Wearing structured clothing that defines the waistline is often flattering, but not when you’re self conscious about your midsection. On the other hand, your “extra bits” are effectively concealed when you’re all layered up with camisoles, tops and jackets, but that’s not as comfortable and airy as wearing a single layer.

The solution is the banded top. Although it has a roomy torso that hides the waist, the band reins in the volume and adds a tailored look. It’s forgiving and structured at the same time. A fab idea.

If I could provide a magic formula for selecting the perfect banded top, I’d shout it from the rooftops. But, like the elusive sweater dress, you’ll probably need to try several before you hit the jackpot. Hopefully these guidelines will help:

• Find your sweet spot: The hem of the band can end anywhere between hip bone and the top of the thigh, depending on the length of the top and how far it’s pulled down. Wearing the length a few inches above crotch point is a safe bet for shorter banded tops, but tunic styles need to be worn longer. Experiment with different banded top lengths, pulling each style both up and down until you find what works for you.
• Get the volume right: The beauty of the banded top lies in its voluminous mid riff that floats away from the waist line. That’s the part that makes it forgiving and comfortable. Look for tops with the right amount of volume: too much pouf and you’ll feel like a balloon; not enough and we’re back to tops that cling. Also, knits in this style tend to drape better than wovens, so look for those first.

I’ve seen the right banded top work on many body types, heights and sizes: from rectangles, adorable apples, inverted triangles, hourglasses and pretty pears, to petites, plus sizes and everything in between. It really depends on the style of the top and the rest of the outfit. So don’t brush past these styles in stores with the preconceived notion that they are unflattering. Keep your style evolving and give the banded top a bash. You might be pleasantly surprised.

The four on the left with dark backgrounds are shorter banded tops worn at hip bone length. The two on the right with light backgrounds are longer banded tops worn past the hip bone and as far down as the thigh. Remember to wear something sleek at the bottom when you sport volume on top (stick to boot cuts, skinnies, clamdiggers, straight legs or pencil skirts).

Cross body bags (or sling and messenger bags as I know them) used to be my favourite type of bag five to eight years ago. I loved this look because it was hip and hands free. But out of the blue, carrying a bag across my body started causing neck, chest and shoulder pain. I stopped cold turkey, passed on most of my sling bags and have hardly sported the look since. But I got all soft at the Macy’s sale last week when I saw something that had my name written all over it. I was prepared to give the look another chance. Enter my next Spring update: a cream cross body bag. Along with my other new off-white bag, this is my favorite of all the Spring updates thus far. I’m a bag lady at heart.

My previous cross body bags were quite large, and even though I keep the contents of my bag to a minimum, a big cross body bag does not work for me anymore. To my surprise, the smaller style works really well. I’ve worn the new micro version several times and no pain. I can hardly feel it’s on my body. I’m thoroughly enjoying the return of this handbag style to my ensembles. Along with wristlets, it’s made a nice change to the large flat totes that I sport daily.

Click here or on the pictures for a larger view of the outfits.

There are many variations on the cross body bag: large and small, plain and printed, casual and dressy or boho and classic – take your pick. This one errs on the dressy side, but even so, the integrity of the look is relaxed and modern. I can match up this particular style with both pants, leggings and frocks because it’s small, whereas large cross body bags seem to lend themselves better to pants, slacks and jeans.

A cross body bag of any size is an especially good idea for commuters on foot, and mums-on-the-go with kids in tow. It’s also a handy option for city travel, day trips and long shopping days. Zappos, Fossil, Nordstrom and Macy’s have great selections of cross body bags at the moment, which you’ll probably nab for a song. Mine was marked down from $129 to $42. Brilliant.

Other Spring 2009 accessory updates:

• Scarf and handbag
• Casual necklace
• Fun floral belt
• Floral pin
• Turquoise scarf

The ratio of solid colours to patterns for the tops, knitwear, jackets, skirts and frocks in your wardrobe depends entirely on your individual style and aesthetic preferences. I see fully functioning wardrobes that are 90% patterned, and I know uber-stylish lasses who stick to solids. There is no generally applicable formula.

As far as clothing goes, I generally have a mix of both with a preference for solids (70% solid and 30% pattern). I’ve found that with a larger selection of solids, I can have fun with accessories like patterned scarves, checked pants, animal print bags and floral pins. I also like to use texture and colour blocking as a way of making my ensembles look interesting. Solids lend themselves better to those looks. Above all, I tire of a pattern more easily then I do of a solid colour, which is why I prefer to see less of it when I open up my closet door.

