Outfit Formula: Black, White, Grey & Red Boots

Black and white with a shade of bright red is a classic colour combination. A little severe at times, but awfully effective and punchy. I like to see grey and blue denim thrown into the palette to relax the tension between the colours and soften the severity of the combination. The denim also adds a handy casual integrity when you need to dress down the look.

I go back and forth on wanting bright red boots, but decided this year that I’m going for it if I stumble across the right pair. They can look jarring and “super hero” in an outfit, but that’s their charm. Wear bright red boots and be noticed. It’s high time we connected with our inner Wonder Woman.

Here are four renditions to get you started. Boots are bright red and not burgundy because they’re the star of the show.

1. Jeans, Blazer & Boots

This is the easiest outfit to pull together. Combine blue jeans with a white or black top and layer a grey glen plaid or houndstooth blazer over the top. Finish off the look with red boots. No need to wear ripped denim, and feel free to choose any silhouette.

J Crew Oversized Blazer in Glen Plaid

2. Matrix Fabness

Combine blue jeans with a white or black hoodie, and layer a dramatic black coat or jacket over the top. Pull the hood out over the coat. The white hoodie creates an effective contrast with the black. Use a white top if you don’t have a hoodie. Finish off the look with red boots. The print on the hoodie picks up the red of the boots, which creates a complement.

AQUAZZURA Quant Leather Ankle Boots

3. Suited & Red Booted

Red boots add a whole lot of punch to a grey suit worn with a white or black layering top. There is no need to repeat the red in the outfit. A red bag is a nice addition, but not essential.

MAISON MARGIELA Tabi Split-toe Leather Ankle Boots

4. Skirted & Red Booted

Combine a black skirt with a cream or white top and finish things off with red boots. Choose any silhouette of top and skirt that tickles your fancy. Choose black pants instead of a skirt if trousers are your preference. I like the addition of the unexpected cognac bag here too. Add jewellery, eyewear and watch as desired.

TRADEMARK Mira Crinkled Patent-leather Ankle Boots

Back to Body-Con Tops

Body-con tops are very fitted and a little tighter than tailored fits. They’re usually made of a knitted jersey or yarn across natural and man-made fibers. Although knitted tops and knitwear are stretchy by nature, many have a Spandex or elastane content for extra soft and comfy stretch.  

Body-con tops are very tight. They cling onto the body and showcase the natural silhouette of your figure creating maximal structure. This creates the opposite effect of a fluid or oversized fit that hides your natural silhouette thereby creating an unstructured effect.

You don’t to have an extremely smooth upper body that’s void of extra bits to wear body-con tops. Longer body-con tops can be pulled up a little and ruched or scrunched across the midsection to conceal lumps and bumps. Semi-tucking a body-con top creates a similar ruched effect, and is quite concealing (especially with the girdling effect of a high rise). Body-con knitwear with stitch interest like ribbed surface interests are more forgiving over body bumps too. Generally, the better the drape and thicker the fabric, the more effectively a body-con top will camouflage the extra bits.

Topshop
Side Button Jumper
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Topshop
Crew Neck Jumper
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Topshop
Shrunken Crop Top
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Body-con tops are back as a nod to the ‘90s trend. They work extremely well tucked into on-trend roomier high-rise bottoms, higher rise bootcuts and flares, culottes, paper-bag waists, and flared midi skirts. They are good to layer under a blazer or jacket.

More of my clients than I expected are back in body con tops this year, especially those who like to be bang on trend because they work well with the new look roomier bottoms. We’ve had to give foundation garments more attention though, because you really need to wear the right bra with these types of tops, and some clients are in shapewear. You can’t wear a bra with a narrow band that cuts into the flesh of your back. You need a more supportive bra with a wide band that smooths out back flesh.

Tailored and fluid fits are my favourite and that’s what fills my wardrobe. But I bought seven body-con tops this year, all of which are fine or very fine gauge pullovers. I needed the change, and wear all the tops except the citron patterned top semi-tucked or tucked into roomier high-rise bottoms, bootcuts, flares, wide crops, flared midi skirts, and a paper-bag waist. I don’t wear them with body-con bottoms or a tight pencil skirt because that would be too much tight-all-over for this leg of my style journey. I like body-con tops best remixed with bottoms that move in motion. Here are my body-con tops.

