Outfit Formula: Teal for Fall

Teal, which can look more green or more blue, depending on the variation, is a favourite with my clientele and the YLF community. I’m delighted that teal is on-trend, and therefore more widely available across a range of wardrobe items for those who enjoy wearing it. 

On to some outfit ideas.

1. Teal Cardigan

This is an easy one for those who like to wear black, white, blue jeans, and cardigans. Combine a pair of blue relaxed straight jeans with a white top, like a tee. Pop a teal cardigan over the top, and finish off the look with black boots and bag. There are other variations on this theme that can work equally well. Wear a black top to match the boots, instead of a white one. Wear black jeans, pants or a skirt instead of blue jeans. Wear a short cardigan instead of a long one. Add a patterned scarf that works with the palette if the vibe is too solid.

Teal Cardigan

2. Patterned Teal Dress

If you like to wear teal, patterns, and dresses, combine all three and wear it in a weight that works for Autumn temperatures. Here’s a version in a floral with dressy tall tan boots to finish off the look. Wear short booties if that’s more your cup of tea. Or choose a more casual combat or western boot. I see a teal, tan, or burgundy bag complete the outfit.

Patterned Teal Dress

3. Teal Top

Combine a teal top with a black and white patterned skirt. Throw a citron topper over the lot and finish things off with black boots. Here, the citron colour-blocked component of the skirt matches the topper. The black hair of the model and the black bits in the patterned skirt match the black boots, all of which pull the outfit together.

Teal Top

4. Teal Jacket

Here’s a dressy teal velvet jacket that you dress up or down. Wear it over a black patterned dress with sheer black hosiery, dressy heels, and a metallic clutch for a dressier occasion. Wear it over jeans and a knitted top or shirt with dressy flats or boots for a smart casual vibe. The platform closed-toe sandals shown here are very high, and a fringe trend. Of course, feel free to wear shoes that are more to your taste. Add jewellery, eyewear, and watch as desired.

Teal Jacket

Link Love: Reselling Clothes in 2022

The Guardian brings us tips on how to resell clothes successfully and responsibly.

How to get the best value from reselling clothes?” Experts share their advice on getting into the resale market.

In “A new start after 60” series, former Vivienne Westwood model Herbie Mensa returns to his first love; selling upcycled clothes. And Cathy Wood explains how selling vintage clothes takes her back to happier times.

Fab Links from Our Members

Angie liked seeing that the Travelpro suitcases that she and Greg use are rated as one of the very best, and with good reason. She highly recommends them. Best, best, spinning wheels! 

November 28, 1973, the night American fashion came of age at the Battle of Versailles. This is why nuancedream loves 1970s style so much.

Roberta thought vintage clothing hunters just attended tidy estate sales. She found the reality fascinating and gritty.

Kkards recommends this video of Trinny Woodall and Carla Rockmore together, talking fashion faves, high-low dressing, and showing us what having fun with fashion looks like. 

JAileen enjoyed this New York Times article about the ideal wardrobe size. She adds: “There’s no one single answer, of course. As usual, the comments are the best part.” 

In memory of Angela Lansbury, who passed away this week, Mary Beth is sharing this Instagram account dedicated entirely to the style of her iconic writer/amateur sleuth character, Jessica Fletcher.

Defining Wardrobe Holes

Wardrobe holes are items that you need, but that are currently missing from your wardrobe. You keep reaching for them to complete outfits, but they aren’t there. Of course, wardrobe holes vary greatly in their level of importance and can become a bit of a moving target. Some wardrobe holes are dire needs, awfully time sensitive, and we can’t get dressed without them. We prioritize these purchases, and budget permitting, urgently fill the holes. Other wardrobe holes are less time sensitive, and we can dress fine without them. While the hole exists we can make do with what we have.

Here are some of the more urgent wardrobe holes that I regularly see among my clients: 

  • Bottoms and underwear that no longer fit due to weight loss or gain.
  • Semi-formal or formal items that are needed for important upcoming events.
  • Workwear that needs to be updated.
  • Eyewear that is well past its prime, or needs a new prescription.
  • Solid wardrobe essentials and layering tops that are the key to turning wardrobe orphans into wearable outfits.
  • The right outerwear for Seattle’s rather unique four-season climate.
  • Workout wear that is falling apart and beyond repair.
  • A lack of comfortable shoes that look great, and go the distance.

