I wear a camisole virtually every day. My favourite brand and style, perhaps surprisingly, is the BP. stretch camisole from the junior department at Nordstrom for $12 a piece.

These camis are made of a rich cotton-spandex and bound with a pretty sateen. They come in about 20 different solid colours and have sufficient length for layering if you’re petite or regular height. The neckline is pretty high and the fabric stability is impressive. They don’t have a shelf bra and are as soft and comfy as can be.

They run a little small, so go up a size. I’ve triplicated my black and white camis and bought a few other colours. Despite getting washed and tumble-dried frequently, they have lasted quite well. It’s a win.

Which are your current favourite camisole brands and why?

Nordstrom offers additional colours at store level. Unfortunately, there are only six shades to choose from online.

I was intrigued when a friend passed along the link to heelarious.com. It’s a site that sells high heeled shoes for infants 0-6 months old. Absurd.

But it’s not quite as ridiculous as it sounds. The shoes are completely soft and collapse with weight. They are decorative and true “sitting shoes”, not meant for walking. They’re available in a variety of colours and retail for $35.

I laughed at this idea. My first department as a fashion buyer was babywear and I wondered whether I’d have bought in heelarious shoes as part of the store’s collection. I don’t think so. These peds (on the left below) look a little witchy and vampish. Perhaps they could be cute as part of a Halloween costume along with jail-bird striped stockings, a black frock, pointy hat and broomstick.

The invention is creative though. And in moderation, high-fashion clothing can be very cute on babies and children. I remember making a dear little Levis denim jacket part of my Autumn Infants range one season. It was utterly adorable. But our child would not sport her first fashion heels at this age. If baby had to match Mummy’s black patent heels, she’d wear the little flats on the right below.

The July 2008 issue of InStyle magazine described sophisticated style as follows:

“Feminine but not frilly, seductive but not showy, you live for luxury but are allergic to bling. Grace Kelly is your ideal, and Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren and Carolina Herrera are your sartorial guardian angels”.

This is pretty close to my interpretation of sophisticated style. Clothes and accessories are streamlined, refined and tailored. Colour combinations are clean-cut and crisp. The fit and finish on garments is impeccable and you are polished to the extreme.

I think this approach makes it easier to look chic, but I also thoroughly enjoy looking a little less sophisticated and more arty and playful from time to time. There is room for both fashion personas and, in my opinion, they are equally stylish.

I’d like to open up an interesting discussion that started on the forum: Do you aspire to a sophisticated style, or do you feel “severe and unapproachable” when you dress this way.

Waistcoat: a fitted sleeveless garment that forms the third part of a man’s formal three-piece suit. Waistcoats are usually worn over a shirt and under a long sleeved jacket. In America these items are referred to as “vests”.

I fancy the androgynous and playful look of a waistcoat. They’re decorative, structured and add layering interest to an ensemble. Eclectic waistcoats are once again on trend and might be worth a try if you don’t have one already.

I prefer waistcoats in woven suiting fabrics because that’s how the item was originally intended (as part of a man’s suit). But woven waistcoats can pose challenges for bustier gals. “Locking and loading” below the bust is an option if the stance is low and the rest of the waistcoat fits well. Alternatively, fine-gauge, tailored knitted waistcoats are available in “knitwear fabrications” (not jersey). They will stretch comfortably over the bust and offer a similar mood to their woven counterparts.

Wearing a waistcoat with a button-down is the typical pairing. But thinking out-of-the-box is even better. Consider popping a waistcoat over the following pieces for a change:

• Soft blouse: a tailored and strict waistcoat over a soft girly blouse creates a yummy contrast.
• T-shirt or knitted top: I’m condoning formfitting printed and plain T’s as layering items for under waistcoats. The sky must be falling down. Surprisingly, it’s a nice edgy look.
• Dress: A similar contrast is created when a soft, flowing dress is matched with a rigid waistcoat. I also like a structured sheath dress matched with a tailored waistcoat. Both looks add a fun dimension to frocks when you’re resting you’re denim jacket and cardigan.
• Sleeveless: waistcoats look super layered over sleeveless tops. It’s a good way of achieving an Autumn look when the weather is warm.

My friend Laurel wore a fabulous waistcoat ensemble last week. She layered a black woven waistcoat over a soft, black polka-dot blouse, and matched it with an abstract patterned cream, black and red knee-length, slightly A-line skirt. I was impressed with how well the mismatched patterns worked. Laurel looked arty, funky and pulled together. Her outfit was a great little transitional look.

An assortment of neutral woven waistcoats over button-down shirts, blouses, T-shirts, and a dress.