A new size-inclusive activewear line, a Nike shoe designed for nurses, sustainable leggings from Everlane, and more fashion news that caught our attention in January.

• Copenhagen Fashion Week has released its new sustainability action plan with “tough new environmental requirements for participating brands.”
• French fashion designer Emanuel Ungaro has passed away at the age of 86.
• Italian Vogue reduced its carbon footprint by hiring artists to illustrate its January 2020 issue instead of staging elaborate photo shoots.
• Versace has banned the use of kangaroo skin for its luxury leather products after pressure from an animal rights’ group.
• Nike has created a new shoe specifically designed for nurses.
• After 50 years, Jean-Paul Gaultier is stepping back from his fashion and perfume business.
• Everlane is now selling sustainable leggings, the first athletic wear product to come from the minimalist basics brand.
• H&M is the first retailer who will start selling clothing made from Circulose — a sustainable fabric option made from upcycled clothing and fashion waste.
• Target has launched a new size-inclusive and affordable activewear line,  All in Motion.

Fun Fashion Fact

Did you know that Emanuel Ungaro “sustained a proper couture house, and quality ready-to-wear, for more than 30 years without major outside finance, or annexation by a luxury conglomerate.” This is an exception in today’s fashion world, and made him the last independent in Paris.

This outfit formula is for Team Polka Dots, so look away if you bat for Team Stripes. Maybe you bat for both teams like me, in which case I vote bring on the dots in any wardrobe item and give stripes the day off. Or pattern mix a two-tone polka dot with any pattern in a similar palette. 

Black & white polka dots are a classic, and probably easiest on the eyes as the dots increase in size. I like to think of polka dots as gorgeously geometric as opposed to juvenile and clown-like. Here are some easy outfits with black and white polka dot items.

1. Dotty Blouse

Combine a white and black polka dot blouse with a pair of black bottoms, a black topper, and metallic footwear. By all means switch the black and white around by wearing a black and white polka dot top with white jeans. Throw in leopard shoes or a red topper, if that’s more to your taste.

2. Dotty Skirt

Combine a black and white skirt with a white tee, black moto and white sneakers. Here, the skirt is a romantic midi and the tee has a slogan on it, but you can opt for a pencil skirt and solid tee. A blush pink, red, cobalt blue, or denim jacket can work too. Or maybe a red or blush tee instead of the white. Feel free to throw in your Docs because it’s looking awfully ‘90s.

3. Dotty Frock

Dotty frocks are dead easy. Pop it on and throw in black or white footwear to match. Or sport metallic, red, burgundy, and animal print footwear instead. Add a denim jacket, blazer, or coat over the top, and hosiery if you’re cold. The neutrality of the black and white dot allows you to accent it with just about any colour and pattern, so be creative. Or keep it simple.

4. Dotty Topper

And last, combine a black and white polka dot jacket with black pants, and break up the black with a white slogan tee. A red and white, or navy and white striped tee could work well too. Finish things off with footwear that works with the outfit. Here, the trendy high-rise belted pants are begging for a tucked top, but you can choose a combination of top and bottom that’s untucked. I love the pop of red in this outfit, although feel free to leave it out. Add jewellery, watch and eyewear as desired.

From floating cartilage to conch, Allure tells us more about 7 piercing trends taking over ears in 2020.

“The curated ear” seems to be all the rage at the moment. The Guardian investigates why decorative piercings are the new tattoos.

Refinery29 also believes that the curated ear movement is set to remain strong this year, but asks “Is It Safe?“

When getting your ears pierced, Sali Hughes recommends visiting a proper piercing shop where they use needles instead of piercing guns.

Fab Links from Our Members

La Belle Demimondaine found this blog post a refreshing new take on wardrobe and outfit planning.

Suz lets us know that Virginia Woolf, lover of clothes, is trending as a fashion muse.

Alyson from That’s Not My Age just celebrated her 56th birthday. Runcarla liked her post to commemorate the day.

Suntiger directs us to Imogen’s post on how we can help Australia.

Kari thought this Refinery29 article is a thought-provoking exploration of fast fashion.

“Environmental Problems Caused By Leather Processing Units.” With all the talk about sustainability in the media, Ophelia was glad to find this issue being addressed, even if the bulk of companies and consumers looking for sustainability look the other way. 

Kari recommends reading this article as an interesting companion to the leather debate and faux-leather alternatives that come with their own problems.

Mattel has introduced a Barbie with vitiligo to its line of dolls. “Another (small) step forward in adding diversity to the line,” says nemosmom.

If you enjoy wearing black and like the way it works for your style, please continue wearing what makes you happy and feel fabulous. This post is for people who accumulated a lot of black in their wardrobe, but at some point went off the colour. That happened to me, and here’s the five-step plan that weaned me off black wardrobe items in a sustainable, controlled, sensible and manageable way. 

1. Choose Another Dark Neutral

Most of us rely on a dark neutral to incorporate into our outfits. If it can’t be black, or you don’t want it to be exclusively black, you need to choose an alternative like dark blue, charcoal grey, chocolate brown, or very dark olive. I chose shades of dark blue. Remember that you don’t need to stop wearing black completely. You can simply make a point of minimizing it.

2. Assess How You Want to Wear Black

If you want to wear black, but in very small doses, you have to think about how you want to do that because it will impact your future shopping strategy and closet editing process. For example, I will wear black in a pattern, as dainty lace, and very occasionally as a pair of pants. I will wear it as a colour-blocked accent and pretty sheer hosiery. I will also wear a solid black short-sleeved knitted top top under a contrasting jacket with white pearls and colourful eyewear. I do not want to wear solid black jackets, coats, shoes, knitwear, blouses, skirts, opaque hosiery, accessories, leggings, or dresses. Easy! That means I don’t need to shop for these items.

3. Remix and Replace

I had a wardrobe full of fab black items I wasn’t prepared to pass on immediately, so I remixed old black pieces with new dark blue items as if they were the same neutral. It didn’t bother me that they were mismatched darks. In fact, it was fashion-forward at the time, so I milked that.

I also began replacing black wardrobe items with dark blue alternatives as I found them. I was in no rush and didn’t feel pressured. I relaxed into the switcheroo and waited for the right item to come my way. As I found them, the black versions were donated to Dress for Success Seattle, or passed on to friends.

4. No More Black Purchases

I had to make a very conscious effort to stop purchasing solid black wardrobe items. No mater how gorgeous the style, how good the price, how fab the fabric, and how well the item fit, I had to say no thank you. I had to keep remembering how much better I feel and look in dark blue. I made this a formal style goal for many years because black wardrobe items are easily available. These days there’s a better selection of non-black dark neutrals at retail, which makes this one easier.

5. Be Patient

It takes time, resources, discipline, and a bit of luck to eventually replace most of the black in your wardrobe with dark blue or another dark neutral. You can’t purchase something that isn’t there, and as far as possible, you shouldn’t settle for an okay item just for the sake of it. Be patient. In this case, slow and steady wins the race.

I couldn’t be happier with my decision to switch my dark neutral to blue. Some of my clients have also switched their dark neutral to dark blue, charcoal or brown. Of course, I have clients who are absolutely devoted to black and won’t wear anything else. The important thing is they soul searched, strategized, focussed, and planned to wear the dark neutrals that worked best for them.