You are on Team Skirt if you prefer wearing skirts to pants, and vice versa. There’s no restriction on the types of skirts, and skorts count as skirts too. Any type of pants count too, so jeans, joggers, and leggings all count as pants. 

I love to wear voluminous, swooshy midi and midaxi skirts, and am looking to add more to my capsule for hot, warm and mild weather. I adore A-lines and bias cuts too. I don’t generally like to wear skirts in cold weather unless I am indoors and insulated all day. I could wear fleece-lined tights or the like to insulate them, but unfortunately it’s not an option. Wearing a school uniform for twelve years with THE most awful woolly, scratchy tights has killed wearing any type of thick hosiery for life. On the other hand, I enjoy wearing refined, ultra sheer, and dressy pantyhose with skirts and dresses. But they aren’t warm enough in my Winter.

My heart lies with dressy pants, casual pants, and jeans, especially since I am on foot and live in the Pacific Northwest. I LOVE wearing them year round in on-trend silhouettes. Solid, patterned, bright, neutral, cropped, full-length, wide, tapered, pleated, belted, fluid, relaxed, tailored, architectural — I have and enjoy the variety. I bat for Team Pants.

Over to you. Do you bat for Team Skirt or Team Pants? It’s Thanksgiving in the US this week, so no one is benched because you can bat for both teams. On that note, we are taking the week off to rest, restore, and decorate for the holidays. I’ll be wearing an assortment of pants and jeans! I’ll be back on Friday with a sales roundup. Wishing US Fabbers and their families a happy, safe, and peaceful Thanksgiving week.

LA-based actor Zia Domic documents her outfits on her blog, The Hunter Collector, and on Instagram. With her unique, maximal, and fashion-forward style, she is the perfect example of someone who does her own thing with fashion and is loving every second of it. She is a master of bold colour combos, loves high heels, statement specs, and chain link detailing.

Zia mixes second-hand and new pieces in this pink and purple look with charming retro vibes. She’s tucked a fluid-fit pink shirt into pleated tapered and cropped trousers, which lengthens the leg line from the hip upwards. A skinny gold belt accentuates our 5’4″ blogger’s waistline, and echoes the oversized gold chain strap on her bag, big hoop earrings and bracelets. Hot pink satin pumps with crystal embellishment match the shirt, and add playful bling. The cable-knit lavender cardigan thrown over her shoulders is a lighter tint of the vibrant purple trousers. So is the cute beret that amps up the retro charm. Zia introduces a third colour with her bright green quilted bag. Finally, her pink and green-rimmed statement specs and raspberry lippy cleverly repeat the colours in her outfit.

This statement outfit with line-dancing vibe combines bright tomato red with khaki, rust and brown. Zia has tucked a lightweight puff-sleeved sweater into a two-tiered midi skirt. The ruffle detailing and asymmetrical hemline create lots of swooshy movement. The sweater’s square neckline works perfectly to showcase our blogger’s oversized gold chain-link necklace. Tomato red and rust-coloured patchwork ankle boots with on-trend square toe bookend the sweater while also adding texture. So do the brown braided leather belt and small structured bag, whose chain-link strap cleverly refers back to our blogger’s necklace. Dramatic sunnies with red rim and soft pink lipstick finish off the look.

Zia creates a happy explosion of colour with electric apple green and bright orange. She is sporting a white bandeau top with trendy high-waisted trousers and long, double-breasted blazer. The tailored shoulder on the relaxed-fit blazer together with the fitted top add structure. The gold block-heeled sandals peeking out from under the elegant floor-skimming wide-legged trousers add height. Our blogger’s eye-catching resin chain necklace matches her trousers. Once again, Zia throws an extra colour into the mix with her choice of bag; a small structured yellow number, also with chain link detailing. Wearing her hair back leaves lots of room for Zia’s gold hoop earrings, statement specs and bright orange lipstick to shine.

A delightful monochromatic look in yellow. Zia combines dressy, mid-thigh high-waisted yellow shorts with a mock turtleneck in a slightly darker mustard-y yellow. Tucking the sweater showcases the self belt and accentuates the waist, while the eyelet pattern adds textural interest. So do her kitten-heeled suede booties in a sunny yellow that’s very close to but not an exact match for the shorts. Our blogger’s small yellow bag comes out to play again, and adds a fourth tone of yellow into the mix. The silver grey Modern Classic coat with beautiful pearl embellishments looks gorgeous with the yellows. Transparent-rimmed square-shaped sunnies mimic the coat colour. Soft rosy lipstick completes the look.

