Link Love: Meaningful Jewellery & Tattoos

I found this article, in which four women share the meaning of their inherited jewellery, heart-warming

“As a jewelry designer, I draw inspiration from items handed down to me to create pieces that can become treasured heirlooms. Pieces which will hold the stories of those who wear them, to be passed down so they can live on. I wanted to hear more of these stories, so I asked four second-generation Canadians about the rings, necklaces, and earrings given to them and heard about the resilience, selflessness, and deep love embedded in them.”

I also enjoyed this blog post, in which 12 Cup of Jo readers share their meaningful tattoos. I really love what Emma did:

“I am madly in love with my life partner: my dog, Robin. She is my first soulmate and north star. When I adopted her in 2015, I wanted to commemorate the relationship. So, I took a picture of the geometric white patch on her chest, and the tattoo artist traced the outline. Everyone tries to guess what state it is!”

Fab Links from Our Members

Minaminu thought this was interesting: the founder of Boden, Johnnie Boden, predicts that formal office wear is out.

Vildy never considered wearing overalls before but this lengthy post chock-full of how-to-do-it examples has her rethinking. She says: “I actually like some of the examples, which I never expected to.”

Suntiger recommends this M Gets Dressed blog post about how to look older in casual clothes.

Stagiaire Fash says this article from 3 years ago about the increasing use of older models and the narrowness of that movement is still relevant.

Runcarla had fun browsing Phil Oh’s first street style shots (from NY Fashion Week) in 18 months. She’s loving all the craziness!

Nuancedream wanted to share this BBC article about how Afghan women are fighting back against the Taliban’s repressive dress code for women. She adds: “Right on! to these women who are proclaiming through their colorful attire that this is Afghan culture.”

Mary Beth directs us to this fun look at the Fall/Winter 2021-22 colour trends. She is loving the Coconut Cream, Root Beer, Mykonos Blue, After Midnight, and Pale Rosette. And she is intrigued by Illuminating.

Defining Neutrals for Your Personal Style

I talk about neutrals and non-neutrals all the time, and take it for granted that you know what I mean. But neutrals mean different things to different people, so I’m going to share my definitions. For me, neutrals fall into three categories: pure, fashion, and personal. 

Pure Neutrals

Black, white and all shades of grey are pure neutrals. These neutrals do not show up on the colour wheel because they are absent of colour. So in the strictest sense, black, white and grey are the only true neutrals.

Fashion Neutrals

In fashion, black, white and grey are considered neutral, but so are quiet colours like dark blues, shades of brown, shades of tan, taupe, mink and beige, shades of olive, and blue denim. In fact many earth tones are thought of as neutral because they are frequently found in nature. When I talk about neutrals in blog posts, I am referring to fashion neutrals, and not just pure neutrals.

Personal Neutrals

Because style is a very individual thing, I take the concept of neutrals a step further because there are colours and patterns that you might find extremely versatile and grounding to wear. Hence, they function like a neutral in your wardrobe and style. For example, bright red is “a neutral” for me because it works with everything. I wear it much the same way I would wear fashion neutrals like denim blue, white, and dark blue. I think similarly about pastels like blush pink and light blue. Others might view burgundy, eggplant, animal prints, and greyed colours like duck egg blue and sage as “neutral” for their style.

Hubs Greg is a purest when it comes to neutrals and thinks of navy and olive as colours. Neutrals to him mean black, white and grey and that’s it. Clearly, I’m not a neutrals purist, and take great liberties with the concept. How about you? How do you define neutrals?

Easy Neutrals for Fall

If you enjoy light neutrals, animal print, and a Modern Classic vibe, these outfits might appeal to you. Of course, you can change the palette to dark neutrals, or a more earthy mix if that’s your cup of tea. 

Combine a pair of on-trend jeans with a fluid pullover or long-sleeved shirt in a light neural. Semi-tuck the front of the pullover or shirt and add a belt in a shade of brown. You can tie the fronts of the shirt, if you like that vibe and leave off the belt. Finish off the look with animal print footwear, or solid light neutral or brown footwear. The bag can match the animal print footwear or repeat a solid neutral in the outfit. A light neutral trench coat tops things off.

