Angie on Fashion and Style

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Hosiery 101

— by Angie

on April 24, 2024

Wear nude-for-you hosiery to achieve the appearance of bare legs, but with coverage and insulation. Opaque hosiery is thick and robust. Sheer hosiery is soft, delicate and pretty. Make a statement with patterned, lace, or non-neutral hosiery.

Sizing up in hosiery reduces the stretch, preventing pattern distortion and distributing the colour more evenly. A larger size can also be easier to pull on and off, and feels comfortable on the midsection. But not too large, or it will sag at the ankles.

If hosiery is not for you, wear leggings or long johns for warmth with skirts and dresses. Hosiery, leggings and long johns can all be worn discreetly by covering up with longer hemlines and taller boots. Or forego them entirely and stick to pants and jeans.

Style Nuggets

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Letting Down the Hems of Pants

— by Angie

on April 22, 2024

Sometimes when pants are a little short, you can can let down their hems for an extra inch to inch and a half in length. Of course, there has to be a generous hem to let down, or it’s a non-starter.

Also, lengthening pants this way when they are new, rather than old and frequently laundered, will prevent permanent distressed fold lines across the bottom of the pants. The creases caused by the fold of the shorter hems should press out quite easily too. If they don’t, the faint line isn’t much of an eyesore. At least, not to me. And definitely not as much of an eyesore as pants that are too short.

I had a pair of very summery, big and baggy, lightweight white cotton pants on my shopping list this year. Everlane’s Pleated Wide-Leg Chinos ticked all the boxes. They are off-white, instead of optical white, which works well too. I like the way they feel, drape, fit, move, and crease in that carefree Summer way. But I didn’t fancy the length, which is what you see on the models in the product photos.

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To my eye, these pants were begging to be lengthened by an inch and a quarter, which would take them to skimming the surface of the ground. They have a generous 2 inch hem, so I could do just that. I let down the hems, washed the pants to make sure they were preshrunk, and had them hemmed to a longer length. Now they’re perfect and waiting to be worn on a hot Summer’s day when I don’t feel like wearing a pretty dress.

Alterations · Instant Style Tips

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Outfit Formula: Easy Spring Olive Pants

— by Angie

on April 19, 2024

Casual and smart casual olive pants are a staple in many wardrobes. Wear them in a silhouette that tickles your fancy, and style them in some of these easy-to-pull together combinations for Spring. Focus on the colour combinations if the items aren’t for you.

1. Olive and Teal

Combine a pair of olive pants with a teal sweater of sorts. Here, a fluid and shorter V-neck cardigan is buttoned through and worn as a top. Chunky black loafers match the black buttons on the cardigan. I see a black or cognac bag complete the look, and possibly a bit of pretty black lace from a camisole peeking through from under the neckline.

2. Olive, Light Blue, and Cognac

A column of olive is created by combining olive parachute pants with a cropped and quilted body warmer – or vest if you’re in the US. The column is broken up by tucking a light blue shirt into pants. Cognac boots complete the look. Add a bag that works with the palette.

3. Olive and Nautical Navy

A big and boxy navy and white striped sweater is paired with casual olive pants. It’s worn out for a comfy and relaxed vibe. White sneakers match the white stripes of the sweater. Add a bag to match.

4. Olive and Off-White

Last, a juxtaposition of dressy jacket with casual pants and casual footwear. Super wide olive cargo pants are topped with a boxy buttoned through off-white topper. It’s shorter length adds structure by showcasing some waistline. Off-white shoes match the topper, and pull the look together. Add jewellery, bag, watch and eyewear as desired.

Formulas

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Roundups

Simpler Items

This week's list of top picks list is about basic pieces.

Assorted Items

Items for Summer, both in and out of air conditioning.

Casual Summer Vibes

This week's top picks are good for a casual Summer vibe.

Summery Earth Tones

These items are for those who like to wear casual earth tones in warm and hot weather.

Hints of Spring

Some tried-and-tested winning items to refresh your style for Spring.

Dressier Items

An assortment of dressier top picks might be just what the doctor ordered.

Match and Mismatch in Your Outfits

— by Angie

on April 17, 2024

Outfit components that match closely in colour pull the look together. And it’s often attractive when footwear matches accessories. But not everything needs to match. For example, match your shoes with your belt or bag, and mismatch the rest.

A tonal colour match is just as effective as an exact match. Mismatched patterns work together when their palettes match. Subtle colour repetition in the tones of solids or the palettes of patterns harmonizes the outfit, creating a coordinated look.

Intense colour mismatches can look interesting. There is creativity in the clash. When in doubt about combining mismatched colours, harmonize the look by creating a perfect or tonal match with other components. That way the eye can rest and be happy.

Style Nuggets

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Fab Finds: Dresses and a Camisole

— by Angie

on April 15, 2024

These items have been winners on clients or have good reviews. Browse the colour, pattern and size options, and watch for the flash sales. Banana Republic and Boden offer discounted prices regularly in the US, so it’s worth waiting for good deals.

1. Banana Republic Cotton-Linen Cut-Out Midi Dress

A linen-flax sleeveless dress with a bit of stretch that fits surprisingly well. The length is good and the armholes aren’t too low. It’s back cut-out is subtle and very well positioned. Not too revealing and quite covered. The skirt component is roomy and forgiving. Comes in a black and toffee pattern too. Very Summery, breezy, and with awesome pockets.

Banana Republic

Linen-Cotton Cut-Out Midi Dress

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Top Pick

Banana Republic

Linen-Cotton Cut-Out Midi Dress

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Top Pick

2. H&M

This 100% cotton dress looks good on a larger bust. Great length too. It has subtle midsection ties that you can tighten or loosen as you please, adding a lovely bit of structure. Very breezy and comfy. Inge has the navy and looks spectacular in it! Some colours go up to a 4XL, Selling out fast online. Might get lucky in stores.

H&M

Tie-detail Cotton Dress

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H&M

Tie-detail Cotton Dress

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H&M

Tie-detail Cotton Dress

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3. Boden Camisoles

My favourite $12 camisole that I’ve been purchasing for fifteen years is discontinued. Luckily I’ve found an even better camisole from Boden although it’s twice the price. It’s extremely comfy, well-made, and looks great on. The adjustable straps allow you to resposition the neckline and adjust the length. Ethically and sustainably produced, and made of a crisp cotton and silky tencel. Tencel is considered a more eco-friendly fabric than cotton because it’s biodegradable, and requires less water and energy than regular cotton. Bonus. I’ve road tested the light beige and loved it. It launders well, and wears like iron in the tumble drier. I stocked up when Boden had a flash sale.