There is going to be a lot of black in the Autumn and Winter collections this year. More than normal. I adore the right black wardrobe items and my personal style wouldn’t function without them. Black is a good basic and certain items just look best in this colour. But I’m a little worried about the sea of black that’s forecast for stores this season.

Black is not flop proof. It can look dull, severe and lifeless against the skin, especially as you get older. Yet for many women it’s become an easy fallback option because of the perception that black is versatile, chic and slimming. Black is all of those things, but it has to be worn in the right way. It can look great when worn head to toe, if there is ample textural interest. Texture adds movement and depth to the hue, bringing it back to life. Black is also beautiful paired with white, cream, grey or rich reds, blues and browns. As for the rest, it’s a little trickier to get right.

I hope there’s enough colour variety this season. Although it’s stylish to wear black in the right doses, it’s refreshing and uplifting to wear a colour other than black, especially on a chilly day. Do you wear too much black?

Some typical pairings of black items this season. Wearing black with black is often encouraged, once again confirming my earlier suspicions about a 90’s revival in fashion.

When skinny jeans resurfaced four years ago, fashion magazines and style experts were convinced it was a fad that would be gone in six months. Now we’re all eating our words as the look gets stronger each year. The upcoming season is no exception.

Our eyes have readjusted to the look of the tapered denim leg. We know how to wear the style in flattering ways. If you’re shy about your thigh area, this means tunics, heels and boots, instead of with normal length tops and flats. The right pair of skinny jeans looks great on anyone if they’re worn in the way that looks best for their body type.

So it surprises me that after seven fashion seasons and loads of style guidance, I still hear people saying that they can’t wear skinnies. Obviously, if you loathe the look there is no point in trying. So I’d like to get a sense of what the YLF readership thinks of skinny jeans. Do you wear them? Would you like to wear skinnies but can’t find a style to fit your bod or your budget? Do you like the look on others, but not on yourself? Or, do you wish skinny jeans would disappear. I want to hear exactly how YOU feel about skinny jeans right now.

Mainstream retailers like Banana Republic are pushing skinny jeans as one of their 7 biggest trends for Fall with slogans like: “skinny jeans and rich layers give us a first look at what’s ahead for cooler weather”. That’s a huge statement. Skinnies are everywhere alongside their forever flattering bootcut buddies. There’s no stopping the force of what has become a well seasoned mainstream basic.

When denim button down shirts started resurfacing in prêt-à-porter collections, I thought, you’ve GOT to be joking. But the penny dropped five minutes later as I saw a whole slew of outfit combinations before me. Now I can’t wait to add the worn looking item back into my wardrobe.

Denim shirts have been around for decades and most of us have probably worn them at some point in our lives. Remember the Levi’s version with the press stud buttons that was “it” in the early 90’s? I had one of those and loved wearing it open with black 501’s, a lace camisole and Docs. I don’t want to wear a denim shirt in that way again, but I like the idea of creating a dressier vibe with a similar denim shirt.

Picture this:

Denim shirt rolled up at the sleeves + lace camisole + dressy black skirt + black patent obi belt + refined textured hose + dressy heels and chunky pearls

I love to create contrast in my ensembles. Not only with colour, but also by mixing different levels of dressiness. As I write this I’m wearing a dressy, sea green, shantung blouse over a casual pair of denim clamdiggers, matched with a skinny, studded, black double wrap belt. It’s the same idea as pairing a rigid biker jacket with a soft feminine scarf, casual Converse with luxurious white pearls, or a sophisticated black sheath with a worn out webbing belt.

As soon as I find a denim shirt that works, I’ll post the looks I have in mind. Better yet, if you have the elements in your wardrobe, post a picture of your remixed denim shirt combinations on our forum as inspiration. So ladies, are you as excited as I am about giving a denim shirt new life?

Ignore the prices of these designer examples. I posted them so you can see what’s in the fashion pipeline. You can thrift a suitable denim shirt for $15 and achieve a fabulous remixed look.

It’s another blast from the past. Remember the calf-length zippered jeans that we wore 20 years ago? I’ll admit I wore the leg-shortening style back then until my Mum said one day : “Those jeans make your legs look short. It’s not very elegant. Your Levis look much better”. I never wore those zippered jeans again.

But my fondness for zipper detailing continues, so I was thrilled to see zippered skinnies back on the fashion scene. They are more sleek and streamlined this time round, and thankfully at a much better length, WITH stretch. I adore the way the open zipper looks like a vent cascading over the top part of the foot, especially when worn with a heel. Subtle and alluring, yet interesting and edgy. Very fab.