As much as I love the pure, clean-cut and versatile edge of solids, my wardrobe would feel bland without patterns. I love the surge of excitement that I get when I see one that I adore. And it’s always love at first sight (patterns never seem to grow on me – I either love them or I don’t). My favourite pattern of all time is polka dots in all its variations. There’s just something so fun, fresh, modern, graphic and retro about a spotty vibe. Next would be geometrics and after that abstract florals.

Over to you. What’s your mix of patterns and solids in your wardrobe, and are you happy with that mix? Do you feel you need a change? Do you even like patterns, and if so, which ones are your favourites?

Today’s post is written by our leggy and statuesque Kyle, who lives in Mesa, Arizona. Kyle is a working Mum who has her own ad agency and we’re thrilled to have had her impeccably stylish presence on our forum for over a year. Over to you, Kyle.

It’s time to face the music. I’m not a junior anymore. But, you know what? I learned something this week. It’s OK to step out of your comfort zone and try something different every now and then. In fact, it’s good fun.

Here’s the deal. I was happy to help when Angie asked me to try these Delilah Premium Vanity Jeans from eVanity.com. At 5′ 10″ I am tall, but most of that length is in my legs. So these jeans, with a 37-inch inseam (yes, I said 37!), were right up my alley. The Delilah’s are very different from what I typically wear. These are Junior jeans, and I am three decades past junior. But keeping an open mind, I gave them a try.

First, I have to tell you just how incredibly soft these jeans are, like the best pair you ever had that you wore and wore until you just couldn’t anymore and then some. I’ve never encountered jeans this soft. Very nice. No stiff scratchy denim here. They have the perfect amount of stretch too, making them more comfortable still.

I immediately embraced the uber-light wash. Somehow it felt just right for spring. And I loved the casual, slightly retro vibe. They are well made, with great attention to detail. A note for all of our smart casual/dark wash YLF devotees. These jeans are seriously distressed. They are intentionally threadbare in a couple of spots, but that adds to the charm. I never liked the idea of paying big, big bucks for designer jeans that were ripped up. So the price of these is a big plus at just $42.80. That’s definitely do-able, don’t you think?

As we all know too well, jeans are tricky to fit and not everything works for everyone. These jeans were not a perfect fit for me. I started with a size 29, and those were a little tight in the thighs. The 30s were a little big in the waist, but a couple of quick tucks will take care of that. I initially thought the rise was just a tad too low, but I adjusted to that rather quickly and it became a non-issue.

I can dress up or down for the office, so when I wore these to work, my colleagues were happy to share their thoughts. They all liked the fit and the leggy silhouette. One of the younger girls was not crazy about the wash, but one of the other 40-somethings liked everything about them, especially the wash.

I can understand why the Delilah’s are eVanity’s best-selling jean. Stylish. Comfortable. Flattering. Affordable. It doesn’t get much better than that. I’ll be wearing them again, and they may even make a repeat appearance on YLF as I try different ways of styling them. I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks after all.

At time of posting, the Delilah Premium Vanity Jeans were on sale for $29.99!

This question must really be answered separately for work and non-work situations.

Cleavage in the workplace

I think it’s wise to err on the conservative side in a professional setting. So I’m going with a strict rule of no cleavage in the work place. Depending on your line of work, your outfit does not need to be conservative. You can absolutely sport a dramatic and eye-catching style without showing loads of skin. But it’s often hard to cover up all hints of cleavage when you’re well endowed. A busty lass needs to wear a low-ish neckline and even with a camisole it’s not always possible to cover cleavage completely. But as long as there is a respectable camisole under a low top, you’ve tried and that’s acceptable. (If you’re a model, showing cleavage is actually part of your job, so I guess you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do).

Cleavage outside the workplace

This is a hard one and I still don’t have a definitive answer. Cleavage is fabulous, but how much is the right amount before it’s bad taste? Women with smaller busts and athletic, boyish physiques seem to get away with showing more skin in the chest area, whereas curvier woman with larger bust lines tend to look “va-va voom” and unintentionally alluring much faster. Some non-work settings are also more cleavage appropriate than others. I think that the rest of your style plays a role when it comes to sporting any amount of cleavage. If you’re polished, well-put together, effortlessly stylish and super confident, you’ll probably make a good amount of cleavage look classy.

What do you think? Am I a prude when it comes to sporting cleavage in professional settings? What are your rules for revealing cleavage outside the workplace? I hope to hear from people all over the world because I’m pretty sure our views will differ.

I love accessories with floral motifs and there are plenty to choose from this season. Fabulous. Enter my next Spring update: a floral pin. Unlike my other Spring updates, I’ll sport it all year round. Even more economical.