Personally, I love light neutrals. I stick to solid shades of white, and very occasionally throw in a rich shade of toffee or a pretty shade of sand. My version of this look would use the items from my wardrobe below. The pullover looks white, but it’s cream in person and matches the cream complement of loafers and bag perfectly. I’d choose dark denim wide crops, leave off the belt, but semi-tuck the pullover anyway. Instead of a trench coat, I’d layer an old toffee cape coat over the top. My red specs add a bit of colour.

Does this vibe appeal to you too?

Roundups

Simpler Items

This week's list of top picks list is about basic pieces.

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Assorted Items

Items for Summer, both in and out of air conditioning.

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Casual Summer Vibes

This week's top picks are good for a casual Summer vibe.

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Summery Earth Tones

These items are for those who like to wear casual earth tones in warm and hot weather.

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Hints of Spring

Some tried-and-tested winning items to refresh your style for Spring.

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Dressier Items

An assortment of dressier top picks might be just what the doctor ordered.

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Exquisite Embroidery and Sunray Pleats

A new outfit from Georgette of Grown and Curvy Woman, whom we introduced to YLF in April 2020.

The delightful melon-coloured skirt and unique botanical embroidery make for a gorgeous Summery combo. Georgette is sporting a dressy sunray pleated midi skirt with a slightly wider than usual waistband which tempers the volume of the pleats. She’s paired it with a voluminous blouse with eye-catching multi-coloured embroidery. Tucking the blouse creates structure. As do the deep V-neck and three-quarter sleeves by exposing some skin. Stacked heeled cognac sandals and Georgette’s quirky bucket bag cleverly echo the orange in the blouse. The big mustard tassel earrings match the yellow in the top, and add extra playfulness. Melon lippy that matches the skirt is the polishing finishing touch.

Georgette - 3

Georgette - 2

Fab Finds: Sneakers, Trousers and Tops

I am appreciating the large assortment of neutrals, non-neutrals, and patterns this season. You are going to find what you want if you’re prepared to order online. The items in this post have been winners on clients and forum members. Some have earned a place in my own wardrobe.

1. ECCO Soft 7 Mono 2.0 Sneaker

These are amazing if you like wearing a versatile, comfortable, clean, crisp and basic fashion sneaker that looks neat and tidy on the foot. They are an update on the original Soft 7 sneaker which has white soles and laces. These are one colour with matching soles and laces, and therefore look more streamlined and simple. I have them in white and pink to replace some old pairs that have worn out. Fortunately, the fit and quality across the colours is consistent. They’re too wide for me as is, but by adding a double foam cushioning insole underneath the ECCO insole of the shoe, I created a fab fit for my low volume feet. Their removable insoles makes them orthotic-friendly too. A roomy fit with toe-box comfort. A little chunky yet refined. The grape is for Team Purple.

2. Madwell Linen-Blend Track Trousers

These are ideal for hot days when you don’t want to wear shorts, skirts, or dresses because you enjoy the coverage of pants. Made of natural fibers and machine-washable, they fit a range of body types, and work particularly well on a curvier bottom half. Conversely, they can work well for straighter figures and apple shaped body types because the elastic waist is forgiving, and the draped pleats collapse back onto the body. Unlike most elasticated bottoms, they have a button and zippered front, which makes tucking and semi-tucking tops a nice option too. They look more structured than regular elasticated bottoms.

3. Sdencin Houndstooth Sweater Vest

If you’d like to try an on-trend sweater vest for Autumn and Winter, here is one way to go. It’s oversized and slouchy, and not tailored. It can be worn as a top over a tank or lace bralette, or layered over shirts, blouses and tees. It can also work over a sleeved sheath dress and baggy shirt dress. Be creative and wear it YOUR way. A lovely item for a very mild Autumn and Winter.

4. Boden Sweatshirt

Boden’s fashion sweatshirts are my favourites because they wear well, are a little dressier, and look crisp and polished. I’ve had my first one for years and it’s a workhorse. I just added a second, which is the first bright floral one you see in the collection. It had my name on it, and lifts my mood. I dress it up with a skirt, white jeans and boots, or dress it down with a pair of blue jeans and sneakers. I wear my pearls with sweatshirts and hoodies because that makes them feel more like me.

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