Create a column of colour by wearing the same colour on the top and bottom under a third layer like a jacket, coat or cardigan. The colours needn’t be identical. Similar colours can create the same low contrast effect. The third layer can emphasize the column of colour by creating a high contrast with the column, or it can be low contrast for a more subtle overall effect.

Columns of colour needn’t be neutral, but those are the easiest to create because most people have neutrally toned tops and bottoms in their wardrobe. A black column of colour is probably the most common of all. But a column of colour can be any colour. It can be any fabric, including denim. And it can include a pattern, as long as it’s the same pattern on the top and bottom. Jumpsuits, rompers and some dresses are ready-to-go columns of colour. 

The column of colour is effective for four reasons:

1. It creates outfit cohesion by connecting the top and bottom of the outfit.
2. It elongates the body by emphasizing the vertical and eliminating horizontal lines across the middle of the body. This is one way for petites to look visually taller.
3. It is slimming.
4. It is simple, and simple is a beautiful thing when you bat for Team Less Is More. 

You can further accentuate the lengthening effect of a column of colour by wearing footwear in the same colour. 

Stylish dressing isn’t always about lengthening, elongating or slimming. That would be boring. But creating a “long lean line” is the conventionally flattering way to dress, which makes the column of colour an easy formula to incorporate into a three piece top + bottom + topper outfit. 

A column of colour is particularly useful for making hard-to-style toppers instantly wearable. So think column of colour the next time a jacket, cardigan, coat, sweater coat, or any topper is hard to style. Or if you want to elongate your outfit proportions without wearing heels.

These bottoms are fun variations on the oversupplied basic and super tight skinny jean, straight cropped pant, and simple pencil skirt. Remember to look at all the colour options. 

• AG Nikki Relaxed Skinny Jeans: It’s hard to find a pair of full length faded skinny jeans, sans rips and tears, that don’t suck the living daylights out of you. But I eventually found them when I tried on these Nikkis. Their looser fit is heavenly and thoroughly modern. Expensive but totally worth it. I’d rather have fewer pairs of jeans that fit exactly how I want them to, than a whole slew of jeans that are almost there. 
• Free People Lady Macbeth Skirt: A refreshingly different pencil skirt silhouette. Gorgeous back detailing and curved hem. The tartan is soft but unlined so consider yourself warned. 
• BCBGMAXAZRIA Cliff Pants: The drape on these trousers is stunning. Weighty and structured, yet wonderfully fluid. The width on the hems is pretty wide, and the colour is more of a pink-red than a tomato red. Also available at BCBG, and in a nude shade of blush.
• Parker Devlin Pants: These pants are extremely lightweight and made of a polyester crepe that looks and feels even better than silk. I couldn’t believe they were made of polyester actually. I love the silhouette, and have them on my wish list for high Summer. They look great with a soft cropped voluminous top. 
• Eileen Fisher Pleated Harem Pants: You’ll have to try them on in order to understand their magic. 
• Halogen Organza Inset Stretch Cotton Skirt: Sheer panels are trending. The organza panel on this pencil skirt makes it distinctive and playful. 
• Bobeau Track pants (Plus): Fashionably on trend and fab with a layering shell top, unbuttoned low stance blazer, and pumps. 
• Free People Solid Tutu Skirt: Match this tutu with a cropped and fluid, or tailored moto jacket. Finish off the look with girly shoes, or hard-edge booties. 
• Joie Irreplaceable B889-1480B Linen Trousers: A ‘90s flashback that is refreshingly “new” amidst a landscape of cropped and extra tight skinnies. 
• Hive & Honey Military Twill Slouchy Pant: Sufficiently tailored although slouchy and roomy. Lovely in fatigue. Read the rave reviews. 
• R13 X Over Waxed Jean: An acquired taste because the crotch point hangs low and looks a little like you’re wearing a nappy. That said, they’re a fun, avant-garde and unique silhouette. Size down if you’re after a less droopy crotch point fit.  

Items like these give me hope that we’ll see a greater variety of bottom silhouettes this season.

These outfits caught my eye because we haven’t seen flowing dresses paired with jeans, leggings and trousers for a while. Wearing fitted dresses over jeans, both tapered and bootcut, was a fashionable look about eight years ago, and it’s fun to see the look rekindled and updated. This time the frock is more flowing with the option of an added tunic sweater. 

In the pictures above the models are wearing the same silk crepe V-neck tunic dress in different colours. A white dress over grey jeans, and a black dress over leggings. The high-low hemline is extra long at the back, creating an avant-garde integrity. The shorter front gives the outfit structure, as does its lack of sleeves (remember that exposed skin adds structure to an outfit.) Slim-fit pants add further structure. The heel elongates the line of the look.

In this variation, a low contrast lightweight and texture-rich V-neck tunic sweater has been layered over the dress, jeans and heels combination. The asymmetrical hemline creates diagonal lines both in front and at the back, which adds structure. There is something magical about diagonal lines that draws the eye up, which accentuates an elongated silhouette. The effect of the layered look would have been completely different if the dress and sweater were straight-hemmed, high-contrasting pieces. In that case, you’d have added extra horizontal lines to the outfit, which wouldn’t have been as conventionally flattering. 

The tailored bodice and sleeves of the sweater add further structure to the layered look. Voluminous sleeves would work in a shorter length, with the exposed skin adding structure.

Do NOT think that this outfit combination will only work on supermodel body types. Not at all. As a regular height lass you’ll be fine wearing these layers with a heel. Taller lasses may not need the heel. I have a 6ft, size 12/14 client who wears this look beautifully with flat sandals, loafers and ballet slippers. 

As a petite, you can make the look work by shortening the length of the dress and sweater a little to even out proportions. Create enough outfit structure so that those long loose layers don’t boss you around. Choose a V-neckline for outfit elongation. Keep the colour contrast between the layers low to prevent extra horizontal lines. And wear low or high heels. 

This is a refreshingly elegant and arty look, with romantic layers that are as angular as they are soft and pretty. Comfortable, forgiving on the midriff, and interesting. Who’s in?

I call shoes “flats” when the heels are no higher than one inch. So flats actually come in an assortment of heel heights (as shown below). Even the flattest heels are around a quarter of an inch high.

It is hard to make an exact cutoff point, but normally when a heel reaches 1.5 inches I call the shoes low heels, and not flats. Flatforms, which are essentially platformed heels sans the arch, are also heels and not flats.

I’d like to hear your thoughts. Where do you draw the line?