Over to you. Are you wearing body-con tops?

Weekly Roundup: Assorted Items

This week’s roundup is about cosy casual comfort, with a little dressy thrown into the mix. Price points vary, and there are many colour options across the items. Remember that animal print and stripes are effective pattern mixers, making them more versatile than you might think. 

Go to the collection page to see pictures of the items alongside my descriptions.

Zappos
SOREL Phoenix Zip
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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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One Outfit, Two Days

I am not alone in repeating head-to-toe outfits within the season, or from season to season. When you feel fabulous in an outfit, I vote milk that feeling by wearing it over and over again. Don’t feel the pressure to style an item ten ways just for the sake of it. No need to fix something that isn’t broken, and the repetition strengthens your signature style. 

Repeating an outfit within the year, month, or week is one thing, but how about repeating the same head-to-toe look for two days in a row? I do this type of outfit repetition from time to time. If the outfit sparks joy, feels good, works with the activities of the day, and suits my mood, why not just wear it again right away? Of course, I wear fresh undies, socks and hosiery, and the items of the outfit don’t need laundering yet. Apart from Greg, I’m seeing different people over the course of the two days too. I probably wouldn’t wear exactly the same outfit two days in a row if I knew I was seeing the same group of people.

I’ve also worn an outfit one day, worn a different outfit the next, but put the exact same outfit I wore the day before back on to go out in the evening. That counts as two-days-in-a-row outfit repetition despite the addition of the other outfit.

Do you ever wear exactly the same outfit for two days in a row?

Team Stripe or Team Polka Dot

We ran this poll seven years ago, so it’s time for a repeat. You bat for Team Stripe if you prefer stripes over polka dots, and vice versa. Note that any form of stripe counts: subtle, bold, tonal, horizontal, vertical, diagonal, pin, rugby, racing, Breton, jailbird, tuxedo or chevron. Any type of polka dot too. 

Most of my clients and friends will wear a stripe, even if it’s just a subtle pinstripe. Polka dots are popular too, but not nearly as popular as stripes. Many will entertain a very subtle and small neutral polka dot, or a self-colour Swiss dot but will say “no thanks” to the rest. That’s because dots can sometimes look clown-ish, overly busy, and juvenile, especially when they are multi-coloured, bold, large, and closely packed together. A quieter polka dot that is widely spaced, two-toned and neutral is perceived as more sophisticated, grown-up, and calming on the eye.

I LOVE stripes and polka dots. Along with checks and tartans, they are my favourite patterns. I adore their geometric integrity, fabulous pattern mixing potential, and punchy visual affect. I tire of most patterns, but not stripes or dots. They are Trendy Classics that reinvent themselves every season and never look old to my eye. The classic versions are comforting, and the new iterations are exciting.

Here are the stripes and dots in my current wardrobe.

I will wear most variations of stripes and polka dots, in any wardrobe item, and across the seasons. A simple striped top is one of my wardrobe essentials, and a graphic polka dot scarf should be too. I will wear stripes and dots in most colours, but tend to prefer them in classic two-toned neutrals (both low and high contrast). I’ll also wear a big, multi-coloured polka dot in a large surface area like a midi dress if the item looks and feels right.

Both patterns continuously catch my eye, energize me, and make me happy. When I want to add punch to an outfit, I reach for a stripe, polka dot, or bright coloured something. At the moment I have more stripes than dots in my wardrobe because stripes are more widely available than dots. But that can change and I have an equal affection for both patterns.

I can’t pick a side so I’m happily benched with creamy Autumn Norwegian salmon, fennel, potato, carrot and dill soup served with crusty hot bread. Lemon ricotta cake and berries for dessert. Over to you. Do you bat for Team Stripe, Team Polka Dot, or are you joining me on the bench? Team Stripe won the race before and I suspect history will repeat itself.