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The military trend has been around for a while, and it doesn’t seem like it’s going away any time soon. It’s one of those trends that can be incorporated in our wardrobe no matter what season it is. From vests to shoes to coats, the fashion world has put out a wide variety of military pieces. Here, I showcase three of my own and recommend ways to wear them.

Military Outerwear

If you plan on layering on military outerwear, the key is to keep the rest of your outfit simple.  Military outerwear are standout pieces, with all the decorated buttons that fill the front, the sleeves and possibly even the shoulders.

Left: Bold Color. Military coat by Ben Sherman from ASOS, little black dress from Guess, clutch and shoes from Aldo. Right: Just the Basics. Military vest from bebe, tank top and pants from Bershka, boots by Colin Stuart from Victoria’s Secret.

Bold Colors: You never want to look like you’re trying too hard by mixing too many eye-catching pieces, but you still want to stand out somehow. Keep your outfit simple and stray away from crazy prints and textures, but add some bold colors, such as royal purple, electric blue or red. I am simply wearing a little black dress beneath my military coat, but spicing it up with matching purple shoes and clutch. I’m also wearing a gold ring and gold earrings to tie in the gold handle on my clutch.

Basics: If you feel your military piece is enough of a statement, feel free to just keep the rest of your look clean and simple. I am wearing a plain tank top beneath my vest, paired with black skinny jeans and knee-high boots. Because of the detailing on my collar, I added a similarly textured snake bracelet.

Here are some military coats available right now that will keep you looking chic through the winter.

Military Shoes

Military or combat boots (whatever you want to call them) are everywhere. They are super easy to find, and I see them in all the shoe shops I walk into or all the online shopping websites that carry shoes.

T-shirt by Pink Rose from Macy’s, shorts from boutique in Hong Kong, gloves from ASOS, boots by Oasis from ASOS.

Since military boots have a very worn-out, vintage look, I decided mine would go really well with my distressed gray denim shorts. This look is meant to be more laid-back and rough, so I wore a slightly loose white t-shirt and fingerless half leather gloves.

Military boots are easy to find, but I’ve compiled a list here to make shopping easier for you.

I’d like to make the record clear: I have never had a make-over done. No parent, friend, stranger or significant other has drastically altered my ‘look’ since I eschewed mother’s haircuts for the $8 Vietnamese-run barbershop by the mall. Besides the terrible conclusion that I am solely responsible for all this, never having had a make-over has apparently affected me in ways I am just beginning to understand.

Perhaps you too have never been made over. For some, this is a matter of guilt. I understand. I’ve paid for two massages in my lifetime–once in China, once in Vegas–and both times, regardless how much I spent, I always felt undeserving of the attention lavished upon my sometimes naked bum and rest of body. For others, avoiding the make over is due to you being A Man and this being Not Socially Accepted Yet. I sympathize with you, as I am the same way.

Samantha Llanos gets the whole undeserving-feely thing. She was chosen along with two other girls for an LA weekend make-over, courtesy of super-stylist Chriselle. Full disclosure: Chriselle is working with Audrey Magazine on a number of things including our next cover shoot, but to this day has not offered me a make-over.

Left to right: Samantha Llanos, Sara Warren and Alexandra Becker, post-make-over.

Last weekend Llanos was plucked from her home in the barren northern-Celtic lands of Boston, Mass., and flown to Los Angeles where she met fellow make-over recipients Alexandra Becker and Sara Warren. The three then went on a two-day tour of sustained attention-receiving, from having their locks combed and pampered by Ree of the Angus M Salon, to makeup by YouTube makeup phenom and Lancome video makeup artist Michelle Phan, personal styling by Chriselle, plus a photoshoot by photographer Karla Ticas to top it off.

Michelle Phan laying a foundation on make-over recipient Sara Warren

“I was just really happy,” reflected Llanos when I caught up with her this week. “I don’t remember being excited about anything, vaguely happy about anything for such a long time now.”

Stylist Chriselle stringing a necklace on Samantha Llanos.

Llanos for the past year and a half has been dealing with the death of a boyfriend. During that time, she describes her life as occupied by just the bare minimum: going through the motions, not doing much else. Now, for the first time in a long while, she’s excited for something like shopping for new clothes. When I spoke with her a work week later, she remained optimistic.

“Seeing the team and seeing [Chriselle and Michelle], I don’t think I’ve ever seen people who were working, and loving what they did so much it didn’t seem like working. It changed my perspective of life in general.”

The make-over couldn’t have hurt either. Note to Chriselle: I think I’m due for mine.