Fall and Winter collections are in full swing in the northern hemisphere, and especially online. If you love to wear earth tones, milk it as far as your budget allows because we might not see the colour spectrum in full force for a while. Most of these items have been winners on clients recently. I tried some of the items too.

• Boden Hollie Jacket: I LOVE this. It's sustainably and ethically produced, and beautifully made. Stunning quality, and with a warm sherpa inner. The cut is boxy, but with just enough structure. It has a lovely architectural drape. Looks like a COS item. The removable faux fur collar is delicious in the pink, and very cosy. The Modern Retro integrity is super glam in a fun casual way. It would have been mine if they made a smaller size. Comes in olive.
• Polo Ralph Lauren Floral-Print Godet Linen Skirt: One of my curvy clients looks like a million bucks in this skirt. It is spectacular in motion, and fits like a dream. It's a Summery linen, so for a warm Autumn and very mild Winter.
• Polo Ralph Lauren Crinkled Handkerchief Skirt: A flattering skirt on an assortment of body types. Drapes like a dream. Nice worn with a shorter untucked top too.
• Diane von Furstenberg Saxon Pleated Midi Skirt: A pleated skirt for Team Teal and Earth Tones. Looks fab with a black or teal support act. Throw in some animal print too.
• Veronica Beard Limani Asymmetric Skirt: A straighter flared skirt with a fun swoosh. It's fitted on the waist and looks great on both a straighter and curvier body type.
• Lauren Ralph Lauren Slim Ankle Pants: I ordered these because I was looking for a pair of cherry red cigarette pants with some fluidity to them. They are GREAT, and I'm wearing them a lot. They are not as fluid on me as on the model. More of a tailored cigarette pants fit in my regular size. Luxe fabric, substantial, no pocket lining grinning, and very comfy. I might let down the hems for an inch of extra length. I tried to order the same in navy, but it's sold out. Comes in black.
• NEROGIARDINI Platform Sneaker: If you like silver and platform heels, try these sneakers. They come with solid laces. Comfortable, flexible, and not overly chunky.
• Mango Geometric Knit Sweater: We haven't seen a fun wool-free purple pullover with a tonal geometric pattern in a long time. Here you go. There's a cardigan version too.
• Samsøe & Samsøe Annmari Pleated Blouse: Pleated Navy Drapey Fabness. Works well on those who can fill it out. The pleats collapse back onto the body which tempers the volume of the blouse.
• Boden Straight Leg Jeans: These jeans feel great, look neat and tidy, and are not clingy. They can work for a curvier body type. The rise was too long for my relatively short rise, but I liked their more trouser-y feel and even wash.
• Brahmin Duxbury Melbourne Embossed Leather Satchel: A Brahmin bag in this colour combination is awfully unique, and check out the brown and olive combination too.
• COACH Women's Joey Lug-Sole Chelsea Booties: Boots for Team Teal and Lug Sole. Comes in burgundy.
• Jasper Lace Up Boot | Nordstrom: Comfy, practical, stompy, and come in a taupe with self-colour soles.
• PAIGE Mayslie Vintage Black Cherry Joggers: If you like cotton chino joggers, a mid rise, and a dark shade of cherry - try these. They can fit a slightly curvier figure too.
• Tommy Hilfiger Faux-Fur-Trim Hooded Puffer Coat, Created for Macy's: I LOVED this. It fit very well, and is extremely well made. The collar has fleece lining to keep you warm, and the silhouette has some structure to it. VERY cosy. The lining is navy. I returned it because the hood was too big for my small head, and I use the hood when it's cold and rainy or snowy. Things have to fit to be functional! Lots of fun colours.

You can see the pictures alongside the items on the collection page.

You are on Team Short Jacket if you prefer your jackets on the shorter side. You are on Team Long Jacket if you prefer them longer. Note that jackets are short when the length finishes around the hip bone or shorter. Long jackets go past the hip bone and beyond. Jackets include blazers and any other style, but we are not talking about coats. 

Long blazers in tailored, fluid and oversized fits in true ‘80s and ‘90s fashion, are on-trend. These lengths cover the bottom and hips, and extend onto the thighs. Styles are single and double-breasted, and can be left unfastened. Some have sharp shoulders. I used to wear these in the ‘80s and early ‘90s and loved them. Despite my strong ‘80s style gene, I am not personally attracted to the length, or any other style of long jacket on this leg of my style journey. This surprised me!

I have some blazers that are longer than hip bone length but they are not bottom-and-hip-covering. I thoroughly enjoy wearing them. I guess they are my version of a long jacket. The rest of my jackets are short, and I tend to prefer them that way in fluid and tailored fits. Shorter jackets make my leg line look longer, especially since I don’t wear heels. They have a “cheeky integrity,” as Greg describes it, and look fab with dresses, skirts, and higher rise roomy bottoms. I simply prefer my outfit proportions with shorter jackets, and find the length versatile.

