By Greg (Angie’s partner in crime).

I’ve been an interested Apple watcher since their early days — initially as a fan of many of their products, but later also as a direct competitor when I worked as an engineer and manager at Microsoft. These days I’m an independent entrepreneur and some of the projects I’m working on (including YLF) involve writing programs for Apple devices.

So it is exciting to watch Apple release what they believe is the next big revolution in personal computing: the iPad. The concept is a tablet computer — a portable PC that you use with finger touch (like the iPhone) instead of a mouse and keyboard. Many companies have taken a run at the tablet concept before, but no-one has cracked it. Apple has a good chance of being the first to do so — they have demonstrated with music players and phones that they can take a nascent category and make it successful. They certainly have an unmatched ability to generate hype around new product launches — the iPad has recently appeared on everything from Letterman to Time Magazine.

The iPad’s launch day is tomorrow and no doubt thousands of people will be lining up outside Apple stores to be among the first to get their hands on one. The big question is whether the demand continues after the initial rush, and whether Apple manages to succeed in taking the concept of tablet computing mainstream. If they do, it has the potential to open the door to new ways of doing things with computers, so I’m really interested in your take on this new product. I’ve put together a short informal survey, and I would love it if you could give your opinions in the comments below.

Three questions:

1. Did you know about the Apple iPad, or has the hype passed you by?
2. Did you pre-order an iPad? If not, are you thinking about buying one?
3. What would you like YLF to do on your iPad? The obvious thing is to use the iPad web browser to access the site, but if there were a dedicated YLF application for iPad, what would you like it to do? Don’t hold back! It would be great to hear some wild suggestions. In the spirit of brainstorming, there are no bad ideas.

Of course, Angie and I also have plans for the iPhone. If you have an iPhone (or another smartphone) and have some ideas on what YLF should do on that platform, let’s hear those too. And of course, anything else you think is relevant.

Yesterday’s mention of Dutch clogs was all about April Fool’s fun, but there is actually a real resurgence of the style happening at the moment. Inspired by the Spring 2010 Chanel Show, high heeled clogs are trending. It’s such fun to see things filter down from catwalk to retail level in such a short space of time (remember this post?). Wooden soles, leather and suede uppers, studded trims, and a platform heel to boot. Casual, earthy and very 70’s.

I saw a few high heeled clogs in action during our recent trip to Europe, but I haven’t yet formulated an opinion on the look. My initial impression is that they won’t work for me because they’re just too high and my feet slip out of clog styled shoes. Also, their 70’s bohemian vibe is not my style. But clogs were on the Chanel runway show, so out of my sheer passion for Chanel, I’ll keep my eye on the trend. Who knows how clogs will continue to be interpreted as the season unfolds.

I’m sure pretty sure high heeled clogs can be worn with style. What’s your take on the look? Is this something you would wear, or could appreciate on others?

One of the things I enjoy most about YLF is its global integrity. It makes me extremely happy that we have active members participating in great forum topics from all corners of the globe. It enriches the character of our community and certainly broadens my fashion and style horizons.

After spending two weeks in Europe, and in particular being back in the Netherlands, I feel an extra strong connection to my roots. I’m fluent in Dutch, and even though I speak it daily over the phone with my Papa in the Netherlands, I really miss writing in my mother tongue. So in keeping with the global integrity of YLF, I have decided to change the primary language for my blog posts to Dutch. I will still write a few posts a week in English, but the main post each day will be in Dutch. Those who have an understanding of Germanic languages should have no problem getting the gist of what I’m saying. And I’m sure the rest of you are fast learners.

So without further ado, my first post in Dutch…

Na mijn vorige blogposts over Arnhem en Amsterdam weten jullie al dat Nederlanders zich hip, stijlvol en erg praktisch kleden. Helemaal mijn ding. Ik ben wel toe aan iets nieuws, dus heb ik besloten om met onderstaande drie mode-updates hulde te brengen aan mijn Nederlandse afkomst:

Klompen

Klompen met hakken mogen deze lente niet ontbreken in de kast van al wie de nieuwe modetrends op de voet volgt. Bovendien zijn ze heel comfortabel, dus bijzonder geschikt voor mensen met moeilijke voeten zoals ik. Als trendsetter neem ik graag wat extra risico, daarom kies ik voor authentieke Nederlandse klompen in lichtbruin hout, met een laag hakje. Heel mooi onder bootcut jeans.

Zonnebril

De zomers in Seattle zijn kort maar toch komt het zonnetje regelmatig tevoorschijn. Een zonnebril is dan ook een must. En omdat oranje nu eenmaal de nationale kleur van Nederland is, verruil ik mijn Ray Bans graag voor een oranje zonnebril met oversized glazen, à la Jackie O. Dé manier bij uitstek om een outfit in neutrale tinten op te vrolijken met een streepje kleur.

Tulpen

Tulpen zijn mijn lievelingsbloemen, en net zoals bij vele andere Nederlanders, staat ons huis er vol van in deze periode van het jaar. Ik ben echt gek op tulpen en ben van plan om een bosje van deze kleurrijke bloemen als accessoire mee te dragen. Dit is een compleet nieuwe look voor mij, maar ik ben altijd de eerste om mijn modegrenzen te verleggen en kijk heel erg uit naar deze stijluitdaging.

Ik sta te trappelen om mijn lentelook nog actueler te maken met deze drie patriottische stijlelementen! Knipoog naar onze lezers die Nederlands begrijpen: jullie zullen wel al doorhebben dat we vandaag de eerste dag van de vierde maand zijn en dan wordt er traditiegetrouw al eens een grapje uitgehaald.

Update: If you have read the comments on this post, you will have realized that this was all April Fool’s fun. I will continue to write my blog posts in English!

Click here to read an english translation of the Dutch text above »

Pattern mixing, wearing two or more patterns together in one outfit, is not everyone’s cup of tea. If you have a creative, bohemian, romantic or arty element to your style, you’ll probably appreciate the effect. If you prefer your outfits to look extra clean and crisp, you’ll probably prefer very subtle forms of pattern mixing, if at all.

It is far more common to pair one print with solids or with false plains (textured solids that give the illusion of a solid when they’re actually made of varying colours of interwoven threads, like tweeds and small check designs). But combining patterns can be fun too and there are ways of achieving a harmonious look.

Here are two guidelines to get you headed in the right direction if you’re new to the world of pattern mixing:

• Choose  patterns in a similar colour palette: It’s amazing how well the same colours in different patterns can work together, especially if they’re in a similar fabrication. The classic example is mixing black and white jailbird stripes with black and white polka dots.
• Choose a dominant pattern and a supporting pattern: Dominant patterns can work together, but choosing one dominant pattern and one supporting pattern is a more flop proof approach. That way the patterns aren’t competing for attention. For example, match a bold geometric pattern with a dainty polka dot. Match a bold floral design with a false plain like a micro check/gingham or glen plaid. Match an abstract pattern with a subtle pinstripe. In these examples the dainty polka dot, the glen plaid and the pinstripe are the supporting patterns.

These are the first steps to effective pattern mixing. For advanced techniques and inspiration, check out Audi and Kasmira’s outfits. These stylish ladies successfully mix their patterns in much more daring ways.

For my own style, I like to play with different textures and false plains instead of mixing too many patterns together. I do enjoy combining a pinstripe blazer or a monotone polka dot with just about any other pattern, and today I’m wearing a Burberry scarf with a black and white animal print cardigan. But that’s about as creative as I get in this department. Do you like the effects of pattern mixing? Is this an dressing skill that you would like to learn?