There have been many coat questions on the forum lately, most of them about how to obtain perfect fit. There’s no short cut and you’ll probably need to try on several coats before you find that perfect fit. Here are some guidelines to help you on your way:

• Choose the right length: If you’re after one Winter coat, opt for a versatile length that’s just above, or on the knee so that it works over dresses, skirts AND pants. Mid-thigh coats are adorable but aren’t as versatile because they don’t look as nice over skirts and dresses. But there is room for both types of coat lengths in a wardrobe so don’t feel that you need to stick with only one.
• Think about what lies beneath: It’s extremely important to wear the appropriate layers underneath a coat when you fit it on. I like to layer the following items under a wool or puffer coat: camisole and/or thermal T, fine gauge knitwear, a lined tailored jacket like a blazer or biker jacket, and a bulky scarf. Yes! I layer a jacket underneath a coat. That way when I remove my coat indoors, I still look and feel chic. Also, I’ve found that the extra layer of a jacket under a coat offers superb insulation when temperatures drop below freezing. If you don’t feel the cold like I do, your layering techniques will differ. For example, if all you need is a chunky pullover underneath your coat, then that’s how you’ll fit for it.
• Check the sleeve length and shape: I like coat sleeves to end an inch over my wrist bone for extra cozy coverage. Make sure that the sleeves look graceful and aren’t too wide. No Michelin men please.
• Opt for a flattering collar: Most lasses look great in coats with revere collars and medium sized lapels. These types of collars shape into a “V” and are slimming and elongating. Peter pan collars tend to look juvenile and shirt collars aren’t quite as spiff unless the style is double breasted. Funnel necks and shawl collars are dramatic and edgy but stay away from them unless you have a longish neck.
• Make sure the coat can close: Unlike blazers and jackets, coats have to close and look good with multiple layers worn underneath. In order to accommodate the extra layers you might need to purchase a roomier silhouette, or size up in a sleek silhouette. It’s fine if there’s a little room in the coat when you’re not wearing as many layers. But not too much room! Unless you’re wearing a voluminous trapeze coat, the fit should skim the contour of your body with and without the layers. This sounds impossible to achieve, but it really is possible. That’s why you have to try on many, many coats and purchase layering items in the appropriate thicknesses.
• Avoid sloppy shoulder lines: The shoulder line of any coat should meet the edge of your shoulders. Too wide shoulders lose structure, while too narrow shoulders look like you’re bursting out of the coat.
• Test your mobility: Make sure you can reach, walk, lift and drive. Raise your arms and stretch them out in front of you. If the coat pulls and is uncomfortable, try the next size up. Check the overall fit and drape of the coat all buttoned up WITH all your layers in a three way mirror. Make sure that there is no pulling across the bottom either.

The colour and cut of a coat is up to you. Opting for a single breasted style with tailoring features like a nipped in waist, vertical seams and panels, a revere collar and slanted side entry pockets is flop proof and flattering. Waist belts and ties offer great structure but are not a must (remember to check whether the belt loops are in the right place).

Think twice about alterations because it’s expensive to alter a fully lined garment. Shortening the sleeve and overall length of the coat, swapping out the buttons, or repositioning buttons and belt loops, are worthwhile tailoring expenses. Anything else and you’re better off purchasing a new coat.

If you live in a cold part of the world, you might like to start a coat collection, adding a unique piece each season. Choose different lengths, colours, fabrications, styles and levels of warmth. A well fitting coat spells chic with a capital C and is always a good investment.

Today’s post is written by trendy and fabulous forum member Patience who lives in Austin, TX. Patience is an engineer and nothing cramps her style! With two small children in tow, a busy job and a changing body to adorn each day, Patience continues to look AND feel beautiful throughout her pregnancy. If you can look as stylish as she does with a few weeks left to go, then you are a true inspiration. This is how Patience maintains her high style quotient while pregnant.

These are real life pictures of me at 8 months pregnant. I’m huge! Everyone I meet is expecting me to pop at any second and yet I know that I need to clothe my belly for another month.

My maternity fashion strategy is quite simple — keep following Angie’s blog to keep abreast of current trends and tips and pay special attention to her tried and true advice. I also know that I can rely on the wonderful ladies in the YLF forum for support and feedback on my maternity wardrobe efforts. And despite suffering from morning sickness, I began with the attitude and confidence that I could have a stylish pregnancy.

I reviewed my list of essential tips collected from Angie as I’ve followed her blog over the past few years:

• Cover the basics: Good posture, a well fitting bra, and a snappy hairstyle are the first things to pay attention to in your appearance. They must be given special consideration when you are pregnant because your belly will force you to adjust your posture, your bust will grow (usually starting around the middle of the pregnancy), and you may have less energy to devote to a complicated hair style. Other elements of polish like grooming and perfect pant lengths are low cost ways to keep your style quotient high even if your maternity capsule is small.
• Focus on comfort: Time and time again Angie has assured us that being stylish includes being comfortable. Particularly in pregnancy you will want to search out the cushy shoes, non restrictive clothing and lightweight accessories.
• Have fun with accessories: Handbags, jewelry, hats and watches will get ample use after the baby comes so treat yourself to those items to take your look up a notch.
• Include dresses: Dresses are one comfortable item to put on. Having a few in your closet is the answer for those days when you don’t want to think about what to wear.
• Consider investing in a favorite piece: Rather than purchasing a wardrobe of tent-y maternity items and feeling huge when you put them on, why not purchase a few investment pieces that make you feel like a million dollars? Wear them all the time and you will whittle the cost-per-wear down to nothing over the months that you’re pregnant. Both you and your baby will benefit from the feelings of well being.
• Know your individual style and fashion persona: If you consider fashion fun, dressing your pregnant body should be fun too. This is where your individual style and fashion persona come in, whether you pursue the trends and styles that were “you” pre-pregnancy or decide to explore more subtle aspects of your style that seem to surface with your changing body.
• Pay attention to lounge wear: If you have the misfortune to feel ill throughout your first trimester or even your entire pregnancy, you deserve some cute lounge wear. Even if you feel fine, there will be days when sitting on the couch is a wonderful use of your time. I want to make a special point that maternity lounge wear requires comfy slippers.

