Today Style United is featuring my article on The Best Umbrellas, in which I suggest umbrella styles for different weather situations. Umbrellas are more than just a practical item that keeps off the rain — they are an accessory to my outfit. And I get a lot of practice sporting my umbrella style on the damp streets of Seattle.

This is my Spring “go to formula”. I’ll also sport the combination into Summer if the weather stays cool here in Seattle (we had our heat on until the end of June last year). 

The outfit components are tapered jeans, a boxy blouse, Spring outerwear and booties. Weather permitting, I’ll leave off the outerwear and wear ballet flats, peep toe booties, loafers or low heeled pumps. I am extremely comfortable in this outfit because it’s streamlined and simple, yet roomy in all the right places. I also feel extra crisp because all the components of the outfit are woven. 

These are my favourite skinnies that I’ve had for years. I love that they are zippered at the ankles. The quilted cream trench coat I’ve had for years too. You might recognize it from the 2008 Anne Fontaine post where I appeared in the YLF blog for the first time. Along with the zippered skinnies, the trench coat is a wardrobe favourite and a workhorse. Although it’s double breasted, I like to wear it both open and closed. Ideally it would be knee-length. But a mid-thigh length trench coat looks good over trousers and jeans, so I’m still happy with it. When I find the perfect knee-length cream trench coat, I’ll be adding it to my outerwear capsule without hesitation.

The boxy emerald striped blouse was love at first sight when I spotted it at J. Crew. I am besotted with the colour, fabric, quality and shape of this blouse. I love emerald green matched with ink blue, so that’s what drew me in. The stripes run in different directions on the back yoke and collar, which I like to make the focal point of the blouse by buttoning up and popping the collar. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea to wear a blouse this way, but it feels right for me. The breast pocket stripes are so perfectly matched up that you can barely see them. The back is longer than the front so it’s more like a tunic. The drape is heavenly. And when I button up and pop the collar, the effect under my trench is much like a scarf.

I like to surrender my waistline and wear soft billowing fabrications around my middle, just as much as I enjoy wearing waist defining styles. I feel “modern and no-nonsense” in this type of shapeless blouse because I can move freely and get on with the tasks at hand. The soft pretty fabric keeps the style alluring. The silhouette does make the straight lines on my body look even straighter, but I’m fine with that — we don’t need to accentuate our curves all the time. And while the lack of waist definition might be a man repelling look, that’s fine by me too. It doesn’t repel my man, which is enough validation for me.

I usually wear a black handbag with this trench coat, but threw in turquoise to change things up (the turquoise bag matches the inside rims of my specs). The cream booties bookend the trench, my hair and white rimmed specs. No jewelry, accept my wedding ring and wrist watch. I couldn’t hope to find an easier uniform for Spring.

Sleeveless tops are a fantastic way to keep cool in hot weather, but we also have the right to NOT bare our arms. It’s hard finding tops that are breezy, flattering, arm covering and that can be worn on their own without a camisole or top layer. And the further we head into the Summer retail season, the less likely we are to find items with sleeves. 

So now is a good time to look for breezy sleeved tops. Here is a small assortment of woven blouses to help you on your way: 

• Ella Moss ‘Annie’ Cutout Shoulder Cascade Eyelet Top: Although this blouse requires a camisole, the integrity of the eyelet ensures ventilation. The shoulder cut-out is genius too. 
• Lucky Brand ‘Anne Sunflower’ Blouse: The banded styling creates structure while surrendering the waistline for comfort. You can sew the vent on the neckline a little more closed so that you don’t need to wear a camisole. It’s also available in a tonal grey pattern. 
• Lucky Brand ‘Mena’ Zigzag Print Top: Here is the same banded blouse concept with a smocked neckline. 
• Tie Neck Pocket Peasant Blouse: Nice colour! No banded bottom, just roomy and comfy. 
• Knit Hem Short Sleeve Top: This is an interesting shape. It’s voluminous nature will work well over a pencil skirt thereby taking the bombshell out of the equation. 
• Women’s Bird-Print Charmeuse Blouse: Although it’s polyester, it’s a fun conversational print in the right silhouette. 

Many of these shapes fall into the “peasant” blouse category. Perhaps that’s not your cup of tea or a flattering silhouette for your body type. But it does do the job of covering your arms without extra layers.

It takes discipline and effort to lose weight, so in the past when I noticed that a friend, colleague, acquaintance or family member had lost weight, I would make a point of commenting on it and telling them how great they looked. 

I later realized that my comments on their weight loss could be perceived as an implication that they hadn’t looked good before shedding the pounds, and therefore might be a little insulting. My comments also implied that losing weight is always a good thing. And after seeing close family members unintentionally lose weight due to extreme illness, I know that this definitely isn’t the case.

After thinking about it I decided to stop commenting on weight loss. If I had something to say about someone’s appearance, it was focused on their style. Well, this also ended up biting me in the bottom because some people actually wanted me to comment positively on their weight loss and acknowledge their efforts. They were disappointed when I “didn’t notice”. 

I want to praise those who want to be praised for their weight loss efforts. But I don’t want to offend them or hurt their feelings. I still don’t have a universal, flop proof commenting strategy. I just approach each situation differently. If I think that the person would appreciate a compliment on their weight loss efforts, I make one. If I don’t know the person well, or I’m unsure of the situation, then I don’t remark on their weight loss at all. 

I’d love your input here so that I can improve my own handling of this situation. Do you comment positively when someone has lost weight? If so, what do you say? Or do you think it’s best to leave weight loss out of the conversation completely. How do you feel when someone comments positively about your weight loss?