You are on Team Low Heels if you prefer to wear heel heights that are lower than three inches. You are on Team High Heels if you prefer to wear three inch heels or heels higher than three inches. All heel types count for this poll, be it stilettos, wedges, platforms or stacked heels. 

I bat for Team Flats, but if I’m going to wear a heel with an “everyday” outfit, it’s a shoe with a one and half or two inch heel. Anything over two inches and I start to slow down, with the exception of my Frye boots. Although they are just over two inches, I seem to be okay walking around at a fast pace in those all day. 

I have three pairs of high heeled party shoes with heels just over three inches. They only come out to play when I can sit for most of the event. I can’t walk briskly, and if I do walk at all the balls of my feet start to ache big time. Platforms are not my style so I don’t wear those either. I bat for Team Low Heels all the way. 

As with ALL our Team X and Team Y posts, there is no right and wrong answer. You are merely stating your preference as it relates back to your style persona. Over to you. Are you Team Low Heels or Team High Heels? Tell us why and no batting for both teams.

I might be becoming more romantic because lace and I are developing a great fondness for one another. For a few years now I’ve had a black lace skirt on my shopping list, but have yet to find the perfect one that fits into my style budget (I seem to fall hard for the ones that cost thousands of dollars). But I’m patient in this respect and will hold out for the right item. 

The lace skirt is one of those versatile classic and timeless items that can be styled and manipulated to portray all sorts of fashion personas. Classic, retro, romantic, and elegant on the one hand. Modern, gothic, flirty, fun, arty, and spunky on the other. It really depends on the style of the skirt itself, and the items that you match it up with. 

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Classic: Add a white shirt and pumps
• Alternative: Add Doc Marten boots and a graphic tee
• Edgy: Add a T-shirt, leather jacket and booties
• Romantic: Add a soft ruffled blouse, floral heels and pearls
• Retro: Add a patterned blouse and mary janes
• Modern: Add an oversized high-low striped knit top with wedged cage heels

Or, just add a layering top with a denim jacket and dressy shoes because that trusty formula is flop proof. 

I tend to think that a knee- or midi-length lace skirt in neutral colours is more timeless and ageless — either flared or fitted. Dress it up or down, and haul it out whenever you feel a little romantic and dramatic. Anyone else feeling lace skirt love? Do you prefer lace over sequins?

In honour of Mother’s Day this Sunday I’ve added three books to the store that each in their own way celebrate all the stylish Mums in our lives. The third title, My Mom, Style Icon, got me thinking about favourite pictures of my own Mum. There is a photo taken at the seaside that always pulls at my heartstrings; we were on holiday and Mama just looks so relaxed and carefree. She is strolling along the seafront wearing a flowy midi skirt with a tiny floral pattern, a long navy cardigan belted at the waist and nude low-heeled sandals. Her dark sunglasses look modern and chic, a blue patterned headscarf keeps the breeze from messing up her short hair. This is by no means the most glamorous or fashion forward outfit Mum ever owned, but I love it because it’s such a good example of the ladylike casual wear that Mama and her friends used to wear on vacation. 

I wish all you beautiful Mums out there a very happy Mother’s Day, and would love to know if there is an outfit picture of your Mum that holds special memories for you.

New in YLF Books

In My Mother’s Closet: An Invitation to Remember

Eugenia Zukerman has collected the personal stories of forty-three very different women who explore the unique relationship between mothers and daughters. Writer Erica Jong, TV journalist Lesley Stahl and actresses Claire Bloom and Carrie Fisher, among others, travel back in time to “reminisce about their mothers’ closets where they tried on clothes, jewellery and shoes, and imagined the world they would one day enter.”

My Mother’s Clothes: An Album of Memories

Jeannette Montgomery Barron began photographing her mother’s clothes and accessories to trigger her fading memories. Often the pictures were taken against backgrounds that had as much personal relevance as the garments themselves. And even as the Alzheimer’s progressed Eleanor could still recall when and where she wore her clothing. When Ellie passed away these images became not only an ode to her refined taste and vivacious personality, but meaningful and evocative still lifes in which she continues to live on.

My Mom, Style Icon

People have been submitting vintage snapshots of their mothers to Piper Weiss since early 2009. The author publishes them on her blog of the same name in homage to fashionable mums from across the globe. Her first book features two hundred colour photographs of mums sporting the styles of the times with pizzazz – pixie cuts, glamorous updos, hot pants, jumpsuits, mod frocks and retro accessories galore. Each photo comes with a personal anecdote; proof that our mums often led quite eventful and adventurous lives, and very stylish ones at that.

It’s my YLF tradition to dedicate our Mother’s Day post to my late Mum, who to this day has had the largest and most meaningful influence on my style, my positive body image, and the way I perceive fashion. 

Colours and patterns define the look of 2012 so I thought it fitting to share how much of those style preferences we share (or shared) with our Mothers. As far as non-neutrals go, Mum and I had vastly different colour preferences. She was an earthy, spice-toned gal, favouring coppers, rust, burnt orange, forest green, burgundy and mustard yellow. She also adored deep teal, light blue, antique pink, baby pink, salmon pink, sage green, emerald green, and blush. By contrast, I’m into crisp clear brights like tomato red, citron yellow, apple green, shocking pink and rich turquoise. Chalk and cheese. 

But when it came to the neutral side of the colour spectrum, Mum and I were kindred spirits. Mum LOVED black and white (or cream) outfit combinations — and so do I. When it came to denim, she only ever wore white jeans, and always had a slew of white and cream shirts and blouses, as well as black knitwear. I can’t ever remember Mum wearing black from head to toe, but wearing black with white or cream was a signature look. Both in solids and in patterns, and always paired with bold gold jewelry. 

Mum and I also had similar pattern preferences, favouring geometrics over everything else. We both loved polka dots, stripes, ginghams and checks, but adored a fab floral, animal print and swirly abstract design too. Mum also loved paisley prints, which don’t tickle my fancy quite as much. But I really liked the batik paisleys that she wore from Indonesia, the country where she was born and spent the first 18 years of her life.

The pictures above show Mum in 1979, hosting our annual Spring party in our home in Hong Kong. She enjoyed cooking and would spend days preparing a splendid “rijsttafel” for up to 30 guests. She’d often have the outfit for that occasion tailor made, which was a common thing to do back in those days when you lived in Hong Kong. True to her style persona, she wore a dressy black and white geometric patterned frock with emerald and gold jewelry. So very glam, polished and elegant as always. But she knew how to have fun too, breaking into song at some point in the evening. 

Well. I almost made it through writing this post without bursting into tears, but it’s this final bit that gets me every time: Mama, I am so grateful for your guidance, backbone, candor, fiery personality and unconditional love. You secured my confidence as I was growing up, constantly making me feel special and loved. You were also completely honest when things were not to your liking. And although I only started appreciating it later on in life, I really appreciated that too. It’s tragic that you are no longer with us today, but know that you are always in my heart and mind. I think of you a little harder when I wear my black and white ensembles, and I hereby dedicate them ALL to you. 

Although I lost my Mum quite young at age 29, I was grown up and married by that time. I have friends who lost their mothers when they were still in primary school, and that breaks my heart because I cherished time with my Mum the most when I was little and in my teen years. So this post is also dedicated to those who lost their mothers at a very young age. Right now, our Mums are lounging on their big white fluffy clouds watching over us in their special way.

We at YLF wish you and all Mothers a very happy Mother’s Day.