With the polar vortex hitting the US East Coast and temps just below zero (Celsius) here in Belgium, I’ve rounded up some links that will help with cold-weather dressing.

• Refinery29 found us 18 extra-long puffer coats.
• If you prefer a shorter style puffer, than have a look at these.
• They also have suggestions for non-puffer Winter coats that still keep you warm.
• The Guardian wrote about the rise of the blanket scarf.
• Have a peek at this round-up if you’re looking for an oversized scarf to keep you warm and snug.
• 23 beanies to keep your head warm. And there’s also these 18 “fisherman” beanies.
• 18 on-trend faux fur coats to bundle up in.

Fab Links from Our Members

With the recent forum discussion about abuse in factories, nemosmom thought this article about sustainability and Fair Trade efforts by Madewell and the J.Crew Group was interesting.. 

Angie stumbled across some style advice from Oscar Wilde.

Kate Spade’s niece, Rachel Brosnahan, is modelling the new Frances Valentine Spring collection. Jane thought it feels so poignant that her niece is connected with the brand.

The Streetwear Generation Turns to Tennis: “Yoga, basketball, now tennis. More sports/fashion crossover,” says Runcarla.

T’exstyle wanted to share this video of an inspiring 83-year old woman who happens to look fantastic in addition to having a great voice. 

After today’s blog post, Runcarla refers us to this article about Princess Eugenie who wanted her wedding dress to show her back surgery scar. She adds: “This hits close to home for me. DS#2 was born with an underdeveloped and blind eye and a strawberry birthmark on the right side of his face. To me, he was a most beautiful round and sturdy golden morsel. Unfortunately the world did not see him the same way, and we were the recipients of many hurtful comments. At 8 months, he was fit with his first prosthetic eye by a very kind and gifted occularist who DS still sees 25 years later. The strawberry mark faded with time. Like Princess Eugenie says: ‘I think you can change the way beauty is.'”

Last week’s post on the reality of aging seemed to strike a chord, with many thoughtful, empowering, candid and inspiring thoughts in the the comments. Sal (a veteran Fabber) got right to the heart of the matter, writing, “Like many of us I have conflicting emotions about aging – what do I fight, what do I accept, what do I enjoy.”

Some fight the physical effects of aging with all they’ve got, while others are more accepting. Either way, looking older is inevitable, and how we choose to manage the process is a personal choice. In the spirit of Sal’s words I’d like to share a story from this last week.

I have seven white moles on my face, many of which I’ve had for decades. They are a similar light colour to my pale skin, if a little lighter. Some of them are small and hard to spot, while others are more pronounced. I went to my regular dermatologist earlier this year because three of the white moles had increased in size. They had also gotten whiter and more prominent over time. My dermie assured me that these moles were benign and also that they would be easy to remove. This type of mole removal was a standard procedure with generally good results.

Removing the white moles from my face with minimal scarring meant having a cosmetic laser procedure. He referred me to another dermatologist who has the laser and is skilled at this. I made an appointment with the goal of exploring whether the aesthetic benefits were worth the cost and risks associated with removing them.

My appointment with the new dermatologist was very interesting. The offices were glitzy, and in a fancy building, which is very different to the down-to-earth hospital environment where I’ve been seeing my regular dermie for the last fourteen years. That alone took me by surprise. 

The new dermatologist told me that the risks of removing my white moles with a laser were minimal. There was potential for some scarring, and maybe an infection, but these seldom happened. He also said that the scars post laser procedure might be a little whiter than the surrounding skin because I have three colours in my skin tone: Brown spots from sun damage (aka, subtle freckles), red spots from some broken bold vessels, and my regular pale skin. He said that I could fix my uneven skin tone with another type of laser procedure, which he explained to me in great detail. He marveled at this additional treatment’s results, but it would cost thousands of dollars.

I really wasn’t interested in an expensive procedure to even out my skin tone, so after listening politely I thanked him for the info and we went back to focussing on the moles. I decided that I would have the three most prominent ones removed, and leave the rest for now. The laser procedure was fast, and the discomfort quite manageable. I was out of the appointment in forty minutes.

