The Budget Babe asked a great question regarding last week’s post on loafers:

“Do you think you could explain the difference between loafers, brogues and oxfords? I get these styles mixed up a lot”.

Descriptions vary across the globe and around the Internet, but here is the way I would define these three styles and the differences between them.

Loafers

Loafers are lace-less, slip on shoes with a moccasin type construction. For the most part they’re casual shoes especially when the soles are chunky and rubberized. But they can look smarter when the styles are more refined and the leather is dressy. The vamps and the heels of the shoe can be either high or low.

Above are three styles of loafer: casual and flat, dressy and flat, dressy and heeled.

Oxfords

Oxfords are high vamped shoes with enclosed lace-up detailing. They can either be casual or dressy depending on the style.

Above are three styles of oxford: casual and flat, dressy and low heeled, dressy and high heeled.

Brogues

Brogues (or “wing tips”) are oxfords with brogue design detailing. “Broguing” refers to perforated patterns along the seams and outer layers of the shoe uppers. Brogues often have a distinctive “W” shape on the toe cap of the shoe (the “W” looks like a bird spreading it’s wings, hence the name). There is a difference between “a brogue” and “brogue detailing” (broguing). Brogues are oxfords with brogue detailing, but brogue detailing needn’t be restricted to the style of an oxford shoe. You’ll find loafers, boots and pumps with brogue detailing too.

The style above left is an oxford brogue, while the other two styles are actually pumps with brogue detailing.

One significant common denominator of loafers, oxfords and brogues is that all three styles are available in versions for both men and women. You’ll find loafers, oxfords and brogues in the lasses and gents footwear selections. I hope that clears up the confusion.

Skirt and dress lengths have been getting shorter along with the resurgence in 80’s fashion. Before, finding hems that ended on or below the knee was the norm. But today, hemlines seldom cover the knee. Mid-thigh lengths are pretty common and crotch-scraping lengths are available too.

I haven’t worn a mini-skirt since I was a teenybopper because I like to feel covered. So it took me a while to get back into the whole idea of raising my hemline. I still want the coverage so I prefer to wear raised hemlines with leggings or hose, and knee-high or mid-calf length boots. Even so, my hems are never shorter than two to three inches above the top of my knee cap. When I’m barelegged sans boots, my hemlines are a little longer, either on the knee or just above it. I showed some typical lengths in last month’s post on slouch boots.

So I guess I’m okay with the rising hemline trend as long as it’s no shorter than a few inches above the knee and I can add coverage. How do you feel about raising your hemline and how short will you go?

Today we continue our journey through the 10 casual Autumn formulas I blogged about a few weeks ago. Formula #3 is all about the casual dress, so I turned to super stylish, Chicago forum member Laura, who is a freelance writer and busy Mum on the go. She’s a frock gal who owns this look. Who better to convince you that frocks are fab than our very lovely Laura with the killer pixie do and two darling boys in tow.

Of all of Angie’s brilliant formulas for moms on the go, I probably wear Formula #2 the most (for practical weather purposes), but my absolute favorite is Formula #3:

Casual dress + tights or hose + tall boots

I wasn’t always this convinced! Until about a year ago, you would find me in jeans most days. My conversion took place in the dressing room of Macy’s in Herald Square, during the YLF Manhattan convention. Angie dragged us kicking and screaming to the gigantic Macy’s flagship dress department. Thirty minutes and three fabulous frocks later, I was reborn as a dress girl.

Dresses make me feel pulled together and feminine, but still practical and comfy. It’s one simple garment, and all you need to add is tights and boots for extra coverage. What could be easier? Also, wearing casual dresses is a great alternative to jeans and sweaters. I get so sick of wearing jeans!

For Fall I love non-restrictive and forgiving empire cut dresses, A-line dresses and sack dresses in thicker fabrics with stretch. Ponte de Roma knits are pure genius, and sweater dresses and jersey knit are great too. When I shop, I generally look for long or ¾-length sleeves. But sleeveless works as well: I simply put a thin layering turtleneck underneath, or pop a cropped cardigan, military jacket, denim jacket or moto vest over it, and I feel covered. For extra warmth (remember I live in Chicago), I’ll layer over a trench coat, wool coat and eventually a heavy duty down puffer along with headgear, scarf and gloves.