Zippered skinnies look nice zipped up at the hems too (picture on the far right). They’ll scrunch voluminously around the ankle when the length is longer (I prefer skinny jeans to scrunch). I’m all over this trend and hope to add a pair of zippered skinnies to my denim collection this year. I wonder if Mum would have liked this version better.

I never thought this would happen, but stylish knitted pants are back and I’m loving the look. The tables have turned after years of having it drummed into us that woven pants were the only way to go unless we were working out or lounging at home. But once again it is fashionable to wear a fab pair of Ponte de Roma knit pants as a chic alternative.

I can’t remember exactly when stretch Ponte de Roma fabrication was the height of its fashion, but it was huge in the 60’s, 70’s and 90’s. Now it’s back in the 00’s and has never looked better. The fabric is thicker, softer, more drapy, and extra luxurious. Once they’re on, you won’t want to take them off.

They are jodhpur-like and remind me of a very substantial pair of leggings. Only this time you can wear them as pants and not just as an accessory. They’re perfect for tucking into sleek or slouchy boots, and will work equally well with pumps, booties or ballet flats.

I’m excited about Ponte pants as a denim alternative on days when I’m sick of my jeans, but still want to wear pants. So the hunt for the perfect pair has began. Bet they’ll be fab as travel-wear too. Super svelte and so, so, comfortable.

Do you share my enthusiasm for the new knit pant?

These examples are skinnies, but Ponte knit pants are also available in boot cuts and wide legs. Somehow, a wider silhouette in this fabrication spells frumpy, so I’ve stuck to suggesting the look in a tapered leg.

The tough gal biker look is bigger than ever and there is no stopping the trend. So if you love it like I do, you’re in for a treat.

Waistcoats, or vests, are generally great items to use as transitioning pieces from Summer into Autumn. This season it’s all about the motorcycle waistcoat as an edgier alternative to the classic kind and I’m digging the rocker vibe.

Waistcoats are fabulous because they offer just as much tailoring and layering appeal as jackets sans the sleeves, which means it’s a cooler option all round. Remember that you don’t need to keep a waistcoat zipped or buttoned up. Sometimes they are more flattering unfastened because this creates a strong vertical line down the front of the body, drawing the eye upwards and elongating your look.

There are countless ways of incorporating a moto waistcoat into ensembles. Try it over a graphic T, button down shirt, blouse, piece of knitwear or frock. Dress it up or down with sass and verve and watch those heads turn. Forum member Laura shows us how it’s done with style.

A black or brown leather (faux leather) motorcycle waistcoat is not your only option. Think different colours, like caramel and grey, and different fabrications, like Ponte knits and denim. I’d love to get my hands on an emerald green moto waistcoat with tarnished silver hardware.

Designers are bringing back grungy fashion looks with boyish flannel shirts and unkempt ripped jeans at the moment. Not so fab.

This is not a “new” look at all. We see casual fitted checked button down shirts and torn jeans in teeny bopper stores like Abercrombie & Fitch and American Eagle all the time, so I guess there’s a grunge element to junior fashion every season. But the writing is on the wall when you see grunge looks in haute couture and prêt porter collections. It’s not long before trends fizzle down to fashion forward women’s boutiques and chain stores, and before we know it, it’s mainstream fashion.

Trends seem to repeat themselves every 20 to 30 years which means that 90’s inspired fashions are next on the list. As always, I’m champing at the bit to see how old trends are reinterpreted because for the most part, they’re improved modern incarnations. But I’m not loving the look of plaid shirts and ripped jeans so far.

Grungy Seattle rocker vibes and the remnants of bad 80’s silhouettes is what springs to mind when I think of 90’s fashion. TV shows like Seinfeld, Beverly Hills 90210, Ally McBeal, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Melrose Place, Friends and Full House are a good representation of 90’s fashion. Not very inspiring. But I’m holding out hope. I’m impressed with how well 80’s fashions have been reinterpreted so we might be pleasantly surprised.

We’ll see quite a few fur waistcoats for Autumn and Winter. Unfortunately the catwalk runways were full of them in all sorts of real exotic skins, which makes me sad. Luckily, offering exotic furs to mainstream masses won’t happen because it’s just too expensive to produce and sell. Nowadays, fabric technology is brilliant and improves each year. Faux fur can look quite authentic at a fraction of the price. It’s a good option for those that like the look but are on a budget and don’t want to wear real fur.

