Weekly Roundup: Elevated Fabness

I’m enjoying the elevated creativity of designers this year. After a good global pandemic kick in the pants, designers and retailers are trying harder than ever to satisfy our needs to look chic yet practical, and with busloads of comfort and interest. I appreciate how they’ve been bringing the glitz to our lockdown lives, amping up the glam in a manageable, safe, and more relatable way. I haven’t seen all these items in person, but I’m sure they will be winners on many of my clients. Browse the colour and size options, and read the rave reviews.

You can see the items alongside my descriptions on the collection page.

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Link Love: Fragrance for Spring

Allure reports that, “inspired by the calming Japanese cultural practice of ‘forest bathing,’ a handful of new fragrances attempt to bring the outdoors in.”

The Guardian shares tips on how to pick the perfect scent from the comfort of your own home.

Finding your signature scent can require lots of sampling. Signing up to a perfume subscription box is one way to do that.

Finally, here are a few reasons why you can’t smell your perfume anymore.

Fab Links from Our Members

Nuancedream directs us to this interesting article about Ann Lowe, a pioneering African American designer who created Jacqueline Kennedy’s wedding gown.

Brooklyn liked this post about learning to enjoy Summer fashion: “It’s comforting to know that even fashion bloggers can struggle with Summer.”

Runcarla has been making a concerted effort to not acquire things made in China: “I haven’t had a perfect record, but continue to try to source responsibly. I’ve been following the H&M story with interest.”

“Maybe everyone else had already figured this out,” says kkards… “but I’m blown away, and sort of mad at myself for not realizing that many influencers aren’t using a mirror to snap photos, they’re using a second camera.”

SarahD8 directs us to this fascinating, data-rich exploration of how the names and numbers associated with make-up shades reveal racial and ethnic bias in the beauty industry.

Helena loved this article about an amazing young Canadian using fashion to fight racism.

Outstanding Outfit Bloggers

Trousers and Neutral Dressing in Iceland

Jona Peturs (56) is an editor, blogger and writer who divides her time between Iceland and Florida. She documents her outfits on Instagram and her blog, The 50Plus Girl. She is a neutrals and trousers gal at heart whose style is a mix of Polished Modern Classic, Sporty Luxe and Hard Edge. Jona loves neutral tonal dressing, and is all about that coat and hat lifestyle — a must in Iceland.

“My style has not evolved or changed much over the last five years, I guess I wear the same kind of pieces now as I did in my twenties. I’ve always leaned to classic pieces, like blazers, shirts and blouses. I’m a total pants girl although I love to wear dresses and skirts every now and then — I have to admit that pencil skirts are and will probably always be a favorite. I have been wearing ankle boots for ages and it seems I can never have too many pairs. I guess the only thing I don’t wear as often as I used to are high-heeled pumps, that is maybe the only thing that has changed over the last years, due to an accident 2 years ago when I broke my leg. And now I wear sneakers more than I used to. I love hats of every kind and have been that way since I was a teenager. I think a good hat that suits you can elevate your outfit. Summed up I would describe my style as classic, I don’t follow and wear trends unless they suit my body and/or my style. And if I find something that I really like I often buy it in more than one color. I believe less is more and I don’t wear a lot of jewelry, just classic simple pieces. I absolutely love neutrals and have a soft spot for gold buttons :-)”

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Jona enjoys adding cosy texture with teddy coats. Here she’s tucked a black key-hole blouse into relaxed-fit rust chinos, which is a fab colour combo! Rolling the trouser cuffs showcases the black pointy-toe booties that subtle texture, as does our blogger’s quilted crossbody bag. As a topper, Jona picked a relaxed-fit brown, black and cream leopard print coat that echoes the colours in the rest of the outfit. She’s accessorized this polished casual look with black leather gloves and black beanie with fluffy faux fur pom-pom.

