You’ll hear the following mantra repeated in all style guides: Dress to accentuate the best parts of your body; camouflage the parts that aren’t as great.

This makes sense, right? We are confident about our best features, so highlighting them is a no brainer. Our so called worst features, or the areas of our body that we are self-conscious about, shouldn’t be highlighted as frequently. This way we will look and feel our best.

Well, as much as I believe in helpful guidelines, I believe even more that we shouldn’t be ruled by them. And I break the “accentuate the positive, diminish the negative” rule on a regular basis.

Here are few examples:

1. Neck: I consider my neck to be my best feature, yet it’s often covered with a high-ish neckline, popped collar, or scarf.
2. Waistline: I have a dainty and defined waistline, yet I adore wearing voluminous styles that hide it.
3. Eyelashes: I have long thick eyelashes that are especially noticeable when I wear mascara, yet nobody sees them because I choose to wear specs instead of contact lenses.
4. Legs: I consider my legs to be my worst feature for two reasons. They aren’t shapely and they are covered in spots and veins (nothing harmful, just unsightly). Yet I often show them off, with and without hose, because I love to wear skirts and dresses!

I don’t feel bad playing up my worst feature when I wear skirts and dresses because the overall effect of the outfits is still flattering to my eye. The veins and spots might be unsightly to others, but I’m not bothered by what others think about this. My legs work hard and they deserve to be highlighted. Plus, I love knee-length dresses and nothing will stop me from wearing them.

I define my waistline as much as I surrender it so things even out with that one. But I won’t entertain contact lenses and I enjoy the look and comfort of a covered neck. So I don’t see those parts of my body being showcased more any time soon.

I only have one hard and fast rule about fashion and style: it should be fun. There are also many guidelines that really help us to look our best, but sometimes what you love should win out over other rules, guidelines and conventional wisdom. If that means accentuating the negative and hiding the positive, so be it!

Casual Mum on the go outfits are very popular on YLF, so in the spirit of this season’s 70’s fashion revival, here’s a basic  Spring update that’s easy to put together:

• Flared jeans: Faded washes are more decade appropriate. Try Gap’s Long & Leans, Perfect Boot, Curvy Boot and Sexy Boot. If you already have flared jeans, wear those.
• Casual cotton blouse: Think crisp cottons or crocheted lace. The banded styles below from Lucky are particularly forgiving on the mid-section. For a slightly dressier look, try Lucky’s embroidered mesh tunic.
• Clogs: You’re after a slip-on platform clog which you can wear with socks when it’s cold. I’ve shown the Fryes Clara Campus Clogs here because they are simple and versatile, but the Clarks Freesia Shells, Naya Hyacinth, and Ugg Vivica are just as fab, and comfy too.
• Casual tote: Casual suede totes and hobos are very 70’s, as are large tapestry bags.
• Turquoise jewelry: Think earrings, bracelets, necklaces and rings. Choose a few of these options to add a bit of colour to the ensemble.
• Shaggy vest: This is a dramatic optional extra for those who dare to wear the look. The Victoria’s Secret option below is a nice example.

To cover up when it’s chilly outside, add a short wool pea coat, a tweed or leather jacket, or sweater coat. And you don’t have to be a mom to wear this ensemble! It’s a sweet outfit for any gal on the go.

I took a lot of inspiration from Lucky Brand items in this ensemble and they happen to be having a two day site-wide sale on the 24th and 25th of January.

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Individual preferences are incredibly complex, but it can be fun to break things down into a simple this or that question. This is what I have been doing with the “Team X Team Y” posts for the last six months or so. Not too serious, just a simple matter of deciding which of two options (and those options only) resonates most. Sometimes it is hard, because you like both things, but most of the time one of them will resonate at least a little more.

Today’s choice is a good example. Most people do a combination of thrifting and buying items first hand in retail stores. But most people will also have a preference. The fun is to think about your own preference, and then explain it to the rest of us. Was it hard to decide? What makes your choice resonate?

I have been going to thrift stores for years and still frequent them fairly regularly. Unfortunately I come home empty handed 99.99% of the time because my size is seldom available in the items that tickle my fancy.

Given the size challenge, I spend most of my thrifting time looking at accessories. But this presents another challenge: when I do find an accessory that makes my heart go pitter patter, it usually costs an absolute fortune. This happened to me just last week in my Seattle neigbourhood. I saw a killer tomato red Chanel bag in great condition for $900. Although it is much cheaper than buying a similar product brand new, I just can’t bring myself to spend that kind of money in a thrift store! I’m not in the habit of buying extremely expensive handbags, but if I was going to buy a Chanel bag I think I’d rather spend more money and be the first and only owner. I know. This sounds ridiculous because I would be saving lots of money thrifting the item. But I can’t help it — that’s the way I feel.

So because I don’t have much luck at thrift stores, I am Team Retail. Over to you. Are you Team Thrift or Team Retail (note that the latter includes online shopping). No batting for both teams!

Inspired by the resurgence of 70’s style at New York Fashion Week, and seeing glamorous pictures of my late Mum in that era, I’m all over adding a subtle 70’s kick to my style right now.

I’m still a 60’s and 80’s fashion gal at heart, yet I’m surprised at how many 70’s inspired items I like and already have in my wardrobe. Bring on a little Charlie’s Angels and Abba fabulousness I say. Of course, my 70’s looks are not overly retro, dramatic, or bohemian since they still have to feel like me. Despite my current 70’s edge, I’ll always be “the Chanel girl in tomato red”, as one of friend’s describes my style.

High-waisted bell bottom jeans are as 70’s as it gets. For several reasons that’s not my thing so I opted for a baby version of the look in Gap’s Long & Leans. The hems aren’t quite as flared and the waistband isn’t as high, which suits me perfectly. That way I can wear flares with comfortable low heeled pumps, and create a belted look with tucked -in tops. When I tuck tops into jeans and add a belt, I prefer the rise to be a little lower than on my natural waistline because on me, the proportions look best that way.

I tucked in a black and grey textured turtleneck and added a dark brown studded belt. I accessorized with a shiny gold Chinese medallion courtesy of my late Mum’s jewelry box. This is another one of Mum’s pieces that took me 11 years to wear since it never felt right until very recently. I remember my Mum wearing this piece when I was a little girl in the 70’s. It warms my heart to do the medallion justice in my own wardrobe all these years later.

Since cat prints were huge in the 70’s, that’s what I like to wear on my feet with my flares. I topped it all off with a belted leather and faux fur jacket that I’ve had forever. Feelin’ groovy is working out for 2011.

This type of outfit is quite different to my normal style. The colours are fairly low contrasting and earthy, there is lots of gold, it’s not as clean and crisp looking, and there are no pearls. In the name of 70’s fashion fun I am enjoying the change.

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