Closets that I review often have a few items of unflattering and shapeless pieces of knitwear lurking in amongst the cherries. While some boxy knitwear pieces are beyond redemption, others can be transformed with the addition of a waist-cinching belt. Even for the small minority of people that can make boxy knitwear work for them, the belt creates a different look with the same piece of knitwear, effectively increasing its ROI.

This quick and inexpensive style tip is not going to work with chunky knits, which fail to look streamlined no matter what you do to them. I have also found that the look doesn’t work with every body and seems to be more effective as you get closer to the hourglass shape (for fuller figures too). But nothing ventured nothing gained, so give it a try if you have the items or are prepared to invest in a belt. Freshening up a boring piece of knitwear in this way can work wonders for your style and your pocket.

Eileen Fisher is well known for her expensive and impeccably made boxy knitwear. Most of us need a belt like the one on the left to make it flattering.

Lugging around gigantic totes filled with everything but the kitchen sink will wreck your back, neck and shoulders. This concerned Oprah, who recently asked New York based chiropractor Isis M. Medina how to find a handbag that won’t hurt your back. Medina suggested we follow a set of healthy handbag guidelines when choosing our bag and I found seven of her ten points particularly interesting:

• Your weight and your fate: you shouldn’t tote more than 10% of your body weight. So, if you weigh 150 pounds, your handbag and it’s contents should weigh no more than 15 pounds.
• Getting a handle: long strapped shoulder bags are bad because they tug you to one side causing your shoulders to hunch. Short handled bags that aren’t too flimsy or narrow are a better choice.
• The test drive: make sure that you can use Medina’s three approved positions for a short-handled bag:
  • Over your shoulder and tucked under your arm
  • Over your forearm (or in the crook of your elbow)
  • Held in your hand
• Compact models: shape and dimensions matter less than how the bag meshes with your body. Your bag should find “that sweet spot” on your body and be comfortable to carry.
• No feed bags: structured bags are better than slouchy ones because they keep their contents stable, which in turn keeps you balanced and your back aligned.
• Easy access: rummaging around in a handbag causes your torso to twist and distort. It’s therefore important that the contents of your handbag are organized for simple and efficient retrieval.
• Low bulk components: bags that are soft, lightweight and mold to your body are best. In this way, your arm stays by your side comfortably without having to stick out unnaturally. Bags with heavy hardware or other chunky components therefore tend to be unhealthy choices.

Medina further suggested that buying an expensive handbag is not necessarily the solution. A modestly priced handbag can be healthy and chic. It’s also important to balance the load that your body is carrying equally on both sides.

I’m pleased to announce that my handbags (plus their contents) weigh well below 10% of my body weight. When did you last put your handbag on the scale?

Some form of weatherproof coat is essential for those of us who have wet Autumns and Winters. Styles with hoods are particularly practical when small children are in tow and our hands aren’t available to hold an umbrella in addition to everything else. The good news is that our choices are less dowdy these days and rainwear seems to get more fashionable every year. Below are my top picks for this season. The stylish Mum-on-the-go never looked better.

Price points for this item will vary, but the style from Macy’s (far left) is currently on sale and looks terrific paired with a super pair of funky waterproof boots, jeans and a great handbag. Thank you Meredith for inspiring this blog entry. You looked fab yesterday as we shopped in the rain.

For more than 15 years after the horrific 80’s decade of anti-fashion, the dominant trend in the industry was body conscious. Designers celebrated our figures with sleek, tailored pieces that are fitted to our bust, waistline and hips. We, the buying public, learned the rules of dressing to this fundamental style direction.

Then, about 18 months ago, things started to change. A new artsy and roomy voluminous look started to emerge as designers introduced bold pieces with excess fabric that hide the contours of the body. Last seen in the 80’s, leggings and tapered pants also re-appeared. It seems contradictory, but these extremely tailored pieces are part of the voluminous trend. An essential part, in fact, because volume on volume doesn’t work and it makes perfect sense to pair these streamlined bottoms with billowing blouses, sack dresses and trapeze jackets.

Along with watershed change comes confusion. Having moved away from the boxy styles of the 80’s and finally getting up to speed with modern tailoring, the re-invention of volume seems to have baffled much of the consumer market. These voluminous looks are taking a lot of getting used to, especially as style gurus continue to advocate body-skimming styles. Personally, I have embraced some of the new items, but still feel that streamlined styles are universally flattering.

The struggle to assimilate the new voluminous trend is something I see often as a fashion stylist. How do you feel about the shift? Has it been easy to adopt, or are you still making sense of the new volume?