Thanks Kelly for sending me this link to some outrageous shoe designs. Such creativity and quite beautiful craftsmanship! You’ve got to check them out and let us know what you think of the designs in the comments below.

I like the “white bar stool” shoes best (design #3) and would happily have them grace our bookshelf as a fabulous work of art. I like what looks like a “bare bottom and legs” the least (design #8). The “kitties” and “puppies” are sweet and the “bananas” are fun too.

Which weird shoes do you like the most? Which do you like the least? Any styles you find particularly jarring?

I desperately tried to find a pair of baggy tweed walk shorts to wear with boots, but no luck. Styles were either too short, too straight, too itchy or ill fitting. I even considered altering an inexpensive pair of ladies or men’s pleated tweed trousers to get the desired silhouette, but couldn’t get that to work either. I soon lost interest because I have a small window of  “the right weather” in which to wear the look – and that window is now. Just as I was about to give up I bumped into these LONG shorts from AlternativeApparel.com and was smitten.

I soon forgot about my tweed walk shorts obsession because these darlings fit perfectly, slouch in the right place and don’t itch. They remind me a little of the pedal pusher and knickerbocker styles I wore in the late 70’s and early 80’s. For some reason I have fond memories of those silhouettes and I’m totally rekindling them here.

I love my chestnut Fryes and am looking for a bright chestnut leather jacket, but apart from that I don’t wear brown. And definitely not brown tweed! Far too earthy for my style. But I’ve found that I’m comfortable wearing this combination on the bottom (away from my face) because I can create contrast on top with brighter colours and crisper textures. In outfit one my cream leather jacket provides the right amount of crispness. In outfit two my denim shirt provides the crisp factor. The yellow and orange scarf provides the vibrant colour. Wearing crisp texture against my face AND colour is key to making brown tweed shorts outfits “feel like me”.

The long shorts are at a versatile length just on the knee, although a couple of inches shorter would have worked just fine too. I’ve found that I can wear all sorts of footwear with long shorts of this length: flat oxfords, pumps, booties, heeled oxfords, slouchy mid-calf boots and knee-high boots. Some heeled and some flat.

I’m really excited about my long tweed shorts and am wearing them today. I can dress them up or down: creative business casual (leather jacket outfit) and casual (denim shirt outfit). As I mentioned last week, I’m tired of my skirts, which makes wearing long shorts, walk shorts and clamdiggers with boots or booties a welcome alternative.

These ensembles are definitely not as cheeky as they would have been with short shorts, but they make this 40 year old happy because they’re age appropriate and fun to wear. That’s what counts!

This poll needs a little clarification. A knit top is not a  basic T-shirt or item of knitwear (or sweater), but a more styled top made of jersey knit. A blouse is not a button down shirt, but a woven top usually made of cotton-silk blends or rayon-viscose blends. A knit top is made of knitted fabric while a blouse is made of woven fabric.

I am down to one knit top in my wardrobe so I’m on Team Blouse. I wear knitwear, button down shirts, or blouses. I do not wear T-shirts and very occasionally wear my one and only knit top. My style is quite dressy and “buttoned up”, which makes the crispness of a blouse work better than the more casual vibe of a knit top.

Although knit tops are the comfortable choice for most women, surprisingly, I’m more comfortable in a soft blouse. Plus I have a thing for the luster and longevity of woven fabrications and much prefer them to knits. Always have, always will.

Over to you. Are you Team Knit Top or Team Blouse? Tell us why. You’re on the bench for this poll if you never wear separates or live in T-shirts, sweat tops and knitwear. No batting for both teams please!

Dolman sleeve tops made my 20 must haves list for Autumn/Winter 2010 because they look refreshingly “new”. Sure, some of us wore rather awful chunky knit dolman sleeved pullovers in the 70’s, and neon shoulder-padded versions in the 80’s, but that shouldn’t stop us from wearing the improved incarnation 25 years later. The right dolman sleeve top is more flattering and forgiving than you might expect. Some styles are great at concealing muffin top.

Dolman sleeve tops are voluminous yet sleek, and modern yet retro. The kind of shape that works for many different body types when the right silhouette is selected. Surprisingly, a dolman sleeve top can soften a strong shoulder line as well as strengthen a weaker one. So the shape works equally well for inverted triangles and pear shaped body types. Petites should watch the excess volume under the arm, but should by no means stay away. A more streamlined version of a dolman sleeve top will not swallow you up.

There are no hard and fast rules, but if you are struggling to find the perfect dolman sleeve top, the following guidelines might help:

• Soft fabric: Woven drapey silk and rayon blends for blouses are ideal because the fabric collapses close to the body. Fine gauge knits and jersey knits work well for the same reason. Dolman sleeves in chunky knits on the other hand, are harder to wear and almost impossible to layer under a coat.
• Volume under the arm: The excess fabric under the arm is what makes this style unique. If you’re petite, full busted or strong shouldered, keep the volume fairly subtle. Also, if you like to layer over a jacket or coat, keep the volume subtle too. Less bunching.
• Neckline: Lasses with fuller bust lines should choose a wider scoop, cowl or V-neck.
• Sleeve length: A voluminous sleeve which does not taper at the hem works best when its short. I’ve found that my strong shouldered clients look exceptionally good with short sleeved dolman sleeve tops.
• Tapered sleeves: Dolman sleeves that taper at the hems are often more flattering because it structures the volume. Scrunch up the sleeves for textural outfit interest.
• Tapered bottom: Dolman sleeve tops with banded bottoms are also easier to wear because they balance out the excess fabric of the sleeve and “ground the style” so to speak.
• Length: Both tunics and regular length tops will work. Tunics work particularly well with slim cut bottoms, whereas regular length dolman sleeve tops work well over skirts and bootcut pants or jeans.

I have several dolman sleeve pullovers that I wear with skinnies tucked into boots because they happen to be tunic length. But regular lengths in fine gauge knits work well over pencil skirts and boot cut pants – a nice business casual look. These tops also look great belted if you prefer a defined waist.

The dolman sleeve tops pictured are all tapered at the hems and sleeves because I’ve found those styles easiest to fit on most body types. The volume under the arm isn’t excessive either. So far, I haven’t had a disappointed client in the right dolman sleeve top! Are YOU sold yet?