With the arrival of fall and winter comes the onslaught of coats, turning the usually eclectic mix of New York City pedestrians into androgynous masses of wool, not to mention covering every flattering curve on a girl. But there is one trend for fall that will keep us looking feminine even with the unflattering puffy coats -- ruffles.

Layered ruffles have been all over the runways of Valentino, Proenza Schouler and Oscar de la Renta, and as always, celebs are getting in on the trend. Our favorite Gossip Girl, Leighton Meester, has been accentuating her shoulders on and off the set with soft, draped ruffles; Rihanna went ultra-girly in a ruffled canary yellow gown at the BET Awards; and Eva Longoria was downright glamorous in a purple Marchesa gown, which was an absolute sea of ruffle.

Adding ruffles to your wardrobe this season can easily soften your look and help the gentlemen remember which gender is hidden under the winter layers. "But how will anyone see these flirty frills?" you ask. Have you not seen the Valentino ads? Ruffles spill over collars and leak out under hems. Who needs a scarf or boots when you have layers of ruffle hugging your neck and warming your knees? But beware, this trend can easily turn into a mess. Too many ruffles will have your fellow subway riders wondering why you're still wearing a Little Bo Peep Halloween costume well into November.

Since ruffles are so feminine, keep from going overboard by pairing a ruffled top with tailored menswear like a dark blazer or slacks. If you're hoping to add ruffles below the waist, look for a skirt with ruffles in tiers, another trend that's been seen frequently. J.Crew, Lauren by Ralph Lauren and Anthropologie are perfect places to start your search. Happy frill seeking!

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