Outfit Formula: Dress and Tee

If you wore t-shirts under slip dresses in the ‘90s, raise your hand. I wore body suits under sleeveless dresses too. The ‘90s are trending strongly in fashion, so you might like to revisit this layering trend. Wearing a tee, mesh top, or tank under a sleeveless or strappy dress adds insulation, coverage, and layering interest. With the right layers, you can take a very summery dress into transitional weather too.

Onto some outfit ideas.

1. Tee and A-Line Dress

Pop a streamlined white tee under a sleeveless black A-line dress. The sleeves of this tee are short, but they can be longer. Instead of white, the tee can be a narrow black and white stripe, or a patterned mesh top too. Add summery black shoes like these mules, and a bag to match the palette of the outfit.

Tee and A-Line Dress

2. Mesh Top and Slip Dress

Here, a solid grey long sleeved mesh top is layered under a silky patterned slip dress. Footless grey mesh socks that match the top accessorize the lower legs adding layering interest to the look. Silver pumps add shine to the outfit. Add a bag that picks up a colour of the pattern. Alternatively, layer a patterned mesh top under a solid slip dress.

Mesh Top and Slip Dress

3. Tank and Pinafore Dress

Add a tank or tee to a pinafore dress like the example shown here. It’s white, but you can choose any colour. This dress has very low armholes, but there are versions with high armholes. Western boots in a shade of whiskey are the shoes of choice. The whiskey complements the earthy green. Feel free to wear open shoes instead of boots. Add a bag to match.

Tank and Pinafore Dress

4. Sweater and Strappy Empire Dress

Last, a cinnamon and navy form fitting mock turtleneck sweater is layered under a navy and cobalt strappy empire cut dress. Cinnamon socks match the sweater and are worn with chunky white platform sneakers. A brown and blue striped bag is added for a pattern mixed effect. Its colours are not an exact match, but work with the palette of the outfit. Add jewellery, eyewear, and watch as desired.

Sweater and Strappy Empire Dress

Fabulous Fit for Jackets and Coats

The correct fit looks and feels good. Fits can be tailored, fluid, or oversized. Opt for a roomier tailored fit to feel less constricted when you stride and drive. Going too oversized gets in the way of life and looks like you’re wearing someone’s else’s clothes. 

The Correct Outerwear Fit

Lined jackets and coats can be altered to fit. It’s expensive but can be worth it. Knee-length coats work over most outfits. Side-entry pockets should be in the right place if you use them, and belts should be in the right position on your torso.

Jackets and coats must close properly for insulation, but can be left open for ease, comfort, and to showcase outfit layering detail. Open outerwear also creates a vertical line that draws the eye up and down, elongating and streamlining the silhouette.

Two Blazer Fits: Classic and Trendy

There are two blazer silhouettes. The tailored fit and the roomier oversized fit. Both come in a range of lengths, colours, or patterns. The tailored silhouette is the modern classic standard with longevity, whereas anything bigger tends to support a trend. That said, a trend can last for years and have more staying power than you expect. Especially these days when trends are less important and almost anything goes.

Tailored

The tailored fit runs from a very fitted cut to what I call fluidly tailored. The latter fits close to the body but with a bit of room so that you can move with ease, feel less constricted, and be more comfortable. Tailored blazers tend to look visually dressy, professional, and sharp. They streamline the figure and can make you feel pulled together, polished, and authoritative.

Oversized

The oversized fit runs from generously fluid to majorly big (like the blazer looks many sizes too big for you). This fit can be tailored on the shoulders but big and boxy everywhere else. Or it can be big on the shoulders, as well as big and boxy everywhere else. Sometimes the big shoulder fit is accompanied with shoulder pads. This trend panders to the ‘80s and early ‘90s revival that we see coming through strongly in fashion these days.

Oversized blazers are comfortable, and have a more playful, theatrical, and casual element to them. They are very current, and the extra-oversized versions are fashion forward. If they are fitted on the shoulders, drape well, and only moderately big, they can look polished and sharp too.

