This is the fourth in a series of everyday Summer looks modeled by my stunning client, Karen. First we shared how much Karen loves to wear a printed skirt with a denim jacket. Then we shared her favourite look of the season. After that it was cropped pants and fuchsia flats! Today, a nautical vibe with a denim skirt, striped tee and linen jacket. 

It’s vitally important to Karen that, at age 71, she feels adequately covered in her clothes. All tops must be at least elbow length, and skirts must be knee-covering no matter how scorching the outside temperature. These lengths are non-negotiable. 

I can’t tell you how long it took for us to find a flattering, non-distressed, denim skirt that was knee-covering. We had almost given up on the item! We found one years ago in black, but Karen really wanted a blue denim skirt too. Well, thank you J. Crew for giving us a little length on our skirts this season and leaving off the whiskering. Karen is thrilled with her new short Summer skirt, which has a little stretch to boot. Comfy.

Karen bats for Team Stripe so stripes feature strongly in her wardrobe in all shapes and colour contrasts. This navy and white tee has a fab contrasting tan stripe on the neckline that adds just that extra element of surprise, and softens the look. We picked up the tan in low heeled, peep-toe nude patent wedges (fab find Cole Haan Talis) and a vintage wicker handbag. 

The stars align when Karen wears green because her beautiful green eyes light up like bright glowing stars and its MAGIC. Talk about wearing a colour that brings out the colour of your eyes. My word. Here, Karen is wearing the Gibson linen one-button blazer, scrunched at the sleeve for a more relaxed look. It’s a perfect Summer topper for Seattle, breezy and lightweight, and creases in a sculptural way that we both think is divine. As it heats up during the day, Karen takes off her jacket and feels fab in her tailored tee with elbow length sleeves. 

Karen is a huge lipstick and gloss gal. She likes green paired with magenta so on went the magenta lipstick and gloss to complement the jacket. We finished off the look with brown pearl earrings and for a change – bare forearms. No cuff this time round, just for fun. 

This is another example of an ageless and timeless outfit. It is chic, crisp, graphic, bold, simple and comfortable. It also has just the right amount of modern and classic elements for Karen’s style persona. The tailored integrity of the classic silhouettes are flop proof. The shoes and bag add a little unexpected fun, as does the colour of the blazer. Top it off with Karen’s edgy grey streaked hair and Bob’s your uncle. You’ve got a fabulous look. 

Karen’s new love for pattern and colour hit an all time high this year, which I thought was particularly appropriate given that it’s the season for pattern and colour. That said, when we shopped the preselections at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale last week, Karen reverted back to her favourite colour palette: black, white and grey. It’s time to amp up the neutrals for Fall.

Also on Karen’s Summer Style

1. Skirt and Denim Jacket
2. White Jeans, Tee and Jacket 
3. Cropped Pants and Fuchsia Flats
4. Denim Skirt and Linen Blazer (this post)
5. Cold Shoulders with Flares

Belts are featuring strongly at the moment for two reasons. First, it’s a trouser season which means filling out those belt loops when tucking or semi tucking tops. Second, belts create structure when an oh-so-on-trend unstructured silhouette is not your cup of tea.

Here’s a good selection of belts that can be worn on the waist or a little lower on the hips. 

• Michael Kors Animal Print Leopard Belt: This belt is smooth and printed, which makes for a great change to the hairy animal print belt variety.  
• Express Colour Block Buckle Belt: Love the horizontal colour blocking. 
• BP. Multitone Belt: Wide and textured. Great on a high-low dress or skirt. 
• Snake Cummerbund Belt: Just what you need to rein in a billowing tunic. 
• C-Buckle Textured Belt: Gorgeous looped through white jeans or trousers. 
• Pewter Cracked Leather Round Belt: A versatile denim belt. 
• Street’s Ahead Wide Anaconda Print Italian Belt: A statement on all styles of trousers and jeans. 
• Street’s Ahead Python Print Italian Belt: Great on a dress. 
• Streets Ahead Studded Belt with Beads: Fun with casual outfits. 
• Street’s Ahead Studded Distressed Ivory Belt: This one is my favourite because the metals are mixed and the vibe of the studs is soft and pretty as opposed to hard edged.

