Fashion News Roundup: March 2022

This year’s Met Gala theme, a new intimates line, and other news from the fashion trenches in March.

Fun Fashion Quote

During an interview with The Look Online, conducted after her show was no longer on air, Elsa Klensch — pioneer in television fashion journalism — said:

“I think design has to be treated with respect because it’s such an important part of our lives. I think good design makes our lives more livable, it makes us happier, it makes us function more easily.”

Style Realignment, Two Years Into the Pandemic

Sometimes it feels silly to talk about style amidst all the other upheaval in the world, but life is going on. People are doing job interviews, going to events, and are still thinking about how to present themselves. Style also has the potential to be a creative outlet, a source of positivity, and perhaps an escape from other things that are weighing on us.

With respect to the pandemic, things are normalizing, but they’re still far from normal. We’re trying to live with it as best we can. I’m cautiously back to working and shopping with clients in person. In their style, and in my own, I see realignments as we find a new normal amidst all the uncertainty.

For example, occasionally I’ve been wearing refined, dressy sneakers to client meetings, which is something I never did before. It’s a big change for my work style, but feels dead right. I didn’t change my grooming regimen much when we isolated at home over the last couple of years, but I stopped using tinted moisturizer and lipstick, and that change seems to have stuck. In the first year of the pandemic I left off rings and bracelets because of all the hand washing and moisturizing. These days I’m still washing my hands quite a lot, but the wedding ring and pearl bracelets are back.

The next big change to my style is about my hair. After the initial period of at-home isolation, and at one point getting hubs Greg to give me a trim around the edges, I went back to having my hair cut short and shaped fairly regularly. This year, I stopped doing blonde highlights as my pixie grows out into a length that allows me to play with different looks.

I’m getting an increasing frequency of calls from clients who are heading back to work at the office, attending functions, going on trips, and generally resuming a more normal life. One recent client told me she had forgotten how to get dressed and we laughed! It’s so much fun to spend time with them again.

How are things with your style, two years into the pandemic? Are you experiencing any realignments?

Trend: Detective Chic

If you looked closely, you would have seen an exciting new trend hidden in plain sight at the Fall 2022 Ready-to-Wear runway shows. The clues were lots of tweed, texture, earth tones, rich fabrics, fluidly tailored coats, long blazers, voluminous outerwear, headgear, and refined eyewear. We see these looks every season, but this year it was a little more specific. It seems that designers were greatly inspired by the street style on Baker Street, and they’re privately calling the look Detective Chic. It’s a fringe trend, but I expect it to go mainstream soon.

The look is a fabulous mix of modern classics that can be easily pulled together. The most important components are the topper and hat. Think capes, trench coats, blazers and ponchos in rich wools, tweeds, herringbone, houndstooth, and weather-resistant fabrics. Think neutrals like earthy tans, toffees, caramel, cinnamon, and chocolate brown, along with black and shades of grey. Throw a detective topper over neutral separates and finish off the look with a tweed newsboy hat, or hat with ear flaps. Add refined round eyewear, magnifier, bag, watch, and other accessories as desired.

This collection shows a good assortment of items that reflect the trend.

And if you want to take it to the next level, consider adding some of these items to your detective capsule.

To get an authentic take on the trend, we reached out to a team that sports it with verve, panache, and effortless chic. Of course, I’m referring to two characters who — with their keen senses and incomparable instincts for sniffing things out — are the best detectives we know: Samlock Holmes and Sherlock Jo. 

Team

Jo

Samlock Holmes is the cerebral one, alerting us to potential intruders and UPS delivery people long before they get to the front door. Sherlock Jo has a nose for finding things, especially edible things and wayward socks. She’s also an expert at detecting small imperfections, like loose threads on the rug or the sofa, and attacking them to ensure that they are much more easily detectable by us mere humans.