I’ve also gotten over a phobia about hose. Now I wear tights, textured hose and leggings. If you’re not sure about hose, start by wearing leggings under a dress. Leggings are basically a thicker form of tights, and can give you that extra comfort level if your day calls for sitting on the floor with your baby or chasing a toddler around a playground. I love how black tights matched with black boots give me a nice long line. And make sure your dress is the right length — at the knee or a few inches above the knee for most of us.

My handbag of choice is a large tote or cross-body bag when I need to be hands free. I like to wear a fun colour to contrast with my monochromatic outfits which keeps things cheerful on a gray windy day! I always wear my big white statement watch but I tend to keep earrings and necklaces dainty because that’s my style preference.

I have road tested formula #3 time and time again, and what makes it work when you’re running after your 3-year-old around (as I am) is making sure the dresses are casual and pairing them with footwear that’s practical with a capital P. I wear all sorts of casual boots: ankle boots, Doc Martens, knee- high riding boots, flat slouchy boots, Frye harness boots, and cowboy boots.

So, over to you. Are you a dress girl at heart? If not, are you willing to give this formula a try? Let’s hear your opinions on formula #3.

Occasionally I’ll try on an item of clothing in stores and love it. I purchase it immediately and can’t wait to try it on again at home. But when I do so, all of sudden I don’t love it quite as much. Even when the item works with other things in my wardrobe. Why is that? Why are we more critical when we look in the mirror at home?

One obvious explanation is that the conditions in the store are different to those at home. It could start with the mirror itself, which might be “skinny” in the store. Or maybe the music in the store put us in a buying mood. As I mentioned on the Today show, retail stores go to great lengths to get us into this state of mind.

But maybe the real reasons are less about the store, and more about us.

Perhaps we’re subconsciously looking for a reason to get back the money we just spent. Perhaps we weren’t discerning enough in the first place. Perhaps a second opinion from someone at home causes us to doubt our initial perceptions. Perhaps it’s just in our nature to have second thoughts about the items that we purchase.

I do believe that the most important dressing room is the one we have at home. We should re-evaluate our purchases with a critical eye, and with input from someone else at home. That said, it isn’t practical to be constantly bringing items home only to return them the next day. We need to strike the right balance. If you understand the factors that make you return items after trying them at home, then maybe it will help you to make better decisions in the store.

Having spent so much time in the retail environment, I’m usually confident about my shopping decisions. Even so, I too have my moments of doubt when I look in the mirror at home. Does this sound familiar? Are there any recurring factors that make you return an item after seeing it at home?

Here are this week’s bargains:

• Win a cool Big Buddha handbag over at The Budget Babe. Big Buddha makes eco- and animal-friendly bags inspired by all the latest designer looks and trends. This particular handbag style was inspired by a certain very much coveted Valentino handbag. Quite yummy. The deadline is 28 October.
• Get yourself to Banana Republic if you’re after zippered skinnies. They’re on sale for $59.99 and fit well. Read about how to wear them in this post.
• The Olian Maternity Knot Front Top gets my vote as cutest maternity top I’ve seen all season and its on sale for 40% off.
• This coming week is your last chance to win a $500 TJ Maxx shopping spree at The Budget Fashionista.

Happy shopping!

I’m a huge fan of micro fishnets, but I’m also into other types of patterns on black textured hose. Lace, checks, swirls, chevrons, polka dots, florals, stripes and diamond designs are among my favourites at the moment. Textured hose is versatile because you can dress it both up and down.

I know what you’re thinking – hose is dressy. The same way you might think that dresses are generally dressy. But these perceptions are not entirely true because dresses worn with hose can look relaxed if you add casual elements into the mix. The picture below shows gals in dressy ensembles matched with black textured hose and heeled pumps. The hose smartens up the outfits for sure. But wear the hose with a pair of flat, casual boots and a casual dress or skirt and you’ve dressed down the look.

