The writing was on the wall when I saw an abundance of turquoise in Paris couture windows. Sure enough, it’s about a year later and the mainstream stores are full of turquoise product for Spring 2009. And the turquoise I saw recently in New York couture windows tells me that the shade is going to be around for a while.

I haven’t always loved turquoise the way I love green, red, yellow and cream. My fondness for the colour started last year when I got a new pair of specs, which are black and white on the outside and bright turquoise on the inside. Bingo. Since then I have been mesmerized by turquoise and have incorporated it into my wardrobe mix.

Turquoise is happening in all its hues and I like them all. From dark bluish tones to light greenish tints, both saturated and muted and everything in-between. I love to pair turquoise with white and yellow because it’s fresh and screams warm weather fun. I also like turquoise with black and white, green, or tomato red. Even if your complexion doesn’t allow you to wear turquoise close to your face, you can still use it as an accent.

I have turquoise knitwear, woolly scarves, a check jacket and a dress. I’m in the market for a turquoise blouse, Summer jacket, Spring scarf and handbag. And if I don’t find these items this year, there will always be Spring 2010. But a bit of uplifting turquoise product will be especially welcome right now, so my fingers are crossed.

The different hues of turquoise. Clockwise from the top left: classic blazer, printed scarves, metallic snake skin belt, watch, satchel and silk blouse.

It’s time to update the guidelines on how to dress for your body type. But before I readdress each body type in detail I need to clarify a few starting assumptions and explain the body type identification process:

There are five YLF body types

The pretty pear, adorable apple, racy rectangle, hot hourglass and statuesque inverted triangle should be familiar to YLF readers. After years of thinking through body type dressing and working with many, many different womanly figures, I still believe that these rudimentary categories best define the female form. But putting yourself into a body type category is merely a starting point. Once you know your body type, you need to do the next layer of analysis.

You might have a secondary body type

If you tend towards more than one body type you need to consider the guidelines of both. For example, you could be an hourglass with a curvier thigh area, in which case you would tend towards a pear shape. Or, if you’re an hourglass with a strong shoulder line, you’d tend towards an inverted triangle. I’m an hourglass with fewer curves so I tend towards a rectangle.

Body type modifiers add more detail

People with the same body type will still have different bodies. There are many other details that we need to consider when thinking about how best to adorn our bodies. Enter what I call the body type modifiers, such as bust size, height, shoulder width, neck length, leg length, ankle shape, short waist, long waist, calf circumference, rise size and being extra curvy.

Body types can change over time

This can happen naturally as we get older, but sometimes weight loss or gain can alter your body type more rapidly. For example, you might tend towards an apple or pear shape instead of being a typical hourglass when you gain weight in the thigh or mid riff area. By the same token when you lose weight, these are the areas that straighten out and you’re back to being an hourglass.

Identify your body type

The best way to identify your body type is to stand in front of a mirror in jeans or leggings and a form fitting top and analyze your silhouette from the front. Check how your hip width compares to your shoulder width (bust measurement does not play a part at this stage). Check whether you have a defined waistline. It might not be as easy as you think, so if you get stuck, post a picture of yourself on the forum and we’ll help you out.

This is the season for everything styled “the boyfriend” way. Boyfriend cardigans, jeans and watches are now joined by the boyfriend blazer, and that’s as 80’s inspired as it gets. This style should be familiar to anyone who was a teenager or adult during the mid to late 80’s, because it was the look of the decade (for men too).

Most modern pieces with an 80’s influence have been redesigned to look more flattering, but aside from a softer shoulder the boyfriend blazer is largely unchanged. It is oversized and longer in length with prominent shoulders and narrow lapels (many of the styles actually have shoulder pads). The silhouette is untailored and pretty baggy all over. The break line of the jacket is low, which makes the buttons fasten low on the torso. The sleeves are rolled or scrunched up to the elbow to show off contrast lining. I’ve seen lots of contrast pinstripe linings so far, but no paisleys like we had in 1985.

I was instantly attracted to the boyfriend blazer because I associate the look with hip and cool teenage years listening to Duran Duran and Depeche mode. Thinking back to that time makes me smile. But the unstructured integrity of the style is not instantly flattering because it hides the waist and encourages a sloppy shoulder line. Nevertheless, I believe that the right boyfriend blazer can look stylish, retro and arty if it’s worn with tailored basics like great jeans, a button down shirt or graphic T and a feminine shoe.

My guess is that it will take a while for people to re-adapt their eyes to the baggy jacket look, if they do so at all. Most of us are conditioned to feeling fabulous in a perfectly fitting and flop proof structured jacket that shows off the waistline. Have your eyes adapted?

An assortment of unstructured boyfriend blazers that are just as roomy at the back as they are from the front. I have a strong preference for this look with the contrast lining on the sleeves because it adds textured interest to the style. It’s a deal breaker without it.

I love the look of gladiator sandals and I’m envious of the lasses that wear them so effortlessly. But gladiators were not an option for my feet. No matter how hard I tried, I could never find sandals that were comfortable. Straps would cut into my skin and rub blisters after half an hour no matter what. So two years ago I made a decision to stop wearing sandals.

That changed last week when I stumbled across the “Brulee” sandal by British footwear brand Clarks. My sandal prayers were answered. Soft, soft, soft straps, elastic strap inserts, a cushioning and shock absorbing foot bed and roomy toe box. Add the one-inch, utterly adorable little cork wedge heel and mainstream gladiator look and you have a phenomenal sandal.

It’s still too cold to put this sandal through its paces (ideally, they need an 8-hour shopping day test run), but I did wear them around my heated home for three hours, occasionally charging up and down the stairs running after Rosie and Jasmine. They felt really good so I have high hopes that they will make it to the 6 to 8 hour mark. Unbelievable.

This sandal is also available in patent leather that is not nearly as soft as the colour options shown above. Remember that you’ll be able to stretch the toe box if it’s too snug because the leather is buttery. An expensive sandal at $90, but it’s better to have one pair of perfect sandals than three cheaper pairs that don’t go the distance.