A Change of Buttons Made This Jacket Perfect

Buttons can be fairly easy and affordable to change. I recently did just that to a warm-weather Summer jacket. As far as 100% cotton, utility jackets go, this one was a rare find because of the bright orange colour and fabulous quality. I pounced, despite wishing that the earthy brown tortoiseshell buttons were white, self-colour, or gold. That way I could keep the vibe more crisp than earthy, and wear it with more of my wardrobe in the late Spring and Summer.

I mentioned this to one of my clients who is a talented seamstress and she recommended I go to Stitches in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighbourhood. It’s a fabulous store that sells all sorts of supplies for people who sew, including a vast range of buttons. She kindly met me there, and together we chose the best buttons for the look I was after.

A set of self-colour, orange buttons were the hands down winners. Definitely better than the white and gold options I was also considering. We were lucky enough to find the perfect shade of orange in the correct two sizes, and thread to match. They were sewn on in two ticks, and voila! I’m awfully pleased with the results. The jacket is instantly more versatile.

Orange Jacket

Over to you. Have you successfully changed the buttons of store-bought items? Tell us about it in the comments section.

Trend: Greens and Blues

Many hues, tints, shades and tones of green and blue are having their fashion moment. In solids and patterns, and across wardrobe items and fabrics. Think green and blue pastels, mid tones, greyed tones, earthy tones, muted tones, jewel tones, brights, neon, and darks. Blue-greens and green-blues like teals and turquoise are included too. And of course, the blue spectrum includes all sorts of denim.

Here are some examples.

Mango
Pocket Tweed Jacket
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2
Boden
Ponte Flare Trousers
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2
Boden
Chore Jacket
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3
Boden
Cotton Trench Jacket
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2
Loft
Modern Rain Jacket
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3
Boden
Ribbed Fluffy Tee
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2
Boden
Flare Trouser
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3
Shopbop
AGOLDE Parker Jeans
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2
Loft
Godet Midi Skirt
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6
Boden
Cropped Tweed Jacket
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6
Shopbop
VELVET Addison Dress
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3
Aritzia
Wilfred tonka blouse
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1
Aritzia
Wilfred upon dress
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1
H&M
Rib-knit Sweater
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2
COS
Chunky Knit Vest
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6
H&M
Straight-cut Joggers
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1
COS
Cropped Poplin Shirt
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3
Zara
Cropped Soft Jacket
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3
Shopbop
Marni Midi Dress
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4
Shopbop
VELVET Lucie Sweater
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2
Shopbop
RIXO Blake Blouse
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3
Shopbop
IRO Uga Sweater
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2
Boden
Ribbed High Neck Tee
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3
Boden
New Linen Shirt
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2

We see greens and blues every season, but this year we will see more, and more variations, especially in footwear and handbags. If you have a favourite type of green and blue, chances are high you’ll find it this year. Interestingly, I also see navy coming through as a dark background in patterns instead of black.

Most of my clients wear some type of green or blue, even if it’s just blue denim or an olive utility jacket. Some wear a wide assortment of greens and blues and count them as their favourite colours.

Personally, I wear a lot of blue and have a wardrobe full of it. I enjoy light and dark blue denim washes. Navy is my dark neutral. I wear light blue specs daily, and like wearing a saturated pastel blue. I also love bright turquoise, and French blue. As for greens, I like them sour, bright, and on the yellow side. I love blue, but don’t like my greens in bluish, cool tones. Lime and apple green are my favourites. Chartreuse is an extremely green-yellow, or yellow-green. I’m unsure whether it qualifies as green, but if it does, I adore wearing it. I like neon green too.

Lime and apple green are finally coming through as fashion colours, after years on hiatus. Sour green is my colour of the year, and it’s a style goal to add more items in this colour to my wardrobe in 2023.

Over to you. Which are your favourite greens and blues, and do they feature in your style?

Wear Your Favourites Without Fear

Sometimes the items that are fashionable and available at retail match our sartorial preferences, complement our style, and suit our needs. Sometimes they don’t, and that’s fine too. Continue wearing the items, combinations, and silhouettes that work best for you with confidence and a happy heart. 

Favourites over Fashion

If earth tones, muddy pastels, jewel tones, and greyed tones are on trend, then that’s great for the people who love them and wear them well. But they might not be your colours. If that’s the case, continue wearing the colours that look good on you, because those are the best colours of all.

Make the most of it when your favourite colours, silhouettes and combinations enjoy a fashion moment. Continue to wear them long after the moment has passed. Trends are fun and inspiring. They draw us together. But your favourites are more important, because they are authentically you.

Roundups

Simpler Items

This week's list of top picks list is about basic pieces.

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Assorted Items

Items for Summer, both in and out of air conditioning.

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Casual Summer Vibes

This week's top picks are good for a casual Summer vibe.

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Summery Earth Tones

These items are for those who like to wear casual earth tones in warm and hot weather.

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Hints of Spring

Some tried-and-tested winning items to refresh your style for Spring.

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Dressier Items

An assortment of dressier top picks might be just what the doctor ordered.