I like my coats long and my jackets short, so I bat for Team Short Jacket. Here is my current collection of jackets. Some of the blazers belong to pants suits.

Over to you. Do you bat for Team Short or Team Long Jacket. Tell us why, and no batting for both teams. Remember that it’s all good, and that there is no right and wrong answer. If you can’t pick a side, you’re on the bench, where I’m serving buttery cauliflower mash, grilled salmon, broccoli, and the best dense chocolate cake with cream cheese icing you’ve ever had in your life.

Bootcut jeans and pants were big in the late ‘90s, and stuck around well into the ‘00s as THE silhouette of bottoms to wear. They took a classic back seat when skinnies and straight legs came back as all the rage. Fifteen years later, and the tables have once again turned. Bootcuts with mid and high rises are on-trend, while form-fitting skinnies and straight legs take a classic back seat.

To recap, bootcuts are fitted on the waist, hips and thighs, but flare out from knee to hem. Some flares are wider than others, but the flares are not as wide as bell-bottoms. Full lengths vary. The new shorter full length finishes on top of the foot and can be worn with flats or heels. The classic and luxurious longer lengths skim the surface of the ground.

Here are some examples:

Some of my clients feel that the flared integrity of the bootcut balances out their hips, thighs, larger bust and/or broader shoulder line, thereby creating outfit proportions that follow their figure-flattering priorities. Some feel that the silhouette highlights their curvy hips, seat and thighs in an attractive way that oozes confidence. Some feel their most streamlined in bootcuts. Other clients like to wear bootcuts because it gives their muscular calves some room, unlike tapered silhouettes that cling to the lower leg. Some enjoy the elegant swoosh of the wider hems, like me! And others enjoy the leg-lengthening effect when sported at extra long hem lengths with heels.

I used to LOVE wearing bootcuts because they felt elegant and swooshy, but switched to other silhouettes as the trends changed because wearing trendy jeans is signature to my style. I have one pair of very old white bootcuts left, and I adore them. I wear them with a very low heel and like the way they move in that glam ‘70s way. Of course, living in rainy Seattle makes it harder to wear full-length extra long bootcuts without getting soggy hems. So my bootcuts are reserved for dry days when I feel like wearing a one and half inch heel.

The joy of friends, clients and forum members who feel amazing in their bootcuts is a pleasure to behold. The beauty of bootcuts is real. Who else bats for Team Bootcut Jeans?

Shackets, or shirt jackets are trending. A shacket is a casual oversized shirt and jacket hybrid. It’s thicker than a top but thinner than a winter coat. Some are lined and quilted, and quite warm. They are collared, boxy, and can range in length, pattern, fabric, colour and thickness. Some of them are as long as coats. As far as patterns go, most of them are plaid or checked. Because a shacket is like a big baggy shirt, scrunching the sleeves looks natural.

Here are some visual examples.

Shackets are an extremely easy throw-on-and-go type of topper. They are unstructured, and hang a bit like a vertical cloak over whatever you are wearing. In a sense, shackets are beyond body type because they do not follow the line of your figure. They conceal your shape and can be worn open or closed.

The idea is to wear a shacket over just about anything, much like you would a puffer jacket, anorak or parka these days. You can layer them over tees, knitted tops, cropped tops, sweatshirts, and sweaters worn with jeans or casual pants. You can wear them with dresses, skirts, athleisure, and shorts. Extra roomy shackets can work well layered over tailored blazers and denim jackets. You can also use a shacket to dress down a look.

Some of my clients and friends like shackets, while others don’t. Some enjoy their ease, warmth, ruggedness, and boxy comfort, while others find them shapeless, unattractive, stiff, and make their chest look larger than they would like. This brings me to their large-scale chest pockets, which turns some people off right away. On the other hand, people are drawn to shackets with side entry pockets.

As far as a good fit goes, you have to be careful with the length, and find your sweet spot. Some like them shorter to temper their boxiness. Some prefer them longer to accentuate vertical integrity. You also have to find the amount of volume that works with your figure-flattering priorities. Versions with high-low hems tend to have a little more structure. The plaids are more of a commitment, so choose a solid if you prefer a subtle vibe that will blend in with your surroundings.

Shackets remind me of the early ‘90s, and yes, I had one then. It was a quilted unisex red plaid from Levi’s. Hubs Greg had the blue version. It was fun to wear them with 501s and Docs, and a bit of lace peeking through from my top. For my own style today, I like shackets longer like a coat, and in a solid colour. Maybe in blush, cream, tan, or light blue to amplify the “soft and pretty”. I haven’t found one I like enough to commit to yet, though.

Shackets are popular on the streets of Seattle both in solids and plaids because they are practical for our weather. They have that ‘90s grunge edge to them, which goes down well around here too. Youngsters tend to wear shackets over cropped tops and casual bottoms, which also remind me of the ‘90s. It’s a fun fashion flashback.

Over to you. What do you think of the shacket trend?