The best of Autumn and Winter 2008

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Angie is co-founder of YLF and its resident fashion stylist.

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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

The best of Autumn and Winter 2008

— by Angie

on February 17, 2009

Many of us have a good few months of cold weather to endure before the weather warms up, but we’ve seen the last of Autumn and Winter in retail stores (blame the retail cycle). Cold weather merchandise is on heavy markdown so if you’re still in the market for that, shop online for the best deals in town.

Spring collections are unfolding and as always I’m champing at the bit to talk about them. But you know the drill. I like to end off a retail season by sharing our final thoughts on the last six months of fashion:

Here are my raves (hold off on the rants because we’ll do those tomorrow):

Biker jackets: I absolutely love this look because I’ve always been “a biker girl”. The trend is going through to Spring and Autumn so don’t give up on the look if you want to incorporate it into your style. And if you’re like me, it will ALWAYS be part of your style.
Boots, boots and more boots: A cold weather season without boots is like putting on an outfit without a bra. The two go hand in hand. There was an excellent assortment of flat boots this season and I particularly enjoyed the resurgence of Dr. Martens and slouchy styles. Tucking jeans into boots is practical, sleek and flop proof for wet, snowy weather and it happens to be one of my very favourite Winter looks. The look is here to stay so if you missed it this season, they’re always next time.
Pencil skirts: You’ve got to love a gal in a pencil skirt. It’s a killer look and my best skirt silhouette.
Boyfriend cardigans: I committed to one of these when they first surfaced and have thoroughly enjoyed wearing it belted. It made for a nice change alongside its forever fashionable cropped counterpart.
Skinny belts: Love them and didn’t wear a skirt ensemble without them. They added the perfect dose of polish each time.
Waistcoats: I like adding menswear inspired pieces to my wardrobe and the waistcoat is a superb way of doing just that.
Ruffle and zipper detailing: I like ruffles on anything and zippers add a certain edge. It’s right up my alley to combine both looks into one outfit.
Tailored jackets: It’s wonderful to see the tailored jacket in stores again. For a while, trapeze styles flooded the market and they are much harder to wear. Long live the flop proof tailored jacket!
Higher rises: I love their “girdling effect”.
Bright colours: There’s nothing like a pop of saturated colour to get you through a cold Winter’s day. I especially enjoyed red, fuschia, yellow, and turquoise because they are my colours. But jewel tones reigned supreme with several of my clients and I’m glad that they were available this season.
Textured hose: Self-coloured patterned black hose makes me smile. They completed my skirt ensembles by adding fun and texture to the look. I wore everything from micro-fishnets and geometric patterns to animal prints and polka dots. There was an excellent assortment this season and I’m thinking of stocking up.
80’s influences: We’re entering our third year of 80’s fashion inspiration and it’s loads of fun re-living and actually re-wearing the looks.

Another fabulous fashion season. I say that every time because there’s always something to like if you’re open to trying something new. Your turn ladies. What were your favourite trends this season?

Winter 2008/2009

21 comments · Add a comment

loved the ruffles and the capelets… has there been a low key victorian revival too?

February 17, 2009 at 8:29 am

Tanya

I always enjoy these articles Angie. My list is almost the same as yours. The first 9 items are complete overlap, and my favorite thing to wear is a combination of a couple of tends: high-waisted skinnies tucked into boots with boyfriend cardigan over a ruffly blouse with a skinny belt. I also completely adore biker jackets and wish I could have bought a new one, but as you say there is time in the spring.

Color wise, I have enjoyed jewel tones: purple, teal and berry, and grey, grey and more grey. Boots were great , and I still have a few on my list ( either for the sales now or next season) two tall flat leather pairs: one in lighter grey and one slouchy in chestnut. I have also really enjoyed wearing my black and grey booties too. Finally, these is not technically a trend, but I have gotten so much use our of my skinny jeans.

February 17, 2009 at 8:39 am

Sarah

I took advantage of most of these items this season, but I’m still on the hunt for my biker jacket. I love the look and hope I can find one!
I wore lots of navy, black, grey, purple, and berry. Love these shades! I paired navy and charcoal and navy and black together for the first time this fall. I also tried skinnies tucked into boots. It was a season of firsts, and I loved it!

February 17, 2009 at 9:13 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You’re right Tanya, skinny jeans aren’t a trend (they are a mainstream basic), but they are indispensible for tucking jeans into boots – one of our favourite looks.

I also should have mentioned grey. I had my hair coloured differently this season which allowed me to wear a number of shades of grey. I also loved my new grey boots and pumps. Grey is fab!