For example, try one of my favorite looks for Autumn: a no-nonsense day dress with Frye boots and sheer black checked hose. This pairing is unexpected and more visually interesting than falling back on plain old black opaques.

Fashion unites us, but style sets us apart. It’s HOW you wear the item that makes the difference. Anyone can purchase black textured hose and wear it with pumps and a dressy frock, because that’s the combination that makes traditional sense. But wearing fashion items in unconventional ways can often be a lot more fun. This also helps you get the most out of a small wardrobe, which is a real cost saver. An all-round win.

Wearing black boots with black textured hose is flop proof because it gives you a long leg line. Mismatching the colour of the hose and the boots can be done, but you might find it harder to achieve the long lean line.

I promised to devote a separate post to each of the 10 casual Autumn formulas I wrote about earlier about this month. With formula #1 down, it’s on to formula #2:

Skinny jeans + long sleeved T + scarf + tall boots

Tucking jeans or pants into tall boots is extremely practical for winter weather. Really, there is no substitute for this footwear formula if you’re out braving the elements and commuting on foot. Living in rainy Seattle, I tuck jeans into boots frequently and it happens to be one of my very favourite looks of all time. I feel stylish, sleek, comfortable and pulled together for the rain, ice and snow. And above all my feet are warm and dry.

Here are the components of this formula in more detail:

• Jeans: You’ll need slim cut, casual pants or jeans that are super tapered on the lower leg to make tucking an easy operation. If jeans are not your thing, you’ll achieve the same look with Ponte de Roma knit pants, micro-check pants, or denim leggings. Choose any wash of jeans and don’t forget that black-black and grey jeans are good options too. Because extra-skinny jeans are ideal for this look, you might like to reserve certain pants and jeans solely for the purpose of tucking into boots.
• Long sleeved T: A good quality, solid layering T is a super backdrop for a patterned scarf. But you don’t need to stick to basic T styling either. Think banded tunic styles with dolman sleeves, empire cuts and wrap styles as more interesting alternatives. Button down shirts and cru, turtle and V-neck knitwear will also work. You can also switch the solid and pattern mix around by wearing a patterned top and solid scarf. Honestly, any type of top with a scarf that works is good. As an extra Autumn topper, think trench coat, cropped coat, leather, pleather, corduroy, plaid, military jacket, or one of the new look longer length cardigans.
• Scarf: Versatile pashmina wrap-style scarves are my top pick because they look great both indoors and outdoors. Silky scarves are just as fab, but not quite as casual. I’m not particularly fond of neckerchiefs because they cut your long lean line, but they can work if you have a long neck. Scarves are best when tied vertically (like this, this and this).
• Tall boots: Choose knee-high and mid-calf boots that are either flat, wedged or low heeled. The world is your oyster when it comes to the aesthetic of the boots. From riding boots and slouch styles, to biker boots, cowboy looks, fleece lined snow boots and anything else that tickles your fancy. Wellington boots and 20 eyelet Doc Martens are superb too.
• Handbag: A flat tote is the obvious choice, but if you need both hands free to attend to little ones, a cross body bag is the solution.
• Accessories: Attend to your specs first and your watch second, because they’re the most important accessories on your body. There’s no need to wear a necklace because this look is all about the statement scarf, but earrings add a nice touch. If you like hats, then newsboy caps, berets, slouchy beanies, riding caps and felt cloches are all super choices.

And now some examples. The first is a fun and bright interpretation, while the second is edgy and urban. No modern-classic interpretations today! Remember that this is a formula, so you can substitute the items in the visuals for those that that are more to your taste. Note that you can click on the pictures to find details about individual items in Polyvore.

Fun & Bright:

Edgy & Urban:

Forum member Tanya recently challenged herself to wear a different casual Autumn formula each day, covering eight of the formulas in one week. She looks KILLER in every outfit and I can’t possibly pick a favourite. Tanya’s chic, casual, everyday style is a true inspiration for us all so be sure to take a look.

Mums on the go and gals on the go, I’d love to hear your suggestions on how to improve this formula. Also, if you post your interpretation of this formula on your own blog, link to my post and we will list you below when we see the trackback.

