Winter Jacket Cosiness

A new outfit from Alexandra Fleurisson of Mademoiselle Modeuse, whom we introduced to YLF in February 2020.

The cosy black and white aviator jacket with matching booties make this outfit for me. The white shearling lightens up the look and adds fluffy textural interest. Alexandra has tucked a lightweight turtleneck into relaxed straight cropped jeans. This lengthens the leg line from the waist up, while the top’s vertical ribbing creates further vertical integrity. Belting the jeans, and opting for a fitted top creates structure and balances out the boxy cut of the trendy aviator jacket. The bright orange adds spicy colour, which is repeated in the fiery red lip and our blogger’s red hair. Playful olive with gold earrings and a classic Louis Vuitton crossbody complete this casual cosy Winter outfit.

Mademoiselle Modeuse - 1

Mademoiselle Modeuse - 2

Assorted Fab Finds

There’s a lot on sale at the moment, so if you like a bargain then have some fun browsing end-of-season sales. At the same time, stay mindful and focussed on your shopping needs. Remember to listen to both your head and heart when adding items to your wardrobe. 

I’m shopping more out of season than I used to. Personally, I don’t mind if a new item goes unworn for many months, because when an item is fab-for-me, and especially if it’s a signature item, it’s going to get worn when the weather and occasion are right. Onto some fab stuff.

1. Weatherproof Boots

Here’s an assortment of weatherproof boots with great online reviews. Notably, more brands are including weatherproof options in their assortments, which makes me think that the demand has momentum. Most styles come in many colours so click the links to see the range. It’s fab to match weatherproof footwear to wool coats, jackets, puffers, and accessory complements. That way your Winter look is easier to pull together. Don’t let the nubuck and suede versions put you off, because they do have weatherproof coatings. I’m a big Sperry duck boot fan and have an old cream pair that was ideal for our snowy and icy frozen Seattle Christmas and New Year. I wore them daily with cream beanies or bags to match.

Zappos
Naturalizer Dara
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Zappos
Naturalizer Dara
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Kodiak Soren
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2
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Vionic Nolan
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4

2. Madewell Pull-On Pants

These cosy bottoms work well on a range of body types, and are especially great on curvier figures. They are pull-on silhouettes with back elastic, but have front button and zipper closures too. Some of the rises are high and others are mid-length. Stocks are low, but on the off chance that you see a pair in stores, try it on if the colour is right. They might surprise you in a good way.

3. Hobbs Sale Items

I like Hobbs, a British brand that does good quality, trendy classics in an assortment of colours and luxurious fabrics. The brand offers petites and is producing more sustainably and ethically too. Items are more affordable when you catch them on sale. Hobbs toppers, knitwear and dresses are particularly good. I’ve ordered the Safia Midi Dress because it can work well in Summer, and the lemons remind me of our amazing trip to Positano.

4. WhIte House Black Market Toppers

Some of my clients find excellent items at WHBM season after season. They offer petites and sizes range from XXS to XXL, or US00 to US20. The collections are worth a look. Their toppers are quite interesting, and their pants can work on a curvier bottom half. Rises aren’t that high either.

Wear a Cluster of Brooches

If you have a collection of brooches, wear a cluster of them on a jacket, coat, cardigan, pullover, scarf or hat. You can wear as few as two, or as many as you like. Coats and jackets made of sturdier fabric tend to hold heavy brooches better, but lightweight brooches do just fine on lightweight fabric. The example below shows more than ten brooches pinned to a denim jacket, making quite the statement. Go for it if you like the maximal vibe, or create a cluster with fewer pins.

Anthropologie Paige Rowan Denim Jacket

Personally, I have a high tolerance for the mismatched effect of multiple brooches worn together in a cluster. This is especially true if the rest of the outfit is simple and neutral, like the column of denim shown above. That said, you might like to match the metals, stones, themes, and aesthetics of the pins when clustering them. Or match their colours to a component of your outfit.

I currently only have two brooches, and the theme (of course) is Yorkshire terriers. A large vintage one from the ‘60s, and a small one from Talbots. I haven’t worn them together yet, but I might. I feel I need a third one to make the cluster look complete, but the idea is not cast in stone. That brings me to the preference of pinning an odd number of brooches into a cluster because it can somehow look more visually interesting. Of course, you decide how many look fab to your eye.

I’m not too worried about brooches leaving holes in clothing because they usually steam closed again, especially when coats are dry-cleaned. Who’s going to wear a cluster of brooches? We’ve seem great versions of the vibe on the forum, and I hope to see more. It looks festive.

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: Sustainable Denim Brands for 2022

Traditional denim production has a heavy environmental footprint, requiring large amounts of chemicals, energy and water. However, more and more brands are trying to innovate the process. Here are three roundups with brands who are putting in the work to make eco-conscious jeans:

Fab Links from Our Members

Nuancedream thought this article on how sneakers have evolved from commonplace footwear to style statements was fascinating.

Suntiger enjoyed this podcast that invites everyone to set a style challenge and try something new based on each seasonal colour type.

From fashion passports, and closed-loop recycling, to looking to luxury to survive; Rachylou directs us to The 10 Themes That Will Define the Fashion Agenda in 2022.

Nemosmom wanted to share this article with 10 ways to cut your wardrobe’s carbon footprint in 2022.

Reminder: You Look Fab!

Two years into the global pandemic, and most aspects of so-called normal life have been affected in big or small ways. 2020 was tough, and for some, 2021 was even tougher. It’s inevitable that feelings of restlessness, negativity, boredom, listlessness, anger, sadness, and fatigue have set in for even the most positive, energetic, and hopeful among us. And even when our own situations are relatively good, we are surrounded by those who are struggling and we feel sadness and compassion for them. This takes its toll. Our emotions are getting quite the workout.

Give yourself a break as you reflect about your wardrobes and styles this year. Extend yourself some kindness, because you’re doing the best that you can in the midst of a lot of uncertainty. It doesn’t matter if you’ve made shopping mistakes, or that your styles and wardrobes are not where you’d like them to be. What matters is that you feel safe, strong, calm, level-headed, and can support those who need your help.

Wear what makes you feel comforted, happy, empowered, and ready for the day. It might be jeans, skirts, dresses, and dressier clothes on some days, or sweats, athleisure, pyjamas, and loungewear on others. And remember: YOU LOOK FAB.