I have a band-aid on my nose and lower cheek but that hasn’t stopped me from seeing clients, friends, walking Sam, and running errands because life goes on.

To use Sal’s phrase, I decided to fight three of the moles, accept the rest of them, and enjoy the character of my uneven skin tone. I like my slightly freckled nose and my easily flushed cheeks, because that’s who I am.

Full-time blogger Jess Jannenga (50) lives in North Carolina and documents her outfits over at Elegantly Dressed and Stylish. Jess does her own thing, mixing on-trend pieces with touches of boho, Modern Classic and the occasional retro vibe. She loves colour, wears earth tones like it’s nobody’s business and likes to have fun with patterned footwear. Arty statement necklaces and earrings are an integral part of her style, as is her stunning long red hair.

“My style has evolved in part due to my condition, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a connective tissue disease. When I began my blog, nearly 5 years ago, I had to wear flats or more supportive shoes, and now, that my condition is more managed, I can wear beautiful block heels and more attractive shoes. I didn’t wear denim much then either but have found pairs that are soft and stylish. I like to think of my style as classic and feminine, with a love for color.”

Earth tones and Autumn colours look wonderful with Jess’ gorgeous red hair and complexion, and she sports them regularly. Here she’s put together a polished casual look with lots of textural interest. She’s tucked a silk leopard print shirt into mid-rise black straight leg jeans. She’s added a pair of leopard print booties in a different shade of brown, which makes for some fun pattern mixing. Throwing on a sassy suede moto jacket in a third shade of brown creates further outfit depth. The croc-embossed leather satchel is the fourth brown element that adds even more texture to the look. A dark red pendant necklace and long gold statement earrings complement the colour palette beautifully.

Jess wore this wonderful floral print dress to celebrate her 50th birthday. The vivid red flowers against the light pink background look amazing with her luscious red locks. The elegant midi length looks great on our 5’9” blogger. A self belt emphasizes the waistline, while the ruffled cap sleeves create feminine flair. Jess has paired the festive frock with dainty ankle strap sandals in a low-contrast blush colour that elongates the leg line. A bone chain-strap bag with quilted detailing, chunky rose gold watch, glam oversized tassel earrings and tortoise-rimmed sunnies are the accessories of choice. And isn’t the turquoise nail polish a cheerful touch?

Our blogger’s cheerful lemon top made me think of Angie’s Italian lemon-patterned mules. Jess is wearing her lemon blouse with crisp white skinny jeans that echo the top’s white background. The elasticated style creates a faux peplum effect that accentuates Jess’ waist. Her neutral platform espadrille sandals have glittery gold embellishments that add subtle shine. In combination with the charming circular straw bag they amplify the boho-lite Summery vibe of this outfit. As always, Jess’ jewellery game is on point. Here the statement ball earrings pick up the colours of her top, while the eye-catching emerald necklace complements the green leaves:

“I have bought my vintage brooches and earrings on Etsy, I have found great pieces through Poshmark, and have been fortunate to work with many jewelry brands through blogging, adding to my collection.”

This is a fab example of Angie’s Shorts and Pretty Tops outfit formula. Jess has styled a pair of casual denim shorts with a not-so-basic white knitted top. The drape of the corset-style tank top gives it a bit of a Grecian vibe. Our blogger has a great eye for detail, and paired the top with lace-up eyelet espadrilles that echo the corset ties. A bib necklace in pastels adds sparkle and colour to the neutral outfit. Jess’ long pendant earrings consist of white fabric flowers that look like fluffy cotton clouds from afar. A crinkle-effect envelope clutch also adds textural interest. Rusty-red lipstick and Jess’ trusted tortoise sunnies finish off the look.

Jess built this look around a brown-toned plaid dress with on-trend Western vibe. The drop-waist dress with zipper neckline is a statement in itself that doesn’t need extra bells and whistles. Jess went for punchy pattern mixing with the cream and beige snakeskin booties that add a touch of rock ’n’ roll to the look. The pointy-toe style lengthens the leg line as do the nude fishnet hose. Jess kept the jewellery fairly simple with gold with amber teardrop earrings peeking out from under her hair and a dainty leaf necklace. The dark eggplant bag adds some unexpected colour that works great with the colours of her dress.

