I’m impressed with KUT from the Kloth’s white skinny jeans (the “Diana” fit) for four reasons. First, the denim is thick, which is oh-so important when fitting white jeans. Second, the pocket linings are barely visible. Third, the rises are pretty substantial (although the dimensions online are incorrect: on a small size the front rise is 8.5 inches and back rise is 12.5 inches). And fourth, they do not bag out during the day.

The length is a tad short, but they are great on petites and fine on regular height gals with little or no scrunch. For $74.50, these KUT’s have outshone a lot of premium white denim skinnies so far this season. I bought a pair last week and I can’t wait to wear them. 

KUT’s Diana fit is also available in dark blue denim and colours. I found that they run pretty true to size in the white, but you may need to size down in the other options.

As the name implies, “high-low” skirts are short in front and longer at the back. The variation in length between the front and back is either subtle or extreme. The overall length of the skirt varies too, ranging from mini to maxi. Some styles are dressy, while others are more relaxed. Some styles reveal your knees and as much as half of the thigh, while others expose nothing more than a little ankle and shin.  

I like these skirts! I still prefer the look of a knee covering full skirt with symmetrical hemline for my own style, but there are many pros for these high-low darlings.

• They make a nice change to the multitudes of form fitting pencil skirts that have dominated shopfloors for countless seasons.
• They are breezy deluxe. Throw on a relaxed version with an airy, somewhat fitted top, a pair of sandals, straw hat and canvas tote, and you are comfortably and stylishly set for a very hot day. 
• They make a great bathing costume cover-up.
• I am not a fan of casual maxi skirts, but the raised front that reveals the ankles and part of the lower leg on the longer styles makes all the difference to my eye. The effect is more like a midi with a dipped back, which I find infinitely more flattering than a casual maxi skirt with a symmetrical hemline. The raised front also makes it easier to stride, although you’ll have to be careful walking up and down stairs. 
• They give off a playful and arty vibe.
• They provide more back coverage than mini skirts despite the high hemline in front. That means you’ll sit on the excess fabric of the skirt when seated, which can be a practical solution for public transport and the like. 
• With the right top, you could successfully sport the volume on volume trend.
• They are quite striking in motion. 

You have the option of choosing a style that is knee-covering if you’re shy about showing your knees. Or, you can go short to show off your gams. 

Does the hi-low skirt tickle your fancy?

You are on Team Dark Wash Jeans if you prefer wearing dark blue and indigo blue washed denim. You are Team Faded Jeans if you prefer wearing jeans with fading. The fading needn’t be excessive and light. Any degree of fading definitely makes a pair of jeans more casual than their darker counterparts. 

If you asked me this question three years ago, I would have said Team Dark Wash without hesitation. A pair of dark wash zippered skinnies is still one of my favourites, but I tend to prefer faded jeans just a little more these days. I like the textural effect of fading and the lighter overall colour of the denim. I prefer the increased contrast when matched with black tops, and the lower contrast when matched with white tops. I guess I just need a break from dark blue denim. I am Team Faded Jeans. 

Over to you. Are you on Team Dark Wash or Team Faded Jeans? Tell us why and no batting for both teams.

Most of my clients, whether they are petite, tall, regular or plus sized, like to wear outfits with vertical integrity, which accentuates that sought after “long lean line”. This is especially important to my clients who are large in the bust, extra curvy, and plus sized. 

If feeling taller and slimmer in outfits is a figure flattering priority, then the horizontal lines that “chop up” an outfit are going to work against you. And given the current popularity of stripes, there are more horizontal details in our outfits than ever. Here are four ways to combat their widening effect.

1. Structured Clothing

Items that are tailored on the shoulder line and under the arms, waist defining, and have a “skimming fit” look great on the body because they create a proportional whole. Note that this does not mean that you have to wear body conscious clothing. Skimming means fitted and not overly tight. Bootcuts and straight leg trouser styles, for example, are fitted and structured, but not as body conscious as skinnies, or as unstructured as palazzo pants. Voluminous blouses that surrender the waistline are unstructured, and should be avoided if you want to create a structured look (unless you rein in the volume with a waist cinching belt or layer over a structured jacket). 

2. Vertical Design Details

Clothing with princess seams provides great vertical integrity, especially if the darts are top stitched for visual effect. V-necklines, revere collars, cowl necklines, open shirt collars that create a V-effect, long pendant necklaces, ties and scarves that are draped in a vertical way do a great job too. Keeping a tailored single breasted jacket or coat un-fastened creates an effective vertical line down the front of the body. Sleeveless garments, elbow length sleeves and long sleeves accentuate the vertical line of an outfit, as does wearing patterns with vertical lines.

Oddly enough, diagonal lines, either in the form of a pattern or asymmetrical cuts can also minimize the widening effect of horizontal lines. 

3. Low Colour Contrast

Creating a low colour contrast, either between outfit items, and/or bewteen your skin tone and outfit items is an important concept to understand if you want to maximize the vertical and minimize the horizontal.  For example, creating a column of colour by wearing items in the same colour, or low contrasting colours both on the top and bottom creates a strong vertical line. Wearing a white top with black bottoms creates a horizontal line across the body, but wearing an ink blue top with black bottoms minimizes the horizontal effect. Wearing low colour contrasting footwear with trousers and jeans minimizes the effect of horizontal lines, as does wearing low colour contrasting footwear on bare legs. Wearing a black belt with red trousers and a tucked in blush pink top creates strong horizontal lines across the outfit. Swapping out the black belt for a more tonal light brown minimizes the horizontal effect. And choosing tonal horizontal stripes instead of bold versions minimizes their horizontal effect. 

4. Low Vamped Footwear

Low vamped footwear, without T-straps, ankle straps and mary jane straps, are “vertical” shoes because they don’t create horizontal lines across the foot and ankle. If you do wear strappy and high vamped shoes, you can minimize the horizontal line if there is a low contrast between the colour of the shoe and your skin tone (or hose colour). 

Don’t Feel Restricted by the Long Lean Line

There is no need to wear structured, V-necked, solid, low colour contrasting clothing and footwear for the rest of your life because that’s not fun either. The suggestions above merely serve as a way to troubleshoot an outfit. Perhaps your outfit lacked vertical integrity and looked “chopped up”, which made you feel drab instead of fab. In that case it might be a question of changing one thing, like the colour of your belt or shoes. Or avoiding voluminous pieces, black and white jailbird stripes, t-strap shoes, and choker necklaces. 

Over to you. Do you minimize the effect of some horizontal lines on your outfits? If so, how do you like to create a vertical effect? Do you have favourite ways of adding vertical integrity to your ensembles? Or are you not concerned with vertical integrity at all?