There are many reasons why clients ask for my fashion and style assistance. They might need help identifying and clarifying their personal styles. They might love a particular aesthetic, yet struggle to make it work in real life. They might want to know their best colours, how to add and wear non-neutrals, how to add new-to-them colours to their outfits, or create colour palettes for their wardrobes. They might feel overwhelmed and want help editing, reviewing, and identifying wardrobe holes. There may be a lifestyle and climate mismatch where their wardrobes don’t match and work with daily life. They might need guidance on how to transition and adapt wardrobes into a new climate, new job, or retirement. They might seek a hair and make-up refresh. They might need help putting together outfits for occasions, work events or travel capsules. And some simply loathe to shop, and are all too happy to have me point out where they can find items that will work with minimum fuss and expense.

Despite the wide range of challenges, in my almost twenty years as a wardrobe consultant, I have found that two particular style challenges are more common than the others.

1. Fits and Proportions

People battle to find items that create a comfortable and great fit, and are also unsure how items should fit. This includes the fit of footwear and accessories. Frequent weight fluctuations make finding good fits trickier. In some instances, bodies have changed over time, and people need to know how to dress their new shape so that they don’t feel off and awkward. In other instances, items that fit superbly well are unaffordable.

Sometimes people are not sure how to balance outfit proportions with their body shape so that they feel good in their outfits. Changing silhouettes in fashion, and how to wear them in ways that adhere to their personal figure flattering priorities, can also pose challenges.

2. Outfit Creation

Struggling to put together daily head-to-toe outfits that look good, feel great, prevent outfit boredom, and work for the setting and tasks of the day is a perpetual challenge for many clients. People may have a great eye for pieces that work well for their figures, complexion and lifestyle, and have amassed a KILLER wardrobe, yet fall short on how to put it all together.

Rest assured that everyone experiences fit challenges. Models, influencers, and style professionals too. And mixing and matching wardrobe items successfully so that most, if not all outfits hit your fabness-factor is not as easy as it looks. Creativity can be hard work.

Does this resonate with you? What are your biggest style challenges?

We last took this poll in 2010. Fifteen years ago! It was close, but Team Boots took the trophy. With an imminent seasonal shift in both hemispheres, it’s time for an update. You bat for Team Sandals if you prefer wearing sandals to boots, and vice versa. Note that any style of sandal or boot counts. Flip flops count as sandals, and hiking, western, snow, and rain boots count as boots.

Generally, I do not enjoy wearing sandals. I find them hard to fit, quite uncomfortable, and do not like exposing my toes. I live in the city, am on foot a lot, and prefer to have my toes covered and protected. I much enjoy wearing summery open heeled shoes, but with a closed toe-box. That said, I have ONE pair of casual white gladiators that I save for vacations in hot beachy places. They were exactly the right thing to wear on our holidays in coastal Greece and Italy.

I LOVE wearing boots. I have many pairs because I find them comfortable, supportive, protective, versatile, and robust for Seattle city living. I have casual pairs, and dressy pairs across neutrals and non-neutrals. I can wear boots most of the year here in Seattle, and others do too. You are more likely to see people wearing boots than sandals in this neck of the woods. I bat for Team Boots.

Here’s my current collection.

Over to you. Do you bat for Team Sandals or Team Boots? Tell us why, and no batting for both teams. If you wear both or neither, you’re off to Team Bench to feast. I’m serving Icelandic cod curry with a cauliflower rice and jasmine rice mix, kale and onion salad, and scrumptious French chocolate mousse for dessert.

If you wear blues and browns, try wearing them in an outfit with a shade of white. Any shade of blue counts, which includes blue denim in any wash. Any shade of brown counts, which includes an earthy dollop of mustard. Any shade of white counts, which includes a light tan. 

The blue and brown components of the outfit can be dominant, and the white subtle. The brown can be subtle if you’re big on sporting blue and white outfits. You might have the palette covered in a ready-to-go pattern. The blues might be dark, and the browns light, and vice versa. You might sport the white component through pearls and sneakers, and the brown with a bag and belt. The palette has endless possibilities.

Here are examples of outfits that combine blues with browns and whites.

In this version, a patterned two-piece-dress has the palette ready-to-go. Blues feature strongly, while cognac is the orange-y brown that complements the blue. There is a very subtle smattering of white in the pattern too. Cognac western boots amplify the brown component. Add a bag that works with the pallette.

In this version of the palette, the blues and browns are dark. A pair of navy trousers is combined with a white shirt, thereby creating a high contrast. A chocolate brown belt, sweater and sandals, and dark navy bag complete the outfit.

One of the easiest ways to wear the palette is by combining blue jeans (or a blue denim skirt) with a white top and brown jacket. White or brown shoes and bag finish off the look. Or, combine toffee bottoms with a navy top, and complete the look with white footwear, belt, and bag. Or, combine white bottoms with a blue top, and brown shoes and belt. Or sport a denim dress with brown boots, and white pearls. These are four ways I personally like to wear this palette.

How about you?

Here’s a fringe jeans vibe that I should have included in my summary of denim trends for 2025. Pieced jeans are colour blocked, combining “pieces” of two washes into one pair of jeans. The pieces are usually vertical panels down the outside side seams of the jeans, although triangular front inserts are another way to go. The washes vary in colour, and are usually a shade of blue. Sometimes they are black, white, and grey. You’ll find a similar design feature on denim skirts.

This collection shows examples of the trend.

The colour blocked effect is specifically paneled, and not patchwork. A cousin to jeans with tuxedo panels down the sides. Pieced jeans silhouettes tend to be wide, barrel-shaped, and flared. The visual effect of the contrast panels is elongating, despite their high contrast, because they draw the eye up and down. It’s a maximal design feature that you either like or you don’t. You might prefer the look of simpler and more minimal looking jeans.

Pieced jeans appealed to me right away, so I jumped onto the look a few years ago. I have two pairs of casual wide leg pieced jeans, and the collection below shows the exact pairs. They get a good amount of wear on casual days. I like the trend because it’s playful, dramatic, and interesting. Not basic. I like their vertical integrity too. I’ve found that pieced jeans look particularly good in motion because the impact of the panel is great from all angles, and especially from the side.

Over to you. Do you like the pieced jeans trend?