A special welcome to top NY fashion stylist Kendall Farr! Kendall has dressed many celebrities and has also served as a design consultant for a number of fashion labels. She’s the author of The Pocket Stylist and Style Evolution. I had the pleasure of interviewing fabulous Kendall about ageless style, which was utterly delightful. It’s high time we brought back her style wisdom to YLF. If you’re not a frock gal you’re going to especially love this post.

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It’s no style secret that we are living in a very casual age. Looking effortlessly put together and individually stylish makes dressing up a tricky business. How much sparkle does one wear without going right over the top?

Here is a fashion truth: The best cocktail looks will always pair something za za with something decidedly lower key.  Enter The Little Black Pant (LBP). The perfect LBP is every bit as important to have in your wardrobe as the LBD because it is the kind of essential anchor piece that keeps a cocktail look from appearing labored over.

Cropped and pleated, tuxedo inspired (like this pair from Alexander Wang), dead classic with a flat front and a lean, stove-piped leg, truly cigarette-slim or wide-legged, your pant should be your cut. Talbots offers a range of styles priced and sized for reality.

Enhance the leg lengthening line with a pair of black evening pumps. Then think about the ease of dressing for the evening with your LBP (and pumps) in place and ready to take on different combinations such as:

A Trophy Jacket

While the tux jacket is always a chic option, it was the cropped and embellished statement jacket that made an impact on Fall runways. The look is very of-the-moment especially when layered over a sheer blouse. This look needn’t cost a fortune.  Fast fashion mecca H&M has statement-making jackets with gold embroidery on black velvet, rhinestones on black rayon, and a red number with a ruffled front all priced around $39.99.

Sequins

You can’t swing your purse in any store without hitting something covered in sequins. But when it comes to tailoring like jackets or pants cheap can be telling. Tees cut in all-over sequins work for casual cocktails or lower the sight line altogether with an affordable sequined clutch or a pair of pumps worn with a silk or sheer blouse and your LBP.

Dress Over Pants

If you are over 25 you have undoubtedly experienced the frisson of spotting a dress that looks promising only to discover that it is crotch length. If the cut is a simple A-line or tunic shape and embellished, cut in an evening fabric, sheer, or possessed of an interesting sleeve treatment then wear it over your pants.

The Daytime Sweater

Let’s not forget about the LBP cut in black brocade, shot with metallic thread or styled in sequins or shiny satin like this belted style from J. Crew. Time to temper the bottom flash with a bit of low key on top. One of my favorite pairings is a slouchy black V-neck sweater (don’t overlook the men’s department) paired with a glamorous pant and some serious jewelry. The key is to wear a V-neck that is low enough to elongate your neck. Pass on any V that sits above mid-chest. This is a great place to sling the Swarovski crystals. I like the combination of big cuffs at the wrists and a pair of drop earrings. And the forever appeal of the crisp white cotton shirt with French cuffs adds a classic juxtaposition to sequins, brocade or sheen. Again, if you are tall or voluptuous, the men’s department is the ticket for shirts with a tapered fit that offer just the right amount of oversized to look current.

And one more thought…unless you are a kid, leave the LBS (Little Black Shorts) in the store.

Be sure to visit Kendall’s blog for more stylish wisdom.

Where you side for this poll depends a lot on how you define the words “classic” and “trendy”. We are probably more or less on the same page with “classic”, since classic style is easily recognizable. The term “trendy” is more controversial and for some people has negative connotations.

I’m going with my simple definition: when you wear one or more of the current trends, you are trendy. It is an entirely positive style attribute in my book.

My personal style is fueled by trends and grounded with the classics. I cannot get excited about my style unless I’m sporting a couple of the biggest trends of the season. But my trendy items are always underpinned with classic and retro pieces in order to keep my look sophisticated, elegant, professional and age appropriate.

For me this is the hardest poll to date! Since I can’t bat for both Teams I’m on the bench sipping tea for this game. Over to you. Are you Team Classic or Team Trendy? Tell us why. Anyone else on the bench? There’s enough tea for all.

For years I suffered from extremely dry skin on my face and body. But this year I’m doing something right because for the first time since living in a four-season climate, I look and feel adequately moisturized. I’m neither flaky nor itchy, and literally comfortable in my own skin.

I use Impruv to cleanse and moisturize my face after it was recommended by a dermatologist last year. For 25 years I’ve used Nivea body lotion an still do since other body lotions cause skin irritation. I use tea tree oil pure vegetable soap from Trader Joes once a day with my morning shower (I don’t use soap with my evening shower). That’s my cheap as chips moisturizing routine and I couldn’t be happier with the effective results. No more fancy and expensive lotions and potions that don’t work. Brilliant.

What works for my skin might not work for yours because skin types are different. So if you’ll indulge me, please share how you combat dry Winter skin in the hope that we can learn and help each other. Also, in a recent post about things that we didn’t know about your style, some readers mentioned that they hate to wear lotion on their hands, body and face. If this is the case, I’m curious to know how on earth you prevent dry Winter skin!

I am not one to wear short hemlines, but these days I find myself wearing them as short as a couple of inches above the knee just because certain dress or skirt styles, and some outfit combinations look best that way. For example, voluminous dresses are unflattering when they’re too long, and pairing dresses with mid calf boots or booties looks best with a raised hemline.

That being said, I still prefer most of my hemlines on or just above the kneecap. I seldom go above the top of my knee because I think it’s an elegant and sophisticated length for my height, age and body type. There are also certain dress and skirt styles that I prefer to wear a few inches below the knee.

Have you adjusted to three leggy seasons of shorter hemlines? How short do you wear your skirts and dresses? Would you like to see hemlines stay short or are you ready to cover up a bit more leg.