I’m very much enjoying the ‘Great Outfits in Fashion History’ series, in which Fashionista editors are revisiting their all-time favourite looks. Here are three of mine:

Ali McGraw in 1969 sporting a patterned dress by designer Ossie Clark, and white go-go boots.

Demi Singleton in layers of striped ruffles. The tomato red booties are the perfect finishing touch.

Gwendoline Christie looking stunning in a black voluminous gown with intricate pleating.

Fab Links from Our Members

Runcarla says: “These hats take ‘dopamine dressing’ to another level!“

Ginger adds that it’s fun to see Mike Tindall, who is married to one of the Queen’s granddaughters, joining in in the fun.

After Angie’s post about pilling polyester on monday, Runcarla thought this video might be of interest.

Rachylou found this article about what would happen if fashion slowed down an interesting read.

Suntiger directs us to this article that shows how movie outfits are recycled too.

She was also happy to read that handheld fans are trending.

Nuancedream loves Hannah Einbinder as Ava Daniels on Hacks. She says: “Her red carpet style is on point with her tuxedo and suited looks. That ivory tuxedo…WOW!”

Sal thought this exhibition about mending sounds interesting.

She also directs us to this piece about problems with online returns.

How do you get dressed in the morning? Jaime is an adventurer with a big splash of dopamine.

Why are bathing suits so expensive? Roberta found the answers in this NYTimes article.

Mary Beth loved this video. Moschino: Beauty and the Beast meets 2001: A Space Odyssey.

The BIG blazer has been a fringe trend for about three years and is gaining momentum. My guess is that it will be mainstream next season, or the year thereafter. It’s generally long, cut very straight, and creates a boxy silhouette. It has small or large shoulder pads, and can be single or double-breasted. They come in any colour across a range of dressy and casual, soft, or rigid fabrics. Some are patterned, and have matching bottoms. The idea is to wear them with a very simple layering top so that they take centre stage. The layering top can be tailored, fluid, or cropped. Here are some visual examples.

The oversized fit varies from item to item. Sometimes the shoulder line is structured and follows the line of the shoulder. Sometimes the shoulders extend into a linebacker look with the help of large shoulder pads. And sometimes the shoulder seams deliberately drop off the shoulder, like you need to go down a size or two, but that is the look.

Some of my clients and friends took to this trend right away because it’s a whole lot more comfortable than wearing a structured blazer, and is a fun fashion flashback. Some love how it covers their curves and midsection. It also makes them feel less dressed up, which is one way to wear a blazer with a very casual lifestyle. Others are less enamored because it lacks the structure and waist definition that they enjoy when wearing blazers. In fact, it’s why they wear blazers at all. And others feel like they’re wearing the wrong size blazer.

The silhouette reminds me of the ‘80s and early ‘90s. I LOVED them, and wore them a lot back then. I had several with mega shoulder pads, and most were double-breasted. They were long, and some were part of soft pantsuits. I had them in pastels, brights, and neutrals, and felt awfully grown-up wearing them as a teen and young adult.

I’m an ‘80s fan, but to my surprise have not dipped my toes back into this look yet. Instead, I’ve been in the mood for short tailored blazers, or fluidly tailored regular length blazers.

But just last month and out of the blue, I got the itch the try on a few oversized blazers. I noticed that I like a very specific version of the silhouette. I prefer an oversized blazer to be fairly structured on the shoulder line with medium size shoulder pads, cut straight down so that it’s boxy and roomy around the hips, and in soft fabric so that it’s a little prettier. The sleeves must be fairly tailored so that I don’t feel overwhelmed in the silhouette. I can go single or double-breasted. The soft cream tuxedo style from Banana Republic fit perfectly in my oversized way, but alas no soft pants to match. I’ll keep the trend on my radar because I’m finally in the mood for it.

Over to you. What do you think of the oversized blazer trend?

A bunion is a bony bump that forms on the joint at the base of the big toe. It occurs when some of the bones in the front part of the foot move out of place. This causes the tip of the big toe to get pulled toward the smaller toes and forces the joint at the base of the big toe to stick out. Smaller bunions can develop on the joint of the little toe. The tendency to get bunions can be inherited. They can also be caused by wearing ill-fitting shoes that are too narrow, or arthritis. The skin over the bunion might be red. Pain and stiffness can occur too.

