Weekly Roundup: Dogs and Cats

I haven’t provided detailed descriptions for each of these items because I’ve only seen a few of them in person. But since many of us are either dog or cat people — or both — they deserve a roundup anyway. After all, furry family members should be celebrated. 

I’m besotted with our Yorkshire Terriers, so my heartstrings are pulled big time when I see doggy stuff, and especially Terrier stuff. Some might call these looks juvenile, silly, frivolous, or unstylish, and that’s okay. Personally, my emotions take over and all I see is a whole lot of cute and fun, and the adoration for the animal that goes along with it.

These might be items you wear at home as loungewear or sleepwear, in extremely casual settings, to work from home, or when you’re with like-minded dog and cat friends. Some of the items can be layered under a jacket or cardigan and look quite swish. Some are all about the holidays, while others are perfectly gorgeous enough to wear as dressier statement pieces.

The first find from Talbots is an extremely rare Winter sweater with sledding Schnauzers. If I had a Schnauzer, I’d be all over it. The Boden items are lovely quality. The Haflinger slippers are gorgeous and I’ve had several doggy pairs. Unfortunately, my long toes poked holes through the fabric within a month, so I stopped buying them. PJ Salvage makes great pyjamas, and the Scottie stuff from Macy’s is great every season. Radley London makes fabulous handbags and wallets. I have a light blue bag, a red wallet, and am thinking about adding the citron satchel. The navy Hobbs sweater at the end is on its way to me. If it fits and isn’t itchy, I will wear it out and about with pride.

Click through the links to get a closer look at the details, colours and graphics. Some of it will make you laugh!

Loft
Dog Sweater
View Info
Top Pick
4
Talbots
Holiday Dog Socks
View Info
Top Pick
2
Boden
Cassidy Pleated Skirt
View Info
Top Pick
4
Hobbs
Katy Cotton Sweater
View Info
Top Pick
5

Spotlight: Saint + Sofia

Saint + Sofia is a UK company based in London that aspires to fuse art and science. Design is inspired by modern culture, art, and music to create versatile silhouettes with a twist. The science is about building an efficient and smart supply chain using data science, machine learning, lean manufacturing principles, and “just in time” production. 

Saint + Sofia strives to be a sustainable and ethical brand that minimizes its negative impact on the environment and our climate. Using better fabrics to save our planet is a passion. For example, organic cotton mitigates climate change by eliminating intensive fertilizers, reducing water contamination and consumption, preserving soil quality, and reducing energy requirements. So wherever possible, the brand uses eco-friendly materials that feel luxurious on the skin, and are good for nature.

Saint + Sofia handpicked its manufacturing partners in Italy, Portugal, Bulgaria and Turkey to meet their goals of producing in an efficient, ethical and sustainable way. Fabrics and trims are sourced from family-owned suppliers in Europe, and close to where items are produced to minimize carbon footprint. The brand uses bio-degradable packaging, plants trees for UK charity “Trees for Cities”, and collaborates with the World Wild Fund for Nature.

Saint + Sofa Rock & Roll Scarf

Saint + Sofa Cambridge Short

Saint + Sofa Sutton Skirt

As I browse the collections, I see Team Casually Polished and Neutral Hard Edge. Sleek yet comfortably fluid, texture-rich, easy, simple, rock ’n’ roll, a touch of crisp, good quality, and lots and lots of black. I see many trendy classics that emphasize sustainability, longevity, and versatility. Prices are relatively competitive and not too outrageous. The brand boasts size inclusivity by offering US2 to US18 with petite, regular and tall inseams. It’s a great start, but there is room for improvement on that front.

The sartorial integrity of the brand isn’t a great fit for my own style, but I can see it working extremely well for some of my clients, and especially for those who wear a lot of black. Some of our forum members have had great success with the brand which is encouraging. Let me know what you think of the Saint + Sofia’s vibe in the comments.

Full-Length Flares and Heeled Boot Fabness

The combination of wearing full-length flared trousers and jeans with heeled boots might take you back a decade or four. By flared jeans and trousers, I mean silhouettes that are bootcut, bell-bottom, or wide leg. The all important details of the combination are:

  • Hems that skim or almost skim the surface of the ground
  • Heeled footwear, even if the heels are a low one and a quarter inch
  • The refinement and dressiness of the boots

Although it’s not a must, pointy-toe and snip-toe boots work particularly well because their long toe boxes effectively peek out from under the hems, thereby elongating the leg line. Heels further elongate the leg line and allow the breakline of the hems to fall in a tidier drape instead of a crumpled mess. Footwear can create a low or high contrast with the trousers and jeans.

