Stocking Up On Hard-to-Find Items

It’s easier to shop when fashion trends align with your sartorial needs and preferences. Conversely, it’s harder when trends are not your cup of tea, and work against your personal figure flattering priorities. Trends sometimes stick around for years, or even decades. That’s why I’m making a point of affordably stocking up on my favourite silhouettes and colours when they’re on trend.

Right now I’m stocking up on the following items, in this order.

1. Midi and Midaxi Dresses

The writing has been on the wall for a couple of years. Shorter hemlines are all over the runways, and there are plenty of mini and above-the-knee dresses at retail already. I am not wearing a short dress again, unless it’s worn like a tunic over pants. I love wearing dresses that are knee-covering, hitting me in the middle of my lower leg. I find the length elegant, and need the coverage for sun protection. 

Remember when it was impossible to find knee-covering dresses twelve to fifteen years ago? I went without dresses for years because they were too short. Now I’m stocking up while I can find them.

2. Lime Green, Citron and Orange Items

I can’t remember the last time acidic lime green items were in abundance, and it’s one of my favourite colours. Really hard to find. Citron items were easier to find about a decade ago, but not so much now. Dutch orange items are hard to find because orange is not a popular colour. I love wearing these sour brights, so I’m prioritizing their purchases when I see them in the right items.

3. Higher Rise Roomy Bottoms

I mentioned recently that I love the current jeans and pants trends with relaxed thigh fits, wider leg silhouettes, and, above all, higher rises. For the last seven years or so it’s been easy to find pants and jeans with 10 to 11 inch front rises in roomier silhouettes. I don’t want this trend to disappear when lower rises make a big comeback and most leg silhouettes are once again slim. Although retail is providing us with a pretty good mix of rise lengths and bottoms silhouettes at the moment, I can’t help but feel that the pendulum can swing the other way. So I’m stocking up a bit, not a lot, on bottom silhouettes that make me extra happy.

Although underwear is not as affected by trends, my new favourite bra is almost out of stock everywhere. I took it as a sign that they were discontinuing the silhouette. I bought two more and feel relieved that I now have great bras for a good long while.

Outfit Formula: Soft Green and Whites

Soft greens like light olives and sages are lovely combined with shades of white for Spring and Summer. The white component can be bright and cool like optical white, a little warmer like off-white and cream, or earthy like sand and tan. 

Onto some outfit inspiration.

1. Patterned Top and White Bottoms

A soft green billowing and patterned kimono blouse is worn over a column of white, which is made up of bright white cropped skinnies and a matching tank top. Earthy cinnamon slides complement the palette of the pattern. Gold hoop earrings are the jewels of choice. Add a white or tan bag to complete the look.

Patterned Top and White Bottoms

2. Sage Skirt

The same sage tiered midaxi skirt is styled in two ways. With a short, fitted cream square neck knitted top and tan slides on the left. With a white tank top, sneakers, and swingy cream barn jacket on the right. I see earthy bags in tans, toffees, and chocolate compete both outfits.

3. Earthy Co-ord

Summery co-ords are super easy to wear and style. For example, a linen shirt and pants set in a khaki green is separated by a white tucked tee. The shirt is worn open like a jacket with scrunched sleeves. A raffia bag and tan thong sandals add to the breezy, beachy vibe of the look. Dainty gold jewellery adds shine and polish.

Earthy Coord

4. Patterned Jumpsuit and Denim

A geometrically patterned fern and white jumpsuit with breezy wide legs is combined with a pewter belt, off-white sneakers, and a blue denim jacket. Gold hoop earrings add shine and glam. I see a gold bag add further shine to the look.

Patterned Jumpsuit and Denim

5. Floral Frock

Last, a romantic floral wrap dress in soft greens, pinks and blues is the star of the show. Cream pointy toe pumps complement the palette and add a dressy touch. Gold jewellery adds the glam. Add a bag and eyewear as desired.

Floral Frock

Rise Length Preferences

The discussion that followed my post about the rise length dilemma reinforced my preferences. Over the years, I’ve worn all rise lengths with a degree of happiness. I am generally quick to adopt new trends that evolve in bottoms, so when the rise lengths and silhouettes change, I tend to change with them. 

Right now I love wearing higher rises across dressy and casual bottoms in cropped and full lengths. Not just because they’re on trend but because they feel and look dead right for my style, body type, and footwear preferences. To my eye, the higher rise adheres to my personal figure flattering priorities and is the easiest to style.

