A recent forum thread that raised a question about caring for linen items got me thinking. Given that linen clothing and scarves crease the minute you put them on, should we bother ironing or steaming them after laundry? Maybe washing and hang-drying our linen items is enough. Pop the clothing back into the closet on hangers, fold the scarves, and wear them just like that. Pre-wrinkled in a uniform way, and ready to rock ’n’ roll. You can spray a little water on dry linen to relax the creases if you like.

I tried not pressing my own linen items after laundry. The exact items are shown in the collection. And I couldn’t do it! I felt compelled to haul out the iron to press them, and the scarves too. The shirt and dress collars need to look pristine for one thing, and I felt more polished knowing they were pressed. Blast. I wish I felt differently because it would be easier.

That said, I am completely at peace with the crease once I’m wearing a linen item. I guess I like to start out looking unwrinkled, with the crispness I seek in outfits. Pressing linen items also seems to restore the fit and shape, and keeps the collars and cuffs smooth. I don’t re-press linen items in between wears, and don’t mind the creases that occur through wearing.

Over to you. Do you press your linen items, or leave them in their pre-wrinkled state? There is no right or wrong answer. It is simply a matter of ease and preference.

We try our best to purchase footwear that is comfortable from the get-go. But sometimes even comfortable footwear can rub, especially in hot weather, or after we haven’t worn them for a long time. With some pairs of boots, ballet flats, and loafers, I need to walk them in a bit again after not wearing them for more than a few months. Most of the time, I’ve found that I can prevent shoes from rubbing with a combination of the strategies below. 

1. Wear Them in a Little

Sometimes it’s a case of wearing the shoes multiple times with a bit of rubbing. Your feet get used to them, and after a while they no longer rub. Hopefully you won’t get blisters and sores, and the shoes become comfy. Wear them for short periods at a time while you are wearing them in.

2. Apply Moleskin

Shoes that begin to rub after a while might need the addition of moleskin. Apply a patch of moleskin to the inside areas of the shoes where your skin is prone to rubbing. The moleskin is soft, breathable and stretchy, and does a good job of minimizing the friction.

3. Use Anti-Chafing Balm

Generously apply anti-chafing balms like BodyGlide to the areas of the feet that are prone to rubbing before putting on your shoes. For me that’s my pinky toes, and the sides of my big toes. It REALLY works. You can get these types of balms at running stores, some drug stores, or online. Don’t apply the balm to the underside of your feet because you will slip and fall.

4. Wet Your Feet

This is a trick my late mother taught me. Wet your feet and slide them into shoes that do not require socks. Walk around in the shoes with wet feet, and yes, they dry quite quickly. Do this multiple times over the course of a week and ignore the squelching sound. You’ll stretch the shoes to fit your feet better, which can prevent rubbing. I recently did this with a new pair of white loafers that I sized down in because they were a little snug all over. Walking around in them with wet feet created a better fit, and now they don’t rub.

5. Have Shoes Stretched

Sometimes you need to stretch shoes in the areas where they rub to create more space. You can have this done professionally at a cobbler, or get an at-home stretching kit. Typically, my clients who have wider feet and need extra room in the toe box have their shoes stretched.

6. Wear Footies or Knee-Highs

If you can find footies or no-show socks that stay on your feet, that’s great because they effectively prevent rubbing and make footwear more comfortable. There isn’t a footie that stays on my feet, so I often wear nude-for-me knee-highs because they always fit. That said, it has to be mild or cool, and not warm or hot weather for knee-highs.

7. Add Cushioning Insoles

When shoes rub on the underside of your feet, try adding soft cushioning insoles that you can get at the drugstore for a couple of dollars. It effectively creates a more comfortable shoe. It does however take up shoe space, so bear that in mind. It only works for closed shoes.

These tips aren’t a slam dunk, but they can absolutely help and are worth a try. They might not prevent rubbing completely, but will certainly reduce it. Apart from shoe stretching, I successfully use all of the tips. Feel free to add to the list in the comments section below.

Back in January, for the third year in a row, I chose a word and colour for the year. I like the simplicity of a single word to keep top of mind, and the power and symbolism of a single colour. The exercise also helps me to follow through on my priorities. It’s halfway through 2021, and this is how I’m feeling about my choices so far.

Word: Achieve

I chose the word ACHIEVE because I feel energized to define and develop my next set of deliverables as an inclusive fashion professional who is passionate about the fact that having a fab-for-you personal style and effectively managing your wardrobe are skills that can be learned. The main project I’m working on is going well, but had to go on pause when we got new puppy Jo in April. I hope to get back to it in a couple of months, and launch by the end of the year.

Now that I’m fully vaccinated, the goal is to go on a few important trips that were put on hold because of the pandemic. Top of the list is seeing my Dad in the Netherlands, and I’m actually with him right now.

Working with my clients in person was another thing I wanted to achieve this year. After 15 months of working from home, I’m cautiously back to shopping and working with clients in stores and in their homes. It’s been fabulous, and I realize how much I missed this part of my work.

Colour: Citron

I chose citron because it’s a cheerful colour that’s associated with sunshine, warmth, happiness, energy, positivity, hope, and enlightenment. It’s also a signature colour for my style. I’ve bought a citron handbag, a lemon cardigan that I wear as a top, added citron accents to our home, and filled the house with yellow tulips and daisies during the Spring. I’m considering the pale yellow loafers below. They aren’t exactly citron, but close enough. I also continue to wear a lot of the bright citron items in my wardrobe. So far, citron has been well represented during 2021.

Pink was runner up as my colour of the year. I’m very drawn to shades of pink this year, and have occasionally chosen pink flowers over yellow and orange ones. For my wardrobe refresh, pink has featured quite strongly too. Here are the items, and I hope to add a blush pink coat in Winter.

Over to you. Would you like to reflect on how your word and colour for 2020 are shaping up?

Puffy sandals (some retailers refer to them as quilted sandals) have spongey, puffy straps, where the puffiness ranges from subtle to extreme. Some styles are more dressy, dramatic, edgy, and fashion-forward than others. They are an open footwear silhouette that showcases a lot of the foot. Many take the form of a slide, with no back. Puffy sandals are supposed to be quite soft and comfortable, and some offer arch support. Some have a platform heel. 

Here are examples.

The idea is to wear puffy sandals like you would a regular pair of casual or dressier sandals or slides, and not think too much about how they affect the outfit. Skirts, dresses, pants, jeans, shorts, jumpsuits, leggings — it’s all good. Here are some examples in the context of an outfit.

Some styles are chunky or very chunky, while others are a lot more refined. They don’t look bulky on the foot when you choose a less puffy and more refined version. But you might like the grounding, tough and dramatic effect of a chunky flatform, which can also add a little height.

I suspect that the puffy sandal is an acquired taste, which is why the trend hasn’t gone mainstream. It’s for those who are more adventurous with their Summer footwear, enjoy wearing all sorts of sandals, and are after something a little different. The slides with the soft footbeds, if they fit and work for your feet, look particularly easy and comfortable. We’ve seen some YLF forum members enjoy the trend and rock the look. Some early adopters took to them like a duck to water last season and haven’t looked back.

Personally, I don’t really wear sandals, and slides are impossible to fit unless they come in a narrow size. They also aren’t great for my urban walking lifestyle. I prefer to wear closed-toe shoes for foot protection. That said, I like the look of puffy sandals. They have a futuristic vibe about them, somehow both jarring and appealing. I vote super cute and fun on someone else!

Over to you. What do you think of the puffy sandal trend?