I’m glad you tried something new, Sarah. That’s the YLF way.

February 17, 2009 at 9:19 am

Patience

My favorites are pretty much the same as yours, but then I follow this site for my fashion trends. Of the ones you listed, my favorites are biker jackets (I now own two and am very tempted by the white one above), boots, pencil skirts (I need one for spring now), skinny belts, waistcoats, textured hose, and bright colors. I also have been enjoying my platform and peep toe pumps and booties.

February 17, 2009 at 9:27 am

Sarah

I’ve mostly enjoyed this season from a far, loving looks on others, because of lack of funds. Many of your favorites are also mine though, Angie.

I admire biker jackets on others, and someday I will save up enough to own one myself.

For Christmas, I picked out two new pairs of boots (and skinny jeans to go with them). Sadly, one pair is giving me blisters each time I wear it, so it will have to go. I do love boots though, in all shapes, colors, and sizes.

Pencil skirts are a favorite of mine, especially tapered ones. My black, white, grey plaid, and blue get a ton of wear.

I fell in love with waistcoats when you did your post on them a while back. I even bought one, but sadly it is still waiting for a trip to the tailor (mostly because I haven’t found a tailor yet for the tough jobs that my mother refuses to touch). Being petite, it needs to be taken up at the shoulder seams.

I’m also a ruffle girl. Zippers are great on others, but I don’t do the look myself; I’ve tried it and just can’t make it work.

Tailored jackets also have my thumbs up; I’d love to replace some of my own boxy jackets. Sadly, no money even for sales though.

Higher rises are the best, but still difficult to find when you are my size. Most people who shop in the juniors department don’t need them, but I sure do.

My latest pop of color came in the form of a Valentine’s Day gift from my hubby: two fabulous pashmina’s from Hallmark, one in cobalt blue and the other in butter yellow.

I also fell in love with textured tights and snatched up a couple of pairs early in winter. Even when the budget for clothes has been low to non-existent, I was able to justify tights as a need to keep my legs warm.

February 17, 2009 at 9:55 am

Eva

Thanks Angie. I have a few overlaps with your list. I am happy to have a pencil skirt and skinnies that fit (after tailoring). I have really enjoyed wearing them. Textured hose with skirts and dresses are so fun! I love my boots and as you know, I am on the hunt for boots with wide enough calf width to tuck my skinnies in (almost there). I like the skinny belt, but must confess, I like the wider belts better. Love the vest. It really gave more life to my button down shirts. I also like the colors this season. I hope they continue. I like the look of the biker jacket and am just starting to look for one (in my price range).

February 17, 2009 at 10:02 am

Sihaya

I love textured hose and boots. I should have shopped for some boots though. I own one pair and need comfortable shoes. Maybe it’s not too late to hit the sales. I have also enjoyed getting into skinnies and wearing them with longer tops. I love longer tops as a way to change things up. I definitely like structured jackets and added a few to my collection this season. In addition, I have really enjoyed booties – they remind me of romantic victorian days and a photo of I have my grandmother and her friends wearing booties in the ealry 1900’s!

February 17, 2009 at 10:24 am

Sal

(website)

You’ve highlighted my faves! Also a big fan of plaid, though I didn’t utilize it as much as I should’ve.

February 17, 2009 at 10:26 am

Joy

I’m happy to say I’ve tried with success nearly everything on your list. The best have been pencil skirts, textured hose, boots as footwear and not just outdoor wear, and boyfriend cardigans. Another success from your blog has very recently been finding the right sweater dress. I’d never have even tried one on if it weren’t for this site.
I love ruffles but haven’t found the right piece. Will they stay around a couple more seasons?
Skinny belts are good, but my best width seems to be a bit wider. The double wrap would probably be just right. Aso, in rereading the link, I need to try them higher.
I should start a thread on the forum for wearing biker jackets. This is a very flattering look for me, especially with the diagonal zipper. I’m just not feeling like it’s me and passed up a wonderful brown leather at a great price yesterday out of discomfort with the look. I’ll probably kick myself.
I’m beginning to love waistcoats, haven’t been very successful finding high rise anything in my size that doesn’t bag, like bright colors and discovered tomato red. I like tailored jackets and plaid, but haven’t added any to my wardrobe recently. Thank you for all the ideas I receive here. It makes shopping so much easier and fun.

February 17, 2009 at 10:57 am

Nicole

Great post Angie. Love your bra comment–Doh!

