I adore clothing, shoes and accessories with interesting textures because they add aesthetic appeal and depth to an ensemble. Textures generate charm because they create contrast (the same way bold colours can do so). A monochromatic outfit looks infinitely better when the items are texture-rich.

A recent Nordstrom catalog did a brilliant job of summarizing ways in which you can add texture to your Autumn and Winter wardrobe. Here’s the lowdown (their categories, my words):

1. A feminine blouse with ruffles creates a strong contrast against wools and tweeds. If ruffles aren’t your thing, try blouses in iridescent fabrications, lace, jacquards or satin.
2. Booties with patent, mock croc, sueded or distressed leather trims do wonders to enhance an outfit.
3. Coats made of mottled tweeds or abstract jacquards stand out. So do coats with leather trims and fabrics with sheen and luster.
4. Cheeky pencil skirts with kick-pleats, cascading waterfall ruffles and front ruching details look three-dimensional. Purchase them in interesting fabrics and you’ve taken texture to the top.
5. Trousers in menswear fabrics like checks and tweeds are retro and scream Autumn.
6. Soft knit sweater dresses are luscious against stiff, structured woven sateen trenches. Add sueded boots and you’re in business.
7. Cropped jackets in leather, tartan, velvet and boiled wool look particularly good against stiff jeans.
8. Hosiery is the easiest way to add texture to a skirt or frock ensemble. Think delicate florals, geometric shapes, antique lace, crocodile patterns or micro fishnets.
9. Simpler embossed or quilted satchels are a nice change to plain leather handbags with excessive hardware. I love cracked patent, but rice-paper pleather is just as fab.
10. Statement jewelry like cuffs with oversized stones, antique brooches or vintage glass rings are alternative ways of adding decorative texture to your look.

For some reason Nordies have left scarves off their list. I’m adding them in because they can add a super contrasting texture to an outfit. I personally like something soft and silky with leather or pleather jackets.

I love outfits with interesting textures. It’s my preferred way of dressing because I’m a sucker for nice fabric. One of my personal wardrobe rules is that if I’m going to buy an item in a neutral colour, it has to be textured. It prevents me from getting bored with the item and gives rise to neutral ensembles with loads of sass.

Mixing and matching textures to create a contrast: (1) tweed and patent with denim, (2) shine with denim, (3) satin with leather and (4) ruffles with wool.

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.