In the spirit of today being Thanksgiving day in the United States, I am thankful that…

• we can be stylish without dressing up
• its more about what we buy than where we shop
• bootcut pants/jeans are still a good option
• we can be stylish without adopting cutting edge fashion trends
• we don’t need to match our bags with our shoes
• flat shoes can be elegant
• tunic tops are back
• black is a fashion colour again
• gold is just as popular as silver
• we can tailor our clothes
• style is beyond size

Happy Thanksgiving!

The preppy look is another flashback to ’80’s fashion. Tommy Hilfiger and J. Crew immediately spring to mind as pioneers of this collegiate trend. Oversized crisp collared pastel shirts, bright argyle knitwear, skinny satin ties, baggy jeans, loafers and sailing shoes are what we remember best of this look that was quite the statement twenty years ago. Now it’s back with tailored style.

Casual or smart, anyone can wear this trend with a few basic items:

• Geometric knitwear is key. Think form-fitting sleeveless knitted pullovers or cardigans (vests) with argyle and striped designs in either bright or neutral colours.
• For a casual look, wear them over crisp collared button down shirts (white is a good choice) un-tucked over jeans with either fashion sneakers or flats and a tailored pinstriped blazer.
• For a smarter look, wear them over an un-tucked soft blouse, tailored pants, heeled shoes or boots and a trench coat or pinstriped blazer.
• Pearls are the best accessory to finish this look off with. A short strand and/or studs will do the trick.

Re-invent this updated preppy trend if you happen to have argyle knitwear in your wardrobe already. Keep it simple, neat and tailored and you won’t go wrong.

Preppy knitwear (cardigan, pullover and sleeveless pullover, or vest) from J. Crew and Bluefly.

In most cases, the answer to this question is “yes”. Your silhouette will automatically look leaner and slimmer when you do this. That long lean line is broken when you contrast the colour of either your shoes or hose. This is not to say that it can’t be done stylishly – it’s just a bit trickier to do so correctly for some body types. Matching your shoes with flesh coloured hose is another easy solution, but tends to look more conservative.

When in doubt, match the colour of your hose to your shoes – you can’t go wrong.

While ankle booties were a trendy option for Autumn; taller boots are an excellent choice for work suits, skirts, dresses and jeans as temperatures start to drop. The assortment of calf-high and knee-high boots seems to grow each season. 

Five new styles of boot have emerged – each with its own distinct look and mood:

• Platform boots glam up any outfit. Choose this long, lean and sultry option if you have the ability to walk in very high heels.
• Cuffed boots with stacked heels convey a streamlined and ’70’s style chic.
• Equestrian boots are the boots for you if incredible comfort is a high priority. These tall flat boots (with or without horsey buckles) are perfect for effortlessly chic yet casual weekend looks.
• Biker boots are another comfortable flat boot option. They are a little more edgy with their chain and buckle details, studs and high shine finishes. Wearing biker boots with pearls makes for an appealing contrasting look.
• Nordic boots are Eskimo-inspired and easy to spot with their cozy shearling linings, foxy faux fur trims and dangling pom-poms. They are usually calf length and best tucked into skinny jeans. Their rubber soles make them ideal for the commuting urbanite or the après-ski setting.

Never fear – last season’s tall round-toed and stacked-heel boot styles are still in fashion. The forever-elegant pointy-toed and skinny-heeled knee high boot remains a mainstream stylish option too. If you feel like adding a new pair of boots to your winter wardrobe – take your pick. There will be plenty of options out there to suit you.

Platform                           Cuffed                                 Riding

Riding                                Biker                                 Nordic

Boots from Zappos.com, the online footware and accessory store that ships and returns for free.