I am impressed with the new Citizens of Humanity high rise amber cut jeans. I’ve had these on a whole slew of body types from slim-limbed inverted triangles, to adorable apples, boyish rectangles and curvy hourglasses. The results have been stellar (pretty pears also look fairly good in the amber cut, but they look better in Joe’s, David Kahn and Paige Premium).

The amber cut has a bootcut hem and is available in a range of washes. It’s higher rise is comfy, flattering and acts like a girdle at 8.5 inches in front and 14 inches at the back. The denim is very soft and does not grow.

Unfortunately you pay premium price for premium denim, so the cost is steep. But I highly encourage the purchase if the fit is fab and you can afford the dent in your budget. At the very least, try them on and compare them to your current jeans. That won’t cost a cent.

These are two of the COH amber cut washes available online. There are more washes available in stores. I much preferred the feel of the lighter denim wash against my skin in this cut because it was soft. You also might like to read this forum thread if you still doubt whether premium jeans are worth their price.

This might be a personal question, but I’m happy sharing the contents of my handbag. I don’t carry very much because I  change out my handbags often. Sometimes twice a day if I need a clutch at night. This strategy allows me to have many handbags, which is my consolation for being unable to have loads of shoes (fussy feet have small footwear wardrobes). Having an assortment of handbags also allows me to have fun with different looks, and sport a healthy posture.

This is it:

• Wallet
• Keys
• Cell phone
• Tissues
• Lipstick
• Small notebook and pen
• Business cards
• Travel-size tin of Nivea hand cream

I don’t need to carry books, gum, snacks, make-up case, sunglasses, medication, a camera, kids toys or a bottle of water. Greg’s wallet often ends up in my handbag when we go out, but nothing else. How is the contents of your handbag different to mine? Let us know in the comments if you are comfortable sharing this info.

It makes a big difference to the overall look of an outfit when you wear a white camisole under a white or cream button down, blouse, knitted top or piece of knitwear. It makes your white top look richer, crisper and whiter. The result is a more polished appearance.

I see many women wearing nude or white bras under their white tops and nothing else. Although the color of the bra works, it doesn’t look so fab. White tops are usually more transparent than other colours and the addition of a white cami gives the top the appropriate coverage and extra visual interest.

I’m all for creating contrast, but I don’t fancy the look of other colours under white. It never looks quite as magical as the crisp, clean impact of white on white.

Wallets should be stylish accessories just like specs and watches. It’s great when they reflect our fashion persona because we whip them out many times a day. They are also an extremely functional accessory that carries things of great value to us. All the more reason to make our wallets a wonderfully visual and sensible choice.

This is what I look for in a wallet:

• A bright colour. This is the first and most important requirement. I have never owned a wallet in a neutral shade. I need to identify my wallet in my handbag in an instant so that I don’t have heart failure. At the moment I’m sporting a tomato red, textured patent wallet that I absolutely love. It makes me smile every time I pull it out.
• A lightweight style. I do not like to carry heavy things in my handbag, so a plain style with little hardware is a must.
• Functional compartments. I need sufficient card compartments for my credit cards, driver’s license and other identity cards. I also need a large coin compartment that’s easily accessible. Unlike many people, I like to carry change and I do use it.
• A small size. I usually like a compact shape (3×4 inches) because I do not carry a cheque book and my wallet must fit into a clutch. However, a dear friend recently gifted me with a larger wallet shape that I would never have previously considered (3.5 x7 inches). But it’s only a quarter of an inch thick, and being so sleek keeps the wallet “small” and efficient. It’s still lightweight and fits into my clutches.

Wallets needn’t be branded, leather or expensive. They can be cheap as chips and just as fab. A client of mine sports a great white cracked patent wallet that she bought at Forever 21. It fetches a compliment each time she takes it out. But if you’d prefer to buy an expensive wallet that will see you through for 5-10 years than that’s great too.

I see loads of sad, boring looking wallets that are overly stuffed and completely dysfunctional with broken zips, torn corners and loose stitching. Retire those poor wallets and opt for a better wallet system. I’m willing to bet that it will make a difference to your day.

An assortment of fun and practical wallets. I am currently using the red Lodis on the top left. Thank you Lori for making me try something new. I love my red wallet.