If I waved my magic wand and gave you $5000 to spend on any aspect of your style and wardrobe, how would you spend it? Before you let the cat out the bag, here are the rules for our imaginary shopping spree:

• You have to spend the money on yourself, so no sharing with family members or friends. This is about indulging you and only you.
• You have to spend it on fashion and style. No paying off of credit cards, buying of gifts, or donating to your favourite charities.
• You have to spend it within the time frame of one year. No saving for a rainy day.
• You can shop anywhere in the world, but the price of the plane ticket and accommodation will have to come out of the $5000 allowance.

It’s perfectly fine to blow your entire gift of style on a trip to Paris to purchase a Chanel bag of your choice. $5000 should just about cover that. On the other hand, if you’d prefer to shop online from home stalking bargains for a full 365 days to get the biggest bang for your fashion buck – that’s fabulous too. Perhaps you’d like to build a new walk-in wardrobe? Get hair extensions? Replace your shoe and handbag collection? Render the services of a fashion stylist? Purchase a timeless set of good quality wardrobe basics? Try botox? Let your imaginations run wild. No holding back and the world is your oyster.

Loafers are often labeled as dowdy, but not in my book. They can look cool when you choose an interesting style and pair them with a hip ensemble. Very Euro and always stylish.

Loafers tend to look a little more masculine than ballet flats, which makes them the more arty and edgy choice. I’ve always liked the look of loafers and now more than ever, view them as the “new look ballet flat” . So I’m slowly but surely adding fun loafers to my flat shoe collection.

When purchasing loafers, be mindful of the style detailing and think about how you will wear them with other items in your wardrobe. Here are some guidelines that may help:

• Low vs. high vamps: Generally, both high and low-vamped loafers work best with boot cuts, straight leg slacks or jeans. But loafers with low vamps can be worn with skirts, dresses and cropped pants as well. Add fun hosiery into the mix for an eclectic look.
• Sporty vs. retro styles: Styles with chunky rubber soles look more casual and aren’t quite as versatile as retro styles with refined rubber or leather soles. But if you’re after a completely casual look like the ones I got at the Tsonga Factory, then stick to wearing them with jeans.
• Interesting colour or texture: Loafers tend to look extra classic in a flat black and brown leather. This is ideal for those with a classic sense of style. But if you’re after a trendier vibe, choose loafers in a fun colour and interesting texture like the styles you see below.
• Add the attitude: It’s how you wear the ped that counts. One of my favourite ways of wearing the cream Tsonga loafers is with boot cut or straight leg jeans, a black top, scarf and belted burnt orange 70’s style vintage leather jacket with faux fur trim. The drama of the scarf and the edginess of the jacket offsets the classic integrity of the loafers. I dig that type of contrast.

Loafers are also great to wear with trouser socks or thin wool socks, which makes them a super alternative to booties, ankle boots, ballet flats or fashion sneakers. A nice closed shoe option for nippy weather.

An assortment of fun loafers. All the vamps are high except for those on the pewter and purple pairs, so those are the types of styles that you could pair with skirts, dresses and hose.

Denim leggings or leggings jeans are a great substitute for skinny jeans that are tucked into boots. They look just like 5-pocket jeans, but are sleeker, softer and very stretchy. This clearly screams practical comfort.

As much as I encourage the look of tucking skinnies into knee-high or mid-calf boots, I realize that it’s not equally comfortable for all. There’s often unwanted fabric bunching, or not enough room in the boots to accommodate the excess fabric of the jeans. Enter denim leggings, which are made of thinner and more supple denim. They offer an extra tight fit without cutting off your circulation. No more bunching or excess fabric. Woohoo!

Because denim leggings fit a little tighter around the crotch and thigh area, match up the look with longer tunic tops and knitwear. Once you’ve added tall boots to the mix, you should feel adequately covered. You might find that you reserve denim leggings solely for the purpose of tucking into boots.

Denim leggings or leggings jeans are available in most department stores and online sites. The ones that you see here (from the Nordstrom Junior department) are my top pick at the moment ($39). They have worked for both curvy and straight body types and all sorts of heights and ages as long as the rest of the ensemble components are right. Tucking skinnies into boots has never been so easy.