Zendaya’s Mastered Fall’s Sultriest Transitional Piece

The Katerina Button-Front Dress

My favorite thing about fall is the cozy color palette that comes along with it. This dress' floral pattern is flooded with warm oranges and serene greens that make matching it with your fave cardigans and jackets a total breeze. The v-neckline is universally flattering, too, while the buttoned waist hugs your figure in perfectly.

Maeve Short-Sleeve V-Neck Swing Mini Dress

Another must-have component for any fall dress is comfort. This swing mini keeps things very comfortable, since it's fairly free-flowing against your body. The contrasting stitching along the edges and pockets supply a good amount of structure, though, so you're not totally drowning. This pick would look so chic with a power duo of tall black boots with white socks peeking over the edges.

AFRM Aisla Mesh Midi Dress

For those warmer fall days, this mesh dress saves the day. It surely won't be missed anywhere you wear it, thanks to the bold polka dot pattern. Though bold in pattern, the neutral color palette sets the stage for endless pairing opportunities. This pick has some nice coverage all around the body, plus it arrives ready to wear with a light lining underneath!

Conditions Apply Chloe Maxi Slip Dress

Immediately yes. If you want to stun on your next date night this fall, this slip is the one! The silhouette is simple, but what really makes this piece shine is the swirly stripes of color. The deep jewel tones are fall's perfect fit! This dress comes with removable adjustable straps to let you customize your look, and you can dress it up even further with a chic leather jacket and neutral heels.

PAIGE Kelsee Sleeveless Mini Dress

Along with baggy jeans and denim jackets, I truly haven't been able to escape denim. Fall is *the* time to step out in it! This denim mini dress feels super playful for farmer's market outings or even a low-key day in the park. It has some nice structure to it, thanks to the multitude of pockets and the collared neckline, so it can easily be worn for more formal occasions, too. The tie belt is the real gem of this piece, cinching your figure in in the most flattering way.

Maeve Short-Sleeve Collared Button-Front Knit Mini Dress

This Anthro dress is oh-so retro and oh-so comfy. Its knit fabrication allows it to generously stretch and move with you, never once restricting your figure. The green and white colorway is quite a stylish departure from your expected fall oranges and browns, so your look will most certainly stand out. This mini buttons up all the way, giving you room to experiment with leaving one or two open at the top to perfect your get-up.

Pilcro Short-Sleeve V-Neck Smocked Babydoll Mini Dress

Peter Pan collars are already huge, and they're going to be everywhere once fall is officially in full swing. This plaid babydoll dress takes on the trending neckline with plenty of ruffles, eye-catching stitch work, and puff sleeves for a playful, yet sophisticated effect. It's made to boast a loose fit, so it's a no-brainer when it comes to picking out comfy fall 'fits. I'd absolutely style this pick with cowgirl boots and a knit cardigan to amp up the Western vibes.

The Tobie Button-Front Pleated Shirt Dress by Exquise

Leopard print is another major fall fashion trend for 2024, and there are tons of ways to style it in a polished (not gaudy) way. Case in point is this pleated shirt dress that acts as a statement piece all on its own. The pleats land right around the waistline, stylishly drawing in your figure where you might crave a lil' more definition. The top half of this design is refined by a collar and button-up styling before falling into a flowy midi-length skirt – the perfect pairing for ballet flats!

The Maya Ruched Cowl-Neck Dress: Textured Edition

I'm convinced that chocolate brown looks good on everyone. This Anthropologie dress is a great comfy piece to don for the office or happy hour, since it's high-coverage around the neckline. The leg slit along the side adds a bit of spice to your ensemble, making room for you to show off your go-to fall boots! This pick is stretchy throughout and flaunts a bit of ruching around the midsection to define your bod.

The Cecily Fit & Flare Sweetheart Dress by Maeve

This femme dress fits like a glove. It's undoubtedly vintage inspired, boasting adorable cap sleeves and a sweetheart neckline before falling into a flared skirt. The pattern highlights tons of tiny little raspberries, which will turn heads everywhere you take this piece. The fabric is fairly stretchy while still providing some structure to your look. For fall, wear it with a denim jacket and white sneakers for a no-fail casual-but-cute outfit.