I don’t know what I would have done this winter w/out boots. I was also glad to get YLF help with winter scarves. I rarely leave home w/out one.

This article makes me wonder though–when does one know when something becomes out of style?

February 17, 2009 at 1:39 pm

Laura

Grey! Seeing grey back in stores made me sooooo happy. It’s my favorite neutral.

Boots! I added a few to my closet, in crinkled patent leather (patent leather is so fantastic, I am glad there was much to choose from this season), one slouchy style (but the elusive chestnut slouchy boot still evades me), and Docs.

White ruffled button-downs became a mainstay. They made practically all of my knitwear look fresh.

Skinnies. This was the first season I’d tried them, and they are still in heavy wardrobe rotation, 3 times a week.

Thanks, Angie – it’s fun to look back on what I thought was a pretty good season.

February 17, 2009 at 5:11 pm

bella

Good recap Angie! There a couple of things I tried (bright colors, textured hose, skinny belt), couple of things I wish I owned (a good biker jacket, a couple of funkier boots apart from the basic brown and black), a couple of things I want to buy for spring (waistcoat and pencil skirt) and finally one thing that doesn’t work for me at all (boyfriend cardi). I am looking forward to the worst of winter 2008 list!:)

February 17, 2009 at 7:14 pm

Maya

I can’t imagine a world without being able to tuck my jeans into boots! Sometimes I actually seriously do wonder what I will do if this look ever goes out of style. I don’t remember seeing it at all in the 90’s or early part of the decade, so I am very fearful that it might fall out of style eventually. How will I ever get dressed in the winter?! I might have to do it long after it is considered “dated.”

High rise jeans are hands-down my favorite trend, and I can only hope that it endures beyond just a trend. The girdling effect is nice, but more importantly, it gives my backside the coverage it needs. A pair of jeans with an 8″ rise in the front rarely have more than a 13″ rise in the back, and I need at least 14″. I don’t even know how I went all those years in low rise jeans. I’m still a bit dismayed that they’re the mainstream, but I’ll take whatever I can get.

Waistcoats are a winner for me as well.

I don’t know if gray shoes were mentioned yet, but that is another favorite for me. They are perfect for when I want something neutral, not black, but less “fancy” than a metallic.

February 17, 2009 at 8:18 pm

Donna

I always look forward to your recaps! I started wearing ruffles this fall and love them. I’m small busted and they work great for adding needed inches. The same goes for waistcoats. I only found one for fall, but have enjoyed it and will be searching for a summer weight/color one. Another thing not on this list, but one I’ve been working on is adding more woven tops to my wardrobe. I’m now searching for some short sleeved versions and having an awful time finding something without gathered sleeves-an inverted triangle:). Looking forward to your rants!

February 17, 2009 at 8:20 pm

Lena

Here’s my list: boots, Dr.Martens (yay!), waistcoats, bright colors, grey footwear, higher rises (finally!). I always wore textured tights and I’m glad this season offered a great variety of styles to choose from.

I’ll keep trying pencil skirts – I still hope to find one that fits me.

I really like zipper detailing in theory, but I’m apprehensive about wearing it because I’m afraid the zippers will catch on a blouse or hose.

February 17, 2009 at 9:44 pm

yublocka

(website)

Great post Angie. I am looking forward to winter gradually arriving here, and with it some of these great looks!!!

February 18, 2009 at 2:56 am

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February 18, 2009 at 8:30 am

Tuffer

(website)

fashionable biker jackets should be obvious they are for fashion sake. if they’re just trying to look biker-cool (and, your not biker cool), no good. nothing makes you feel less cool than someone asking you if you ride and having to respond, you just thought the coat was cool.

yeah to bright colors and the eighties. I swore I’d never like it again, but give me some neon print Ts and a leather members only jacket. I’d even be up for some brand resurrecton… code blue and international news anyone?

I’ve seen a lot of guys on the runway with pants tucked into boots. really hoping this hits the mainstream for guys too (or at least close enough to mainstream that I can get away with it).

February 18, 2009 at 12:30 pm

Joelle

My favorites were the bright colors, gray and other neutrals (which I’m wearing a lot more than black now), boots, tailored jackets and coats, 80s style tunic tops, and textured hose. I really love the knee length skirt or dress + knee high boots + textured hose look, but since I still haven’t found my knee high boots I couldn’t do it. I like pencil skirts too, but I think they look better on slimmer women–to date I still haven’t found one that didn’t look boxy on me. Well, maybe after I finish losing weight…

February 18, 2009 at 12:38 pm

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February 26, 2009 at 12:09 pm

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