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Our blogger dresses down a black Modern Classic shirt buttoned all the way up with a casual cardigan and black skinnies. The oversized dropped shoulder cardigan has a low-cut V-neck that shows off the shirt collar. The ribbed knit creates soft textural interest, while the cream lightens up the all-black outfit. Jona brings hard edge to the look with her beloved black rugged flat, stompy boots that bookend her sassy beret. Peach lippy, oversized sunnies and a checked crossbody with gold chain strap are the polished finishing touches.

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Neutrals with a subtle pop of colour are another way to go for Jona. Here she is sporting a white V-neck blouse and stone-coloured culottes. Tucking the top lengthens the leg line from the hips upward, while the low-contrast slip-on sneakers further offset the stump factor of slightly longer culottes. As a third piece, our blogger chose a just-above-the-knee cardigan with soft-coloured stripes. The white background echoes the white of the top, while the peach, brown and blue stripes are perfect for a pop of Spring colour. The brown is repeated in Jona’s patterned bag. Finally, the panama hat in the same colour as the trousers adds a glamorous touch.

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The mustard sweater livens up this all-black polished casual outfit. Jona is wearing a cosy turtleneck sweater over cropped black trousers with white pinstripe detailing. The vertical stripe elongates the silhouette and creates fun visual interest. Our blogger’s black textured pointy-toe booties add subtle shine to the look. The black wool double-breasted knee-length coat has a tailored fit and is a modern classic. The gold buttons add a bit of bling and work well with the mustard sweater. Big sunnies, soft lippy and a patterned crossbody bag complete the outfit. 

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Cool-toned olive, white and browns come together beautifully in this casual look with Sporty Luxe touches. Our blogger has tucked a white top into cuffed olive chinos. The fun white lace-up booties with black sole match the top. They have a playful hiking boots vibe that brings the Sporty to the outfit. The camo jacket works fab with the rest of the soft colour palette and is an easy way to bring a pattern into the mix. Jona’s scarf and logo bag in different but complementary shades of brown are a fail-proof way to pattern mix. Round sunnies and soft brown lipstick finish off the look.

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I am loving this Winter Column of Black because it combines a playful dress with leggings, which you don’t see all that often. Jona wears this tiered, above-the-knee dress year round and has winterized it by pairing it with thick black leggings. She’s tucked the leggings into her favourite black Hard-Edge stompy boots that create a delightful outfit juxtaposition with the flirty flounciness of the A-line dress. Jona’s leopard print teddy coat comes out to play again, and adds both lightness and pattern to the all-black look. A menswear-inspired panama hat bookends the black boots, while Jona’s blonde hair, as always, is a natural way to balance out the dark colours.

Let us know what you think of Jona’s amazing outfits in the comments, and be sure to check out her blog and Instagram for more outfit inspiration.

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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Spotlight: Bleu by Rod Beattie

Bleu by Rod Beattie is a fabulous contemporary swimwear line. Designer Rod Beattie is inspired by his Southern California roots and his love of travel. The brand’s handwriting is a combination of modern classics with clean lines, no-nonsense solids, bright colours, bold prints, and interesting on-trend design details. 

Beattie says that when he’s putting together a collection, he’s “thinking of a chic woman of any age.”

Bleu offers bikinis, tankinis, one-pieces, and cover-ups across a range of colours, silhouettes, and sizes. There are as many quiet, simple and streamlined solids as there are bold and bright looks, so take your pick. The extensive selection of silhouettes offers two important features that I personally look for in swimwear: COVERAGE and SUPPORT. Designs are alluring, cheerful and modern, but with extra fabric and support in all the right places. It’s amazing how effective thoughtful design can be. Clever coverage around the seat, midsection and bust can make all the difference to feeling more secure and confident when you’re exposed and moving around in a bathing costume.

