Step 1. The Shoe
For fall and winter, cropped pants look great with an ankle boot. Here I paired the pants with platform wedge ankle boots. Wow, that’s mouthful. Cropped pants also look great with platform pumps, oxfords, peep toe pumps.

Step 2. The Top
Almost everyone will have a ultra feminine blouse in their already existing wardrobe that they can pair with these pants. If you don’t, you should get one. Here I chose a burgundy button down, but since the pants are black, there really is an infinite amount of color possibilities.

Step 3. Adding Layers
It is cool or cold depending on where you live, consider layering your top with vests, cardigans, jackets and shrugs. The layer you choose will really define the look. You can really dress the look up or down here.

Step 4. The accessories
Finish it all of with your favorite accessories: layering necklaces, adding bags with fun coordinating textures or prints.

Dress up a plain white top paired with cropped pants by adding embellished layers.

Loose fitting feminine tops paired with flirty pumps are the perfect match for cropped pants.

Ballet flats, oxfords, neutral tones can easily make a pair of black cropped pants instantly casual.

A reader asked for help on how to integrate a pair of pleated cropped pants into her wardrobe. Below is an image of the pants she purchased. For my styling layouts, I will use a different pair of pants, but I wanted you to see the pair that inspired the looks.

Cropped pants are typically thought of as a warm weather staple, but you can actually work them into your fall/winter wardrobe just like you can wear dresses and skirts in cool weather.

Stay tuned for Mane and Chic tips on how to work cropped pants.

Pleated Cropped Pants

Do you find yourself stuck in an all black rut? Why not step out of your comfort zone and try a new neutral? Try mixing hues of khaki, biege and mauve with bold colors in your wardrobe instead of your typical black and watch the impact it makes.

Here is actress Tracee Ellis Ross as she attends the FENDI boutique opening hosted by Chloë Sevigny and in conjunction with LACMA at FENDI Beverly Center Boutique on October 7, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.

I liked this look, but not the jeans. Most of us will have pieces very similar to all the pieces shown here. P.S. I love how I’ve seen a few of these pieces on Tracee before, I like it. It makes her feel more ‘real’. She really works her wardrobe. Take notes.

Click the images for pricing and details. For the J’ADORE tees, visit the Mane and Chic Tee Shop.

What’s the next step after you’ve evaluated and cataloged your closet? Make it shoppable? What does that mean? Make your closet look like your favorite store. Here are some things that I’ve done that you can do too.

• Paint the interior or find a wallpaper that you love.
• Add a fabulous rug (if it can fit).
• Do you have good lighting? If it’s possible, make it happen.
• Make sure the hangers match and for God’s sakes get rid of those wire hangers (big pet peeve of mine).
• Find a cool way display your shoes, handbags, belts and scarves so they are a pleasure to look at and easy to find.
• Arrange the closet by color and category. I have all of my tops and jackets on one side and all of my dresses, skirts, bottoms and shorts on the other side of my closet and it’s all organized by color. 
• Don’t overstuff things. How annoying is it when you go to a store and the clothes are stuffed on the rack? By an extra rack, wardrobe, or create a closet by borrowing from your bedroom’s space. You can always cover it by hanging curtains or fabric from the ceiling if you don’t want your clothes exposed.

source: Decor Pad

We’re right at the cusp of fall and most of us are just beginning to feel a slight change in the weather. What a perfect time to evaluate your wardrobe for the next couple of months. One of my favorite things to do is to pull out all of the clothes in my closet just to see what I have, what I need to get rid of and think about what new items I’d like to add. If you have the time and you’re really into organizing, consider cataloging your wardrobe by taking pictures and putting them in a file on your computer or in a cute binder or photo album. If you have an iPhone or camera phone it will this process easier. When you’re out shopping and you see an item you like, you can simply flip through the images in your photo album to see if it will fit in with your already existing wardrobe.

Here are the steps for evaluating and cataloging your closet.

1. Look at everything in your wardrobe and decide which pieces you want to keep and which ones you want to purge.
2. Catalog the items you want to keep by taking pictures and adding them to your phone’s photo album or an actual photo album.