COS
Wide-leg Shorts
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H&M
Oversized blazer
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Shopbop
Rangel Cla Blazer
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Shopbop
STAND Blake Blazer
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There is room for both silhouettes in your style if you enjoy wearing blazers. Or stick with the one if that’s your preference. Personally, I prefer my blazers tailored and fluidly tailored, and not too long. When it comes to blazers I bat for Team Modern Classic. I wore oversized blazers with shoulder pads back in the ‘80s and early ‘90s, but am not revisiting that look. To my eye, my narrow shoulder line prefers a tailored touch. It’s fun seeing some of my clients, friends and people on the street rock BIG blazers though. It’s new for Generation Z, who seem to be enjoying the vibe. Why not!

Over to you. Which blazer silhouette do you prefer?

Roundups

Simpler Items

This week's list of top picks list is about basic pieces.

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Assorted Items

Items for Summer, both in and out of air conditioning.

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Casual Summer Vibes

This week's top picks are good for a casual Summer vibe.

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Summery Earth Tones

These items are for those who like to wear casual earth tones in warm and hot weather.

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Hints of Spring

Some tried-and-tested winning items to refresh your style for Spring.

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Dressier Items

An assortment of dressier top picks might be just what the doctor ordered.

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Outfit Formula: Hints of Fall Lilac

It’s been a hot Summer in the US. Most are looking forward to cooler Autumn temperatures and Fall fashion. As much as I love wearing my Summer clothes, I enjoy a change of season. By the time Autumn rolls around, I’m ready to add layers and change up my outfits. Since light purples are popular on YLF, these transitional pants looks are for Team Lilac.

The lilac pieces in the outfits worked well in Spring, AND transition well into Autumn with seasonally appropriate additions and layers.

1. Lavender and Tweed

A pair of lavender chinos is combined with a cream henley tee. It’s tucked and belted with a casual brown belt. Cream sneakers with gum soles match the belt and top. A classic and dressy brown tweed blazer tops the lot. Fab juxtaposition. I see a cream or brown bag complete the look.

Lavender and Tweed

2. Lilac Vest with Teal and Denim

A pair of light wash cropped straight leg jeans is combined with a fluid teal floral blouse, worn casually over the jeans. Chunky lilac high-tops effectively close the gap that the cropped jeans create thereby providing excellent ankle insulation. A long lilac vest, or bodywarmer, tops the lot. Add a bag that works with the palette.

Lilac Vest with Teal and Denim

3. Lilac, Denim, Mauve and Toffee

Here’s an interesting palette that combines two light purples that clash to the extent that they harmonize. A mauve pair of cropped flared corduroy pants is combined with a tucked light wash denim shirt. A boxy chore jacket in a blue shade of lilac tops the lot. A brown Western belt complements the toffee Western boots. The high shafts of the boots insulate against cold ankles. An earthy casual bag would complete the look.

Lilac Denim Mauve and Toffee

4. Lavender and Mango

Last, a column of mango is created with a belted mango tunic and cropped mango patterned pants. A short lavender peacoat with black buttons tops the column, allowing the hem of the tunic to peek out from underneath. Black socks and chunky oxfords that match the model’s hair and the buttons of the coat are the shoes of choice. Add jewellery, handbag, eyewear, and watch as desired.

Lavender and Mango

Team Earth or Jewel Tones

You are on Team Earth Tones if you prefer wearing those to jewel tones, and vice versa. Earth tones are inspired by nature. In addition to all sorts of tans, toffees, taupes, greys, and browns, I consider sage, olive and muted shades of burgundy, orange, forest green, and mustard as earth tones too. 

Jewel tones are rich, saturated colours that are inspired by gemstones and jewels, like deep reds and purples, vibrant cobalts and turquoises, bright emerald and jade greens, and all sorts of teal.

Neither is my preferred palette, yet I dabble a bit in both. Thanks to my new dark blonde hair, I wear tans and toffees well, and have added more of those neutrals to my wardrobe. As for jewel tones, I wear a very bright emerald green and turquoise, and a rich burgundy. I’m benched.

Over to you. Do you bat for Team Earth Tones or Team Jewel Tones? Tell us why, and no batting for both sides. If you can’t pick a side, or neither is your palette, feel free to join me on the bench where I’m serving Thai steelhead trout and prawn red curry, celery basmati rice, cucumber salad, and apple crisp with ice cream for dessert.