For context, I am neither short nor long waisted. I am short in the rise relative to my height. That means that a 10 to 11.5 inch front rise is high rise on me, and that’s my favourite. This positions the waistband just above my belly button and the smallest part of my waist, which feels very comfortable. Since I’m a frequent tucker and semi-tucker of tops, and a keen belt wearer, I like how the higher rise elongates the leg line from the hips upward. The effect is subtle, yet it makes a meaningful difference to me. The elongation is great because I wear flat footwear. When I tuck a top and wear a belt with a lower rise, my leg line is shorter, which I could offset by wearing heels. But I don’t wear heels or platformed footwear so lower rises are harder to style. Furthermore, I find that wearing a belt with a lower rise is uncomfortable on my hip bones. I can just manage a 9 inch rise with a belt, but not daily. Belts worn with a higher rise bypass my hips and feel soothing. I like the “locked and loaded” coverage across my abdomen too.

I’ve found that a higher rise is especially easy and comfy to wear when the thigh fits of bottoms are relaxed or wide. The fluid or voluminous fit on the hip and thigh area adds figure flattery and comfort, and I adore the visual effect with flats. I wear bottoms that are form fitting on the thighs, but it’s not my favourite.

Rise length preferences vary a lot from person to person. And we become more sensitive to how clothing fits as we age. I’m hoping that we continue to get a good mix of rise lengths and pant silhouettes at retail so that we can all feel and look our best.

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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Fab Finds: Casual Cotton Bottoms

Linen bottoms are ubiquitous at the moment, which is great when you enjoy wearing linen. If, like many of my clients, you don’t, then you need to find an alternative. Ideally something that isn’t denim or 100% polyester, like cotton-rich pants. Here’s a current top picks list across a range of price points. You might catch some of these items on sale.

1. Athleta Skyline High Rise Barrel Pants

These barrel pants are worth a look for many reasons. First, they aren’t made of typical synthetic tech fabric. Instead, they have a high cotton component, which makes them feel summery against the skin. Clients who have not enjoyed wearing denim barrel pants have enjoyed these because they’re lightweight and gently barrel shaped. This works well on straighter and curvier figures. They come in five neutrals across petite, regular, and tall. Tall and petite clients are particularly happy with the fit. You can style them in casual ways, and not just in athleisure ways. The white is not see-through. Breezy in hot weather.

Athleta Skyline High Rise Barrel Leg Pant

2. Wit & Wisdom High Waist Straight Leg Stretch Twill Pants

These pants have a very high cotton component and are NOT denim. Lightweight, comfy, and fit and launder well. There are petite sizes, although the regular sizes frequently fit petites well too. Lots of options for those who like slim straight silhouettes. The rises are not as high as they appear. Remarkably, clients who prefer mid-rises enjoy wearing this brand.

3. Kohls Sonoma Capris

I’m including these despite the fact that they’re denim because they’re that good. These are what I call clamdiggers, although they are described here as capris. Ideal if you want to wear shorts and cover your knees, with a lean and streamlined silhouette. The rise is not too high rise. They work particularly well with UN-TUCKED tops, and are light and breezy in high heat. A client bought these recently, and looked super chic in them. She took my breath way when she styled them with a short un-tucked shirt with statement sleeves, metallic wedge sandals, and silver jewellery. We loved them so much, there’s another colour on order. Cheap as chips too.

Women's Sonoma Goods For Life Mid-Rise Capris

Outfit Formula: Pretty Summery Skirts

If you bat for Team Skirt these warm and hot weather options might appeal to you. Remarkably, none of the tops are cropped, fully tucked, or form fitting, which might be more your thing. Choose colours that are to your taste if these aren’t your cup of tea. 

1. Dramatic Sleeves

A white A-line midi skirt is paired with a blue and white striped shirt with dramatic bubble sleeves. The white stripe matches the white skirt. The shirt is worn loosely over the skirt because the shorter length creates attractive proportions. Light blue strappy heels are the dressy shoes of choice. Although very pretty, they can be uncomfortable. I see comfy and pretty silver sandals or wedges instead. Add a bag that works with the palette.

Dramatic Sleeves

2. Waist Definition

A navy top with grown-on sleeves and asymmetrical front knot detailing is worn over a box- pleated floral midi skirt. The navy in the pattern matches the top. The waist definition of the top adds structure to the outfit, which tempers the longer length of the top, and volume of the skirt. Comfortable navy sandals, ballet flats, mules, wedges, or ankle strap flats are a more comfortable footwear choice than the strappy sandals. Add a bag that works with the palette.

Waist Definition

3. Oversized

An oversized denim shirt is half-tucked into a long black tube skirt to showcase a little hip and waistline. The sleeves are scrunched to further temper the volume of the shirt, and show alluring forearm skin. White sneakers add a sporty touch, and match the buttons of the shirt. I see a causal crossbody bag complete the look.

Oversized

4. Fluid

Last, a boxy and fluid V-neck cream cap sleeve shell top is worn un-tucked over a flared cream and tan striped skirt. Tan and cognac sides are the casual shoe of choice. The tote matches the slides, as does the earthy neclace. Pretty, polished, breezy, and relaxed. Add eyewear, hat and watch as desired.

Fluid