My client Fernanda Solórzano in Mexico City is fabulous. We got on like a house on fire, shared countless giggles, and worked hard on taking Fernanda’s already amazing style to the next level. I warned Fernanda that I’m quite the slave driver and after working in her closet together for 2.5 days, she knows I wasn’t joking. You’ll hear all about her style journey from Fernanda herself, so stay tuned. In the meantime I thought I’d describe my packing strategy and one of my outfits.

The weather was gorgeously dry, mild and much like a perfect Seattle Summer. Sunny warm days, but cool early in the morning and at night. The first thing I do when I pack for a trip is consider the weather and plan the layers that I will need. Next, I choose a colour palette. No surprises that I chose black, cream, white and denim for my palette since its versatile and just my cup of tea. Finally, footwear. This is crucial because if my feet aren’t happy – I’m not happy. I needed to bring comfy shoes because working with Fernanda meant standing all day AND we commuted on foot. So 8-hour shoes were a must.

We spent three days in Mexico City so I packed three smart casual outfits. I stuck to one handbag for the entire trip, but swapped out everything else for each day of the trip, right down to different watches, necklaces, specs and shoes. I tend to go with my current wardrobe favourites when packing for a trip just because it’s extra nice to wear what you really love when you’re away from home.

I’m active when I work with a client, fiddling with outfits, moving clothes, walking to and fro, taking photographs, packing up rubbish bags, and purging items. I DO NOT sit, which makes comfort all important. This is a very typical easy-to-put-together-outfit for my style: Skinny jeans + woven boxy blouse + jacket + dressy shoes and handbag. For me, this dressing formula makes me feel pulled together, but also relaxed, comfortable and ready for just about anything.

Bar the new handbag, you’ve seen all these pieces before. Since my Lulu Guinness birthday gift, I’ve fallen in love with the London designer and recently added this structured cream darling to my collection. My zippered skinny jeans are a favourite so they were a no brainer to pack for this trip. Non-crease blouses like this polka dot number are ideal for travel.  My new L.A.M.B jacket provided just the right amount of warmth and edge to complete the look.

I chose my black retro, cats eye specs to contrast with the cream blouse, and my gold medallion for a 70’s touch. My low heeled Chie Miharas from Scarpassa went the distance with style. Because temperatures varied throughput the day, I peeled off my jacket in the afternoon and swapped out my pumps for socks and tan Frye ankle boots at night.

These pictures were taken at the Plaza Popocatepetl and a nearby bright orange wall that were en route to Fernanda’s apartment. One of my favourite aspects of Mexico City is how colourful it is. Another is the warmth of the people, who were helpful and friendly even though we don’t speak Spanish. And of course we were extra lucky that Fernanda looked after us while we were there, treating us to the best local cuisine and showing us historic sites at night.

Yesterday was an extremely tough day and my heart wasn’t with the Oscars like it normally is. But I did see most of the frocks and do have an opinion so here it goes.

Halle Berry made my worst dressed list for the Golden Globes, but was amongst my favourites last night. I don’t usually like nude toned dresses but hers was sublime. I LOVED her hair and make-up.

In my world, Cate Blanchett walks on water and can do wrong. I didn’t love her pastel pink gown, but it was daringly different and her hair looked so fresh and natural — so she makes my best dressed too.

14 year old Hailee Steinfeld looked youthful, rosy and beautiful. Her fashion stylist deserves an award!

Anne Hathaway in her first bright red gown was stunning. Well done Rachel Zoe.

Annette Bening was killer in her beaded art deco dress. I adored the green earrings and swept up short hair. I was hoping that she would win.

Lasses that didn’t look so fab: Florence Welch, Michelle Williams and Sharon Stone.

Over to you. Who made your best and worst dressed at last night’s Academy Awards?

Click the thumbnails to see these dresses in all their glory at the Gardian UK.

Today marks the end of an era in our lives. Our little Jasmine passed away this afternoon after battling with congestive heart disease for over a year. In tough terrier fashion, she fought bravely right up until it was time for her to go. We are heart broken.