This shade of warm, earthy and rich mustard was made for our red-haired blogger. My word, it took my breath away! Jess has tucked a flutter-sleeved floral print blouse into grey skinny jeans. Because the top has a grey background it creates an elongating column of colour. Adding a mustard open-knit cardigan in a mid-thigh length also creates vertical integrity. Light cognac booties don’t match but work well with the mustard. Our clever blogger then took a silky mustard-coloured belt from a dress in her closet and styled it as a scarf. Pinning the gold grape brooch to the scarf adds a retro touch. Jess’ teardrop earrings came out to play again as well. Rusty-red lippie and Jess’ trademark marvelous locks finish off the look to perfection.

I can’t wait to hear which look you love best. Let us know in the comments, and then hop on over to Jess’ blog to browse the rest of her beautiful outfits.

It’s time for the annual post on wardrobe essentials. To recap, wardrobe essentials are indispensable staples without which your wardrobe would not function. They are not to be confused with wardrobe basics, which are items like panties, bras, camisoles, socks, sleepwear, loungewear, hosiery, thermals and simple workout wear. 

A wardrobe essential is the “glue” that makes other items in your wardrobe work together to create complete and cohesive outfits.

• They can be clothing items, footwear or accessories.
• They are versatile, current and simple in design.
• They can form part of your signature style.
• They are SPECIFIC items within a wardrobe category, and not the entire wardrobe category. For example, in your boot capsule, the simple heeled black booties are the wardrobe essentials and not the ones that make a strong visual statement.
• They are NOT statement pieces, but often create a pulled together look by complementing a statement piece.
• They are PERSONAL. What is essential to one person is not to another.
• They are often wardrobe workhorses.
• They are fabulous items to duplicate in the same or different neutrals.
• They are not usually the interesting part of the outfit, despite being an important ingredient.
• They make the rest of your wardrobe more wearable.
• They evolve over time to accommodate your changing sartorial preferences.

Your list of wardrobe essentials might be long or short, depending on your style. Some have styles rich in essentials, while others prefer a closet full of statement pieces. Either way, wardrobe essentials deserve your attention because they transform items into outfits, and make the outfit creation process a lot easier. Essentials are also excellent landscapes for showcasing statement jewellery, scarves, belts, footwear, rainbow hair, bags and body art.

I’ve changed my essentials list quite a bit over the years. Blazers, moto jackets, black trousers, trench coats, button-down shirts and riding boots were all essentials in the past, but none of them make my list in 2019. These days I much prefer wearing soft blouses to shirts. I wear a large assortment of coats and jackets, but not just the classics. My black riding boots and black trousers are more of a statement piece than an essential. I’m down to two moto jackets and rarely wear them. 

Here’s my current list across all four seasons with the exact pieces from my wardrobe represented in collections. All items are workhorses, so much so that I sometimes have duplicates of exactly the same colour in rotation.

1. Dark Blue & Black Knitwear

I like wearing turtlenecks because they keep me warm, and create flattering proportions by enclosing my long neck. I like wearing close-fitting crew necks because they work well with my pearl necklaces and shorten my long neck. The fine gauge classic versions with a fluid, tailored or body-con fit are my “tee.” They layer well under jackets and coats. They also look great with skirts, jeans and trousers. I feel set in this area.

2. White Knitwear & Tops

I wear cream in the Autumn and Winter, and white in Spring and Summer. The optical white crisp cotton yarn is perfect for warmer weather, especially in an open-knit weave. Again, these types of tops are my “tees,” so I wear them with all sorts of bottoms and as layers under toppers. I passed on three white wardrobe essentials last year, and will be looking to replace them.

3. Blue Striped Knitwear

Striped pullovers across a range of weights in shades of neutral blue have become year-round essentials. I have Winter and Summer versions, enjoy their graphic classic vibe and their ability to add punch to a simple outfit. I like their versatile pattern mixing ability too. I have a nice collection but am open to more because I do not tire of a classic stripe.

