Wellington boots, galoshes or rain boots – they’re all the same thing and an absolute must if you live in a rainy or snowy area in winter. They are best worn with skinny or straight leg jeans to prevent excessive bunching when you tuck them in. Bootcut styles will also work; but might not be as comfortable. Wearing wellies underneath your jeans kind of misses the point – your jeans or casual pants will still get wet.

Wellies are a win if…

• you’re an urbanite and commute on foot
• you take your dogs on winter walks
• you take the kids to the playground
• you like to garden
• you work with children or animals
• there are times when you walk in rain or mud

There are fabulously fun and stylish versions at stores like J.Crew, Banana Republic, Zappos and Nordstrom. You can choose to either keep your wellies playful and short, or sleek and tall.  Either way – you’ll ooze with style that’s practical and chic.

Trendy options from Banana Republic, Tretorn, Zappos and Nordstrom. Wellies don’t come in half sizes so you might need to try on a few styles before you find the right ones.

Gap Inc. recently started it’s forth chain store – “Forth & Towne”. It’s been open for about a year in San Francisco, Santa Barbara, New York and Chicago, and has recently opened its doors in Atlanta and Seattle. I went to have a look.

Forth & Towne was created to capture a slice of the market that Gap Inc wasn’t reaching – women over the age of 35. Old Navy, Gap and Banana Republic (Gap Inc.’s first 3 chain stores) capture a substantial amount of the younger market, while the so called “older women” (who generally have more disposable income) were left untapped. And so, Forth & Towne was created with the intent of luring this demographic.

Staff were friendly and informative. They explained to me that the name of the new chain store has a story: “Forth” to denote that it’s Gap’s fourth chain store (with an intentional play on the spelling of the word); and “Towne” to denote the notion that shopping is a social and urban phenomenon. The name actually sounds like a meeting destination – “I’ll meet you at “Forth & Towne”, rather like saying “I’ll meet you at 6th and Pine”.

The store offers chic apparel collections for 4 lifestyles: casual, smart casual, business casual and formal.  Sizes are based on the curvier women and run from 2-20 (with shorter lengths available in pants). Prices are set between Gap and Banana Republic, and the quality is lovely.  The store was designed with the notion that shopping can be transformed into a pleasurable communal experience. Comfy chairs and a style table laid out with fashion magazines, flowers and bottled water occupy the heart of the dressing room area. Forth & Towne will give chain stores like Coldwater Creek, J Jill, Eileen Fisher and Chico’s a run for their money. The clothing is generally more sophisticated, tailored, flattering and less expensive.

The concept of the new store is interesting. The over 35 year age group is diverse – from people like Sarah Jessica Parker and Nicole Kidman, to Meryl Streep and Oprah Winfrey. And whether this target market actually chooses to linger on in the store remains to be seen. However, it’s always worth taking a look at something new – if you feel that you fit the demographic, have a peek.

The first Forth & Towne store in New York state.

Whether you shop designer wear or chain store fashion, the zip-front knitted top is a must for gents both for this season and the ones to follow. This item is essentially a long sleeved knitted cardigan (jersey or knitwear) with a front zipper that zips through from top to bottom. Variations on this style will determine it’s appropriateness for causal, smart casual or business casual dress codes.

The zip-front cardigan is a win for gents because it is…

• Practical – it is easy to put on and take off, and doesn’t mess up your perfectly scruffy hair in the process.
• Comfortable – it’s in a knit which is always soft, stretchy and warm.
• Versatile – depending on the styling, the zip-through top can be worn over T’s and collared shirts, and underneath jackets/blazers.
• Flattering – the vertical statement of the zip creates the illusion of a longer and leaner line, thereby acting forgivingly over the tummy area. Styles that have “a double zip” (a zipper that has 2 sets of zip tabs) allows the bottom zip tab to be pulled up as well, creating a slimming effect over the midsection.
• Diverse – the item is available in many variations – raglan or set-in sleeve, turtleneck or hood, knitwear or jersey, plain or printed and casual or smart.

Zip-through-tops should have a fairly snug fit and should end above the crotch point. If they are baggy you’ll loose that slimming effect. There is scope for gents to have a good assortment of this item in their wardrobe. It’s going to be around for a while.

Macy’s, Nordstrom and Banana Republic have a good selection of zip-front cardigans.

American fashion designer Michael Kors has a budding $260 million empire and is probably best known for his impeccably modern and elegant handbags. He’s been in the fashion game for 25 years and has learnt a thing or two about dressing women well. Glamour magazine recently revealed his laws of style and upon reading them; I was instantly captured by their familiar truth. I’d like to share them with you: 

• Try on your entire outfit before any major event – this way you won’t be caught unaware with underwear, shoes and accessories that don’t work.
• Edit your wardrobe regularly – the only items that you should have hanging in your wardrobe are those that you love and know look good. That way you won’t be fussed with what to wear each day and you’ll have the time to dress in a way that expresses who you are.
• Quality doesn’t have to be expensive – well designed items come at every price.
• Shop in stores that have liberal return policies – take items home and try them on with what you have to make sure that they work for you and your lifestyle.
• Have a signature piece – it’s the most classic way to look chic. Zone in on one item every season (boots, sunglasses, coat or bag) and spend the most that you can afford. Wear it with everything!
• Mix glam with throw away chic – Spend on timeless basics that you wear constantly, and go cheap on ultra trendy items. A fabulous coat in a neutral colour is always in style, but a bubble skirt isn’t.
• Get your clothes tailored – not even a $2000 coat will look special if it doesn’t fit you perfectly. Clothing bought straight off the rack is bound to fit poorly some of the time, no matter how well proportioned you are.

Add to that we must dress for our body types and be comfortable in the clothes that we wear, and you’ll have a great foundation on which to build your own personal style. It’s music to my ears ladies – listen and learn.