This is a different kind of poll because you don’t have to pick a side! Instead, let’s hear your top three pairs of jeans.Be sure to mention the brand and the cut.

I’ll go first:

1. J. Brand zippered skinnies
2. Marc Jacobs skinnies
3. Citizen of Humanity “Amber” bootcuts

I used to have a great pair of Diesel straight legs that were right up there with my J. Brands, but they contracted bleach marks so I had to retire them.

Over to you.

This look is about wearing a simple outfit and letting your scarf do the talking. It speaks to me because it’s strong and simple —  an eye catching statement despite being only a few components.

I know that scarves don’t exactly spell Summer and it might be too hot in your neck of the woods to sport this look right now. But don’t write it off just yet. The combination might be perfectly comfortable on cooler Summer days when temperatures dip to the 70’s (mid 20’s in Celsius), when you’re in mild air-conditioning, or when temperatures are cool at night. If you live in a really hot climate, this might be more of an Autumn look.

Here are two interpretations of my big messy scarf look – one casual and one smart casual.  I like to wear sleeveless tops and dresses when I wear a scarf in Summer because my bare arms balance out the added coverage of the scarf. But this is not essential at all. Any sleeve length will do.

For casual, I’ll match a sleeveless top with clamdiggers, walk shorts or a denim skirt, and add ballet flats, flat oxfords or gladiators. A cross-body bag adds a practical hands free dimension to the look. For a dressier option I’ll wear a basic sheath dress, add a low heel and smarter handbag. Feel free to substitute items that are more to your taste

The most important part of the outfit is of course the scarf. It should be soft, lightweight and collapsible. Cotton, silk or cool-wool blends are best. The scarf needn’t be as huge as the two examples above. But with an extra long neck and short hair, I can carry off a large scarf. I tie it loosely around my neck and let the ends hang down. That way the scarf has more of a decorative function than an insulating one. You can also use a smaller square scarf and tie it muffler style. Tying the scarf loosely around the neck is particularly flattering for a shorter neck.

Wearing a big messy scarf also takes away the need for a necklace. So if you’re on Team Earrings, you might like this look even more. I’m not on Team Earrings, but showcasing my new pearl bracelet instead of a necklace makes a lovely change.

The word “jegging” comes from joining together the words “legging” and “jeans”. IT was created to describe a new fashion item, namely a hybrid design between super skinny and stretchy jeans that are almost as form fitting as leggings.

My good friend Laurel and I popped into Banana Republic on our way to volunteer at Dress For Success Seattle this week. We stopped to look at their jeggings and had the following conversation:

Laurel: “I have a name for you to brand.”

Angie: “Really? What’s the name?”

Laurel: “Leans!”

Angie: “Leans?”

Laurel: “Yeah! Leans.”

Angie: “Oh!!! LEANS. Yes! That’s brilliant.”

Laurel: “Yeah! Don’t you think that’s a good word?”

Angie: “I do! So much better than jeggings! Jeggings look more like jeans than leggings anyway. AND they make your silhouette look lean. What a great word. You’re so clever!”

So from now on I’ll be referring to jeggings as “leans”. Just for fun.

For a few seasons now, most outfits in fashion magazines, billboards, online stores and retail catalogues have been showcased with either high or very high heeled footwear. Why is that?

• Are current fashion trends more visually balanced with high heels?
• Are extra long leg lines more attractive?
• Is it that heels make an outfit more feminine?
• Is the perception that wearing high heels makes you stylish?

Retailers are about selling more product, so clearly they think the majority of us are more likely to be interested if the model wears high heels. But why would they think this? After all, I know many people who never wear such high heels.

Then I saw the results of YLF’s recent poll asking you to pick sides between Heels or Flats and I began to understand. It was a landslide victory for Team Heels. A real eye opener for me! Even women who don’t wear heels regularly chose to side with Team Heels because they love the way heels make them look and feel. In light of this poll, it makes sense that most fashion is showcased with high heeled footwear. It’s what most women aspire to wearing.

We are now living in a world where three inch heels are  considered medium height heels. Although three inches is my limit, this is fine with me. I happily welcome sky scraping heels even though I don’t wear them. They make a strong fashion statement that I can totally appreciate on others.

But what I don’t appreciate is the uniformity. I want more heel height variation in the presentation of the latest fashions. I want a fashion world that showcases ALL heel heights, from the flattest gladiator sandal styles to the tallest of platforms, and everything in-between. Show us some outfits with lower heels. Show us some celebrities wearing lower heels. Just like fashion and style is more than a dress size, show us that fashion and style is also more than the height of our heels. Is this too much to ask?