Fashion is fun, but can also be exhausting. When you’re overwhelmed with your wardrobe, shopping, fashion and style in general, take the time to pause and reset. This might mean editing and reviewing your closet, and cutting back on wardrobe additions until you once again feel calm and in control. Taking a break from social media. Saving some money by not shopping for a while. Finding another creative outlet. Prioritizing other parts of your life. Taking a vacation. Return to fashion and style when you once again feel interested and inspired. The distance can spark fresh inspiration.

The best shopping day can be one spent in your closet. Sometimes you forget how fabulous your wardrobe items and outfits are when you go down the retail rabbit hole. Hit the reset button every once and while, and appreciate the fabness of your wardrobe and your style. Enjoy your wardrobe items and wear the heck out of them.

I’ve found that August and December are my months for a fashion and style pause and reset. July is normally a big month of shopping for myself and clients, and in August I like to think a lot less about all things fashion and style related. The pause in December allows me to focus on the social holiday season and energizes me for January.

How about you?

This post is for Team Subtle Black in Summer. That’s when you don’t wear large expanses of black in hot weather, like you might in cold weather. Instead you wear outfits with small black components and enjoy the looks just as much. Onto some outfit inspiration.

1. Black Top

Combining a summery black top made of breezy fabric that showcases skin with non-black bottoms is an easy way to incorporate subtle black into your style. Here, a lightweight and on trend boho-lite ruffled top is paired with ecru wide cropped jeans. Flat black thong sandals match the top and the model’s hair. A straw bag adds an earthy and casual touch.

More ways to wear summery black tops with and assortment of bottoms:

2. Patterned Dress

Wearing black in a pattern instead of a solid is a subtle way to go. Here, an earthy patterned dress with black components is the star of the show. Flat tan gladiator sandals pick up the tan in the pattern. A black bag with tan trim creates a perfectly matched finishing touch.

A few black and white dresses where the black in not the dominant colour:

3. Black Accents

Creating a summery outfit with black accents is the most subtle way to wear black. For example here, a pair of dark blue trendy denim jorts is combined with a breezy white boho-lite blouse. Black belt and clogs that match the model’s hair are the bits of black in the oufit. The silver earrings match the silver studs on the clogs. I see a black bag complete the look.

Two more outfits with bits of black:

4. Stripes

Black and white stripes, and gingham are more ways to wear bits of black in hot weather. Tops and dresses are an uncomplicated way to do that. The collection showcases ways to wear them with jeans, shorts, and white or tan bottoms. The dresses are an easy throw-on-and-go.

5. Black Dress

Last, an example of MORE than a bit of black. Summery black sleeveless dresses in lightweight fabrics can be easy and carefree to wear. Complete the look with metallic footwear, a bag to match, a bit of jewellery, and Bob’s your uncle. Here’s a dressier version with awesome gold boots. Add watch and eyewear as desired.

Feel free to substitute the black for navy or another dark if black is not for you.

Boyfriend jeans are straight leg jeans with a slightly relaxed yet streamlined silhouette. They taper at the ankles, roll at the hems, and have a mid rise. They are sometimes called girlfriend jeans. The collection shows examples of boyfriend jeans, which might look familiar. 

Boyfriend jeans were all the trend rage about fifteen years ago. Today they’ve taken a backseat in lieu of fashionably wide, slouchy, and more voluminous styles with higher rises. To my eye, streamlined boyfriend jeans are a classic with longevity. They are easy to wear and style if you enjoy a mid rise and a slim silhouette. Practical, casual tailoring, and fits a range of body types. They can be cinched in at the waist with a belt when your waist is narrower, or worn without a belt when your waist is wider.

I wore boyfriend jeans a lot when they were on trend years ago. I moved away favouring the next on trend style because I’m “trendy on the bottom”. That said, a couple of weeks ago, I went birthday shopping with hubs Greg, and a pair of boyfriend jeans tickled my fancy. They followed us home, and I’ve been wearing them quite a bit. I love them as a change from my wide legs, barrel silhouettes, and high waisted relaxed straights. Despite my preference for higher rises and wide leg silhouettes, relaxed straights with a mid rise in a boyfriend style like my Dre’s from Rag ’n Bone have my affection. When I roll the hems of my Levi’s 501’ which have a mid rise, they look like boyfriend jeans too. They are classics I’m glad to have back in my style. I vote YAY.

Over to you. Do you vote yay, nay, or maybe on classic boyfriend jeans?

A couple of months ago my big toes were very sore when I walked in shoes or slippers. The skin around the nail beds on the side closest to my second toes was a little inflamed. Bad news for my walking lifestyle. I made an appointment with the podiatrist, who was very helpful with his diagnosis and treatment.

It turns out that my second toes overlap and push up against my big toes when I stride, causing a significant amount of pressure on a small area of my big toe. So much so that it causes discomfort. The podiatrist suggested wearing toe separators with footwear, and soaking my feet in epsom salts at night.

Soaking my feet was easy, and it helped a little, but the pressure build-up in my shoes persisted, and so did the discomfort. I wasn’t keen on toe separators because my past experiences haven’t been good. But I felt I had little choice, so I began my search for toe separators that are subtle, discreet, and streamlined.

Eventually, I landed on the right toe separators for my feet. They even mention them as a way to offset toe overlap in the description. They are small, breathable, well designed pieces of foam that I insert between my big and second toe when wearing shoes. So one toe separator per foot. As soon as I used them, my big toes were relieved of pressure and the discomfort subsided. I was back to walking my fast walk in no time, and no more soaking in epsom salts. It’s remarkable how well they work. I’m impressed! I wear them daily, and in all pairs of shoes except in at-home supportive slippers and some pairs of sneakers.

I’ve gotten good at keeping the separators between my toes as I slide bare feet into shoes. They don’t slip off or move position. They stay put while I stride too. I suspect it will be easier in the colder months when I wear knee-highs with boots and loafers because the constriction of the knee-highs will hold the separators in place.

Maybe you have good experiences with toe separators too?