Floral pins come in many different fabrications, sizes and styles: realistic or abstract, solid or patterned, large or small – take your pick. I like abstract floral pins made of silk or feathers the best. I guess it’s the modern-retro aspect of my style that finds those ones appealing. The versions that look more like actual flowers are sweet too, especially when creating a nice contrast with an androgynous outfit.

About five years ago I was wearing floral pins all the time, but stopped when the look was everywhere. Spotting the perfect black and white polka dot floral pin at Club Monaco rekindled my interest. So much so that it has given new life to the older floral pins in my accessory box.

I like the way floral pins add an arty and whimsical feeling to any outfit. And if you thought that there was only one way to sport them, think again. You have several options as you can see from my outfits above (by no means an exhaustive list). The obvious idea is to pin the trinket to a jacket or cardigan, but don’t forget about dresses, blouses, knitted tops, tunics, knitwear, button-downs and waistcoats. Also think about attaching the floral pin to another accessory, like a necklace, scarf, handbag or belt. Plenty of possibilities!

It can be nice to give a floral pin a permanent home, like keeping it on one particular jacket or coat all season. I have a black feathered floral pin that stays put on a black dress. After spending a pretty penny on this timeless sequined flapper frock, it’s the $9 feathered floral pin that gives it the perfect edge. Never underestimate the power of an inexpensive accessory.

We’re half way through this year’s warm weather collections, so let’s analyze what’s been in stores so far.

My rants:

• Merchandise seems a little more dull than usual: There’s nothing really new and exciting. Aside from accessories and footwear, I haven’t felt compelled to purchase anything (I don’t know whether that’s good or bad). The Spring forecast had me particularly excited about cropped military jackets and the perfect cream biker, but zilch so far. I suspect that retailers are keeping stocks low as a reaction to the recession. I’ll gladly support the economy, but I need a good reason to purchase something.
• Shortage of one to two inch heeled shoes: It’s the same story, either sky scrapers or flats and nothing in-between. Don’t get me started on the comfort issue.
• Shortage of washable cotton dresses: Most of the flattering and fabulous dresses are either dry clean only, or in a polyester that does not repel heat. The washable cotton dresses are either too skimpy, short, dowdy or childlike. We need an assortment of hip, wearable, knee–length, age-appropriate casual cotton frocks with coverage in the right places.
• Shortage of lightweight casual jackets: Loads of trenches, plenty of formal blazers and countless cardigans, but very little else as a cover-up option. I guess it’s not a jacket season. This is fine if you live in warm weather, but not so fab when Spring is chilly.
• Maxi dress epidemic: They are everywhere and you know how I feel about them.

My raves:

• Everything is going for a song: I have never seen a fashion season as heavily discounted as this one. So many bargains! I scored another wonderful accessory purchase at the Macy’s one day sale yesterday, marked down 70%.
• Strong 80’s flair: I can’t help but love that this era is making a stylish comeback. It makes me smile.
• Deeper assortment of high-rise jeans: This has been a comfortable and girdling saving grace.
• Sea of green, yellow and turquoise: It’s nice to see how this fresh Summer palette has been embraced by retailers and consumers.
• Banded tops: This is the only product that has really peaked my interest this season. The banded style is not for everyone because it does not show off the waistline. But it’s definitely worth a try if you like the voluminous look and are self conscious about your mid-section. The right banded style can be comfy, forgiving, interesting and very 80’s.

Over to you. What are your thoughts on the trends and fashions that have been on offer so far? I’m especially interested in your views If you don’t live in America.

Macy’s is having a one day sale tomorrow. Apparently they will be offering the lowest prices of the season, both in-store and online. Today is the preview day.

Total savings for sale items are between 40% and 70%, which represents an additional 25% on clearance sale prices, so there are real deals to be had. This is just another indicator of the hard times that retail is experiencing right now.

As tempting as these deals may be, remember that you shouldn’t be swayed by low prices. Don’t compromise your standards. And if your budget doesn’t permit sale shopping right now, rest assured that there will be many more opportunities like this one in future.

Scarves can look dowdy and uniform-like. The trick is to add a bit of edge to your look when sporting a scarf, and the knot is one way to do this. I often tie my scarf using a knot that I arrived at after ages of fiddling in front of the mirror one day. I call it the “Angie Knot”, but if it has a real name please let me know – I’m sure I’m not the first to use it.

I generally stay away from skinny oblong scarves and neckerchiefs because the shapes don’t offer enough volume and texture. My favourite scarf dimensions are 40 by 66 inches for a pashmina sized scarf, 23 by 60 inches for a large oblong scarf, and 34 by 34 inches for a large square scarf. Anything longer than 60 inches is usually too long unless you’re very tall. On the other hand, if you’re petite, you’re after a shorter scarf between 40 and 50 inches long. These are a little harder to find and you might need to hem the length.