Are you a regular belt wearer? If so, what types of belts do you like to wear? Or do you prefer not to wear belts at all.

I’m married to a man who eats, sleeps and drinks computer technology. He has been programming since he was thirteen and has a Ph.D. in electronics. Me? I was a late adopter. I got my first email address in 1998 and browsed the internet for the first time in 2002. I didn’t know that the word “blog” existed until hubby Greg suggested that I start one in 2006.

So it’s ABSOLUTELY CRAZY that I’m now the co-founder of an online fashion and style website that I love with all my heart. That I spend large amounts of time on my computer writing for it, sometimes on my laptop from planes and airports and hotel rooms. That I use my phone to take photos of in-store fashion and share them instantly. That I can give realtime feedback to someone using our mobile app to ask for input on a pair of trousers that they are trying on in a dressing room thousands of miles away.

I’m like 007 using all sorts of clever gadgets, and feeling more like the cool Mr. Bond than one of his girls.

Technology has exploded in the fashion and style world over the last 10 years. I can write something on YLF and thousands of people all over the world can read what I write because the Internet connects us instantly and seamlessly. Crazy! Thousands of fashion bloggers are each essentially creating their own uniquely compelling fashion magazine. Traditional fashion magazines are great, but the celebration of age, budget, body type and style diversity on the Internet cannot be beat. Fashion and style has never been as enriching and inclusive, or as fun.

Even more exciting than blogging are the online communities we are building. Technology allows us to connect with one another and establish ties that are often as meaningful as the ones we have in “real life”. From Mumbai to Perth, Cape Town to Toronto, New York to Hong Kong, Lisbon to Edinburgh and Berlin to the Bahamas. We can share what’s on our minds at any time of day or night and get a response to our thoughts almost immediately. Mind blowing. 

Then there’s the world of phone apps. Did you ever think that your phone could be an important style tool? Did you imagine that you would be taking photos with your phone and posting them on the internet? I didn’t. Yet today, I use my phone to take photos in retail stores so that I can post helpful information for YLF readers about bargains, fab finds, items that my clients purchased, or interesting trends. I tweet and post on Instagram when I have a snippet to share, and check my weather app for rain so that I can dress accordingly.

Nowhere is computing technology’s inroads into fashion more immediately obvious than at New York Fashion Week. You can’t look anywhere without seeing someone talking, texting or tweeting into their phone. Or using their phone to take pictures. Much to the dismay of the old pros, there are even bloggers on the media riser using their iPhone to take pictures and immediately send them out to followers. And those who aren’t live-blogging from their phones are cramming into special places that the organizers set up so bloggers can use their laptops to publish from inside the show tent.

And this year all the show organizers were using iPads. Of course.

A decade ago I would have shrugged my shoulders and rolled my eyes at the idea of people posting their outfits online so that we can admire, be inspired by, and learn from them. Today I’m embarrassed to admit that I was so closed minded because I have dedicated my life to these activities. My transition from complete luddite to technology lover is very much part of my style journey. I definitely missed out by resisting it, but no more! Now I’m making up for lost time and learning new tricks.

Perhaps most fun of all: Technology and style, which used to be two separate, mutually exclusive interests for Greg and me respectively, are now completely overlapping! I never thought that these worlds would collide, but they have, and my style life is better for it.

We’ve come so far between 2002 and 2012, I can’t help but think about where we’ll be in 2022. What new technological wonders will be enhancing our experience of fashion and style? Please share your thoughts about the future, and tell us how technology is impacting your world of fashion and style today.

Partner

This poll is especially for those who like to wear jewel tones. You are on Team Purple if you prefer to wear purple wardrobe items. You are on Team Teal if you prefer to wear teal wardrobe items. Think clothing, footwear and accessories. Think all shades of purple and teal. 

I am not a jewel toned gal. I favour crisp sour brights like tomato red, citron, lime green, bright turquoise and shocking pink. I do not wear teal and have zero teal wardrobe items. I wear a little bit of bright and mid toned purple, but not much at all. I have two purple pullovers and one dress. This puts me onto Team Purple.  

Over to you. Are Team Purple or Team Teal? Tell us why and no batting for both teams.