There are more solids than patterns in my wardrobe, but I do love patterned blouses, dresses and scarves. I can appreciate all sorts of designs, but when it comes to my own style I generally stick to abstract florals and geometrics. On myself I prefer them bold and bright, but I also like softer edges and more subtle palettes on others.

Since my favourite pattern is still a crisp, clean polka dot, I’m siding with Team Geometric. But it was close! Abstract florals and geometric patterns are represented equally in my wardrobe.

Over to you. Are you Team Floral or Team Geometric? Tell us why. No batting for both Teams I’m afraid. But you can sit this one out on the bench if you don’t wear patterns, or prefer other designs. Perhaps you’re Team Stripe, Team Animal, Team Paisley or Team Plaid?

This time of year is especially fun with my clients because its the season to twirl around in party dresses. We’re either shopping for more occasion outfits, or refreshing the look of existing party frocks by changing up the rest of the outfit.

I absolutely love making last year’s party dress feel like new and here’s how I go about it. In some instances I’ll apply a few of the changes at once, and at other times go with one single update:

1. Swap out the jewelry: Wear statement earrings with a cuff or bracelet instead of a necklace. Or vice versa.
2. Add satin, lace or velvet opera gloves: Very retro. Add a cocktail ring.
3. Throw in a new pair of shoes: Went metallic or black last year? Try a colour or animal print this year.
4. Change the clutch: Opt for something crisp and modern if vintage was your look last season. Or opt for a retro style instead of a classic one. Change the colour and size of the evening bag. Go sparkly instead of plain. Go matte instead of patent. Sport a dainty chain handle handbag. Sport a wristlet
5. Change the hosiery: Try lacy patterns instead of micro fishnets. Add sparkly hose.
6. Think past the classic woolly pashmina type cover-up: There are many more fun and updated ways to cover-up a party dress. Think cropped or long tuxedo jackets, short faux fur coats, soft sequin jackets, satin boleros, capelets and strong shouldered velvet blazers.
7. Add a cropped leather jacket: Crazy idea, but I love the vibe. I’m aching to wear my cropped black biker jacket over my retro 50’s style ball gown. I’ll pile on the pearls, step into red Kate Spade pumps, add fun hose and a vintage clutch.
8. Change your hairstyle: If you wore it down, stick it up and vice versa. Add a pretty hair accessory.
9. Change your make-up and nail colour: Combine smoky eyes with light coloured lipstick. Sport ruby lips and dark nail polish.
10. Wear the dress backwards: Another crazy idea but it can work. A friend of mine wore one of her formal dresses backwards because the neckline was too low, and it looked fabulous.

If you’re not going to a formal party event this year, you can still use some of these tips to refresh a more casual party ensemble. Remixing is the name of the game.

Lanvin, one of the top French Fashion Houses is utterly unaffordable to most consumers unless their products are on deep discount. The good news is that artistic director for Lanvin Alber Elbaz has teamed up with Swedish budget fashion retailer H&M so that you and I can actually sport a Lanvin piece without robbing a bank. The Lanvin collection for H&M hits selected stores in North America on 20th November and three days later for the rest of the world. Whet your appetite here and here.

Top New York stylist and author Kendal Farr puts it so well in her post counting down to the event:

“The reverse snobbery of fashion democracy is a wondrous thing and the collab of Lanvin and H&M just might be the most frantically anticipated example in the history of haute meets the high street”.

I have always been an H&M fan, but their successful collaborations with the industry’s finest haute couture houses blows me away. It’s simply killer and I love H&M even more for it.

I’m not one for queuing up outside stores hours before they open (unless it was Chanel), but I have every intention of swinging by our downtown Seattle H&M store where rumour has it the Lanvin collection will be unveiled. What do you think of H&M’s collaborations with Haute Couture houses? Do you like the Lanvin collection? Would you queue up outside a store for hours to nab a wardrobe item you really wanted?

There were lots of nay sayers for the shaggy vest, but what about the big faux fur coat? Cozy, comfy, very dramatic, fun and ever so retro. I vote yay, but with conditions.

First, the coats have to fit well. I’m all for boxy looks for certain items, but the big faux fur coat isn’t one of them. This type of bulky coat has to at least look tailored on the shoulders and in the sleeves – otherwise the coat is wearing you. If the sleeves are wide, they look more streamlined cropped to around the elbow. Waist definition is not a must for trapeze cuts but a certain amount of structure is essential. There are many oversized and untailored versions being sported and sold as the height of fashion at the moment and I don’t fancy that look at all.

Second, the quality of the faux fur has to be just right. It needn’t look like real fur but I don’t want it to look like a blanket or teddy bear either. Difficult to explain but I’ll know it when I see it.

Third, I’ve shown leopard prints below but that’s not your only option. Faux sable, mink, fox or rabbit fur is just as fab and that’s the way I would go if I bumped into the perfect big faux fur coat.

I recently had a client in a long faux fur coat very similar to the Weatherproof topper below (we found it at the Rack). It was in a richer brown sans the white bits which matched my clients Autumn colouring perfectly. She looked sensational! The client is a spunky Mum on the go and part time real estate agent  who wears the coat over everything from jeans and a pullover, to a dressy frock. Fabulously fun.

Do you vote yay or nay on the big faux fur coat? If it’s “yay”, be sure to take a look at two new additions I recently made to the the YLF store: the Sashimi Faux Fur Jacket and the Weatherproof Faux Fur Coat.