Barefoot at Home: Yay or Nay

I tried something new at home this Summer. Instead of wearing slippers or supportive house-only sneakers, I’ve been walking around in cotton footies. I hoped this would improve the strength and flexibility of the muscles and ligaments in my feet. We have tiled wooden floors, so opting for a thin but effective footie adds just enough cushioning. 

My feet hurt a little in the first week, but they soon adapted and now feel better than they have in a long time. No cramping, no blisters, and no pain on the balls of my feet. I have also been able to wear sandals comfortably. I’m not sure if walking around in footies at home all Summer explains these improvements, or whether it’s the workout my feet get during yoga practice. Maybe it’s a bit of both.

Researching whether walking barefoot at home was good for your feet, I found a mix of perspectives (examples here and here). I’ve decided that for now, while my feet are feeling great, I’ll continue to walk barefoot with footies at home for the rest of Summer, so I’m a yay. I’ll be back in cosy and supportive house shoes in the Autumn.

Over to you. Do you enjoy walking barefoot, or with footies or socks at home? Does it make your feet feel better or worse?

Outfit Formula: Earthy Dresses for Fall

The heat has been record-breaking in the northern hemisphere this Summer. A cool Autumn will be a welcome change, but while some people will experience cool, crisp and rainy Autumns, others will stay hot. If you’re among the former group, sleeved dresses with bare legs and boots can be a fab way to dress in the Autumn. Add a topper if needed. If you keep the colours earthy, it will have a traditionally Fall vibe.

Of course, you can wear Fall-coloured dresses year round in seasonally appropriate fabrics. But if you enjoy wearing them to transition into Autumn, here is some outfit inspiration. These are patterned dresses, but you can also choose solid colours.

1. Elegantly Sacked

An earthy leaf-patterned unstructured shirtdress looks autumnal. The shorter length adds some structure to the dress by showcasing more leg. The mustard complement of structured satchel and espadrille slides picks up the spice colours of the pattern and adds polish to the outfit. The palette beautifully matches the model’s hair. The addition of a brown belt creates waist definition if that’s your preference. A fab way to dress on a warm Fall day.

Elegantly Sacked

2. Nod to the West

Wearing an earthy, flowing and soft patterned fit-and-flare midi dress with cowboy boots has a Western vibe that might be just your cup of tea. Here the boots are tall and a light neutral. But you can wear them shorter and in a darker neutral. A dark brown boot would pick up the browns in the pattern. Note the mix of jewellery. Dainty items, but many of them.

Nod to the West

3. Pattern Mixed

This dress isn’t as earthy as the others because of the purples in the palette and Summery hibiscus flowers in the pattern. That said, if you look closely, the pattern has an earthy component. Furthermore, the animal patterned bag adds a lovely Fall touch. Black slides that match the bag are a fab way to keep it breezy on a hot Fall day. The patterned strap of the bag cleverly repeats some of the colours in the bag and dress. I love how the patterns harmonize here.

Pattern Mixed

4. With Chunky Boots

Neutral animal print has a Fall integrity to it, like this more abstract one on the dress. The swooshy empire-cut silhouette is very comfortable. A pair of mid-calf and chunky tan lug sole boots create a rugged contrast with the pretty frock. They are extra fab with their sporty orange soles. The light neutral bits in the pattern perfectly pick up the light hair of the model and complement the tan boots. Combat boots are another way to go if lug soles aren’t your thing. Add jewellery, bag, eyewear, and watch as desired.

With Chunky Boots

Fabulous Changing Seasons

Spring is my favourite season for dressing and shopping, closely followed by Summer. Autumn is not far behind. I’m not a fan of snow, ice, wind, relentless rain, and extreme cold, so Winter shopping and dressing is my least favourite. 

What I look forward to most of all is the changing seasons. After a hot Summer of very breezy cotton and linen rich clothing with lots of patterns, I’m ready to wear heavier fabrics, lots of solids, fitted tops, layers, outerwear, and boots. I also enjoy adding burgundy and a few earth tones to my outfits. Although Winter is not my season, I enjoy wearing Winter accessories like beanies, scarves, and gloves. I also love turtlenecks and long wool coats.

After a cold Winter I am more than champing at the bit to lighten my layers, leave off woolly knitwear, wear the heck out of my white jeans, throw in more pattern, wear shirts and blouses, wear loafers, and sport low-top fashion sneakers with knee-highs. Seattle Springs are cold, so after three months, I’m ready to leave off the toppers, wear Summery skirts and dresses, sport crisp and breezy linen and cotton pieces, wear lots of pattern, feel the morning sun on my bare arms and legs, wear loafers and sneakers without knee-highs, and wear sandals.