Samlock Holmes

Detecting

I adore the classic, comfortable, texturally-rich, mystery-solving integrity of Detective Chic. I aspire to puling it off half as well as our canine detective team, but with boots or hi-tops instead of velvety paw pads. I hope to see lots of renditions of the the look remixed YOUR way on the forum.

Dressing

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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Link Love: Lipstick Love

Freelance writer Nilgin Yusuf opines that 2022 is the year to make up for the lost lipstick years.

In her article she also links to this older post about why putting on lipstick makes you feel so awesome, which is also worth a read.

The Guardian investigates if you can make your own lipstick with wax, oil, and food dye.

With a whole range of shades available in snap-in-snap-out, plastic-saving canisters, is it time to ditch the single-use lipsticks and embrace refillables?

Fab Links from Our Members

Runcarla thought this article about politics and platform shoes was interesting.

Suz enjoyed this New York Times article on how TikTok is bringing Kibbe types to a whole new generation.

Stagiaire Fash directs us to “Should leopards be paid for their spots?” She adds: “I find the idea of a ‘tax’ of sorts for a preservation fund appealing, but also galling when you line up the idea of paying leopards for their spots next to ongoing cultural theft of specific patterns and ways of wearing things.”

She also finds it adorable how Russell Westbrook, a hard-charging basketball player, is so proud of this sweater with a drawing his son, Noah, made of the two of them. 

Lastly, Stagiaire Fash thought this Instagram demonstration might come in handy for those who hate sorting their undergarments

Forum member Brooklyn’s recent Bracelet as necklace post led Mary Beth to Adina J of BlueCollarRedLipstick and her concept of style avatars and wardrobe planning: “She has several posts and updates throughout her website, but in this one she really digs into the workings of her process, and how she applies it to her every day fashion life.”

Outfit Formula: Earthy Spring

Wear earth tones in the Spring and Summer if that’s your cup of tea. No need to reserve them for Autumn if you like to wear them year-round. Wear them across all sorts of wardrobe items, as long as the fabrics and silhouettes work for the weather. Adding footwear and bags in a shade of brown is a lovely earthy touch. Or if you prefer shine, try gold, pewter and bronze.

This collection shows some lovely looks.

Mango
Flower Print Pants
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Top Pick
5
Banana Republic
Linen Vest
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Top Pick
3

Here are four earthy Spring outfit formulas that are easy to recreate if you have an earthy wardrobe.

1. Olive Dress and Brown Accents

Combine an olive dress in a pattern or solid with a brown belt and sandals to match. Throw in a bag in a shade of brown too. This is a midi shirt dress but the frock can be any length and silhouette. These shoes are sandals, but you can choose a more closed shoe. An earth-toned moto, trench coat, blazer, or maxi cardigan could work as a topper if you need it.

Olive Dress and Brown Accents

2. Earthy Top and Skirt Pattern Mix

Combine an earthy top and skirt in a similar palette but different patterns. Here, the patterns match because they share the same caramel, rust, and mustard colours. The patterns also have a similar design. Complete the look with brown or gold footwear and a straw bag.

Earthy Top and Skirt Pattern Mix

3. Utility with a Bit of Blue

Combine a pair of casual toffee, tan or khaki pants with an olive utility jacket. Or a pair of olive pants with a khaki utility jacket. Keep the layering top earthy and cream if you like, or add a bit of soft blue like the patterned shirt shown here. A blue chambray shirt can work well too. Finish off the look with brown, tan or gold footwear, and a bag and hat to match. Espadrilles would look great too.

Utility with a Bit of Blue

4. Dressy Three Piece

And last, an earthy, soft and dressy three-piece suit that is one colour and fabric, but feel free to remix different fabrics and earth tones for your version. Combine a pair of earthy pants with a longish shell top. Belt the shell top with a broad belt of sorts. Layer a dressy shacket or jacket over the top. Add a statement necklace and shiny dressy shoes. Add a bag that matches the outfit. I like the teal coming through in the necklace!

Dressy Three Piece