Jasmine was so much part of YLF. She kept us company in our office and loved photo shoots. Whenever Greg took pictures of my outfits indoors, she’d be right there with me, taking centre stage. And of course she stole the show. We called her the Blog Star.

Rosie and Jasmine were my 30^th birthday present from Greg. They came into our lives as pups from the same litter almost 11 years ago. They were my therapy, transference of love and loss, and so much more as I grieved my late Mum’s death. Greg says that as soon as Jasmine and I met, it was love at first sight. I won’t argue with that. But Jasmine also shared her affection with Greg, waiting for him to get out of bed each morning and following him around for the first half hour of his day.

Somehow Rosie and Jasmine are different to other pets we’ve owned. Raising them together made them extra special. Rosie and Jasmine have lived with us in three different countries and are quite the well-travelled little team. It’s amazing how they would make any place feel like home. We were an inseparable family of four that we called “tous les quatre”.

Between 3 and 8 months old Rosie and Jasmine went to puppy socialization classes. They entered “Puppy Olympics” and had a ball. Rosie was very athletic and won the agility prize, beating German Shepherds and Border Collies. Jasmine much preferred cuddling with Mummy and didn’t do quite so well. But the Olympic judges did give Jasmine an extremely meaningful prize that day: “smallest puppy with the biggest heart”. This sums up our little Jasmine best since she had so much heart. It’s painfully ironic that she passed away from heart disease. I guess that precious little heart worked over time.

I could write a book on why Jasmine was extra extraordinary, and still feel that I shortchanged her. Words can’t adequately describe the love, support and devotion that we received from this little doggie 24/7. She completed our lives. She was always happy, always playful, always food focused, always loving and hands down the sweetest of all sweetie pies. There will never be another Jasmine. May she rest in peace and be remembered for her beautiful nature and spirit.

As a tribute to our little blog star, there will not be a second blog post tomorrow. Please love your pets a little extra tomorrow afternoon for Jasmine. Rosie, Greg and I will be thinking extra hard of our little girl.

Quick to make herself at home in any hotel room.

Always a camera magnet.

Loving the long grass.

With Duckie, the indestructible toy.

In a way this post is an extension of the Scarpasa review, although I’m not being sponsored to write it. I wanted to show you the other pair of killer comfy low heeled pumps that I put through their paces, the Gina Ventori Patricias, and how I swapped out a few items in this outfit to achieve a different look.

A few days ago you saw me in a fairly androgynous outfit with zippered skinnies, a black button down shirt and Greg’s tie, cream leather jacket, colour blocked pumps, black specs and pewter clutch. This outfit swaps out the jacket, specs and the pumps and keeps the rest the same. I’m not trying to sport the Kate Moss “straight out of bed look”. It was another windy day and that’s why my hair is sticking up!

The effect with the new items is very monochromatic because the contrast between the colours is low. The military integrity of the jacket and dark colours makes this outfit even more strict and androgynous, which happens to be a style vibe that I really like. I do enjoy wearing pretty shoes and my white specs with this type of masculine ensemble because I fancy the contrast between the two aesthetics.

Wearing men’s ties is an acquired taste and not something I do often. When I do wear a men’s tie, I like to wear it against my skin and inside the collar of my shirt so that the effect is more like a scarf. There’s something about the combination of tie and skin that makes me feel girly.

And while we’re on that subject, this is not a feminine outfit yet I feel completely feminine wearing it. It just goes to show that feminine dressing is just as much about an attitude and a state of mind, as it is about the specific items that I wear.

The shoes are the Gino Ventori Patricias from Scarpasa and I’m extremely happy with them. They’re in textured, steel blue, snakeskin effect leather which is as soft as can be. I road tested them over the weekend and they are on their way to becoming 8-hour shoes. I like them paired with skinnies, leggings and dresses. A versatile shoe and perfect for our Seattle Summers. They also come in pink and brown if steel blue is not your thing.

Giveaway

Scarpasa is generously giving away $200 to spend in their store. Take a look in YLF’s competition section for details.