It’s the variety that each of the seasons brings to my wardrobe and style that I enjoy the most. As much as I love Spring and Summer fashion, I don’t want to wear it all year, or even most of the year. Same with Fall dressing. And if I had to wear my Winter clothes year round, I’d cry.

Do you enjoy the way your wardrobe, outfits and style changes with the seasons like I do? Or do you prefer dressing for one or two seasons and wish you could dress like that all year?

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.

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Earth Tones, Five Seasons In

We are in our fifth year of earth tones being mainstream in retail. Spice colours, tans, browns, olives, very dark greens, mustards, brick reds, brownish burgundies, and burnt oranges reign supreme. Some earth tones are warm, and others are cooler. I guessed that earth tones would take a backseat this year, but far from it. They have been abundant across Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter collections. They must be selling well.

Feelings on earth tones run the gamut with my clients, friends, and family members. Some would prefer to wear nothing but earth tones, because the palette is signature to their styles. They are thrilled with these colour trends. Others like to add very specific earth tones, but say no thank you to the rest. Some will wear earth tones in patterns only. Some will wear olive utility pants and jackets, and that’s it. Some will wear light but not dark earth tones. Some wear leopard and cheetah footwear and leave it at that. Some wear solid brown shoes and bags, but not earthy patterns. Some only wear rich browns with black. And some won’t wear earth tones at all.

I enjoy dabbling a bit with earth tones, but they are not my preferred palette. As earth tones have their fashion moment, I’m thankful there are all sorts of crisp blues and whites to fall back on when I refresh for the season. That might be why I have more blue and white in my wardrobe than ever at the moment. My acidic citrons and limes are in very short supply because most yellows are mustard at the moment, which is not my yellow. I’ve also said no thank you to olive, for now.

I’m back to loving a rich burgundy and peachy cognac this year. I bought items in those colours at this year’s Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and I’m excited to wear them. I will not wear them with black or other earth tones. Instead, I will remix burgundy and cognac with my happy colours like white, navy, light blue, denim blue, turquoise, tomato red, shocking pink, Dutch orange, chartreuse, and citron.

The collection below shows my burgundy and cognac solids that I can wear with items in my usual sour brights palette, with lots of navy and white for Autumn and Winter. All of these items are in my wardrobe. Some are new, and some old.

COS
Cashmere scarf
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Top Pick
11
COS
Cashmere jumper
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14
COS
Roll-neck merino jumper
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24
Everlane
The Arc Jean
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19
Everlane
The Way-High Jean
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15
Boden
Knight Coat
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14
Furla
Minerva
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Top Pick
3
Karen Millen
TIE-NECK COAT
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Top Pick
29
Everlane
The Cashmere Crew
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Top Pick
7
Zara
Textured Cape Coat
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17
Yoox
Furla Handbag
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Top Pick
10
Hobbs
Katy Cotton Sweater
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5
Boden
Cashmere Crew Sweater
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Top Pick
13

Over to you. Are you an earth tone wearer? If so, you must be loving their abundance over the last five years. I hope you stocked up! Or do you dabble a bit in earth tones like I do? Maybe you don’t wear earth tones at all. Are you ready for a change?

Back to Belting

Years ago, when my pants and jeans were mid and low rise, I wore belts most of the time. I tucked or semi-tucked tops to showcase the belt and thoroughly enjoyed the visual effect. As tops got shorter and rises higher, I began leaving off my belts and wearing short untucked tops. I got very used to not wearing a belt, so much so, that when I wore regular length blouses, shirts, knitted tops, and knitwear that I tucked into bottoms, I was leaving off the belt too. Before, I did not prefer the look of empty belt loops. Now I don’t mind it one bit, and like the simplicity.

I kept my belts even though I wasn’t wearing them. It didn’t take much space to store them, and I had a hunch I’d wear them again. Below is my current belt collection. The white, red and burgundy belts perfectly match shoes and bags I have in the same colours. I kept the brown belts for my horse capsule.

On a whim last month I added the white belt to a couple of my outfits. It was a polished match with a pair of white boots, Summer sandals, and bag. I wore the white belt with red mid-rise trousers, and over a straight light blue column dress to give it some structure. I’ve also worn the red belt with matching loafers a few times. My white belt with gold buckle could do with a refresh. I’d prefer a broader width so that went onto my shopping list. I’m in no rush to get it, and will happily sport the white belt I have in the meantime. As far as dresses and trench coats go, I never stopped wearing the styles with self-belts. They are easy, and look better with their belts installed.

Over to you. Are you back to a bit of belting like me? Maybe you didn’t stop. Or perhaps you are still off belting for the time being.