I don’t have bunions, but many of my clients do, so I know a little about how to find shoes that can work with them. Some of these clients have one bunion on one foot, while most have a bunion on each foot and it’s at the base of the big toe. Some of the bunions are on narrow and medium width feet, while others are on wide feet. Some bunions are small, and some larger. Some clients can wear heels, and others not. Some have had surgery to remove their bunions.

Here is what I’ve learned about helping my clients who have bunions to choose footwear.

1. Ample Toe Box

Clients with bunions need wide toe boxes. Sometimes the toe boxes are wide enough when the shoes are roomy in a medium. Sometimes a W or WW width is better. The shoes must also be sufficiently long so that there is space between the tip of the longest toe and the end of the shoe. Do not cram toes!

Shoes should conform to the shape of our feet without squeezing the foot. So we generally avoid pointy toe shoes because they are narrow, and can make bunions worse. Round-toe and square-toe shoes with long toe boxes are a better fit. Sometimes we go up half a size. Sometimes we go up a whole size and remove the footbed of the shoe to insert an orthotic that reduces foot stress.

2. Arch Support

Many of my clients with bunions need shoes that feel supportive on their arches. Often this means a substantial sole that bends as they stride. Sometimes a low heel that is between one and one and a half inches is more comfortable than a flat shoe. Some of my clients wear two inch heels.

3. Soft Fabric

When shoes are leather, super soft leather is best because it stretches over the bunions and becomes comfortable. Knitted and elastic fabric found on sporty shoes works well for the same reason. The fabric moulds over the shape of the bunion providing ample room in the toe box.

4. Shoe Stretching

Sometimes clients don’t need a wide size, but need a little more room for their bunions in one shoe, or both shoes. So they stretch the area of the shoe that covers the bunion with a shoe stretching kit, or have the shoes professionally stretched. This can work for clients with narrow or medium heels who need wide toe boxes. This creates a snug heel fit, while the toe box is roomy.

One of my clients was wearing a WW width shoe, which was sometimes narrow for her wider feet with bunions. We would have the WW boots made of super soft leather stretched around the area of the bunions to create a comfortable fit. She has since had bunion surgery on both of her feet, and now wears roomy shoes, or a W width.

5. Sneakers and Sandals

As a generalization, sneakers and sandals are easier to fit on feet with bunions. Sneakers can run nice and wide and be made of stretchy fabric that is forgiving. Laces can be adjusted to create a better fit too. Sandal straps can be positioned around, instead of over, the bunion, eliminating foot stress. Toe exposure gives toes room to breath too. It’s dressy shoes with closed toe boxes that are the hardest to fit comfortably with bunions, and I wish there was more variety. Still, my clients and I have always found great footwear solutions for dressy attire when we have the time to plan and alter the right footwear.

These tips are by no means exhaustive. Feel free to share your advice on how to comfortably dress shoes with bunions in the comments section, or share your challenges so that we can help out. All resources are welcome.

I stumbled across new-to-me brand Court & Rowe at Nordstrom, and I like it. It has a Trendy Classic integrity — what the brand calls “a new era of prep” on their Instagram page. Silhouettes are clean, simple and crisp, and not as ruffled, gathered, and puffy as some of the looks that are on-trend right now. 

Fabrics range from natural to man-made, colours are neutral and non-neutral, and patterns tend to be striped or plaid. Sizes range from XXS to XXL, which isn’t as inclusive as I’d hoped, but better than the general XS to XL. The reviews are encouraging and prices don’t break the bank.

I like that many of the garments are classic, and have a little more. Better than basic. Like twill tape down side seams, velvet ribbon on waistbands, ties on sleeves, back pleats, piping and tipping, embroidery and elastic in unexpected places, and chocolate brown stripes. You’ll get a better sense of the garment details when you click the links. 

I bought the first light blue pinstriped shirt, and it’s fabulous! Shaped but not tight, well-made, different, crisp, polished, fab with white jeans. And $69.