Cosy Two-Piece Dress for Fall

A new outfit from Assa Cisse of My Curves & Curls, whom we introduced to YLF in August 2015.

Assa creates a column of colour by sporting a two-piece dress in a cosy cable-knit material. The vertical pattern of the texture-rich cable-knit draws the eye up and down, while the cream gives the outfit a luxe touch. Pairing the fluid fit turtleneck and streamlined below-the-knee pencil skirt with Chelsea boots with rugged lug platform soles is a little unexpected and adds tons of playful pizzazz. Their casual vibe is partly counteracted by the shiny burgundy patent leather, which adds polish. Our blogger’s burgundy-red lippy echoes the colour of the booties, and the crossbody matches her outfit perfectly. Finally, Assa’s gorgeous curls bring even more textural play to the look.

Assa Cisse - 1

Assa Cisse - 2

Bad Item, Good Service

I recently replaced an old short puffer with a new packable orange one made of down. It ticked off all the boxes, fit perfectly, and the colour made me smile. I wore it right away for longer outdoor walks. It was great and I felt fabulous wearing it. 

It needed a wash sooner than I expected. I’ve had bad experiences washing down puffers in the washing machine, and was a little apprehensive about it. I usually dry-clean them, but the washing instruction indicated ‘Do Not Dry Clean’, so that was that. So I popped the puffer into the machine and followed the instructions TO THE LETTER. I turned the puffer inside out, used cold water, a gentle detergent, and turned on the ‘Delicates’ cycle. The puffer was a clumpy mess after the wash, but I didn’t stress just yet. The instructions suggested to ‘Tumble Dry Low’ with three tennis balls, which I had bought precisely for this purpose, and I did just that.

Disaster.

The down was a clumpy wet mess no matter what I did. I tried a few drying cycles, different levels of heat, shaking out the jacket, and un-clumping the down with my fingers. All to no avail. The jacket was unwearable and I was disappointed.

I emailed Macy’s customer service, relayed the story, and attached a photo of the clumpy down puffer mess. Within an hour I received an apology and the reassurance that a full refund would be issued in 7 to 10 days. They re-sent a UPS label so that I could ship the faulty item back for free. I was much impressed. It’s wonderful when retailers stand behind their products. Keeping customers happy does make a difference. I am more than willing to spend my fashion dollars at Macy’s again because of this positive experience.

It’s back to looking for a short bright puffer with a hood in one of my happy colours. In the meantime, care to share a good customer service story of your own?

Outfit Formula: Cobalt Blue

Bright blues, like royal blue, electric blue, china blue, superhero blue, and cobalt blue, are an acquired taste. Some love them, some like them in small doses, and some don’t like them at all. In this post I’m going to refer to them all as cobalt, which is the collective name I like to use for these colours. Some are bright, and others are darker and more subdued.

You can remix versions of cobalt in a single outfit to create a fab monochromatic effect. Remix cobalt with brights, purple, shades and tones of greens, or with neutrals. Cobalt is a slam dunk combined with black and white, and that’s one of my favourite ways of seeing it worn. I also like it with dark blue denim, which is a lot like wearing it with navy.

Zara
HIGH-WAISTED PANTS
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Boden
Exeter Wide Leg Pants
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Zara
JACQUARD WRAP SKIRT
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Mango
Pleat Flare Trousers
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Zara
OVERSIZED POPLIN DRESS
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I used to wear some cobalt when I wore black and white outfits. But since I no longer wear black, cobalt has fallen out of favour. I don’t miss it, but you never know. I might wear it again one day. If you bat for Team Cobalt, these outfit ideas might be of interest to you.

1. Black and Dark Denim

Trendy Classic Fabness and my favourite of the four outfits. Combine an on-trend pair of dark jeans like these cuffed wide crops with a black top. Add black boots that work with the bottoms. Throw a cobalt topper over the lot, and finish off the black complement with a bag to match. The cuffs in this look add a lightness to what would be a much darker outfit without them. I like the cuffs, but you might prefer the look without them.

Black and Dark Denim

2. Stand-Alone Solid Accessory

Adding a cobalt accessory as an item that stands alone can be a fun addition to a neutral outfit. Here the wearer adds a cobalt beanie to an earthy turtleneck and black coat. I can see blue jeans and black boots finish off the outfit. An earthy handbag that matches the top would look good too.

