Last year I wrote a post on the qualities you would like to express with your individual style. Looking back on the qualities that I aspire to, I wouldn’t change a thing. I still want my style to express that I am modern, trendy, professional, fun, and modest. But recently I have started to question the final quality I mentioned: practical.

By my own definition, I am for the most part a practical dresser. I wear comfortable shoes and clothes each day. I pile on the layers when it’s cold. I wear specs daily, and throw on an unflattering Winter hat in arctic temperatures because it’s the only way to prevent my ears from aching.

At the same time, I have a very unpractical side to my style because I love, love, LOVE cream and white wardrobe items. And let’s face it – cream and white does not effectively hide dirt and grime as well as other colours. I have a white pair of Dr. Marten 20 eyelet boots. I have two pairs of knee-high cream boots and three pairs of cream booties. I have a cream trench coat, a cream coat and a cream leather jacket. I have a few pairs of white jeans, several white blouses and shirts, and three cream handbags. That’s a lot of cream and white stuff for someone who lives in rainy Seattle and is outside pounding the pavement on a regular basis.

Well ladies, cream coloured clothing, footwear and handbags are my style indulgence. It helps that I don’t have small children, although little paw prints often make it onto my cream clothing. I will say that I am careful when I wear my cream and white wardrobe items. I won’t wear my cream coat out to the movies, or my cream boots in the pouring rain. And I don’t expect to wear my white jeans three times before laundering them.

The bottom line is that although white and cream wardrobe items are impractical (especially cream outerwear), I refuse to omit them from my style. I derive enormous pleasure from sporting them and will go to great lengths to keep them looking pristine and crisp. They will be the exception to my practical rule.

Do you have an impractical side to your style? If so, let’s hear about it.

I don’t use a mirror to check the back of my head and ensure that my hair looks okay from every angle. I just feel my way through the style and hope that everything is in place.

It’s normally in retail stores with clients that I catch a glimpse of what my hair looks like from behind in a three-way mirror. Most of the time it’s adequately in place, but sometimes I’m shocked to see a big old uncovered crown or sections of hair going in the opposite direction to what I intended. I quickly pull my fingers through my hair and hope that it wasn’t too noticeable.

I’m still not in the habit of checking the back of hairstyle before I leave the house though. Perhaps I should be! I guess I’m not horrified enough with what I’ve seen to date to make this a must do thing.

Do you check the back of your hairstyle before you leave the house?

Layering hosiery allows me to wear dresses and skirts all year round, even when temperatures plummet. I wear two pairs of hose with tall boots and all the necessary top layers, outerwear and Winter accessories to stay toasty throughout the day, indoors and out. This trick is effective even for someone who feels the cold as quickly as I do.

Here are three effective hosiery combinations for skirts and dresses:

• Double opaques: If opaque tights are your thing, wear two pairs instead of one. The visual effect is more opaque, much like you’re wearing thick leggings.
• One thick one thin: If too pairs of opaques is too warm, layer basic sheer hose underneath woolly tights or opaques.
• Secret underneath layer: Sheer hose, patterned hose and fishnets are extra pretty and feminine but not as toasty as woolly tights or opaques. No problem! Layer a pair of inexpensive flesh toned sheer hose underneath the fancy hose and you are set. I like to layer flesh toned hose so that the effect of the patterned hose stays the same. You can also layer sheer black or coloured hose underneath patterned hose, but that will change the effect of the pattern on your legs.

Wear tall boots with your layered hosiery on bitterly cold days for the extra leg insulation. Pumps and short boots won’t keep you nearly as warm.

When it’s really freezing, layer a pair of thick opaque tights underneath your jeans. Long silk underwear or thermal long johns are also an option, but I prefer to layer hose because I find it more streamlined and comfortable.

You don’t need to break the bank when you layer hose. The underneath layer, which is hardly visible, can be the drugstore kind that’s as cheap as chips.

Note: when I refer to skirts in this post I’m also including the skirt component of a frock, and not only skirt separates.

A straight skirt has side seams that lie somewhat straight against the sides of the body. The classic example is a pencil skirt. The side seams of a flared skirt, on the other hand, are not straight against the body and are therefore not as form fitting. Flared skirts can be paneled, gathered, A-line or pleated to create a more voluminous effect.

I love both skirt silhouettes! Although I often wear pencil skirts and straight sheath dresses, I also have two retro 50’s style fit-and-flare frocks with tulle petticoats (one in purple and one in black) that I absolutely adore. I like the swooshing sound they make when I stride and the Madmen vibe I feel when I wear them.  Super fun all round.

But I’m siding with Team Straight Skirt because that’s represented the most in my wardrobe. I find pencil skirts easy to fit and to wear, and I enjoy the curves they create on my body. However I’d be happy to bat for Team Flared Skirt in the future.

Over to you. Are you Team Straight or Team Flared Skirt? Tell us why and no batting for both teams. You’re on the bench if you don’t wear skirts or dresses at all. Let’s hear it.