Sizes run from a US4 to US22. But like most swimwear, fits can run small or large depending on the style and how your body fits the silhouettes. My hope is that they extend their size range in both directions. Tops are offered in D and DD cups, although a slightly smaller and larger cup size can comfortably fit the sizes too. Tops and bottoms are sold separately so that a wearer can find the right size and proportion for their body type. Personally, I will only purchase a bikini if the top and bottom is sold separately, and the top comes in cup and width sizes. That way I can achieve a much more comfortable and flattering fit.

Bleu swimwear is generally less constricting than styles from other popular brands on YLF, like Miraclesuit and La Blanca. They are sometimes more playfully designed and colour-rich too. I like the additions of thoughtfully designed and matching cover-ups. When added to your bathing costume, they can amp up the polish and make you feel more pulled together. When I can, I try to buy a matching cover-up with my swimwear. I love a good match.

Unfortunately, I can’t find info on whether the items are sustainably and ethically produced, but I’m hoping so. So if you’re looking for new swimwear, remember the Bleu by Rod Beattie brand. You can purchase online from their site, from department stores, and some small swimwear stores.

Summer Linen and Your Style

Woven linen is the quintessential Summer fabric and very popular in Europe across ladies and menswear as soon as temperatures rise. I can’t think of a breezier and more classic Summer fabric than linen. It screams beach vacation, the turquoise Mediterranean sea, and the Italian Amalfi Coast. Linen is available in every colour and in some great patterns across almost all Summer wardrobe items. When lightweight, it’s a great fabric as a cover-up for sun protection.

Eloquii
Wide Leg Linen Pant
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Wide Leg Linen Pant
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Ankle Linen Trouser
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Linen Romper
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Boden
Linen Shirt
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Boden
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Boden
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Boden
Hannah Linen Shirt
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Boden
Dolores Linen Shirt
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Boden
Eldon Linen Pants
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Boden
Georgina Linen Shorts
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Laurie Linen Top
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Hannah Linen Shirt
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The downside of fabrics that are 100% or rich in linen is that they are very prone to creasing. You have to be at peace with the crease when you wear them. They can also be a little hard, stiff, scratchy, and heavy. But there’s a lot of lovely linen that’s soft to the touch, light, and gentle against the skin. Linen blends that reduce the high wrinkle factor are available too. But you tend to lose the natural integrity of linen when it’s combined with synthetic fibres like polyester and nylon. Linen blended with silk, viscose, cotton and rayon keeps the fabric natural. Personally, I like linen that’s remixed with cotton. It’s really soft, delicate, breathable, and feels luscious against the skin.

Knitted linen tees and sweaters can be nice in linen blends. In my experience linen knits don’t crease as much, and drape better than their woven cousins. I like the gauzy and texture-rich appearance of linen knitwear.

My clientele, friends and family vary greatly on how linen features in their style. Linen knits are generally more popular than linen wovens. Some love it and wear it all Summer long, and some won’t wear linen at all. Some will wear it in tops and knits, and that’s it. Some will wear one linen item at a time, but not head-to-toe. Some like to wear linen bottoms but not the tops. And some wear linen dresses.

I always have linen in my wardrobe, and usually in tops and dresses. Hubs Greg wears long-sleeved linen shirts with scrunched sleeves in the Summer with jeans, cotton pants, or shorts. In the late ‘80s and early ‘90s I wore a LOT of woven linen across all sorts of colours. I wore linen tops, pants, skirts, waistcoats, dresses, long shorts, and jackets, which worked very well in the hot Cape Town heat. The offices and factories I worked in were not always air-conditioned, making linen a saving grace. Many around me wore linen, so I looked appropriately creased with everyone else.

Personally, I don’t mind linen creasing one bit. I find it to be part of the charm, and soothing in a carefree way. Relaxed, yet chic. A familiar fabric I grew up with. I mind the creasing a little more in pants and a jacket, but would still wear them if I loved the item.

I have some woven linen shirts at the moment and not much else. But that can change. If we have another hot and sunny Seattle Summer without air conditioning, I’ll be focussing on some lightweight linen tops and dresses.

Artful Home Georgina Dress

Over to you. How does linen feature in your style?