I’m into bold statements this year. First, moto jackets are a must and now Fryes. Every gal needs a pair of fabulous Frye boots, and once again, I don’t make these statements lightly. Frye boots are a versatile, timeless, casual classic. Their appeal cuts across all ages, body types and fashion personas, depending on the style you choose and HOW you wear them.

I’ve been wanting a pair of Fryes for years but comfort was always a challenge. Time and time again I’d give them a whirl, but my fussy feet would complain. But I swear, Frye fairies intervened with this season’s collection as they have never looked better or been more comfortable. There are lots of style options for all sorts of feet and calf widths so don’t give up.

After deciding on the Rory Slouch boots last year, they became an instant favourite. Super soft, extra support, sassy edge and fabulous rugged flair. Very happy feet. That’s them on the right (excuse the gratuitous use of my favourite bag in the picture).

The six styles below have been winners among my clients this Winter. The harness style is very biker-inspired and quite the acquired taste. The billy shorties are more cowboy inspired and especially nice in light distressed hues. The Paige riding style is great for tall lasses with wide calves, while the  Veronica Slouch boots are fab for both narrow and wide calf widths. I personally like them best scrunched.

The Melissa Button’s are refined and more sophisticated. My uber sassy 69 year old client almost went home with these in Bordeaux because they fit the bill of sophisticated, classy and edgy all at once. But she opted for the grey Carson shorties instead because they’re a no-brainer easy option with jeans. As she was trying them on in stores with me, my client  wore denim bootcuts, a black button down shirt, black trench coat, peacock scarf and pewter handbag. The grey of the boots picked up the grey streak in her hair. A killer outfit. She’ll be wearing her Fryes well into her 70’s. What an inspiration.

The downside? Fryes are expensive, even on sale. If you can’t afford them just yet, try to find a pair of boots that are Frye-like. But if and when your budget allows, don’t think twice. Fryes are an investment piece.

When dressy wardrobe items are pristine and pill-free, they come into my wardrobe promoted and ready to work their threads off. But after excessive wash and wear they start to look shabby and lose their professional polished luster. I’m not ready to pass them on because they’re still flattering and comfortable. So I demote them instead, thereby allowing them to work for the non-professional, more casual side of my wardrobe.

Here are some recent examples:

• Brown and black, knee-length tweed coat: This used to be my favourite dressy wool coat. But it’s pilling and getting threadbare so it got demoted to dog walking.
• Black sateen trench: For years I wore this trench to death, taking it along with me when I traveled around the world. But it’s no longer black-black and the buttons and belt are worn. So I found a new black trench for everyday work wear and demoted this one to wear to casual occasions with Converse sneakers.
• White button-downs: I have a thing about white button downs needing to look perfectly crisp and angelic for work. When they start losing their colour or get stained, they get demoted to layering pieces for casual outfits.
• Patent pointy-toed, low heeled cream boots: The patent on the toes is coming off and the heels are all scratched up. I’ve had these boots fixed up by a cobbler more times than I can remember but I can’t let them go because they’re unique, good in bad weather and extremely comfy. Now they see the inside of a movie theatre a lot more often.

I demote dressy wardrobe items for myself and my clients on a fairly regular basis. I was wondering whether this is something that you do too.

We all have days when our hearts are heavy and we’re not our normal happy selves. But life goes on and we still have to get dressed for work, take care of kids and pets, run errands and everything else, despite our frame of mind. Does your blue mood affect what you wear?

Feeling blue affects my outfit choice. I make a point of wearing extra happy outfits on days when I’m feeling a little sad in hope that they’ll cheer me up during the day (extra lipstick helps too). For me, a happy outfit means bright colours, strong colour contrasts and bold patterns, as opposed to a more monochromatic and sophisticated look.

A blue mood struck me twice last week and the happy outfit on the right is the first one that came to the rescue. I shopped with a very casual client in a mall that day, so I was fine to dress casually.

Strange as it may sound, my happy outfits do improve my disposition. Wearing bright red either as an item of clothing or an accessory makes me feel powerful and alive. Bright apple green is my favourite colour, which made glancing down at my feet fun and cheerful (especially since the green contrasts so well with the denim). As I put the outfit together I realized that I looked a little “Christmassy”. But Christmas makes me happy too, so what the heck and I dashed out the door.

We’re all different, so the way we dress when we’re feeling blue will be different too. Specific wardrobe items spark off specific feelings in ways that are unique to us as individuals. Obviously, we don’t really care what we wear when we’re very upset. Sweats and PJ’s for a day at home will do just fine on days like that.

Do you consciously dress a certain way when you’re feeling blue? Does your mood affect your outfit choices in general?

The number one accessory on last night’s red carpet was the umbrella as it poured with rain over designer gowns and tousled hairstyles. It was a very damp start to this year’s awards season, but a start nonetheless. I hope it stays dry for the Oscars because it’s a shame to see all that effort end up in wet frocks, frizzed hair and runny make-up

Ruffles, asymmetrical necklines, blush pink and all shades of purple along with lots of sequins and bling were the big looks of the night. I have to say that I wasn’t enamored by the long gowns. Most of them, apart from Helen Mirren and Kate Winslet’s gowns, seemed overly styled, overly ruffled, overly embellished and a little too poufy. I love seeing someone take a red carpet fashion risk, but it’s got to work. Perhaps I’m being overly red-carpet-fussy, or a little conservative. Or perhaps I just prefer a strong, sleek line on a long gown.

So the gals in shorter frocks were the ones that piqued my interest. The Golden Globes is not the Oscars, which makes a cheeky short hemline perfectly appropriate. Remember Reese Witherspoon’s short yellow dress in 2007? That’s my favourite Golden Globes look of all time.

As bohemian as it was, Julia Roberts was my favourite look of the night. Her long sleeved short black dress was a breath of fresh hair and she wore it flawlessly. I loved the oversized gold medallion that complemented Julia’s golden locks. She looked classy, alluring and very comfortable.

Ginnifer Goodwin was my next favourite in a sculptured drapey cobalt dress with asymmetrical neckline. Stunningly different.

Robert Downey Jr. gets my vote for best dressed bloke with Kevin Bacon and Tom Hanks as runner ups. Unfortunately Jon Hamm’s beard looked awful so he doesn’t make my list at all.

Over to you. If you saw the awards show, I’d love to hear your favourites.