Camisoles are knitted or woven items of underwear that also work as loungewear and leisure wear. They have narrower straps than tank tops and are made of cotton, silk, satin, modal, tencel and elastane. Pick camisoles with very comfy fit and fabric. 

Choose a body con or tailored fit in a cosy fabric. Cottons are popular and launder well. Handy adjustable straps alter the neckline position. A little longer than hipbone length is most versatile. Tucking camisoles into bottoms keeps them in place.

Wearing white camisoles under white opaque tops makes their white look richer. Camisole straps that cover bra straps are convenient. Camisoles with lace trims peeking out from under the necklines of tops and dresses add a pretty, polished effect.

When I edit a wardrobe with one of my clients, it’s usually in a single session. Sometimes two. A session can take one to six hours depending on the size of the wardrobe and how well it’s been edited before I get stuck into it. We go through EVERY item. Apart from wardrobe basics and accessories, my clients fit on most of the items. We assess each one’s current fit, quality, colour, vibe, and comfort level. How it can be worn, and whether it works with their style aspirations. This is what I call a fast wardrobe edit, and I tackle my own wardrobe edits similarly.

So far my fast edits have been efficient and effective. They are also time consuming and tiring, although less so the more regularly a wardrobe is edited. Clients have set aside a good chunk of time to get the job done and we power through. Momentum is key. If we are unsure of an item, it is popped into a holding zone.

There is also a much slower approach to wardrobe editing that’s valid. This can be the way to go when wardrobe editing is a challenge. You tackle one category at a time — like jeans- – and edit that section properly when you have a moment. Then you move onto skirts, shorts, and pants, until you’ve completed the edit of ALL bottoms. It takes days or weeks, as you steal time here and there. When that’s done, move onto tops, dresses, shoes, wardrobe basics, jackets, coats, and accessories until you’ve tackled every item. It can take months to complete the edit because there’s a lot to go through.

Furthermore, if you’re unsure about what should stay or go, take a season to pay closer attention to the items you’re wearing and reaching for to help make those decisions. Maybe track and count wears, if the data is helpful. Keep a close eye on which items are being passed over, and figure out why. Maybe give yourself another season to wear unworn items that might come back into favour. This slower approach can take a year, since items are seasonal and all wardrobe items need attention.

Sometimes, slow wardrobe edits work best after you’ve done a fast, focussed, and very thorough one first. That way you’ve passed on what you’re sure about letting go, leaving you to make slower and possibly better decisions about what is left. It’s also easier to visually take in your wardrobe after an initial fast edit.

The point is that both approaches, and even a combination of the approaches, can work well. Choose an approach that works best for you.

YLF turns eighteen today. Eighteen years since the first blog post. That’s a long time!

You are what makes YLF a special social community. Thank you for your insightful, compassionate, intelligent, thoughtful and often amusing contributions, from which I learn, reflect, and grow as a person. Special shoutout to Fabbers who have supported YLF for more than a decade. I am humbled by your loyalty and engagement. 

A big thank you to Inge, who has been part of the YLF team for fourteen years, and a Fabber for sixteen. Inge is an absolute sweetheart, and one of the most thoughtful, patient, polite, and kind people I know. She is our very dear friend, a pleasure to work with, and a wonderful human being. We chat many times a day, enjoy a similar aesthetic, love doggies, and laugh a lot together too. I feel blessed to have Inge in my life.

And last but not least, a snuggly and soothing thank you to Yorkies Sam and Jo, who are always close-by as I type on my laptop or desktop. Either nestled together, or stuck to either of me. Their incredible companionship is indispensable, and not to be underestimated. Our first Yorkies, Jasmine and Rosie, who were YLF’s first co-CEOs, fulfilled the same therapeutic role, and are always in hearts.

We at YLF thank you again for stopping by, chiming in, and gracing us with your intelligent and respectful presence. Cheers to another year!

If you enjoy wearing black and white patterns, you might like the visual effect of wearing a couple of them together in one outfit. The outfits here showcase the combination of a bold black and white pattern with a more subtle one. Gingham with a high contrast stripe, and a chevron stripe with a pinstripe. This is one way to remix two-toned patterns.

Ralph Lauren

Lauren Woman Houndstooth Cotton-Blend Twill Blazer

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Ralph Lauren

Lauren Woman Striped Linen-Blend Wide-Leg Pant

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Of course, you can remix two bold patterns, or two quiet black and white patterns instead. The white component can be off-white, cream or tan, and not optical white. The black component can be navy. Here are more examples.

1. Stripes and Stripes

This trendy classic look remixes an on trend pair of almost puddle length wide leg off-white and black pinstriped pants. It’s paired with a sweater in a bolder black and white stripe. The lot is topped with a short black moto jacket. Black sandals and bag complete the look. I’d have preferred to see shoes with covered toes like pumps, booties, oxfords, mules, or loafers, although sandals work too.

2. Stripes and Floral

This rendition remixes two patterns in the same black and cream palette. One is a stripe and the other a floral. The striped sweater is tucked into the floral flared skirt. A black complement of belt and heeled sandals complete the look. Throw in a black or cream bag.

3. Dots, Abstract and Bits of Blue

In this version, a black and white polka dot tunic is worn over a pair of solid black leggings. A scarf in a black, white and BLUE pattern tops the look and creates a fab pattern mixed effect. The subtle, yet effective addition of a bit of blue adds another interesting detail. If you like to wear blue, adding it breaks up the expanse of black and white. Blue jeans instead of black leggings will pick up the blue, and work well too. Black sandals match the black in the outfit and bookend the model’s hair. Add a bag that matches the palette, or throw in a mismatched colour to rock the boat.

4. Dots and Loose Geometric

The last outfit combines a pair of lantern pants in a tan and black loose geometric pattern with an OLIVE and black knitted V-neck top. The top’s tailored silhouette tempers the volume of the bottoms. The black component of the top matches the black component of the bottoms, which allows the eye to rest and pulls the look together. Black cage heeled sandals add a dressy and summery touch. A black or tan bag would work well. Add jewellery, watch, and eyewear as desired.