When creating my maternity wardrobe capsule I knew that applying Angie’s wealth of non-maternity wardrobe knowledge to a rapidly expanding belly would require a few adjustments. Here are the key elements to dressing a pregnant woman:

• Curves: Chances are all of your curves including the belly will naturally augment as your pregnancy progresses. Enjoy and flaunt your flourishing bust, hips and belly with v-necks, scoop necks and hip hugging styles. It is my belief that the larger belly counterbalances a more alluring look.
• Silhouette: Consider non-maternity voluminous silhouettes for when you’re not showing or want to hide a small belly. Loose clothing like sack dresses, banded bottom tops and voluminous tunics early on also serve the purpose of being extra comfortable when you are not feeling your best. Once your baby bump appears, flatter it with a sleek silhouette. In particular, highlight the narrowest part of your torso between your bust and belly and the curve on the underside of the belly or your hips. The larger your belly gets, the smaller these two areas will appear, so show them off! Remember that non-maternity straight or voluminous tops may become sleek as they drape around a larger belly.
• Stretch: Stretchy fabrications allow for lots of comfort, room to grow and the sleek silhouette you are after. Add side ruching to a stretchy maternity top or dress and you’ve got a super stylish maternity basic. Pregnancy may also be the one condition where growing denim is an advantage.
• Size: Keep in mind that your size may shrink during your first trimester and grow one or more sizes throughout the pregnancy. It is a bit of a balancing act to purchase for the body you have at present without discounting the body you will have in a few weeks or months. One thing I have found is that no matter what your height, very few tops will be long enough by the end of your pregnancy so always be on the lookout for long tops. Non-maternity jackets often work worn open but be careful that they fit through the shoulders and are large enough to be pulled closed over the bust.

Give yourself a break. Really take to heart the adage that fashion is an adjustment of the eye. Your body is changing a lot over a short period of time and it’s normal to feel less confident about it some days. Try these tips and adjust them as you see fit, giving yourself some time for your eye to adjust to your changing body.

The combination of growing up in the 70’s and my Dutch heritage had me in multiple pairs of clogs when I was a child. They were bright tomato red with a light brown wooden heel and I remember my Mum replenishing the look each time I grew out of them. When I was very little I wore red clogs with dresses and skirts, but as I got older I wore them with jeans and corduroy pants. In the mid 80’s I stopped wearing clogs because I became too cool for school, opting instead for winklepickers, moccasins, cowboy boots, Lady Di’s and Dr. Martens.

I haven’t worn clogs since I was 15, but I still try them on for nostalgic reasons. My foot shape has changed over the years and now, clogs slide off my feet as I stride. My feet have to grip unnaturally hard to keep them on which gives me arch cramp, so that’s a no go for me. But I wholeheartedly believe that clogs have stylish potential. Wearing them with a cute casual outfit under a pair of boot cut or wide leg jeans, exposing just the tips of the toe box can look adorable. Some of the more refined and sleek clog styles lend themselves to straight legs too.

I have an extremely stylish 49 year old German friend who wears white clogs with lighter wash boot cut jeans (this is the same friend who wears a white ceramic Chanel watch). She too has fussy feet and clogs work for her when she’s on her feet for a long time. My friend rocks the look so I’m going with a stylish yay for clogs. As with all wardrobe items, it’s how you wear them that makes the difference. What’s your verdict on clogs?

Believe it or not, my friend’s white clogs are similar to the Dansko style (top left), but with a light brown wooden heel. And she is as chic and pulled together as it gets! Fabulous footwear designers like Donald Pliner, Paul Green and Stuart Weitzman have started showing clogs in their collections and the ped featured quite strongly in Fashion Week for Spring 2010. I have a hunch that we might see clogs come back for Spring. Perhaps I’ll even find a pair that stay on my feet.

This week’s bargains are fun and a little more avant-garde than usual. I have every item in my shopping cart.

• Priorities tartan blazer from bluefly for $84.15. I love it’s schoolboy blazer appeal and the fact that it’s green. What a breath of fresh air amongst a retail sea of black and grey.
• Laundry sateen military trench coat from bluefly for $117. 30. I have a black trench in this fabrication and it’s very versatile and appealing. Fabulous with jeans and converse sneakers, but just as great over a cocktail dress. The sheen, seam detailing and buttons add depth to an otherwise boring bit of black fabric. Attitude!
• Banana Republic ruched turtleneck for $34.99. This knit top is soft, fits well and is available in a variety of colours. It makes a good layering item if it’s too slinky to wear on its own.
• Ann Taylor pearl ribbon necklace for $29.99. Dress it up over a LBD, or dress it down over a T with a boyfriend blazer. With party season just round the corner, you might like to look at all of Ann Taylor’s spectacular baubles when you’re next in stores (you’ll get most of them for less with an online coupon).
• Nordstrom oxford brogue for $51.90. It’s casual, comfy, androgynous, and fab with a button-down shirt, pinstripe blazer, pretty scarf and lots of girly bling.

Happy shopping!