Here are some visuals:

Over the last ten years, we’ve seen every iteration of skinny and tapered bottoms at ankle (and shorter) cropped lengths make a trendy statement with flat and heeled footwear, while this combination of full-length flares with heels took a backseat. More recently full-length flared pants and jeans made a comeback but at a new and shorter full length. The new shorter length is a lot more practical, weather-friendly, looks equally good with flats, and is maybe a dash more playful. But it’s not as elongating, elegant, conventionally flattering, and dressy.

The sleek, streamlined and vertical integrity of full-length flares worn with refined heeled boots continues to be a hit with many people so it never went away. It was especially popular from 2000 to 2012. Some of my clients swear that the combination makes them walk taller, and with better posture. Unfortunately, the need for dry weather can put a damper on the vibe because soggy hems are awful, and heeled footwear is not for everyone. But a sunny climate and commuting by car helps, and low-heeled footwear works well.

Today, I think of full-length flares worn with heeled boots as a Trendy Classic combination that is always sensational, especially when the wearer feels like a million bucks sporting it. When a person’s ease and confidence comes through in an outfit combination, nothing can beat it. So if this was, or is, your look, milk it.

Roundups

Simpler Items

This week's list of top picks list is about basic pieces.

Read More

Assorted Items

Items for Summer, both in and out of air conditioning.

Read More

Casual Summer Vibes

This week's top picks are good for a casual Summer vibe.

Read More

Summery Earth Tones

These items are for those who like to wear casual earth tones in warm and hot weather.

Read More

Hints of Spring

Some tried-and-tested winning items to refresh your style for Spring.

Read More

Dressier Items

An assortment of dressier top picks might be just what the doctor ordered.

Read More

Fashion News Roundup: November 2020

A more size-inclusive line from Jason Wu, strong reactions to a coat shown on a TV show, and more news from the fashion trenches in November.

Fashion Quote

I really liked what Allison Rhone said about her relationship to beauty in her My Beauty Uniform interview on Cup of Jo:

“As I approach my 40s, I feel the best I have in my life. It makes me think of how much time I spent hating what I looked like. For years, I felt too Black, too big, that my features weren’t right, that I just wasn’t inherently right. The last few years for me have really been about acceptance. I find the more I shave off societal ideals, the more beautiful I feel. Being in digital media is such a joy because there are places to go that are not society’s mainstream idea of beauty. I’ll get more from a Twitter thread of Black women showing what they look like, more than a popular magazine. It’s a radical act for a Black woman to love herself. I try to be radical every day now.”

Outfit Formula: Casual Sock Style

These looks are for those of us who like to showcase a bit of fun sock in their cold-weather casual pants and jeans outfits. Visible socks can add warmth, a maximal touch, textural interest, and comfort. They often make a look more casual. But in some cases, a sheer trouser sock that resembles hosiery can make an outfit dressier. 

1. Lightly Gauzy

Sheer gauzy socks with self-colour patterns that look like hosiery can add a polished and interesting touch to an outfit. These types of socks usually come in black, which is problematic when you don’t wear a lot of black. But they’re coming through in white and occasionally other colours, so keep your eyes peeled.

Shopbop
Wolford Dylan Socks
View Info
Top Pick
4

Here, sheer white gauzy socks are worn with white oxfords for a tonal effect. They match the white pullover and create a lovely low contrast with the pale pink casual corduroy pants. A micro-checked jacket in the same palette tops things off. Alternatively, switch all the white to black, and add a darker pair of pants if that’s more your thing.

Nuuly Nellie Corduroy Culottes

2. Maximally Matched

This outfit is neutral and maximal. It’s all about creating a perfect match between a patterned item of knitwear and pair of socks. If you knit, create your own set in any colour and pattern. Throw in a layering top if it’s a cardigan, a pair of bottoms, and footwear that showcases the socks like loafers or oxfords.

Kule Houndstooth Sock

3. Birkenstock Pretty

Here’s a cosy, soft and sparkly take on wearing socks with Birkenstocks. Pair a pretty tee or sweatshirt with a pair of distressed cropped jeans. Finish things off with sparkly socks and Arizona Birkensock sandals. The light-coloured Birkenstocks work well with the pink palette, but you can choose a darker palette. Like a black, navy or grey top with sparkly grey socks and black Birkenstocks.

Anthropologie Ines Shimmer Crew Socks

4. Tonally Cosy

Create a tonal effect from top to toe with shades of a similar colour. This version is blue and grey but choose any colour. A greyish oatmeal pullover is combined with a flecked blue-grey coat that picks up the light neutral of the pullover. Fair Isle socks in the same palette pick up the colours of the pullover, coat, and jeans. Importantly, the roomier jeans are rolled to showcase the socks. Grey boots and a navy bag complement the palette. Add jewellery, watch, eyewear and headgear as desired.

Seasalt Trenwheal Coat