Follow these steps to tie the Angie Knot:

1. Roll a large square scarf into a long worm, or scrunch up a rectangular scarf so that it resembles a worm. Place the scarf around the neck so that the side that does all the work hangs longer than the other side. You can also skew the scarf so that the hems are uneven. This will give you this waterfall effect. Fold right over left and pull that same right end back under the end that’s hanging in front of your body.
2. Take that same right end and loop it through the part of the scarf that’s around your neck and ABOVE the knot.
3. Pull down that right end and use the knot as a pulley to pull the knot vertically so that the knot looks tight, neat and appealing. This is the most important part, so fiddle till you get it right.
4. Lay both ends flat across the body, making sure that the ends are more or less even. Voila!

This style of knot works well with all sorts of fabrications, from wool, satin and rayon, to silk, viscose and cotton. The scarf stays put once it’s tied and is interesting to look at. Wear the scarf “cravat style” for a strict, professional and authoritative look, or wear it loosely on the décolletage for an arty and playful vibe. I sport both looks depending on my mood and the weather. With the warm Spring weather, I’ll be tying my cotton and silk scarf with a loose knot.

For a strict, authoritative look, roll a smaller scarf neatly before tying the knot, tie the knot close to the neck, and tuck the ends under your blouse or button down afterwards.

Charla Krupp’s New York Times best seller, “How Not to Look Old”, is an insightful and informative read (published in 2008). Formerly the beauty editor of Glamour and senior editor of InStyle magazine, Charla shares her expertise on looking 10 years younger, 10 pounds lighter and 10 times better in fast and effective ways. The information is detailed, tangible, easy to absorb, hands-on and unapologetic. Although I don’t agree with all of Charla’s opinions, this aspect of her book really resonated with me.

The chapters on personal style, fashion and wardrobe planning feature sidebars with succinct checklists that are food for thought. The list that intrigued me the most was “forbidden fashion items for every woman past the age of 30 who wants to look effortlessly chic and classy“. In other words, she considers these items “too young” for women over the age of 30.

Here is the list along with my 2 cents on the subject. I have highlighted the areas where I differ from Charla.

• Ankle bracelets: I generally agree, but some ladies wear an ankle bracelet with their national dress. An ankle bracelet looks perfectly appropriate with an Indian Sari, for example.
• Belly necklaces: I see Charla’s point. But you might get away with a belly necklace if you’re in superb shape (or if you’re a belly dancer).
• Body piercing: Agreed.
• Boy shorts: If this refers to underwear then I am guilty as charged, but I imagine that Charla is talking about what I call “hot pants”, or short shorts.If so, I agree.
• Collegiate sweats, T-shirts and caps: I wear adorable collegiate lounging sweats every day. They don’t leave the house and they fit well. Until I find a more grown-up substitute I’m sticking with these. I’m with Charla on the T’s and caps though.
• Colored cowboy boots: I’m not sure about this one. Perhaps the Texans can help me out.
• Crocs: Agreed. My age limit for this item is eight.
• Earmuffs: Looking sweet in earmuffs is achievable when you’re older than 30. I saw this look in NYC earlier this year and wished I also had a pair.
• Ear piercing in multiples: Agreed.
• Flip flops in the city: Agreed. In fact, I’m much stricter here. I say ban flip flops at any age when you’re in the city. It’s beachwear.
• Go-go boots: Guilty as charged. At 38 I love my go-go boots and feel that I pull them off with style. I hope to wear them for a little while longer.
• Leg warmers: Tough one. I have seen these work on older women who wore them over jeans and in boots.
• Micro mini dresses: Agreed.
• Mittens: Agreed.
• Nameplate necklaces: Agreed. But I have a friend in her early 30’s who wears one with style. I think it’s because she doesn’t look a day over 25.
• Newsboy caps: No age limit. I see women in their 50’s sport streamlined versions with style.
• Scrunchies: Agreed. My age limit on these is 14. I can hardly believe that my favourite chain store Club Monaco is selling them right now.
• Super low riding jeans: Agreed.
• Tattoos: This is difficult. If you have a tattoo, you’re stuck with it. Does Charla mean don’t get a tattoo after the age of 30?
• Tie-dye anything: I can see tie-dye tops working after 30 if you have a bohemian edge to your style.
• Tights in neon colours: Agreed.
• Toe-rings: As with ankle bracelets, you can sport these when you’re older if they are part of your national dress.
• Tube tops as stand-alones: Agreed.

Overall I think that 30 is too low as a cutoff point, even in some of the areas that I agree. After all, 40 is the new 30! Over to you. What are your thoughts on the items on Charla’s list? Do you think she’s left anything out?