Yesterday’s post on leggings started a great discussion in the comments, so I thought I’d follow up with more information on how to apply this trend. I have seen all body types and ages pull off this look with style. From sizes 0 to 28 and petites to tall, it can be done. Here are some guidelines that might help:

• Dress or tunic style. You’ll want a dress that doesn’t cling and show through the detail of the leggings underneath. Thicker jersey knits, spandex knit blends and mesh work best. Fancier silk sack dresses will also work when paired with a heel. A-line patterned styles with empire cuts and front-knots work particularly well because they’re forgiving on the hip, tummy and thigh area. Straighter shift styles work well for those with apple and rectangular body types.
• Dress or tunic length. If you have slim thighs, wear your dress/tunic as short as mid-thigh length and no shorter. If you’re leg-shy or carry a little extra on your thighs, wear your dress around the knee (either just above, on, or just below). Do not wear leggings without wearing an extra long top, or as a substitute for pants. Those nightmarish ‘80’s fashion days are over.
• Leggings length. I like leggings best when they stop on the widest part of your calf because accentuating a shapely calf muscle is flattering. Somehow, this length seems to work whether you have small or big calves. Wearing leggings that stop below your knees but above your calf muscle will also work. Wearing them ankle length looks best paired with a high heel. Most leggings are ankle length which means that you’ll need to scrunch them up to your best length. This automatically makes them more opaque, which gives you extra coverage.
• Legging types. There are plenty of options to choose from. Footless tights are cheap and made of nylon. Brands like Hue, DKNY and Frenchi in plain colours will cost you between $6-$12 and you’ll find those in the hosiery section of any department store. Cotton lycra leggings will cost a little more ($22-$40) and you’ll find them scattered amongst the clothing. Once you get the dress right, you’ll get way with spending $6 on leggings.
• Shoe options. The look works with both flats and heels and will depend on your preference. If you feel a little flat-footed and short, opt for a heel. Ballet flats, wedges, fancy thong sandals and shoes with chunky heels are my favourite footwear combination for this look.

It’s fun to try a different look, especially if you feel in a bit of a rut with the clothes in your wardrobe, so give leggings a bash. If you still feel that the look is not quite “you”, you’ll at least have had a bash at something new.

A-line front-knot and empire cut dresses (left) are a “default” option for the leggings look. Sack dresses (right) also work magically with leggings (I personally prefer this combination with a small heel).

Last Spring I popped the revival of the ‘80’s leggings fashion fad into the “teenybopper box”. But this year I can’t seem to get enough of the look. The adapted trend can be worn in a flattering and age-appropriate way. The revival of dresses, minis and tunics this season have given leggings a stylish return. I’ll give you 7 reasons why you should spend $7 and get yourself a pair to experiment:

1. They tone down the “dressy” aspect of wearing a dress. Match leggings with a jersey dress, add some flats and you’re ready for anything.
2. They give you coverage if you are skin-shy about your legs.
3. They are incredibly comfortable. Pairing a sturdy dress with leggings feels like you’re wearing sweats and a top instead of a frock. 
4. They add an interesting layering element to your ensemble. Choose a colour that co-ordinates with your dress or top and be playful with patterns and colours if you dare. If not, stick to black.
5. They keep you warm when the air-conditioning is freezing.
6. They are inexpensive, and an easy way of injecting the right amount of “right now” into your wardrobe.
7. They are a great transitional item for Autumn. Add leggings and a cropped jacket or cardigan to an existing dress and you’re hip for when temperatures start to cool.

Don’t get caught up with the notion that you need to have thin legs to wear leggings. All they do is peek out from under your mid-thigh or knee-length dress or tunic. Make sure that what you wear on top is flattering and the leggings look will fall into place. This dynamic duo is best with knitted dresses and tunics, but certain sturdy woven styles can also work. Last week, I was thrilled to see my ready-to-pop pregnant friend in a gorgeous vintage empire-cut maternity dress that she had matched with black leggings and wedges – she never looked better!

When I’ve introduced this ultra-comfy look to my clients, they haven’t looked back.

White items of clothing are a basic in everybody’s wardrobe. Unfortunately they don’t stay optically white for as long as we’d like. While Tilex, bleach and oxy-clean can certainly stretch their useful life, it’s imperative that you check the state of your whites each season.

Here is a loose guideline of how long you can expect white items to last before you demote them to the camping, home-crafts or gardening pile:

• White denim items – up to 5 years because quality denim wears well.
• White slacks, skirts, dresses and jackets – up to 3 years if you dry-clean them accordingly. These items loose their optical luster quicker than white denim.
• Men’s undergarment-T’s and ladies’ camisoles – up to 2 years. Under-arm discoloration, pillage and grey tinges start appearing after about a year, but you can stretch their longevity because they’re undergarments.
• Socks, bras and undies – up to 2 years.
• White collared shirts – 1 to 2 years depending on how often you wear them. Collared shirts need to stay pristine.
• Outerwear T’s – up to 18 months. They loose their appeal as soon as they go grey and yellow.

This isn’t an exact science. White items that are laundered and worn less frequently stay looking magically white for longer. Remember to replace your whites when they start to look dodgy – white whites look best.

We’re heading into the final weekend of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. The ladieswear area can get confusing. By popular demand, here is a rundown of the various departments:

• Women’s Active stocks sports gear like Nike, Adidas and the North face.
• Encore carries everything from sportswear to occasion attire from sizes 14W to 24W.
• Petite Focus specializes in clothing for women 5′ 4″ and below from sizes 0P to 14P.
• B.P. stands for “Brass Plum” and caters to teenagers and youngsters. Styles are small, hip and cheap. You can absolutely shop here if you’re in your 30’s, 40’s and 50’s if you have the body type, spunk and skill to select the right pieces. 
• Point of View stocks affordable, mainstream and fashionable casual and careerwear in regular sizes under labels like Karen Kane, Caslon, Esprit, Semantics and Michael Kors.
• Individualist is a step up from Point of View in both fashion and price point. Here you’ll find ultra sophistication in better-end fabrications and labels like Trina Turk, Theory, Hugo Boss and Laundry.
• Savvy is for the fashion savvy and small framed. This is where you’ll find the hottest trends under labels like Marc Jacobs, L.A.M.B, Diane von Furstenberg, Nanette Lepore and True Religion. Stocks here are limited to keep the look exclusive.
• Narrative is a mish mash department. It stocks fashionable dresses and coats and traditional separates with roomier fits. Price points are good and it’s always worth looking here for that unexpected bargain.
• T.B.D. is an urban and denim focused area. You’ll find all the of the moment expensive denim brands like Free People, Citizens of Humanity, Paige and 7 for all Mankind.
• Studio 121 is where you’ll find eclectic and luxe brands at high price points like Eileen Fisher, Misook, Faconable and Lafayette. The area is aimed at a mature shopper.
• St. John houses the beautiful brand itself for the ultra classic women.
• Special Occasion stocks dazzling evening attire.
• Via C is the where you’ll find extremely expensive designer wear like Dolce & Gabbana , Jill Sander, Cavalli, Chanel and Gucci. Expect to part with lots of pretty pennies when you purchase from these collections.

Nordstrom covers a range of fashion personas and price points. Unlike Saks, Barneys and Neiman Marcus, there are affordable departments for ladies on a tight budget. Let us know about your favorite departments, and have fun shopping the sale!