Garments, shoes and accessories have different names in different parts of the English-speaking world. Here in the USA I have learned to either use the American English, or receive blank stares from my clients and retail store staff. Still, many British terms and colloquialisms slip through. The blog is no exception, so I thought I’d list the ones I can think of. Let me know if you discover others hidden in my posts.

I’ve drawn the words above from memory so they almost certainly include some idiosyncrasies (the result of a British education in Hong Kong and many years living in South Africa).

There are some fab books on this topic. We find that British English A to Zed is hilarious (and great for proving to our American friends that we aren’t just making words up). Cassell’s Dictionary of English Idioms goes beyond individual words, explaining the many obscure expressions in the English language.

It’s hard to find comfortable shoes, and even harder to find stylish casual flats that aren’t “athletically inspired”. Finding practical and sweet looking shoes that work for situations like looking after small children, commuting on foot, running errands, sight-seeing and shopping, remains a challenge. While there are an abundance of fancy flats and casual flats around, only a handful end up being truly comfortable. Below is an assortment of flat “8-hour” Autumn shoes that have been put through their paces by either myself or my clients. The styles are closed and therefore perfect for crisp Autumn days.

The items come in an assortment of colours so be sure to follow the links if these shades don’t tickle your fancy. Natural Comfort is now available at Nordstrom and right now the Naturalizers are on sale at Macy’s in a whole slew of colours.

Apparently so. A college student who was on her way from San Diego to Tuscon for a doctors’ appointment was asked to get off her flight because her outfit was too revealing. Kyla Ebbert sat down in her seat and just as the flight was about to take off, a flight attendant asked her to come to the front of the plane and (in front of the other passengers) told her that she would have to catch a later flight, in a different outfit. According to Kyla, he told her that Southwest was a family airline and she was “too provocative to fly on this flight”.

Embarrassed and desperate, Kyla asked what she could do to stay on board so that she could make her medical appointment (it was a day trip and she didn’t have any spare clothing). She asked for a blanket, covered herself up and managed to stay on what became a rather miserable flight.

There is no dress code policy on Southwest Airlines and Kyla is asking for a formal apology. Things were different when she flew back to San Diego a few hours later and a different flight attendant actually complimented on her outfit. Take a look at Kyla’s outfit on the MSNBC video and let us know what you think. Did Kyla cross a line? Should there be a line at all? And if so, how should it be enforced?

Choosing the correct transitional accessories for your ensemble as your wardrobe moves from Summer to Autumn is a quick and inexpensive route to go. Some ideas:

• Scarf: This was the most popular bridging item that I saw people wearing when we lived in France. I was amazed at how the scarf (worn in the same manner as in the picture below) was the first “clothing item” that you’d see adorning outfits as temperatures started to cool. While I would gravitate towards a cardigan or jacket, in Paris it’s all about wearing the scarf before you wear the cardigan or jacket. Add a beautiful bulky scarf to a fairly plain ensemble and look like a Parisian.
• Hat: Headgear is particularly popular in Europe and is often worn together with a scarf before the addition of a jacket. Sporting a scarf along with the hat is not a necessity – hats can make quite a statement on their own.
• Closed shoes: Storing your sandals and adding closed shoes to your outfits (like the new Oxford) is an easy change. However, adding hose to peep-toe shoes is also a trendy look and good for Autumn.
• Hose: Whether it’s hose or leggings, add them to existing skirts and dresses and change the mood of your outfit. Ribbed, patterned, coloured, opaque or sheer, they’ll all work depending on the level of drama that you want to create. It’s very fashionable to add black opaque tights and heels to a Summery dress at the moment.
• Handbag: Switch back to your “cold weather” bag if you chose to keep your handbag selection to a complement of 3. Structured bags are a good choice for Autumn because they denote a level of seriousness that somehow works with the turning of the season. Away with whimsical wicker and onto solemn fun.

I can’t stress enough how “accessories” make the outfit. They remain one of the most effective ways to accomplish a stylish appearance.

Scarfs and hats are ideal ways of adding the Autumn touch to an existing outfit.