Stand Alone Solid Accessory

3. As a Pattern

Wear cobalt as a pattern if that’s more your cup of tea. Here cobalt is part of a Fair Isle pullover, with cobalt bottoms to match. A cobalt bag adds even more of the colour. Things are pulled together by black boots that pick up the black in the pattern. Black bottoms with taupe or cream boots could work well too.

As a Pattern

4. With Fuchsia

If you like fuchsia and cobalt, you can wear them together either as solids or in patterns. Here, there is fuchsia in the cobalt scarf, which creates a cohesive visual with the fuchsia striped pullover. The cobalt pants add further cohesion by picking up the cobalt of the scarf. Try a solid fuchsia top to match the scarf if pattern mixing is not for you. Finish of the look with tan, brown, cream, navy or metallic shoes. If you have footwear to match the cobalt and fuchsia, that’s dramatically fab too. Add jewellery, watch and eyewear as desired.

With Fuchsia

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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Aprons Are Fabulous

Nine years ago I suggested wearing an apron to save your clothes. It bears repeating, because cooking at home and doing all sorts of other home projects is on the rise because many more people are working from home these days. 

I spend a lot of time in the kitchen because I enjoy cooking from scratch. Some of my friends and clients change into “cooking clothes”, but I stay in my normal clothes, which includes white tops and jeans. I do, however, wear a large apron that covers most of the front of my outfit. I scrunch or roll up the sleeves to keep them out of the way while stirring, mixing, chopping, pouring, flipping, kneading, and washing up. That’s why bell sleeves are bothersome, and I sometimes avoid them. I make a point of tying the necktie tightly so that the top of the apron covers me as fully as it can. I’m also careful not to do things too quickly, which keeps spilling, messing, and spluttering to a minimum. Because of this, I rarely stain my clothes.

I like BIG, striped aprons made of heavy, stiff cotton, that is easy to launder. How about you? If you cook, do you wear an apron, or do you change into clothes that are less precious.

Bell Sleeves: Yay or Nay

A bell sleeve is flared at the hem, creating a bell shape and giving the silhouette its name. You’ll find bell sleeves on dresses, tees, knitted tops, blouses, shirts, tunics, sweatshirts and knitwear. Occasionally on jackets and coats too. 

The flare differs greatly in volume. It ranges from sleek and subtle, to billowing and dramatic. Sometimes the flare starts at the crown of the sleeve, and sometimes much further down the arm. Some bell sleeves have gathers, or are set in along a horizontal seam to make them flounce and swoosh even more. Bell sleeves also differ in length. They can be as short as elbow-length, or as long as extended sleeves. Here are some examples.

Shopbop
PAIGE Iona Sweater
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Shopbop
Valette Shirt Dress
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Zara
BELL SLEEVE KNIT DRESS
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COS
Turtleneck Wool Jumper
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COS
Turtleneck Wool Jumper
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We see variations on the bell sleeve every season, especially now with the ongoing exuberant sleeve trend. When the fabric is soft and lightweight, the sleeves swoosh splendidly, adding movement to an outfit. The visual effect can be awfully romantic and pretty. When the fabric is thicker and stiffer, bell sleeves can drape in an architectural way, and look wonderfully dramatic.

I like the look of bell sleeves, especially on dresses and Summer tops. They remind me of the ‘70s and ‘90s, and that’s probably when I wore them most. I’m attracted to their swoosh, prettiness, soft integrity, and romantic vibe. I like the stiff and architectural versions too. That said, I can also get annoyed with bell sleeves, which prevents me from wearing them too often. They do not layer well under jackets and coats, which I need to be able to do in a Pacific Northwest climate. They do not scrunch to a shorter length, so they can get in the way when I cook, eat, or tend to our Yorkies. They can also flap around, which I find impractical for working at home and with clients.

I will wear bell sleeves, but have learned to keep them shorter and less voluminous so that they don’t get in the way. I also wear them in situations when I will not need a top layer. So I usually stick to high Summer tops and dresses with bell sleeves.

I am a calculated yay. How about you?