Casual maxi skirts are trending for Spring 2011 and there are only two instances where I vote yay for the item:  when you’re required to cover up head to toe for religious and spiritual reasons, or when they form part of a national and cultural dress code like they often do in India and Malaysia. For the rest I vote nay.

I just can’t rationalize an ankle length skirt in a casual ensemble. Long skirt silhouettes scream formal wear to me and that’s the only way I can see it. This is a completely subjective opinion, but I’d much rather see a bit of leg when you sport an outfit with a relaxed vibe.

On the other hand, I love uber formal maxi skirts. Carolina Herrera’s creations spring to mind, especially when she pairs one of her killer white blouses with an impeccably cut fish tail creation. I also adore interestingly designed calf-length skirts when worn in fun arty ways. Think of those All Saints skirts that look amazing when matched with edgy jackets and boots. At least we can see a little more of the leg that way!

Bottom line: I will absolutely not be wearing casual maxi skirts this season. What’s your verdict?

I am NOT a dressy flared leg trouser gal, but I love, love, love the Sloane fit black textured flare from Banana Republic. Ladies, these pictures do not do the style justice at all. They look boring, a little short on the model, and you can’t see the subtle texture of the fabric so please don’t give up on them yet.

The wide waistband is girdling and the flared leg is flattering. But the best thing about these trousers is the welted front pockets and the comfortable “power stretch” of the wow fabric. It’s thick, substantial, interesting and recovers well. Their perfect drape skims over the body and holds everything in place with the right amount of structure. No awfully lumpy side entry pockets and pocket linings. Amazing!

At $89.50 full price they run true to size and are available from sizes 00 to 16 across petite, regular and tall. If you’re after a pair of classic dressy trousers, make sure you try these too. They are definitely a step up from average black dress pants.

Note that this post contains affiliate links and this product is in the YLF store.

Do you keep a style journal, a style scrapbook, or some other record of your own outfit combinations? Do you grab and save killer outfit images off the internet so that you can refer back to them later for inspiration? Many of my clients do, hoping to reinvent similar looks using their own wardrobe components.

As part of my service to clients we have a productive “create session”, spending a few hours putting together super duper outfit combinations. We try to cover as much of the wardrobe as possible, incorporating the new with the old. We think of fresh ways to wear existing pieces and include footwear and accessories in every outfit. Clients actually try on the combinations throughout the create session to make sure that they work. We snap pictures of the outfits for easy reference.

Some clients print the outfit photos on huge posters that they stick on the inside of their wardrobe doors. Some have the photos complied into booklets. Some add the outfit photos to their existing style scrap books. And some keep the outfits saved on a CD-ROM or their computer’s hard drive, ready for retrieval when the need arises.

In recent years, using an iPhone to snap pictures of outfits during a create session has become the way to go. That way the outfits can be retrieved for inspiration at any time, on the bus ride back home perhaps, or standing in line at the bank or grocery store. How’s that for maximizing time efficiency when deciding what you’re going to wear the next day.

As a fashion stylist I am in a somewhat unique position when it comes to documenting inspiration for my own outfits. I am constantly, constantly absorbing street fashion and what I see in stores, in the media, and on the Internet since this is my bread and butter. I don’t keep a style journal, collect magazine pictures, or grab images off the internet. I don’t take pictures of my outfits unless they are for a blog post. And I don’t write down potential outfit combinations either. It sounds absurd but I rely completely on my memory for inspiration. I think it works because I am engrossed in the subject matter for most of my waking hours. I feel like I AM a walking style scrap book!

There is one thing I do that helps me keep outfit combinations straight in my head. When I add a new item of clothing or footwear, I will spend time in my closet with that item making sure I have found the best combinations. That way I know exactly how to wear the item when the urge strikes me – which is often as soon as possible.

Most books on style suggest that having some form of scrapbook is essential. Although I have seen them work wonders, I also know people who do very well without one. How about you? Do you document your style inspiration and outfit combinations? If so, how do you do it, and what are the benefits you see?

Last night’s red carpet fashion at the Golden Globes was as entertaining as ever. Nude, peach, pink, red and black with a smattering of ink blue and emerald green were all the rage. Here are my favourite and least favourite looks of the night. This is extremely subjective of course, but that’s what makes it so interesting!

Favourite:

1. January Jones: I don’t usually like dresses that reveal too much skin, nor am I enamoured by frocks that are remotely Grecian. But this dress defies it all and January’s hair is a killer accessory. I absolutely loved this Versace gown and the colour sends me into orbit. My best for the night. A word of warning: this gown looks MUCH better in motion than it does in the posed photograph.
2. Heidi Klum: I adore the pattern of the dress and the 70’s vibe is fun.
3. Eva Longoria Parker: This was a lot of dress for petite Eva, but the tailoring and drape was just so that it looked in proportion. I am all over the waist adornment.
4. Catherine Zeta Jones: Catherine is classically beautiful and the emerald green colour of the gown glowed against her skin. She is a regal sight to behold.
5. Helen Mirren: This exceptional lady can do no wrong in my world. Helen manages to strike the perfect balance of looking both covered and alluring. She dazzles no matter what.

Helena Bonham Carter was quite the talk of the evening, sporting a tea length Vivienne Westwood dress with two different coloured shoes, one red and one green. Annette Bening bravely rocked a pair of black geek chic specs with a long black frock and totally pulled it off, as did avant-garde Tilda Swinton in her ghostly Golden Globes ensemble. Gutsy ladies!

I was lukewarm about the ensembles from Nathalie Portman, Michelle Williams, Jennifer Lopez, Nicole Kidman, and Olivia Wilde. Didn’t love them or loathe them.

Least Favourite:

1. Scarlet Johansson: Scarlet is a stunning woman, but the overly glitzy nude gown did little to showcase her beauty.
2. Sandra Bullock: I couldn’t see past her fringe to look at the dress. What a  shame.
3. Jennifer Love Hewitt: Too poufy and too white.
4. Halle Berry: This frock is too short in the front.
5. Angelina Jolie: Although I really like the colour of this dress, broad shouldered and slim hipped Angelina looks like she’s going to topple over in the sharp shouldered silhouette.

Take a look at what the stars wore to the Golden Globes and let us know who you thought was a fashion hit and miss for the evening.