Semi tucking (or half tucking) has gained immense popularity over the last few seasons. It’s when tops are partially tucked in front and un-tucked everywhere else, as illustrated in the outfits below. You can semi tuck all kinds of tops, from basic t-shirts and blouses, to button down shirts and knitted tops. 

This season I’ve noticed a way of semi tucking that looks new to my eye. It can only be achieved with a top that buttons through the centre front because you leave one side un-tucked while the other is tucked back into your bottoms. That way you create a sharp difference between the left and right side of your outfit. The outfits below show case the new semi tucked look.

Although I don’t semi tuck at all, I prefer the effect of the original semi tucked look because the hem of the top creates a more gradual curve on the body. This method looks more intentional and attractive to my eye. The sharp edge of the new semi tuck that creates “a flap”, looks like an afterthought. It’s as if you forgot to tuck in the other side of your shirt. 

Perhaps this alternative way of semi-tucking will grow on me, but at the moment I’m not a fan. If you’re going to semi tuck, I vote create a gradually curving hemline instead of a sharp edge.

Do you like the new semi-tucked effect? Of the two methods, which do you prefer, and which do you sport?

You are on Team Mascara if you wear mascara daily, or almost daily. You are on Team No Mascara if you leave it off for at least half of the week.  

I am on Team Mascara because I wear it every day.  I LOVE mascara. It enhances the shape of my eyes, brightens up my face, and makes me feel more pulled together. I can count the times in a year that I don’t wear mascara on one hand. It’s very much part of my daily style and grooming routine. 

Over to you. Are you on Team Mascara or on Team No Mascara? Tell us why, and no batting for both teams.

Here’s an easy guideline for sandal wearers who fancy the idea of keeping their sandal collection tight, minimal and versatile. The heel height, heel style, sandal style, and colours are to your taste, although I’ll make a few suggestions along the way. 

You’ll essentially need three types of sandal, with the fourth pair duplicating the type that you’ll wear most frequently.  

1. Casual Sandals: Wear these with casual skirts, dresses, shorts, cropped pants, clamdiggers and jeans. Metallic flat sandals are a great casual addition. Nude-for-you wedges are versatile and leg lengthening for bare legs. Espadrilles, cork heels, and wooden heels are ideal. Suede gladiators fit the bill, as do flat thong sandals with heel coverage.
2. Dressy Sandals: I don’t mean “cocktail dressy”, but they have to be a step up from casual sandals. You can wear them to the office, a day wedding, the theatre, date night or a fancy restaurant. They could be black cage heels, silver wedged sling backs, bronze T-straps with stacked heels, or strappy patent stilettos. Self colour and self fabric heels tend to look dressier. 
3. Extra Fun Sandals: These sandals might be a little more edgy, fashion forward, avant-garde or retro than your usual sandal style. Perhaps they’re patterned or colour blocked. Or neon. Or studded and ankle strapped. Or high heeled and platformed. Or they’re peep toe sandal booties. Whatever feels more daring and perhaps, at first, a little out of your comfort zone. 
4. The Duplication: Establish which type of sandals you’ll wear the most frequently and purchase another pair that fits into that category. Add in a pair of casual sandals if your days are filled with casual activities. Add a pair of dressy sandals if it’s an office requirement. Or throw is another pair of sandals that scream extremely happy fun feet each time you stare down at them. 

By all means purchase many more pairs of sandals if you love wearing them and your Summers are long and hot. These guidelines are for those who are wardrobe minimalists, have short hot Summers, or are on a tight budget.  

I don’t like to wear sandals, plus our Summers in Seattle are short and seldom all that hot. And I prefer to wear closed Summer shoes and pumps for dressy occasions. This means that I have no need for sandals at all.

We shared Karen’s incomparable elegance, grace and edge with you last year when she sported some of her Autumn and holiday looks. This season we’re bringing you a series of Karen’s favourite “every day” outfits that we styled for this Spring and Summer. Over the next five weeks we’ll showcase one Karen-outfit per week. What a treat. 

At age 71, Karen is retired and leads a casual lifestyle in Seattle. So we are always looking for ways to dress outfits down with polish, sophistication and edge. So we’re kicking off the Summer outfit series with the trusty denim jacket and skirt formula. Karen loves wearing skirts, and is utterly devoted to her multiple denim jackets. 

Karen has a strict rule about knee-covering skirts and dresses, and arm covering tops. Anything with less coverage makes her feel less than fab. That’s why we rejoiced when she fitted on this linen animal printed darling from J. Crew with a decent amount of length. We matched it up with an untucked, basic white button down shirt and Gap denim jacket from several seasons ago. Sometimes Karen buttons up the jacket, and sometimes leaves it open. We further relaxed the vibe by scrunching the sleeves. And to quote Karen: “Everything looks better when you scrunch the sleeves”.

The finishing touches to the outfit are very “Karen”. Eyewear because Karen has sensitive eyes. Tortoise shell earrings  and a silver cuff because she’s an-earrings-and-bracelet lass. Flat metallic ecco sandals, a fab find, because Karen prefers dainty, lady-like and low colour contrasting footwear (always flat or low heeled). And a vintage wicker handbag that belonged to her late Mother. 

Karen thought hard about wearing nude lipstick because she prefers to see a brighter shade on her lips. I think nude lipstick looks fantastic on Karen, and encouraged it from the word go. It’s modern, natural-looking, soft and a nice way to evolve a make-up routine. So for the first time ever, Karen is sporting nude lipstick. 

This outfit is ageless, timeless, flop proof and above all, comfortable. Modern yet classic. Casual yet pulled together. Crisp yet distressed. Pretty yet spunky. It gives me great joy to see Karen sporting this look with confidence and panache because she was hesitant to wear denim jackets when we first started working together, fearing that they might not be age appropriate. Well. That thinking is history and Karen started her denim jacket collection on our first shopping trip five years ago. She still feels magical in her denim jackets and rocks them with enough verve for all of us.

Also on Karen’s Summer Style

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