2023 sounds awfully futuristic! Or maybe I’ve seen too many sci-fi shows. It’s been twenty-three years since we welcomed the new millennium. This year marks my thirtieth year in the rag trade. Hubs Greg and I celebrated twenty-six years of marriage. And twenty years ago we moved to the US, and settled in Seattle. Time flies when you’re having fun. 

Fun is the operative word, and that’s my wish for our style journeys this year. The fun we can have with fashion and style is not to be underestimated. It can be a welcome distraction when we’re stressed, a therapeutic hug when we’re sad, and a confidence boost when we’re down. Whatever it is that makes fashion and style fun, light-hearted, and meaningful for you, I wish you busloads of it for 2023. Along with lots of laughter, good health, interesting adventures, and countless mornings of waking up with joy in your heart.

Greg, Sam, Jo and I will be spending Christmas and New Year’s at home in Seattle. Sam and Jo start getting excited when the tree goes up the day after Thanksgiving. When the decorations are up and the lights go on, they play, shout, and tear around the loft, spreading even more good cheer than normal. They are extremely curious about the presents under the tree. They check in on them daily, making sure nothing has happened. Surprisingly, they resist the urge to tear them open. So far, all of the presents are intact, albeit shuffled around by nosy noses.

Like most people, we have little holiday traditions. We take Sam and Jo on long city walks to see the lights and festivities. We get dressed up and go to our favorite Japanese restaurant on Christmas Eve, and come back early to watch Christmas movies. We’ve been invited to spend Christmas Day with dear friends. Things get rowdy and rambunctious at the Cox Castle as Sam and Jo play with their new toys relentlessly. Our quiet Christmas is over.

For the rest of the week the music is blaring while the oven is baking with all sorts of yummies that I only make once a year. We potter around at home, puzzle, tackle some home projects, catch up with friends and family abroad, take Sam and Jo out for outdoorsy adventures, relax, slow down, and try to not think about work and the usual stresses. We so look forward to the end of the year!

We at YLF wish you happy holidays, safe travel, peace in your hearts, slick style, good eats, fun festivities, memorable moments, alone time if you need it, and lots of laughter. We will be taking a break until the new year. Regular blog posting will resume January 3.

We checked in with our bloggers to see what they are wearing for special occasions and holiday festivities this year. The answer: all kinds of amazing outfits, of course! From lustrous velvet to the traditional Christmas red worn in unexpected ways, here are six of our favourite looks.

Now this is a party dress if I ever saw one! Julie went full-on formal glam with a show-stopping feather-and-tulle strapless gown in fire engine red. The fitted bodice reins in the volume of the full maxi skirt with delightful swoosh factor. Our blogger has layered a crisp white button-down underneath. The strictness of the fully buttoned-up shirt provides structure and interesting irregular outfit juxtaposition, while the short puffy sleeve adds back in some flirty fun. Gold block-heeled sandals bring dressy festive bling to the party. Julie repeats the gold with a wide cuff bracelet and big cocktail ring. Her pink ombré bag ties in perfectly with the textures of her dress, and her lippy also matches her dress perfectly.

Velvet trousers are a classic for the holidays. Here Cathy puts her own spin on the look by going with an earthy colour palette that is striking with her beautiful red locks. The “Old Hollywood Glam” pleated full-length wide leg trousers flow elegantly and have a gorgeous lustrous shine. She’s combined them with a floral print blouse with ruffled collar and sleeves. The gold thread running through the black and brown floral print adds subtle shine, that is picked up by Cathy’s arty pendant necklace and the chain strap on her black quilted bag. Tucking the blouse lengthens the leg line from the hips up, while the black logo belt accentuates our blogger’s waist and adds structure. Peachy lipstick complements the colours in the outfit.

This happy explosion of colour* reminded me so much of Angie’s recent Solid Simple Bright outfit. It radiates the same impactful exuberance that will make you the life of any party. Susanne is sporting an untucked slim-fit mustard turtleneck and magenta full-length wide legs. This colour combo alone is dynamite, but she ups the style quotient by pairing it with a luxe two-toned maxi coat in magenta and red. The coat is fully reversible, and here the magenta lapel and sleeve cuffs subtly match the trouser colour. Gold metallic sneakers add a Sporty Luxe element. Susanne’s trademark blunt ear-length boxie and red lipstick, statement square specs and red cuff bracelet are all that’s needed to finish off the look.

*Photo: Martina Klein, Berlin

Hard Edge Meets Sparkly Glam in Kim’s festive skirt look. Our blogger has tucked a simple black top into a knee-length silver sequin pencil skirt that glimmers and sparkles in the light. Dressy, white pointy-toed pumps in combination with the black top form a strong graphic element that works well with the outfit’s vibe. The surprise piece here is Kim’s oversized collarless leather moto jacket. The taupe doesn’t match but works splendidly with the rest of the colour palette, while the studs on the front panels and shoulders are an unexpected way to add extra bling. Neutral lipstick and black sunnies, and Kim is ready to go.

This is a spectacular example of Angie’s Fun Holiday Pant Suit outfit formula! Ola is wearing red nylon tuxedo-stripe track pants under a crisp white button-down tunic that is left untucked. As a topper, she picked an on-trend long-line blazer in red faux leather. The sharp, tailored shoulder adds structure, while the matching reds of the jacket and pants create vertical integrity. White pointy-toed stiletto pumps lengthen the leg line and bookend the white shirt. Keeping the playful oversized earrings and pillow-quilted bag in the same red family adds even more impact. Ola’s gorgeous curls and smile are the icing on the cake.

Such a gorgeous set of varied holiday outfits. Each uniquely suited to the wearer and the occasion. What you are wearing this holiday season?

The last outfit formula of 2022 is an assortment of fabulous looks. Each of them unique and dressy, with a good dose of carefree ease. You’ll find many of the styling strategies I recently suggested for relaxing a dressy look in these outfits. 

1. Layered Pattern Mixing

Four patterns in the same colour palette are combined to create this gorgeous look. A pair of dressy black pinstriped trousers is combined with a dressy patterned blouse. An embroidered sweatshirt is layered over the dressy blouse. The fluid fits of the items give the look its ease. The sweatshirt – casual in itself – relaxes the silk blouse, which is further relaxed by wearing it untucked and over the trousers. A very dressy and luxe coat in a similar pattern to the blouse tops the lot. Its boxy cut adds a chill effect. A pair of casual grey cowboy boots adds back the relaxed touch.

2. Stompy Puffed Sparkle

Two dressy items are combined to create a column of grey. A sparkly silver pleated midi skirt on the bottom and a tweed jacket up top. The blazer is buttoned through to accentuate the tailoring, with I suspect a camisole layered underneath it. To relax the look, a knee-length casual lilac puffer shacket hybrid is popped over the top, and very casual stompy black boots that bookend the model’s hair are the choice for shoes.

3. Graphic Volume

This outfit is made up of dressy items and luxe fabrics but the exaggerated volume of each piece gives the look its ease. Black super wide leg pants are combined with a swingy and oversized patterned shirt that’s worn untucked to create even more ease. It’s buttoned up to the collar for a formal effect. The separates are topped with a very roomy and boxy royal blue peacoat. Dressy black pumps add a tailored touch, while a fish-scale bag adds a playful one.

4. Matchy-Matchy Socked and Pumped

Last, a bold and dressy patterned midi coat tops a black body-con sweater dress with fun fringe. The roomier fit of the coat adds a relaxed vibe. The patterned pumps and bag perfectly match the patterned coat. Black scrunched socks worn with the pumps add a chill integrity to the dressy look. Festive!