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Trend: Shorter Skirts and Dresses

Midi, midaxi and maxi skirts and dresses have been all the rage for several seasons, but a change is coming. The knee-covering lengths, which finish anywhere between the bottom of the kneecap to below the ankle, are taking a bit of a backseat to shorter hemlines. 

Mini skirts and dresses are on-trend and mainstream. Longer versions with lengths just above the kneecap are making a comeback too. The big difference is that the shorter lengths showcase the kneecap, and in the case of minis, quite a bit of the thigh. There’s a lot of variety in the colours, fabrics, silhouettes, patterns, and fits. You’ll see both casual and dressy shorter skirts and dresses.

Here are some examples.

H&M
Wrap Dress
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2
Hobbs
Marci Tunic Dress
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1
Hobbs
Dina Wrap Dress
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2
Hobbs
Christine Ponte Dress
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2
Boden
Florrie Jersey Dress
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1
Boden
Tie Neck Mini Dress
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1
Hobbs
Ami Jersey Dress
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1
Hobbs
Marciella Dress
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1
Boden
BOX PLEAT ALINE SKIRT
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2
Boden
Bistretch Mini Skirt
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1
Boden
Satin Tea Dress
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2
COS
Twill Mini Skirt
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1

If you enjoy wearing shorter skirts and dresses that expose more of the leg, you’ll see a large assortment of silhouettes at retail as the trend gains momentum. No need to hem midis to your desired shorter length. If you enjoy wearing knee-covering skirts and dresses, that’s fine. You’ll just see fewer options at retail than in past seasons.

I am staunchly on Team Midi and Midaxi Skirts and Dresses on this leg of my style journey because I want to cover my kneecaps. That’s the length that makes me feel confident, attractive, ready to rock ’n’ roll, and elegant. So that’s what I am sticking with. The only time I will wear a shorter hemline these days is when it’s a tunic over pants and jeans, or as a layer over a long tulle skirt. I will bypass the shorter hemlines trend.

As recently as eight to ten years ago, it was almost impossible to find a knee-covering skirt or dress if you were regular height or taller. Everything was short or very short. Even so called knee-length dresses and skirts finished above the knee. Although they were not my preference, I simply gave in and wore just-above-the-knee dresses because I missed wearing frocks. When midis and midaxis started to trend, I was thrilled. Suddenly, it was raining dresses and skirts and I haven’t looked back.

It is my hope that as shorter hemlines gain momentum, midis and midaxis will not disappear. The fashion industry has a bad habit of occasionally overdoing a trend. But so far I see plenty of midis and midaxis coming through alongside the minis. I hope it stays that way.

Over to you. What are your thoughts on shorter skirts and dresses?

Trend: Shorter Jackets

Long jackets have reigned supreme as the on-trend choice for several seasons. Blazers have been especially long, and worn as outfit toppers, or as part of a suit. The lengths extend beyond the hip bone and cover the bottom. Some go as far as covering the top of the thighs. These longer lengths have generally been popular with my clientele, and especially with clients with long torsos and/or rises. Some curvy clients and tall clients prefer longer jackets. A few broad-shouldered petite clients have enjoyed them too.

We will see a change this year as the trend makes a turnaround. Jackets are shorter, and their lengths vary. Some jackets are super cropped and above the waist. But most finish at a length between the waist and hip bone, which is a lot more wearable. Fits are tailored, fluid, or oversized. Some are shrunken, and others boxy. Some are dressy, and some casual. Colours, patterns, fabrics and silhouettes run the gamut.

Here are some examples.

Boden
Chore Jacket
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3
Boden
Chore Jacket
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4
Boden
Cotton Trench Jacket
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2
Boden
Cropped Cord Jacket
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1
COS
Cropped Bolero Jacket
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1
COS
Cropped Twill Jacket
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2
Shopbop
IRO Agnese Jacket
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1
Shopbop
IRO Ursa Jacket
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1
Mango
Leather Biker Jacket
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1
Mango
Pocket Tweed Jacket
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2

Personally, I bypassed the long jacket trend. I rejected pants suit after pants suit because the blazers were too long. Generally, I prefer shorter jackets because, to my eye, they create more attractive proportions on my frame. My narrow shoulders, long arms, and very long neck might have something to do with that. When I wear a longer jacket, the hemline feels like it’s dragging me down. I don’t have the broad shoulder line to create the right structure or “keep it up”. The stance is also too low, although I am neither short nor long waisted. As soon as I wear a shorter jacket, outfit proportions fall into place. I feel more cheeky and energized too. The pep is back in my step. I welcome the shorter jacket trend.

I like my jackets hip bone length or shorter, but not above the waistline. I have two jackets that are a little longer than crotch point length, which are the last two in this collection. Unexpectedly, the red aviator is a strong favourite, despite its longer length. The tweed is at too long of a length, but I wear it anyway because it looks sharp. As you can see, the rest of my jackets are shorter. I like my coats long, and my jackets short!

Over to you. What do you think of the shorter jacket trend? Don’t worry if you prefer longer jackets because they shan’t disappear.