a nightmare for the indecisive dressers. Not to mention, you have to measure the practicality of each clothing item. Sure, you’ll want to have outfit options for your trip abroad, but what are the chances you’ll actually wear your new leather pants when you’ll be exploring old towns and going on walking tours?

That’s where your wardrobe basics come in. Evidently, your clothes will vary depending on your destination. Across all your holiday packing lists should be your closet essentials specifically tailored to the weather conditions. You might be thinking, wardrobe basics on a trip? How boring! Doesn’t that take all the excitement out of packing for your holiday?

I’m here to tell you that basics don’t mean boring. The essentials lay the foundation of a great ensemble, and with a switch of accessories, shoes and outerwear, you’ll find an outfit for every activity on your itinerary. Just ask everyone’s favorite girl next door, Liza Soberano.

While other celebs are donning getups straight from the runway, Liza dials it down with a tee and jeans, with statement pieces. Her Instagram proves that you don’t always have to try so hard to look good.

Here’s what you can learn from Liza’s effortlessly fashionable travel outfits:

1) It’s all about how you finish an outfit.

We all know by now that accessories elevate plain ensembles. Even your oldest, rattiest pair of jeans and a simple white tee can be transformed with a great jacket and cute heels. When Liza visited on Abbey Road, she snapped herself wearing a hoodie and pleather leggings. She finished her outfit with a gingham coat, and while all the fabrics sound like they would clash, she ties them all together with a monochromatic palette.

(INSTAGRAM // lizasoberano)

Who would have thought a coat could make a hoodie look that good? That’s the magic of outerwear. Jackets, coats, and even cardigans can add a little extra something OOTD, so make sure you bring a couple of options with you, such as our Lapel Collar Parka with Leather Sleeves.

If your destination is a little too warm for outerwear, think plaid or chambray shirts, kimono robes, etc.

2) When in doubt, wear black.

Liza’s go-to travel aesthetic is clearly all black, with usually one piece used for contrast. There’s a reason why everyone loves to wear black (or a few, to be more precise). It matches with all colors of the rainbow, it’s slimming and suited for every occasion. In Segovia, Spain, the actress donned an oversized jean jacket over head-to-toe black. Feel free to wear all black, or introduce contrast like Liza.

(INSTAGRAM // lizasoberano)

3) A leather jacket is everything.

Time and time again, we’ve mentioned how crucial a black leather jacket is for your wardrobe. At this point, we probably sound like a broken record, but we just can’t stress enough how life-changing a leather biker is. Whether you love floral dresses, graphic tees, or love yoga pants, a biker adds an edge that tricks people into thinking that you put thought into your outfit. Liza styled hers in London with a white sweater, black jeans, and a black shoulder chain bag to maintain that ultimate, cool girl outlook.

(INSTAGRAM // lizasoberano)

Got any extra travel fashion tips? Leave your comments below!

February is almost coming to an end and what that usually means is that summer is just around the corner. While our country doesn’t technically have a summer season, our hottest months have always been from March to May, right before the start of rainy season. But given the current temperatures, it feels like we are pretty far from consistently sunny, 35°C days. Lately, we’ve been averaging at about 26°C, which is pretty normal in December and early January, not so much in February. It’s important that we all stay warm (and dry) until the weather gets better, so let’s turn our attention to the outerwear we currently have here at Pretty Me.

1) Leather Bikers Jacket

Leather is not the most practical fabric for us considering how hot it is all year round, but while it’s still quite cool, it’s the perfect time to take advantage. Some women feel that leather jackets are too edgy for their personal taste. Contrary to the design of the jacket, there are plenty of outfits that work amazingly well with a leather biker, so don’t feel the need to channel that tough, motorcycle chick vibe.

The Leather Bikers Jacket can be worn with the most casual of ensembles, like a graphic tee, ripped jeans and sneakers. If you don’t want to look ultra feminine in dress, the jacket will seek to balance the girly pattern or the silhouette. Truthfully, almost anything can be matched with a leather jacket, whether you’re going out for the night or simply need to cover up on a chilly day. All you have to do is find out what works for you. Thus, any time we feel like something is missing in your outfit, slip into this leather biker to top it all off.

2) Hooded Padded Lightweight Jacket

The rain brings out some of the ugliest (albeit comfortable and functional) clothing that we own, all to make sure that we avoid getting sick. Despite our priorities to stay healthy during a downpour, there’s really no need to sacrifice your personal style. Raincoats are often oversized and bulky, but our Hooded Padded Lightweight Jacket is fitted and has a quilted design, which actually looks cute rather than reminiscent of the Michelin Man, allowing you to show off your figure even with an outer layer. How you choose to style is completely up to you, but it’s probably best that you wear casual ensembles with the jacket instead of work attire or anything formal.

It’s not just the coat that defines a trendy, rainy day outfit, as we previously covered in a style guide called “How to Look Cute in the Rain.” You can refer back to that post if you want some tips on looking your best on those dreary days.

3) Stitch Denim Jacket

The denim jacket is yet another one of those closet staples that transition throughout the seasons. It’s suited as an extra layer on the coldest of days. It also acts as a windbreaker when you’re feeling slightly chilly on those summer evenings at the beach. Casual separates are the go-to options for many, since most girls treat it the same way as a chambray shirt. A denim jacket can be thrown over a maxi dress or skirt if you want the finished look to be less formal.

There’s an endless debate about pairing jeans with a jean jacket, as the denim uniform look isn’t something that everyone can pull off. The acid wash on the Stitch Denim Jacket may also be also a little harder to work with. All you really need to keep in mind is to wear your jean items in different shades. To be on the safer side, black, white and gray jeans offer solid, neutral colors that are a fantastic match with the faded blue patterns of this jacket.