Common wardrobe holes that need filling but aren’t quite as urgent, include: 

  • The right tops to wear with a slew of orphaned skirts.
  • Bottoms that are dressier than Athleisure and jeans, but not as dressy as business casual trousers.
  • Dressy bottoms that aren’t black.
  • Casual jackets that aren’t denim jackets, motos, or utility jackets.
  • Shoes that are dressier than sneakers, but not as dressy as classic loafers or pumps.
  • Tops that are just as comfortable and easy to wear and launder, but less casual than a tee.
  • Casual dresses, pants, and skirts in natural fibres to wear in high heat.
  • Items that will embellish a beach and pool capsule.
  • Items to embellish a formal wear or business casual capsule.
  • Shoes that will work with many smart casual outfits.

A few years ago, I had a high-priority wardrobe need. My very old yoga wear was falling apart and I had put off replacing it because I don’t enjoy wearing sports gear or spending money on it. Recently, the leggings that I was wearing for yoga became extremely uncomfortable. So much so, that it prevented me from practising. I replaced them with roomier salutation joggers as soon as they went on sale.

Less urgent wardrobe holes that I’ve managed to fill over the past few years include a bright trench coat, a citron bag, a pair of dressy trousers jean, white jeans in wide and relaxed silhouettes, re-building my formal wear capsule, and adding versatile and dressier solid tops and bottoms to my wardrobe so that I can create a wider assortment of fab outfits with existing items.

Over to you. How do you define a wardrobe hole? Care to share examples of urgent and less urgent ones that you’ve managed to fill in the past, or are trying to fill right now?

Roundups

Simpler Items

This week's list of top picks list is about basic pieces.

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Assorted Items

Items for Summer, both in and out of air conditioning.

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Casual Summer Vibes

This week's top picks are good for a casual Summer vibe.

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Summery Earth Tones

These items are for those who like to wear casual earth tones in warm and hot weather.

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Hints of Spring

Some tried-and-tested winning items to refresh your style for Spring.

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Dressier Items

An assortment of dressier top picks might be just what the doctor ordered.

Read More

Fab Find: Large Handheld Mirror

I’ve been growing out my pixie, and currently have much more hair on my head than I’ve had in years. I’ve gone from a short, strict, and sharp hairstyle that didn’t move, to a soft, blunt, and romantic ‘do that moves around a lot. As a result, I’ve had to adjust the way I style my hair. 

For example, when I had super short hair, I didn’t check the back because my hair would fall into place and stay put naturally. This is not the case with my longer hair. I need to check if my crowns are covered and that the waves are even and neatly spaced around my head. Well, at least until the wind blows my hair in all directions.

I didn’t have a way of seeing the back of my head or outfit in our loft, so I bought a large handheld mirror that does the trick. Now I can see everything. It’s not too heavy, and has a hole on the handle so that you can hang it on a hook. The mirror is also handy for looking at the back of your outfit.

Elegant in Patterned Wide Legs

A new outfit from Greetje Kamminga of No Fear of Fashion, whom we introduced to YLF in October 2017.

Greetje has paired on-trend wide leg trousers with a cream short-sleeved blouse in this elegant polished outfit. She’s semi-tucked the puff-sleeved blouse which lengthens the legline from the hips up. Both the top and eye-catching trousers with mod-inspired graphic pattern are in silky materials that add subtle sheen. The horizontal and vertical stripes draw the eye up and down. Our blogger’s baby blue pointy-toe pumps peeking out from under the trouser hems don’t match the blue stripe in the pants but help create outfit cohesion, and echo the blue belt. The warm-toned yellowy-beige satchel doesn’t match the cream top nor the darker cream in the trousers but adds a nice neutral effect. An arty dark brown pebble necklace and mirrored sunnies complete the look.

Greetje Kamminga - 1

Greetje Kamminga - 2