The shaggy waistcoat (or vest if you live in the US), is a nice bridging piece into Autumn as the weather cools down. It’s a bulky item so it’s best to go with a cropped style that’s cut narrow on the shoulder and ends somewhere between waistline and hip bone.

Keep the layers you wear underneath fairly sleek so as to balance out the boxiness of the silhouette. Skinny or bootcut jeans, a turtleneck or button down shirt with boots is a simple no-brainer combination for this item. But I also like the combination of a blouse, pencil skirt and pretty pumps as you see in the photo below. The shaggy vest could also look fab over the right frock. Quite edgy. Any takers for the look?

I’m hoping that places like H&M, Topshop, MNG, Club Monaco and Zara will bring out inexpensive faux fur versions of the shaggy waistcoat. That way we have the option of having fun with a dramatic and somewhat wacky trend without breaking the bank. The vibe is quite boho which is not my style, but I’m attracted to the trend because of its vintage and retro appeal. I hope I find the right piece this season as I see several outfit possibilities.

The look is not quite safari and not quite military, but somewhere in-between. You’ll generally find these frocks in neutral tones and natural fibers like stiff cottons or soft silks. They are dripping with yummy uniform detailing like cargo pockets, shirt and Nehru collars, top stitching, press studs, zippers, epaulettes and tabbed sleeves. Quite androgynous and totally my style.

I realize that this look is not for everyone. Most of these styles are high maintenance to launder and not very feminine (even though it’s precisely the masculinity of the style that I find appealing). But you can make a utilitarian frock look more girly by considering one or a combination of these feminine touches:

• Keep the hemline a little shorter
• Opt for a style in a soft drapey fabric
• Choose a style with waist definition
• Go sleeveless
• Add pretty metallic gladiators
• Throw in a silky scarf

Utilitarian frocks look fab with gladiator sandals in Summer, and are perfect with boots for Autumn. Shorter tunic versions are great over skinnies, and throwing in a heel at any time keeps things feminine too. Forum member Inge recently purchased a smashing utilitarian frock and rocks the look.

I am in search for another fabulous utilitarian dress. I had one that I loved (similar to the DVF style on the top left), but it got bleach stains all over it. I hope to find one this Autumn to wear with slouchy boots.

True to my word, I recently gave stirrup leggings a whirl. Love them! Arty, unfussy, practical, inexpensive and extremely comfortable. I really liked the idea of stirrup detailing on tights instead of pants, and what an improvement. It makes perfect sense to wear the look like a light-footed dancer instead of an 80’s ice-cream cone. But stirrup leggings aren’t everyone’s cup of tea and I won’t take it personally if you don’t fancy the look on me.

While my new short zippered leggings are cute and refreshing, these new stirrup leggings have been something else. I was totally inspired after seeing how Vera Wang rocks ankle length leggings at age 60. There is something magical about the way the style elongates the leg line, especially when you add heels. I feel like I’m gliding across the ground like a graceful gazelle when I wear my frocks with stirrups. I probably don’t look nearly as elegant and willowy as I feel, but that’s okay. I’m going with feel fab on this one.

I have at least 20 different outfits in my existing wardrobe that work with my new stirrup leggings. Frocks that end just above the knee are an obvious pairing and you can see some of those outfits above. From a sleek mock-wrap dress on the left, to a voluminous sheath in the middle, and a reined in sack dress on the right (click on the images to zoom in). Shirt dresses and empire cuts will work well too. I swap out the frock for a pencil skirt and top when I need a change, and add a denim jacket or black trapeze jacket for air conditioned environments. I also like to throw in stacked round-toed pumps for a bit of extra glam.

The effect of stirrup leggings is not quite the same as wearing opaque tights because the vamp of the foot and back of the ankle are exposed. To me, the skin baring cut-outs of the stirrups look more interesting. Wearing shoes with low or strappy vamps like sandals, pumps or ballet flats is ideal because it keeps your vamp uncovered. I prefer my stirrups with heels, but they aren’t a prerequisite. Forum members Tam and Maya have perfected the look with flats and look wonderful.

I’m good to wear this look in Summer as long as my tops or frocks are breezy and my feet are cool. In fact I’ve worn the outfit with the citron frock in a non-humid 85 degrees and was totally fine. The look will also carry me through to Autumn with additional layers, sweater dresses and closed toed shoes.

I’m all over my favourite look of the season and have already duplicated my stirrups. Do you think you’ll try the look too?