The Fleur Strapless Maxi Slip Dress: Linen Edition

Everyone needs a reliable (and high-quality) black maxi. This linen pick is very straightforward in design, boasting a strapless look that'll look iconic with any fall layers you already have in your closet. From denim jackets to colorful cardis, this Anthro dress is a total wardrobe staple to pair with your faves.

Damson Madder Dion Leopard Carpenter Cargo Pants

Leopard print jeans are perhaps the lowest-risk way to try out the pattern, especially with this subdued pair. Where some leopard print pieces really boast the pattern with bright colors and high contrast, these are less flashy, but still noticeable. They flaunt a high-rise fit and wide cargo pant legs. I'd style these with a fitted black top and black ballet flats to tie the look together.

Reformation Bella Skirt

I fell victim to the great leopard print midi skirt trend back in 2019, and this piece definitely reminds me of its more mature, grown-up sister. This maxi-length skirt from Reformation falls all the way down to the floor, providing a very sleek and chic feel to your silhouette. It's a great contender for a 'night out' outfit – I'd wear it with simple kitten heels and a tiny tank to really up the pattern.

Dolce Vita Notice Stitch Sneakers

Not ready to rock full-on leopard print? Opt for some stylish sneakers like this pair from Dolce Vita. They boast the same sporty flair as the famed Adidas Sambas, but certainly have a bit more personality, thanks to the mixed materials and playful stitching. I'd wear these with some black wide-leg jeans and an oversized graphic tee to give real cool girl energy.

Mango Leopard Knit Cardigan

This leopard printed sweater is everything, and not just because of the foxy pattern. I think the clean-cut hems and slightly-cropped sleeve length really play up the spots in an elevated way, plus you can fuss around with the front buttons to find your utmost perfect fit. Wear this baby with some black capris and kitten heels to achieve a super chic model off-duty look.

A New Day One Shoulder Midi Dress

For an easy one-and-done, this midi dress is the way to go. It's made to have a bodycon fit, so it'll flatter your figure perfectly. As opposed to your basic slip dress, this one flaunts a fun one-shoulder shape with a bow tie at the top. Plus, you get a little bit of sexy edge from the leg slit on the side. A true statement piece! I think it'd look divine with dark red ballet flats and a lightweight black cardigan that you can leave on or easily take off, weather permitting.

Damson Madder Lily Carpenter Mini Skirt

Another denim leopard print iteration – I simply love to see it. Mini skirts are the most versatile garment you can keep in your closet cross-seasonally, since they look great styled with sandals and winter boots alike. This printed one boasts ample pocket space and an ideal length for sophisticated and casual moments alike. For fall, I'd style this skirt with tall riding boots, tights, and a crisp white button-up shirt to channel an office-ready 'fit.

Dolce Vita Silvie Shoulder Bag

The best part about this leopard print purse is that it's reversible – one side is covered in spots, and the other is solid black. This two-toned quality can come in super handy on days you don't necessarily want to wear all-out leopard. The print won't be the only thing turning heads, though. This bag is fitted with both silver and gold hardware as well as an asymmetrical body shape to make your look stand out from the rest. Since it's so bold, I'd definitely pair this piece with a classic little black dress or just jeans and a white tee to let the bag speak for itself.

Sézane Betty Cardigan

This Merino wool cardi mimics a jacket, but feels insanely soft. The collar, front pockets, and buttons polish the look up superbly. You could easily wear this pick alone or layered on top of a basic tank. I think it'd look so chic alongside some dark-wash wide-leg jeans and platform sneakers.

Gap Leopard Belt

For a small touch of leopard, this sturdy belt from Gap does the trick. It's an unexpected pop of pattern that'll work well against a monochromatic all-black 'fit.

Ganni Leopard Cotton Poplin Peplum Tie Blouse

There are so many iterations of this tie-together blouse out there, but Ganni truly did it first. They've certainly hopped on the leopard print trend with this piece that's all about flowy-ness. The puff sleeves, roomy round collar, and peplum silhouette make for an uber-comfy wear. I'd pair this top with black barrel jeans to shape the look even more, then finish everything off with some eye-catching sneakers.

