I’ve noticed how fabulous white outfit components look on people with grey hair, and my clients generally feel the same way. By white, I mean shades of white, which can range from cool-toned optical white, off-white and bone, to warmer off-whites, ivory, cream, and a very light tan. By grey hair I mean any shade of salt and pepper and darker grey, to all sorts of silver, light grey, and white. 

Here are some examples.

The pairing of a white outfit component with grey hair is especially fab to my eye when the whites and greys match in tone. For example, matching cool whites with cool grey hair, and warmer whites with warmer grey hair.

The white components of the outfit can range from subtle to bold. A solid white top or topper that is closely positioned to grey hair, thereby strengthening the colour match and repetition, is a bold approach. A more bookended approach of white bottoms and footwear can be equally effective, but less bold. There’s the more subtle approach of wearing white components in patterns and textures that pick up the white bits in grey hair. And there’s the subtle accessory in a shade of white, like pearls, handbags, belts, eyewear, and jewellery, that reinforces the aesthetically pleasing colour match.

1. Cool Tones

Here the wearer has cool-toned white hair that works beautifully with the cool-toned optical white topper, and white soles of the shoes. Beautiful.

2. Dark and Light

The wearer here has darker cool-toned grey hair that is combined with cool-toned white bottoms and a pattern with a cool-toned greyish white embroidery. Smashing matching.

3. Warm Tones

The wearer has warmer grey hair making the warmer, off-white bottoms a super match. The bookended white footwear is cracked with gold, which softens and warms the starkness of cold white. The necklace with white stones and gold metal are a fabulously warm and matching finishing touch. Gorgeous.

Over to those who have greying or grey hair. Do you enjoy incorporating shades of white in your outfits because of the delightful colour match? If so, do you do so in a bold or subtle way?

Plans for the Met Gala, a certain sandal making a comeback, a new suit rental service, and other news from the style trenches this month.

• For the first time in its history, jeweller Tiffany & Co. has launched engagement rings for men.
• PopSugar reports that soda sandals — defined by their thick platform base, strappy thong attachment, and uberhigh arch — are making a comeback.
• StyleCaster on the other hand, announces that flared leggings are officially back.
• Valentino is joining its high-end luxury peers, and is launching a make-up line.
• Have a peek at the Erdem for Universal Standard capsule collection that focusses primarily on denim.
• Sales of Crocs soared in the first three months of the year, as the rubber shoe brand celebrated record demand from shoppers seeking comfortable footwear during the pandemic.
• Prabal Gurung is branching out into bridal wear.
• Kate Spade and Dr. Scholl’s have teamed up again for a capsule collection consisting of two pairs of playful sandals.
• H&M is launching a suit rental service, ONE/SECOND/SUIT, that allows men to borrow a suit, free of charge for 24 hours, for that all important first impression during job interviews.
• Fashion designer Alber Elbaz has died at age 59 of Covid-19.
• According to a recent announcement from the Travel Security Administration (TSA), airplane passengers can now travel with full-sized bottles of sunscreen in their carry-on bags.
• Following last year’s cancellation due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Met Gala is returning with a two-part celebration of American fashion.
• Girlfriend Collective is bringing out an eco-friendly swimwear collection in sizes XXS through 6XL.

Fun Fashion Quote

I’m still thinking about this quote on aging from Suzanne Moore I read in The Guardian a while ago:

“A lot of rubbish is talked about getting older. Nora Ephron is the go-to person for women with crepey necks. Me? I prefer Ursula K Le Guin: ‘I am not ‘in’ this body. I am this body. Waist or no waist.’ That is a life lesson I would like every girl to learn. Le Guin also said: ‘Erase my age, you erase my life — me.'”

This formula is for Team Untucked Top because the long tank, or sleeveless blouse, looks best when it’s worn over bottoms. The long tank can be a useful Summer addition to your wardrobe, because it’s fluidly breezy, forgiving on the midsection, very comfy, dressier than a T-shirt, and layers well under cardigans and jackets. In its most basic and quiet form, it makes a good wardrobe essential. It provides an effective blank canvas for neck and arm candy too.

Long tanks can be knitted or woven, simple or more styled, and come in all sorts of patterns and colours. Lengths vary.

Here’s a good assortment:

You can pair long tanks with most bottoms. They look good with pencil skirts, although that’s not shown in the outfits below.

1. Two-Piece Jumpsuit

Combine a long tank with a pair of pants in the same colour, or a very low-contrast colour, to create the effect of a jumpsuit. I love the silhouette and movement of the wider pants, but choose a narrower silhouette if that’s more to your taste. Finish off the look with warm-weather shoes. The trendy classic white sneakers here look great too. A denim jacket is a nice way to top off the look if you need a little insulation.

2. White Bottoms

This is the more familiar long-over-lean look, which continues to be popular because people tend to feel streamlined in these proportions. Combine a long tank with a pair of narrow white bottoms, and finish off the outfit with metallic sandals and jewellery to match. You can create a low or high contrast with the top, and throw in a pattern if you like. The hem on this long tank is straight, which might create too much of a horizontal line. If that’s the case, choose a long tank with an asymmetrical hemline.

3. Long Shorts

Here’s an A-line version of a long tank with an asymmetrical hem, which adds a good bit of outfit interest because of the magical diagonal lines. For those who like to wear the long-over-lean look, it looks fab over a pair of slim long shorts or clamdiggers. Add slides, mules, Birkies, or sandals, and jazz things up with some bling.

4. Wide Crops

Combine a long flared tank with a pair of wide crops. The tank is a little shorter than the rest, which elongates the leg line a bit. Add Summery footwear, and a pretty bag to match. The pattern mixing is not essential. The top would look great with solid white bottoms. The black sandals bookend the model’s hair, which works well. I can see pink flats that match the bag work well too. Add jewellery, watch and eyewear as desired.

Coincidentally, these looks have been styled with sneakers and flat footwear. Throw in heels, platforms, flatforms, and wedges if that’s more your vibe.

Writer, director, and producer Justine Bateman has a new book out, Face: One Square Foot of Skin, that delves into why she, and other women, must grapple with the “imagined reality that older women’s faces” are often thought of as being “unattractive, undesirable, and something to be ‘fixed.'”

In This Guardian article women share why they stopped dyeing their hair during the pandemic, and what it means to them.

Noon, a new multimedia platform, is all about empowering women in midlife, and has enlisted fashion expert Stacey Duguid to regularly share her two cents about style: “Stacey believes in fashion at midlife being a positive part of our daily experience– not about trends, do’s and don’ts but about clothes that enhance our lives and make us feel amazing.”

Fab Links from Our Members

Minaminu loves Bjork and her quirkiness. This article tells the story of her famous dress sense, including the famous swan dress.

“Really Though, What Jeans Are in Style Now?” Shevia found this funny and accurate.

Nuancedream directs us to this fascinating blog post on the YKK zipper. She says: “I had no idea about the history of the YKK, but now understand why it is the gold standard for zippers.”

Marlene enjoyed seeing which must-haves stylist Kate Young has at the ready in her fashion tool kit.

“Why Is No One Talking About 1930s Shoes?” Vildy recommends watching this YouTube video, and adds: “Have a look at those curved
arched outsoles on the heels.”

Runcarla finds the topic of ‘revenge shopping‘ — buying a bunch of new clothing to celebrate the waning of the pandemic — quite interesting. She wonders how this will square with a desire for ethical and sustainable acquisition of fashion items?