This maximal look has a lot going on without feeling overwhelming. The olive high-waisted faux leather trousers are the star of the show. Zia has tucked in a houndstooth mesh turtleneck top that adds pattern and subtle allure. Its body-con fit tempers the volume of the ruffle paper-bag waist and trouser pleating. Zia’s refined lace-up croc-embossed booties with block heel create soft edge. The black footwear repeats the black in the top. Our blogger’s reversible wool lapel coat is another statement piece in this outfit. The rust and flax colourway is gorgeous and unexpected with the olive green. The playful bucket hat and bold-framed retro sunnies match the coat colours. Zia’s love for resin and chain links continues unabashedly with the handle on her soft taupe bag.

Leave it to colour aficionado Zia to pair merlot with neon green! She is wearing a body-con ribbed knit midaxi dress with alluring square neckline. The puff sleeves add an element of curviness, and the thigh-high slit amps up the va-va-voom. The one-of-a-kind pointy-toe knee-high wedge boots clash with the merlot in a decidedly modern way that works brilliantly. Our blogger’s chain link necklace matches the boots perfectly. And Zia wouldn’t be Zia if she couldn’t add a third colour with her fun lilac boho bag with scrunchy handle. Forest green cat-eye sunnies, gold bracelets, and red lipstick are the finishing touches.

Some people don’t like mixing warm and cool colours in the same outfit. Personally, I like the effect, and encourage you to wear it if it tickles your fancy. Here, cool grey, white and a bit of blue are combined with different browns. I’ve helped clients pull these looks together, and adore it on them. A few of our forum members wear the combination with panache too.

Think of any way to combine shades of brown with grey. Add blue and white if you like. Here are the examples to get you started.

1. Columned Grey with Warm Support Act

Create a column of grey with a dress or separates. Throw a grey, Winter white, and brown topper over the top like a coat, cardigan or shacket. Finish off the look with tan or toffee footwear and a handbag to match. Keep the topper a warm solid earth tone if that’s more your thing. I can see Winter white boots and bag work well here too.

2. Grey, White and Brown

This is a good way to wear warm, earthy colours away from your face. Combine a white shirt with a grey pullover and leave it untucked. Combine that with a pair of bottoms and boots in a warm shade of brown. I like how the white shirt makes the grey punchy and crisp. But feel free to leave out the white, and combine a grey top with brown bottoms. The right shade of grey or silver footwear will work well too. I vote a brown, silver or white bag.

3. Patterned Grey and Solid Cinnamon

Combine a pair of grey jeans or pair of pants with a grey and white patterned top. Feel free to keep the top solid grey. Throw over a jacket or coat in a shade of brown, like this yummy cinnamon. Complete the look with a white complement that picks up the white in the pattern. If white shoes, belt and bag are not your thing, keep them tan, silver, or a shade of brown.

4. Light Blue Instead of Grey

Substitute light blue for grey. I don’t wear grey, so this would be my strategy. I also like the addition of the blue jeans that cool down the earth tones. Combine blue jeans with an earthy patterned top. Layer a light blue denim shirt and an earthy jacket or coat over the top. Finish off the look with tan, brown or cream footwear, and a bag to match. A light blue bag would be a yummy addition. The belt is optional. Add jewellery, watch, eyewear, and headgear as desired.

I’ve been following Fashionista’s “The Future of Sustainable Materials” series with interest: “As sustainability becomes an increasingly pressing priority in fashion and beauty, we explore the innovations that could pave the way for a brighter tomorrow.” Here are three articles to get you started:

• Milkweed floss, that is six times warmer than wool, could offer a plant-based alternative to down.
• What makes bison wool so special, and what are the challenges for any brand looking to adopt it.
• From hides derived from fruit to fabrics grown in labs, here’s a look at the next generation of leather alternatives.

Fab Links from Our Members

Stagiaire Fash enjoyed The story behind the nap dress and the woman who made it go viral.

She also has her doubts behind the motives of the pro-aging trend that might be replacing the anti-aging concept.

This BBC article about fast fashion just reiterates why Minaminu is against it.

Suntiger absolutely loved these vintage fashion photos from the 1940s and pics of old Hollywood stars on vacation.

Nuancedream says: “I don’t know when European travel might be on my radar again, but Susan has mastered the travel wardrobe. I think I need that Uniqlo lightweight puffer jacket.”

In this video, Vildy discovered some great new-to-her methods for hanging pants and jeans securely, and to conserve vertical space when you have none.

Michael Kors is opening a store in Auckland, and Jenni NZ enjoyed reading up on the American designer.

As Shevia is looking forward to the upcoming Gucci movie, she wanted to share this article about the brand turning 100.

“Pour yourself a drink and get comfortable, because Amanda Hallay’s fascinating mini-documentary on Maurizio Gucci’s murder is going to keep you glued to your seat,” says Mary Beth.

L’Abeille directs us to this Atlantic article about one of e-commerce’s biggest problems: returns.

This article on fashionable adaptive clothing caught Nikki’s attention.

Runcarla thoroughly enjoyed this tender little piece on a family who grows roses (and other flowers) for Chanel.

She also thought the Dior Spring/Summer 2022 show was absolutely wonderful.