You might have spotted this outfit already over on The Refined Woman -- the lovely ladies over there featured me and asked me about my New York uniform. To be honest, it always starts with this leather jacket. And here's why: When I first moved to New York City, I remember I was returning home from a trip, grabbing my bags at baggage claim at JFK when a cop nearby said to me in passing, "You can always tell the New Yorkers from tourists because of their leather jackets. Welcome home."

Whenever I put on this jacket, I think of that and smile. And he was right. New Yorkers love a good, black leather jacket, the more broken in, the better. However, it's always good to be aware of some tips for restoring older leather. I always think of it as the finishing touch to most outfits, like my armor for the day.

You can catch my feature over on TRW right this way.

And in other news, I've been nominated for a ShopStyle award for the category of Best Jetsetter Style. I'm up against some pretty amazing gals, but I would really appreciate your vote, if you feel so inclined! 🙂

OUTFIT DETAILS: McQueen leather jacket // St. John shirt // Express jeans // Stuart Weitzman boots // Chanel bag // Celine sunglasses

Photos by Kat Harris for The Refined Woman