We’ve just returned from eight days of work and play in the Big Apple. We had a fabulous time and have lots to share. Welcome to New York week at YLF!

Winter in NYC can be nasty. Temperatures were predominantly below freezing, ranging from 12 to 36 degrees Fahrenheit (-11 to 3 Celsius). Days were either filled with brilliant sunshine, or snow, ice and slush. Despite the bitter cold, most people were pretty stylish. I’ll admit that you’ll see it all in Manhattan on any given day. From woman dressed in sweat pants, running shoes and Uggs, to those adorned in designer brands from head to toe. But generally, there are strong Manhattan style trends and my impressions are as follows:

• Black, black and more black: It’s not a myth. New Yorkers wear a lot of black. Black outwear, clothing, accessories and footwear reigned supreme. If it wasn’t black, it was brown, dark grey or some other neutral. Occasionally, crimson or bordeaux cropped up but that was it. There was very little Winter white or colour of any description. Street fashion in Manhattan during the Winter months is very dark.
• Boots: Both casual and dressy, boots were hands down the most common form of footwear. Knee-high boots worn over jeans, leggings and slacks or with skirts was popular because it’s extremely practical. Ankle boots and Uggs were also big and so were adorable wellington boots on wet slushy days. Heels on footwear were generally low or flat. Occasionally, you’d see a three-inch heeled boot or pump walk by but not often. I was relieved to see that athletic sneakers were in the minority, but my mind boggled when I saw the odd lass in sockless ballet flats. In frost biting temperatures, I just don’t get it.
• Wool Coats and Puffers: Tailored puffer coats were as popular as wool coats and the overall aesthetic was stylish and put together. Most coats were knee-length but extra long coats were abundant too. The “walking sleeping bag look”, or ankle-length puffer coat was not uncommon. Not so fab, but I’ll bet super warm.
• Knitwear and lightweight jackets: Both men and woman wore these layers under their coats. The extra layer is warm and made for a structured and polished look once coats came off indoors.
• Pants and skirts: Most woman wore pants, slacks and jeans, but I saw women in skirts and dresses too. Nice.
• Accessories: Scarves, headgear and gloves were not only an absolute necessity but quite the fashion statement. Virtually everyone wore Winter accessories in all shapes and forms. Ear muffs were also popular as were sunglasses when the sun came out. I spotted several pairs of 80’s inspired legwarmers worn over leggings and jeans. It looked really sweet. Excellent idea! I was envious of the look.
• Oversized Totes: Huge handbags are usually the norm in cities where people commute on foot or with public transport. I don’t think I saw anyone with a small bag during the day.
• Real Fur: There was plenty of real fur on the streets. Women were either decked out in fur from head-to-toe or embraced it as a trim on coats and accessories.

This is the second time I’ve visited NYC in the dead of Winter and my fashion and style perceptions are much the same. People do not generally wear athletic gear when they go about their day and that’s a style blessing. For those of you who have visited, or lived in Manhattan, what’s your take on New York Style? Tomorrow I’ll give you a rundown of what I wore while I was there so stay tuned.

Update: Wendy just pointed us to this New York Times slideshow that does a wonderful job of capturing Manhattan street style in the slush and snow.

Maintaining perfect fit becomes a challenge if your weight fluctuates. A variance of 5 to 10 pounds can be a size difference, especially if you tend to gain or lose weight on the lower part of your body. So what is a girl to do? Here are two options to consider:

• Purchase items that are forgiving on the areas of your body that grow larger and smaller. For example, A-line dresses and skirts are ideal for pear shaped body types that gain weight.
• Double up in different sizes on the items that you wear frequently. For example, consider stocking up on ”sleek jeans” and “roomy jeans”.

It’s an expensive exercise to keep a stock of various sizes in your wardrobe, but unfortunately I see no way around it. How else would you maintain perfect fit when the size of your body is perpetually changing?

There was a time when matching a handbag to your shoes was the no-brainier stylish thing to do. But fashion and style have evolved and this is no longer always the case. Some fashion gurus will go as far as saying that it’s become unstylish to match your bag and shoes.

I wouldn’t go that far. Most of us wear black or brown shoes and matching them with a black or brown bag is not a fashion faux pas. It might be the classic and predictable choice, but it’s by no means unstylish. I also think that the matching thing works with non-neutral colours, like wearing a cobalt bag with cobalt shoes. As long as you stick to wearing only two items in the same colour in one outfit, you’ll be fine (neutrals, excluded).

Aesthetically I prefer a mismatched look for myself, but matching the colour of handbags to shoes is still fab in my book. You’ll always look polished and put together.

Mismatch (left): These outfits show how mismatching the colour of your shoes and handbags works. Most of us have probably tried this look and are pretty used to it. It might even be a look that you prefer.

Match (right): These outfits show how matching peds with purses works just as well. The overall effect is less eye- catching, but certainly just as stylish.

Neutrals like black, grey, brown, cream, white, navy and nude are considered timeless, but most colours waft in and out of fashion. Recently on the forum there was an interesting discussion about colours that are forever fashionable just for you. These are the colours that are extremely flattering for your complexion, hair colour, eye colour and personality. When I work with my clients I refer to them as signature colors. It really doesn’t matter if it’s not the “it” fuchsia” or last season’s “teal”. If you look fabulous in particular shades, you should wear them regardless of their fashion status because signature colours do not date.

Unfortunately, items in timeless colours are not without their challenges. For some items the style will date even if the colour is forever. And it’s not always easy finding items in your timeless colours. You might find loads of items in one season and nothing for a few seasons thereafter. The answer is to buy items in more timeless styles and stock up on them when the colours are in fashion. This is why I bought quite a few things in tomato red and an acidic yellowy-green over the last few seasons. These are my timeless colours and I’d be awfully unhappy if they were absent from my wardrobe. How about you?

These shades of red and citrusy yellow have always been my forever fashionables. That all too famous 50’s “Tiffany’s blue” is a recent addition to the list. With the resurgence of turquoise for Spring 2009, I plan to stock up.