4. Trendy Jeans

I’m wearing blue jeans less frequently as I opt for trousers, casual pants, white jeans, dresses and skirts instead. That said, blue and white jeans continue to form a large part of my style. Some of them are statement jeans, and others I view as essentials. The silhouette of my essential jeans changes with the trends. For this leg of my style journey, my essential jeans are high in the waist, cropped, and straight or slightly tapered in the leg. The thigh fits are tailored or roomy. I don’t want to purchase more essential jeans this year. It’s statement jeans with bells and whistles all the way.

5. Denim Jackets

I have four denim jackets across a variety of lengths, washes, fits and silhouettes. Light, dark, fluid, tailored, short and long. I wear them a lot in Spring and Summer with dresses, casual pants, skirts, and enjoy sporting the denim-on-denim trend too. I’ve had one of them for ten years, and it’s still going strong. I feel set in this area.

6. Modern Classic Dark Blue Outerwear

I didn’t think of my dark blue coats and jackets as essentials, but they are. I reach for them often, just like you might reach for black or grey outerwear. They are versatile classics across casual and dressy silhouettes that work with most of my outfits. The long navy military coat is the second most worn coat in my large outerwear capsule, and in its ninth year. Still going strong, and Greg’s favourite coat. The short navy puffer is new and I wear it very frequently because it’s easy to pack and is warm. I feel set in this area.

7. White Footwear

I love wearing flat and very low-heeled footwear in shades of white because it bookends my light blonde hair and adds a crisp, interesting, and modern element to my outfits. When others choose black footwear, I usually choose white! I have a large assortment of white footwear, and am open to adding to my collection because it’s my thing. My go-to white footwear styles are white booties, shooties, loafers, ballet flats, slingbacks, and hi-tops, and I have duplicates of them. In the very hot months, I like to wear simple white sandals.

8. Blush Footwear

Blush pink footwear is a new essential for my style. I’ve been reaching for my blush loafers a lot over the last few Spring and Summers, and enjoy them as an alternative light neutral. They complement the pink and peach tones in my complexion, and I find them versatile. They look especially good with white jeans, which are another essential. I’d like to get blush booties or shooties that aren’t suede for the colder months.

9. Straw Hat & Cream Beanies

I wear hats a lot more frequently than I used to, so they’ve become essentials too. A classic and packable straw hat for the Summer to shade from the sun. Cream beanies and a beret for the colder months because my ears get sore when they aren’t insulated against the cold. I’m open to another straw hat if I can find one to fit my very small head.

10. White Pearl Necklace, Pearl Bracelets & Pearl Ring

I am a jewellery minimalist. I have custom-made pearl necklaces, bracelets, and a wedding ring and that is all I wear in the jewellery department. Sometimes I wear all three items at once, or I choose between the necklace and the bracelets. I always wear the ring, and am adorned with pearls daily. I also wear my layered knotted faux pearls from time to time to create the pile of pearls. But those make a statement and are not an essential.

11. Gold Watch

Yellow gold is my metal with preferably no exceptions. I am down to one gold watch and passed on the other two because they look dated for my style. I’m into daintier and not oversized watched these days. I like the way they work with my pearl bracelets and ring. I’ll be evolving this essentials category by adding another dainty gold watch at some point.

I have a large collection of handbags, dresses and scarves, but they make a statement and are not simple essentials. I’m off wearing belts now that I wear tops tucked into high-rise jeans and pants and many with exposed button flies. It’s too much together with my pearls, specs, patterns, and high-contrast outfits.

Wardrobes that are rich in statement pieces are wonderful to look at, but often dysfunctional unless there are wardrobe essentials in place to create wearable outfits. I can’t tell you how many clients battle to wear their statement pieces because they don’t have the essentials to wear with them. On the other hand, a wardrobe full of essentials can lack excitement, sass and verve unless there are statement pieces to add interest, drama and personality. Find the balance that works for you.

Consider compiling a list of wardrobe essentials if you haven’t already done so. Some people can work completely from intuition. But for most, the process of identifying your essentials, noting them down, and making sure your list evolves with your style, will help you to build an effective wardrobe. If you’re stuck, feel free to ask for guidance in the forum.