Zara Animal Print Tulle Halter Dress

This halter dress has a sultry plunging neckline and an open back, so it's definitely the best fit for cocktail hour or a late-night party. The leopard print has some variation throughout the fabric, so it doesn't feel too repetitive or cheapy. I think some sleek heels and plenty of gold jewelry would work amazingly well with this piece.

1. Color Can Work In Your Favor

The colors you wear and use in your home are energetically connected to you and your own personal qi, or what is defined as your lifeforce energy. Black, navy and charcoal with a mix of whites and grays were particularly good colors for my zodiac animal (the rat), which is funny because my home is predominantly those colors.

While every zodiac animal has favorable colors, Cho and Morris discovered a combo of two colors to be the best colors for everyone in the Year of the Snake. "We think a vermillion persimmon color, a really fiery color that's connected to the wood snake, will be the best color for everyone for the Year of the Snake," says Cho. I happen to love this Persimmon Birds wallpaper by Nathan Turner and both Cho and Morris encouraged me to bring in this complementary color to all my blues and neutrals.

Of course, this doesn't mean you have to paint your space an orange or fiery red or buy a pricey sofa in that color. Maybe you always use a pen or notebook in that color or wear something in the vermillion persimmon family and start to notice how it makes you feel this year.

2. Crystals Can Impact Your Goals

Apparently, I have a lot of water in my Chinese zodiac, which can mean I’m very creative and intuitive. The crystal that's connected to all that water is labradorite, which has a bluish, watery quality to it. It’s also said to be supportive of wisdom and intellect. "Water is considered an element with a lot of depth," says Cho. "When you think about the ocean, there's so much life happening underneath. Water is really a connector, a communicator, and with a lot of depth of wisdom." That's the kind of energy I'm cultivating? I'll take it!

3. Know Your Bagua

Bagua in feng shui is like a grid or a mandala that you can overlay on your home. It can reveal obstacles and patterns in your home that you might want to unlock or rearrange. You place this grid over your bed or starting at your entry and it shows things like Abundance, Wisdom, Growth, etc. Morris and Cho overlayed the bagua over my bed and shared where I can place the labradorite to activate my career, communication and connection this year.

Mindful Living offers five floor plans to teach you how to read your mandala's home layout.

4. Plants Can Enhance Your Qi

Plant choice and placement can impact your home's qi too. For example, jade succulents are best placed in your Wisdom bagua area while the snake plant, which cuts through negative energy and signifies strength, is best placed in your Alignment area.

5. Timing Is Everything

There are auspicious hours/days/months and more challenging hours/days/months in the lunar new year. My best months are January, April, and August, while my challenging months are June and July. My best hours are 7AM to 9:00 AM to 3PM to 5:00 PM and 1AM to 3:00 AM, as well as a slew of days where I can make sure to align with important meetings, or plan an event, or even talk to someone about a difficult topic. I can be strategic with this time.

"My most challenging months are always the months that I overwork and I'm totally burnt out," says Cho. "So I look ahead and I definitely say no to the things that aren't the most important in those months."

Turns out, January 8th is a really great day for zodiac rats, so I'll be putting my labradorite stone underneath my bed then with the intention that I'm bringing in more wisdom, more resources, more support for my career and for my communication and connecting to others.

This is where your zodiac animal plays a part too. “Snakes have this magnetism and this charm and there's an attractive quality about them, but they're also really wise and thoughtful and clever, and that's actually a good thing for the rat,” says Morris. Those born in the year of the Tiger and Pig may find the 2025 lunar year more challenging, but that doesn't mean it's going to be a terrible year. (My challenging year is coming up in 2026, the Year of the Horse).

"It's not the year to push yourself," adds Cho. "It's the year to take care of yourself. It's the year to say no when you're going to be stretched thin. And it also reminds us you can't have your left side of your body without your right side of your body. There's a natural shift to things, and it reminds us there's times to be quieter. There's times to be more internal, and there's times where we'll have more challenges, but with the greatest challenge also comes the greatest rewards."

Mindful Living: A Guide to the Everyday Magic of Feng Shui

Learn more about your monthly forecast for 2025 and mindful rituals to get you through the year in peace and harmony in Mindful Living: A Guide to the Everyday Magic of Feng Shui!